V10-33 08-19-26
Anti-Selfie: Real Life Is Having a Moment
Chris Pierce: Freedom On the Dancefloor
Body Manual: Silence the Pain Alarm
Plus Photos & More
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Finding Freedom on the Dance Floor By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo courtesy of Chris Pierce
With infectious beats, heartfelt lyrics, and an unwavering message of self-love, Atlanta-based artist Chris Pierce is creating music that inspires listeners to embrace exactly who they are. We caught up with Chris to talk about music, identity, Atlanta’s creative scene – and what’s next on the horizon.
I really get on that stage and give it Your music celebrates being a 1000%, and now I have a band, so the young queer person of color while encouraging self-love and liberation. way that we’re working this music in the streets, in the clubs, in the venues How much of your songwriting is really paying off and sending people comes from personal experience, and what conversations do you hope to these platforms after shows to show support in any way. your music starts? Atlanta has such a rich musical Just about all my songs speak from personal experience, from heartbreak legacy and a thriving LGBTQ+ community. How has growing as an to crushes to love? And even the artist in this city shaped your sound partying and jumping around in the and your confidence as a queer club is me singing about me. I hope people, especially gay people like me, performer? are able to see themselves within my Well, I just moved to Atlanta a little music. I could say I wanted to start a under a year ago, and the first week conversation about how a lot of our experiences in this world are the same, I felt like a different person. To be but I really just think about my life and surrounded by people just like me who hope that I’m able to find and connect talk just like me has made me one of the most confident people in the world! with people who have been through the same and are looking for a positive I’ve been getting on stage with just a backtrack and have given 100% of outlook instead of a negative. my feminine self, and I’ve never been more proud of the person I’ve become. You have connected with millions By just taking a chance within the first of listeners through your music. five months of me moving here, I’ve Looking back, what do you think headlined the masquerade singing people are responding to most in ways I’ve never done before, like – your message, the energy, or woah. Atlanta is shaping me into the something else entirely? Superstar I know I am. I honestly think each song is a full package, but I think Live shows are playing a huge part in my current listeners. Yes, the music is really good, a 10 out of 10 upon listening; however, the way that the song is performed live is playing a big part in my growth.
Your music is undeniably danceable, Visibility for queer artists has grown, but there are still barriers. but there’s also a deeper message of empowerment woven throughout What changes would you like to see in the music industry, and what your lyrics. Why is it important to advice would you give to the next you that people leave your songs generation of LGBTQ+ artists trying feeling not just entertained, but to find their voice? affirmed? I want people to feel as powerful as I do. Like I was saying before my music; it’s about my personal experience. I feel powerful. I know I’m powerful, and I know I can do whatever I choose in the world that’s trying to convince me that I can’t. Yes, I would love for people to just come for entertainment and to leave feel entertained, but I love that my music is connecting with my audience.
I would like to see a lot more support, especially for gay black artists. We live in a time where I feel like these barriers don’t necessarily matter. I took a shot myself and believed that my music deserved to be heard, and just off of that pure intention and drive, I feel like I’m creating my own lane and finding those who love me and what I do. I would tell the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists that finding your voice involves you losing it first. You’re
gonna stop in your tracks, you’re gonna birth to this masterpiece and the world fail, and you’re gonna be told no a lot, not see it! But before then, I have a couple more singles and a couple more purely based off of who you are, but shows! There’s something coming up keep going. There will be walls that you can climb over, doors you can kick at the end of September, and we’re down. It took a lot for me to learn this, kicking off Pride in Atlanta at Lore on but failing is only failure if you let it stop October 1st! you. Lastly, where can we find and follow you and listen to your music? What’s next for Chris Pierce? Whether it’s new music, live The easiest way to find me anywhere performances, or collaborations, is to search for Chris Pierce gay, not what can fans – and maybe some new listeners – look forward to over kidding. There’s another Chris Pierce out there. He makes folk music; shout the next year? out to him, but if you’re looking for the disco dance pop artist, don’t forget to So we’re coming close to the release of my debut album. I’ve been working put gay at the end and you’ll find me. on this album since 2021, and I think I’m getting into a place where I’m finally being seen because I refuse to give
