Junior Lopez: Next Issue's Cover Boy

It's not hard to see the sex appeal of mariachi. The tight slacks embroidered with monedas stamped with Aztec sun calendars and nuevo peso emblems are totally fucking chingon. The deep roaring vocals of the singers, along with the high-pitched gritos that make them seem even more like cocky roosters.

They hold sway over your emotions, making you salt Tecates with your tears by playing songs your deceased grandparents sang to you as a baby, and send chills up your spine with folk songs that make you want to belt out right along with them. They are the archetype of the Mexican masculine balladeer. And when the sun comes up, your voice is sore, la cervesa is poured, you want one of this macho musicians to serenade you in bed.

Chuco-town Chulo #2....CODY

We found ourselves on the right side of the tracks when we ran into Cody.

Stationed here at Fort Bliss, this 21-year-old GI guy is the definition of American military-boy unabashedness. Upfront. Poised. Ready for action.

Sun City Roller Girls

The pack is a tight pride of lionesses prepared to pounce. The stadium buzzer signals the start of the bout and the ladies launch into the hunt. A svelte and speedy jammer races ahead like a mechanical rabbit on a greyhound track. This is the moment thousands of El Pasoans were waiting for in lines snaking around the parking lot of the county coliseum.

The May 14th Friday night bout was a culmination of the energy and support SCRG has been garnering these past two seasons. The blaring lowrider With the revving engine that ushered in the girls, as well as the fire dancers before the match hit its mark in its aim to please the crowd. With toxic-green tulle skirts, wicked witch of the eastside-style striped tube socks, these girls are skating their way to putting El Paso on the derby map.

And with cheeky, culturally-relevant teams monikers like Las Catrinas, Chuco-town Chulas, and Las Pistoleras, these ladies are proud to show they are home-grown and borderland-identified. SCRG events are as fun, inclusive, and family-oriented as a Diablos baseball game. The difference of course is the rockabilly hipster edge that derby brings to the competition.

What's also striking and refreshing is the empowerment of the ladies on the floor, as well as the ladies and little girls watching from the stands. Roller Derby women are fast, rough-and-tumble, elbowing, aggressive competitors. Many wear glitter-gloss, booty shorts, and fish-net stockings but escape objectification because their display is on their own terms. That's why so many of them look like punked-out ballerinas and gothic cheerleaders-to project an image of athleticism, beauty, and fuck-it attitude.

This has also led to a very open, supportive environment for ladies into ladies. Wether teammates, fans, or officials, the kick-ass spirit of SCRG doesn't discriminate.

*COOL-O* spoke to a few awesome ladies and asked them what derby means to them, El Paso, and if they had any words of wisdom for any young lesbians in high school who may be feeling isolated and invisible.

Euthanasia of the Sexecutioners

"It's a great sisterhood. There's no discrimination. When I came out and was skating with my team they were so cool. They were like, do you have a girlfriend, let's hook you up! They were so supportive. I love it. I think gay people have a bad rap in this city. I think RCDG helps people be more accepting of us. As for young girls out there, don't give up! There are other girls like you. Just wait. When you find each other, it'll be great. You'll love it. And come to derby games, it's very accepting."

Cuata Fuck

"Thia ia a tough sport that makes you feel powerful. It's a place where people can be themselves. It's nice to see lesbians out in the open where no one will judge you. To girls in high school, I say tough it out. High school is only four years after that, it's a whole new world full of lesbians and adventures and you'll find yourself out there one day soon".

Adrian Lopez-Senior Art Show-Olo Gallery

With its warehouse loft-style ambiance, Olo Gallery's industrial interior enhances the feel of Adrian Lopez's senior art show- No Pause, Just Play-very nicely. Warped cranes, bridges-to-nowhere, extracted, rusted railroad spikes are just some of the many images Lopez uses to construct motifs of deconstruction. This is always satisfying to see in a senior art show. There's something triumphant about an art student showing us that he has mastered his craft, and now he's knowledgeable enough to take it apart and has the balls to make it his own. And Lopez does just that.

He takes found construction materials and architectural concepts and turns them personal and organic by juxtaposing them with rosaries, silhouettes, and messy, winding lines that spill onto the floor. His emphasis on bare foundations comprised of broken and missing pieces, strong and solid materials, lends itself well to the surprisingly personal stories Lopez shares in these works about his family.

