On the Cover: Kiki Shu
Kiki Shu created Always & Forever, the warm, mustard-backed cover art for this issue. According to Shu, the artwork is “a digital illustration made with a limited, layered color palette; […]
Events:
Monster Jam
Goddamn, the Monster Jam is back?! I thought this thing died in the early 2000’s. Maybe Hulk Hogan and our fearless President will make an appearance. Maybe Hulk Hogan will
January 31 - February 2Beth Killian
Indie/folk singer-songwriter.
January 31 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pmNeal Vitullo and the Vipers
Award-winning blues/rockabilly/R&B/surf/American roots rock ‘n roll.
January 31 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmClub D’elf
Synthesis of Moroccan traditional music and electronic, dubbed-out funk. Probably not suitable for elves.
January 31 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmMystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads
Talking Heads reggae tribute. We’re really pulling strings here huh?
January 31 @ 9:30 pm - 11:30 pmRI VegFest
Attention plant lovers, the 5th annual RI VegFest is sprouting again! Featuring over 85 vegan-friendly restaurants, food producers, artists and creators.
February 1 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pmDavid Nail
An American country music artist and the frontman of David Nail & the Well Ravens.
February 1 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmSugar
Disco/funk/hip-hop/r&b for the sweet tooth.
February 1 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmSunday Funday with Steve Smith and the Nakeds
These guys rule the Sunday funday.
February 2 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pmThe 15th Annual NE Winter Blues Festival
Blues fans unite for this special night!
February 2 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pmBill Frisell
Featuring Eyvind Kang, Hank Roberts, Jenny Scheinman, Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston.
February 5 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmDraw the Line
Aerosmith tribute.
February 7 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmHeartland Radio
Country music.
February 7 @ 9:00 pm - February 8 @ 12:00 amColby James & The Ramblers
Singer/songwriter who rambles on.
February 8 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmDustbowl Revival
A Venice, CA-based roots and brass collective.
February 8 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pmThe Love Dogs
Rockin’ swingin’ septet from Boston playing original jump blues and r&b with big horns.
February 8 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pmPapercut
Linkin Park tribute. I remember buying Hybrid Theory and never taking it out of my car’s CD player… I think it died with the car.
February 8 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Guest Editor’s Note
When the Motif editors invited me to help put together an issue for Pride month, I was initially doubtful. Don’t get me wrong – I was flattered that they liked […]
Where to Find Your New Queer Friend(s)
June may be a great time for smooching (etc. etc.), but a lot of us gays are out here desperately seeking friends! Luckily, Rhode Island has many opportunities for would-be […]
The Apparition of My Unwashed Younger Self
I was 19 years old, a year on hormones, when Max Spit advised me to change my name on my ID if I wanted, but never my gender. “If I […]
The Progress Flag & the Danger of Empty Gestures
The following article is derived from an interview with Lyric Sullivan, a PVD resident currently majoring in art history at MassArt who has a deep interest in what symbols and […]
Queer Jews for a Free Palestine
As the Israeli military continues to carry out its violent assault on Rafah — where over one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering — queer and trans Jews organising for a […]
Consumerism, Pride, and How We Fight Back: The history of the Gay Shame movement and its relevance today
“Are you choking on the vomit of consumerist ‘gay pride?’— Darling spit that shit out — Gay shame is the answer.” So reads a hand-written flyer produced by the Gay […]
In the Archive: Queer ephemera past, present, and future
Wanderground Lesbian Archive & Library A note from Wanderground Lesbian Archive & Library: “Wanderground collects and provides access to a broad selection of New England-based publications, artifacts, and personal memorabilia […]
Queer and Homeless in PVD
I first met Samantha (not her real name) in late 2019, mere months before the pandemic would cause perpetual change and adaptation. At the time, a career promotion left me […]
A Gay Pride Dialogue
We’re John Kotula and Anthony DiPietro. A mutual friend put us together. We’re both writers who celebrate Pride. For several weeks we have been in dialogue by text, email, phone, […]