Girls Rock in Oregon Hill

I spent the evening in my favorite working class neighborhood, nearby Oregon Hill or as the local restaurant critics are lately proclaiming it, "the upcoming restaurant row dining destination."

Whatever.

I went for cheap (but good eats) and backyard movies, the pleasures of the working class.

Luckily for me, O-Hill is within walking distance because trying to park over there on a school night is pointless.

When I rolled up to 821 cafe, it was fairly quiet and I joined the barsitters, half of whom were the day shift who'd just gotten off and were enjoying happy hour beers (rail bourbon shots $2) and trash talking a fellow employee who'd come in wasted the night before.

They know me at 821, so I don't have to place my food order, only my beverages of choice.

Tonight's music was mostly punk and thrash, not my first choice, but definitely preferable to classic rock, country or Top 40.

The server sitting next to me told me that she no longer even hears the music during her shift.

I can't imagine being that music-oblivious, even while working, but perhaps she's just tuning out someone else's musical choices.

That I could see; I would have to tune out Journey.

Afterwards I strolled over to the Flying Brick Library, a radical lending library in an old house on Pine Street.

Tonight they were having a benefit for the Richmond 'Zine Fest, showing two documentaries, Grrlyshow and Girls Rock.

 It was such a beautiful night to be sitting outside under the stars watching a movie on a fabric screen strung up between the fences.

Grrlyshow had interviews with some of the seminal figures in founding girly 'zines like Bust and Bamboo Girl, created by a generation of third-wave feminists.

Discussing that subject with a friend who's a Women's Studies professor after the film, we concluded that we're currently on the cusp of fourth-wave feminism, unbelievable as that sounds.

Girls Rock was a documentary about the annual five-day music camp in Portland, Oregon for 8-18 year old girls.

They choose a musical genre, learn to play an instrument, come up with a band name, write a song, and perform live for 700 people.

All the while, bickering and developing friendships with their band mates.

The film follows a few girls in depth and each is captivating and heartbreaking in her own way.

Given their ages, the girls are all in the throes of discovering who they are and the camp helps them appreciate themselves for the individuals they are.

Musicians like Carrie from Sleater-Kinney teach the campers girl-power lessons in between band practices and female bands perform during lunch every day.

You could actually see the girls becoming more comfortable in their own skins over the course of the week.

Many in the mostly female audience were charmed by the strength of character of a couple of the youngest girls, but they seemed like divas-in-the-making to me.

I'd be curious to see a follow-up piece about what those girls are like now.

Afterwards, a volunteer from the Portland camp shared her experiences there and spoke of her desire to start a similar rock camp for girls in Richmond.

With all the strong female musicians in this town, we'd probably be a natural for such a thing.

I'd have said we could hold it in Oregon Hill, where you can't walk down the street without hearing a band practicing, but restaurant row probably won't approve of pint-size shredding and high-pitched screaming.

More's the pity for that.

D.I.Y. or Die

You can't fail doing what you love.

That was the theme of the documentary "D.I.Y. or Die" which was screened tonight at Gallery 5 as a benefit for the Richmond Zine Fest, coming in November.

The film was like a video handbook for independent artists and featured a dancer, painters, musicians (Dave Brockie and Jay Mascis, to name only two), a circus artist, a sculptor and writers, among others.

It was divided into parts: Inspiration, Publicity, Dealing with Adversity and Commerce, with the artists offering their unique takes on each topic.

The common thread was that D.I.Y artists are not doing it for the money, but for the love of their art. Their passion, despite the economic shortcomings that usually go hand in hand, was impressive.

Also shown was "Grrrlyshow," featuring interviews with various female zine writers (Jewish, black, Israeli, gay) about how they got started and why.

Interview footage was interspersed with vintage film clips highlighting the can-do attitude of women and girls; the film was a sort of pep talk for budding zine enthusiasts by those in the know.

The Richmond Zine Fest has already secured 26 table participants for the November 6th and 7th event and will continue to take submissions until September 30th.

The first night will coincide with First Fridays Artwalk, which should guarantee a full house.

The art will remain at Gallery 5 not only during First Friday and the Richmond Zine Fest, but throughout the entire month of November.

 Last year's festival was excellent and it only lasted one day.

This year, there will be no excuse not to experience the unique art form that is zines.