One intimate installation is comprised of makeshift walls that create the dimensions of a teenage bedroom. The surfaces are scrawled with barely legible layers of repeated Lupe Fiasco lyrics lamenting the untimely loss of a father. The cursive handwriting spells out how personal the feelings being expressed are, while the layering seems like an attempt to obscure the pain. The repetition and surrounding of the text around you in that enclosed space lets you imagine or relate to the fixation of yearning.

Prints inspired by the artist's uncle offer poignancy and an homage by the artist to the relationship with his mom is warm. But as open and confessional as Lopez gets, he gives you a sense that he's holding back and keeping something for himself. There are hiding spaces behind frames. There are profiles behind translucent materials. There are pieces with busy distractions to draw you away from quieter, more telling elements to the work. Then, there is the highly audible but unintelligible recordings of Lopez's murmuring voice playing on repeat. All this leads you to believe there are secrets hidden in his art. These secrets sometimes seem playful, sometimes heavy, but never dark or menacing. The kind of secrets a guy remembers from his boyhood.

Whatever Adrian Lopez is holding back, it only leaves us wanting more.

Delta Lambda Phi's 2010 Gala

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Having wrapped up a successful year, the blokes at DLP celebrated with a not-so-silent auction for their 2010 fundraiser. After all, frat boys will be frat boys. With fierce and explosive drag performances, a Bollywood dance routine to make any slum dog millionaire envious, and cheeky classic rounds of Loteria, the men of Delta Lambda Phi are well on their way to becoming a fully fledged chapter. And *COOL-O* magazine raises it pomegranate martini to them. All the best to Alex Lucero, Jesus Valles, and Carlos Gonzales.


DLP President, Alex Lucero, is quite the charmer.


In the immortal words of RuPaul, "Lip sync for your life!"

Chuco-Town Chulos.

Meet GUS.

Gus has the mischievous smile of a little boy who wakes up too early on Saturday mornings when the rest of the house is still asleep.


He makes us want to lay around in our under-roos with him and eat Trix cereal like popcorn together.

BOYCOTT HATE CAMPAIGN

The new law enforcement measure passed by Arizona would make it mandatory for police officers to ask for identification from any suspected illegal immigrant in their state. If a "suspected illegal alien" can't produce papers on the spot, they are arrested until someone can come to the station to prove that they in fact reside in the U.S. legally. If they don't have papers, they are deported.

This new bill is backward, unjust and impractical. But then again, so is the whole state of Arizona. It's just a dustier, uglier, unfriendly version of New Mexico. And sure, it's crown-jewel Phoenix is a fun city. But it's a gross, wasteful superficial fun that comes from a prefabricated desert metropolis that gorges itself on water resources and energy of the surrounding region. At least Las Vegas is a world-renowned tourist destination that embraces it's values of excess and hedonism. Las Vegas is a neon mirage, an entertainment oasis. Phoenix is a golf course.

Anyway, tomorrow, MONDAY MAY 10th, 2010, take part in a symbolic gesture against the misguided, short-sighted and...uh, wing-righted (?) new bill.

Go to David Quintanilla's Haus of Photography between the hours of 11am and 7pm for a free photo shoot as part of his Boycott Hate campaign.

The shoot it totally FREE.

The studio is located at

1528 Souix Dr Suite D (Off Montana, near Airways).

That's vassup!

As featured in the latest issue of *COOL-O* magazine, the David Quintanilla haus of photography sent out press releases for it's grand opening at the end of this month.


With the latest technology in industry-standard lighting and graphic design, David's new studio features a clean, contemporary space for a trendy, loft-style studio.

Since weddings and quinces pay the bills, a family-friendly BBQ will mark the grand opening. But come check out the list of media services offered for more provocative, creative, edgy portraiture.

1528 Sioux Drive. Sunday Jan 21, 2010. 1-7pm.

Holmes and Watson. Partners in crime-solving? or Steampunk homos?

Guy Ritchie's SHERLOCK HOLMES opens up this X-mas. Homoerotic themes are nothing new to Ritchie (based on the only other two movies of his that I've seen). And RDJr. seems to be reveling in the point that he and Jude's characters will come off gay for eachother in the film.


I have a special place in my pants for both these actors. I saw Jude Law strolling down a narrow street in Venice, Italy one summer in 2004. He was a stunning sun-god in person. And I saw Robert Downey Jr. interviewed by that Roeper douche for the Singing Detective at a Chicago film festival in 2003. RDJr. was so classy in his responses to questions about his bisexuality and struggle with drug addiction. How do you pull that off? By being dry and witty.