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Silencing the Fire Alarm Doesn’t Put Out the Fire By Dr. Zachary LaVigne, Any Spine Chiropractic & Massage Studio When discomfort shows up, most people understandably want it gone, fast. A headache, stiff neck, aching back, or limited range of motion can interrupt work, sleep, exercise, and everyday life. But symptom relief and solving the underlying issue are not always the same thing. At Any Spine, we encourage people to think of symptoms as communication. Pain is often one of the last signals to appear, not necessarily the first sign that something in the body needs attention. Before pain becomes impossible to ignore, the body was already giving quieter clues: persistent tightness, general achiness, reduced mobility, fatigue, or the sense that normal movement takes more effort than it used to. These signals are easy to rationalize away. “I just slept wrong.” “I’ “I’m getting older.” “I’ “I’ve been stressed.” “It will go away after the weekend.” Sometimes it does. But when the pattern keeps returning, it may be worth asking a different question: What is contributing to this—and what has my body been trying to tell me? Relief Is Not the Same as Resolution Medication can absolutely have a place in health care, especially when pain is affecting your ability to function. But it is important to understand what medication may and may not be doing in a recurring pain pattern. If someone repeatedly experiences neck or back discomfort and takes medication solely to block the pain, the medication may reduce the signal without changing the issue that contributed to it. It is a little like putting tape over your car’ car’s check-engine light. The light is no longer visible, but the reason it came on may still need attention. That does not mean every ache has a serious cause or that every symptom requires an extreme response. It means recurring symptoms deserve curiosity, not just suppression. Look at the Whole Picture A neck or back issue rarely exists in a vacuum. Your daily posture, work setup, movement habits, previous injuries, sleep quality, stress
level, training routine, recovery, and even how often you take breaks can all shape how your body feels and functions. For example, a person may blame their neck for the pain they feel at the end of the day. Yet the bigger pattern may include hours of uninterrupted computer work, shallow stressrelated breathing, poor sleep, limited upperback mobility, and no regular movement throughout the day. The neck may be where the alarm is sounding, but it may not be the entire story. A chiropractic evaluation can be one part of a more complete conversation about movement, function, spinal health, and lifestyle patterns. The goal is not merely to chase a pain score from one day to the next. It is to help you better understand your body and make choices that support greater resilience over time. A Better Relationship with Your Health You do not need to wait until pain becomes severe before paying attention to your health. Tightness, achiness, and reduced mobility are not inconveniences to automatically ignore; they can be invitations to slow down, assess your habits, and support your body more intentionally. If you are stuck in a cycle of recurring discomfort, consider scheduling an appointment at Any Spine. Additionally, begin with a shift in mindset: your body is not simply something to silence when it gets inconvenient. It is something to listen to, support, and care for before the check-engine light becomes impossible to ignore.
Dr. Zachary LaVigne Owner of Any Spine Chiropractic & Massage Studio IG: @anyspine
SEPTEMBER 2 - 20 • FOX THEATRE For tickets visit www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com
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227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
6 My Sister’s Room66 12th St NE 7 X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave NE
9 Casa Almanera 991 Piedmont Ave NE 10 Campagnolo 980 Piedmont Ave NE 16 G’s Midtown 219 10th St NE 17 Henry’s 132 10th St NE 19 La Hacienda 900 Monroe Dr NE
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14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE
spa/bath 15 Flex Spa
76 4th St. NW
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1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd
26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights
1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd
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35 Mixx 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 36 Oscar's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave SE Lips Atlanta 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE The T Woof's 494 Plasters Ave NE
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SNAPS BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl. com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE CHESHIRE HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE WESTSIDE MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW 840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
BOGGS SOCIAL & SUPPLY 1310 White St. SW Atlanta, GA 30310 boggssocial.com ANSLEY ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK, EDGEWOOD, & DECATUR MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE LORE ATLANTA loreatl.com 466 Edgewood Ave loreatl.com CHOO CHOO’S 3711 N. Decatur 770-374-4343
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SPAS/BATHS ADULT FLEX SPA flexspas.com 76 4th St NW
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SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
The Anti-Selfie: Why Real Life Is Having a Moment Online Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
That’s why a candid photo can feel surprisingly intimate. It isn’t necessarily better because it’s less flattering. It’s better because it suggests there is a person behind the picture—not just a carefully managed image. The Beauty of the In-Between The new authenticity isn’t necessarily about abandoning aesthetics altogether. Let’s be honest: we’re still going to appreciate good lighting, a great outfit, and a thirst trap that deserves its own congressional investigation. It’s more about making room for everything else.