Will it be a mishandled action/adventure popcorn movie? Maybe. Will it be bloody sexy as hell? Counting on it.

Prohibition Era Party

Rene Nevarez manages Sunset Carpets, a locally-owned and operated carpet company that installs upholstery for Herman Miller showrooms and such. His personal living space is pretty sweet. It's a converted fire station. Perfect for acting out those fire fighter fantasies. Unfortunately, the city took out the pole when he closed the deal. But he intends to reinstall one.

This past weekend, Rene threw a mellow, classy speak-easy theme cocktail party. Guests had to call in advance for a personal pass word. When you arrived at the residence, an unassuming Rene greeted you as if you had the wrong address. Once you discretely dropped the correct phrase he led you through a dark, cluttered office space that still has the large, folding garage doors wide enough for a EPFD haz-mat truck. He led you to a candle-lit flight of stairs that took you to a dimly-lit basement full of cafe tables and chairs with throaty recordings of Edith Piaf blaring softly for ambiance.

The speakeasy was quite indeed the cat's pajamas, bee's knees, all that jazz, and...uh, whatever else.

SteamPunk Cocktail Party

A few weeks ago, mi hermanita turned 21. In honor of the upcoming Victorian/Wild West issue of *COOL-O* magazine, we decided to host her birthday cocktail party and helped her celebrate turning 21 in the 21st century with a steam punk vibe.


Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1899!



Time to get steam-crunk!


steamy steam-boyz...

So El Paso, next time you're coolin' with your crew and feeling kinda funky
you guys should roll out, dressed all steampunky.

SOHO: SO good or NO good?

SO good! Located a block from Pride Square, Soho Cocktail Lounge is a nice breather from the steamy, seamy air of gay dives. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy steamy and seamy. It just gets stifling sometimes. Soho itself is like the clientele it attracts- predominately straight, yuppy-hipster with a "dress funky, not junky" dress code. It aims to be edgy and as everyone knows, homophobia is so not hip. I consider it gay-friendly but it definitely doesn't market or cater to gays specifically with special nights like it does to the rock crowd, Latin crowd, and even goth kids.

That's fine by me cuz that just means that gay cats into indie rock, Latin music, and goth culture have a place to go. And that's what I like to see: a diversity of interests and subcultures within the gay community. When we're all into Lady Gaga-blazing, pink-lemonade vodka-pouring, rainbow-banner-bearing bars with come-as-you-are dress codes, then we just become fucking boring. Or worse, a cliche. (I actually love Lady Gaga, pink-lemonade vodka, and coming as-I-am. But I still stand behind my point.)

But I digress, Tuesdays are my preferred nights to go to catch free indie rock shows. But Wednesdays are fun too. Soho has an open deck night where local DJs spin old school house, drum and bass, ambient, and sometimes hip hop. Being named Soho, I like to keep an NY theme to my drink orders when I'm there and stick to cosmos and manhattans. But these are actually hit or miss depending on who's tending bar that night. The plumegranite martini is one of their signature drinks. I recommend it if you want to order for a lady or if you're a girly-drink drunk.

The owners and staff are always welcoming and friendly and the space is conducive to intimate mixing and mingling.

House of Dozal

When the cat's away, the mice will play. The mice being awesomely cute hipster friends of Rob Dozal. With his parents' house all to himself, he gathered DJs from Late Night Social Club together to spin in his dad's painting studio.


With the crisp November night air snapping outdoors, the close gathering of warm bodies, warm beats, in a warm converted garage was pleasantly chill. I stuck to Apples and Derek the whole evening. Apples writes and photographs for EP Culture Beat, a sweet blog where writers, photogs, and artists cover cool mainstream and underground events in El Paso. Derek is a sweet, chill guy who's always a pleasure to talk to. He has great stories that would make a great web comic. They're the kind of couple that makes you want to get together with them to get drunk and write. I love those kind of couples.

Apples, Rob, and Derek.

Brew Ha-ha at Ruli's International Kitchen

As a pre-Thanksgiving dinner celebration, our crew got together at Ruli's International Kitchen. 10 bucks got you 4 premium beers and Cigarettes After Sex. Dinner was before the sex and cost extra. J/k, y'all. Cigarettes After Sex, the band.

Frontman Greg Gonzalez warms up.

Known for it's "seasonal menu of international foods", Ruli's offers entrees that skimp on serving size but load up on flavor, along with a cosmopolitan beer list. There's potential for RIK as a music venue if they would at least turn down the lights during the performance.

The evening was casually classy. Well, not so much towards the end. I chugged all my brews, plus three of my friend's beers. Next thing I knew, my entire upper body was sticking out of an ex-boyfriend's car window as I puked my guts out on the drive home.

Our English muffin, Lauren, with her friend Raul, owner of Ruli's.

*COOL-O* magazine Steampunk edition

Steampunk is the nostalgia for a time that never was. It's picturing a world where Victorian culture is the aesthetic context of present and future space-age technology. Picture us in waistcoats, cravats, spats, vests, and bowlers. Women with corsets, underbusts, parasols, and tabby boots. We would present call cards and tip our hats but also carry copper-plated MP3 players and bronze-encased telecommunicators. There would be no viable electrical grid so gas/oil lamps and candles cast a soft, balmy glow on our world at night. We ride horses and buggies and take commercial steam air ships for long trips. And our law enforcement officers, military and criminals possess ray gun technology.

As 2010 starts to rolls near, I'd like to reset El Paso's timeline to 1910 and redraw its history. One in which the Republic of Texas is a protectionist, independant country. Flanked on one side by an expansionist United States and on the other by a powerful Mexico that is fueling its means of production with the gold struck in its state of California.

What would a strategically situated border city like El Paso look like culturally and socio-politically in this fantastical, speculative cold war situation? Let's find out shall we? Unfortunately, no alternate history books describing these events have survived. Nah. Just a random little Tijuana Bible fag rag published off a steam printing press is all that's left to offer us a glimpse into the way life wasn't back then.

Daniel Marin Wants to Get Known

Daniel is the kind of guy who likes to mold a family out of a workplace; a home-away-from-home out of a watering hole. According to him, the staff and management of a gay bar should make you feel welcome, appreciated, and remembered. Not intimidated, ignored, scrutinized, or taken for granted.

Here at *COOL-O*, we couldn't agree more.

Daniel also can't get enough of the previously discontinued Polaroid film. He's obsessed with the nostalgia and warmth of it. His self-portraits and art exhibitions rely heavily on the iconic instant film.


Daniel is fresh from New York and he has that new-boy-in-class-who-used-to-rule-his-old-school look about him. It's a combination of desiring new friends and a desire to retain his mystique that makes him endearing. His passion for El Paso and creativity are infectious.


Catch his interview in the upcoming issue.

Late Night Social Club

On Thursdays, Dominic's Italian restaurant on Montana features local DJs. The space doesn't get packed. Just enough for the dance floor to fill. It's set up for casual lounging with a sound level conducive to conversation. Cheap vodka drinks and a headlining Chicago DJ will eventually get you out yo' seat to groove and get down.

Last week, Ruben Zavala of the Ruben Zavala Show featuring Ruben Zavala invited us out to catch a spin crew who visited his radio program.

Fun music. Fun people. Fun times.

Girl, Uninterrupted.

John Geiger lives with roommates who have lovingly nicknamed him "Girl". And what a classy, handsome lady she is! *COOL-O* was struck by her warm and masculine fashion style. She studies art, design, and Miley Cyrus. In this upcoming edition, Girl gives us her thoughts on photography, pop-culture fetishes, and wardrobe essentials.

David Quintanilla Party

David Quintanilla is an artist/photographer who recently showed at an industrial gallery space by the OP downtown. His show David's Goliath subverted Renaissance religious imagery with homo/sexual overtones. It was bold and sexy. An interview and photo spread of David will be featured in the upcoming edition of *COOL-O*.

On All Hallows Eve eve, though, David threw a dope costume party.

That's David in his Kali incarnation and his boyfriend the fertility goat-god fellow. By the end of the night I became convinced these are their true forms. They wear mortal disguises the rest of the year.

When you make out with a guy in the bathroom at a party, you're just asking to randomly spot him a few days later in an awkward location. Like the showers at your gym. Or at a restaurant while he's on a date with his boyfriend. Or at a Wal-Mart portrait studio taking picture with his wife and kids. Just sayin'.

Check out the killer Adonis belt on Adam. And the beer goggles on whoever took those pics. They can't hold the damn camera straight.

Cigarettes After Sex

After the fundraiser, we headed over to the Mining after a texted rumor the Dozal Bros were having a show there. Sadly, the rumor proved false. Instead, we found Cigarettes After Sex getting ready to perform. So the trick turned out to be a treat after all. Their poppy synth riffs are suh-weet.



You like 80's new wave? You like sexed-up lyrics? Then you'll love to run into Cigarettes After Sex at a gay bar at 1 am.