For years, the perfect selfie was practically a social-media currency. Find the right light, angle your face just so, smooth out the background, edit the photo, choose the filter, and – most importantly– take approximately 47 more shots before settling on the one that says effortless. ortless. Except, of course, it wasn’t effortless at all.
Maybe your feed includes the stunning beach photo and the one where you got sunburned. The perfectly styled outfit and the sweats you’ve worn three days in a row. The glamorous night out and the morning-after coffee run. The posed couple’s portrait and the ridiculous picture your partner took when you weren’t paying attention.
These moments tell a fuller story. And they can be particularly meaningful in queer spaces, where representation has often focused on But lately, something has shifted. Across social certain kinds of bodies, relationships, lifestyles, platforms, we’re seeing a growing appetite for and expressions of gender. Sharing the ordinary images that feel less polished, less posed, and expands the picture. Queer life isn’t always a a little more this is what my life actually looks parade, a rooftop party, a shirtless poolside like.. The bathroom mirror selfie with yesterday’s Pride like moment, or a perfectly lit date night. Sometimes laundry in the background. The blurry party it’s grocery shopping, watching trash television, photo. The sweaty post-gym face. The dinner walking the dog, working late, laughing until you where someone caught you mid-bite. The or lying horizontally on the couch for no vacation shot where your hair is doing something snort, reason whatsoever. That counts, too. completely unreasonable. In other words: the perfect selfie is getting some competition from Post Like Nobody’s Judging the imperfect moment. Of course, there is no need to turn authenticity into another social-media rule. You don’t owe Goodbye, Perfection internet your unfiltered face, your messy The appeal isn’t hard to understand. After years the bedroom, your bad hair day, or your vulnerable of highly curated feeds, endless beauty filters, moments. Curating your online presence can be strategic posing, and carefully constructed and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with personal brands, authenticity can feel downright fun, wanting to look hot. rebellious. For LGBTQ+ people, there’s an added layer to this conversation. Many of us have spent parts of our lives figuring out how we want to be seen – or whether it was safe to be seen at all. Social media gave queer people a powerful way to create community, find representation, explore identity, and present ourselves on our own terms. But there can also be pressure to present the right version of queer life: sexy but not too sexual, confident but not arrogant, fashionable but not trying too hard, body-positive but somehow still incredibly hot. Even authenticity can become curated. The result? We can end up performing ourselves rather than simply being ourselves.
The point is choice. Post the photo because you like the memory – not because you’ve calculated which version of yourself will get the most likes. Leave the weird one in the carousel. Don’t automatically delete the picture because your eyes are half closed. Let your friends photograph you laughing. Share the moment before you’ve had time to make it Instagram-perfect. Because maybe the most interesting thing about the next era of social media isn’t looking less perfect. It’s looking more real real.. And somewhere between the flawless selfie and the gloriously blurry snapshot, there might just be a version of ourselves we actually recognize.
KDS Weekend: SMUT Party @ Atlanta Eagle
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Halloween is on a Saturday this year, and I don’t think you understand how serious this is.
Gays, if we all have TSA Pre, then none of us have TSA Pre!
I thought I was going to an orgy. Turns out his name was R J. When you talk about him, you’re smirking like he was just inside of you.
Storm chaser is probably one of the The way my back can hurt from coolest ways to be unemployed. arching those cheeks. A finger up your *ss on the dancefloor. Is that gay?
People thing I’m 100% top, but I’m so happy to announce that I’m also a vers spooner.
Don’t ignore what your body is saying. We’ll help you understand it & start healing.
Dr. Zachary LaVigne, D.C. William Hernandez, LMT
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