Over at JungoRoad.com, I did a video interview with Zodiac Cartel and Lee Coombs while I was on vacation in San Francisco for the LovEvolution festival.
These two guys are at the top of their game.
Jungo Road is featuring DJ ICON with a kick-bootay beatbeat set. Download it and enjoy. Its got big fat beats.
Jungo Road is also going to be covering the San Francisco LovEvolution festival this coming weekend. Video, pics, interviews and things like that.
For about ten years, I’ve wanted to attend a Click + Drag in New York City. The nightlife event evolved from the Jackie 60 crowd at Mother and grew into its own in early 2000. Unfortunately, I lived in Seattle and the event halted after the 9/11 conspiracy.
That changed this past weekend.
For the event, I put together a look that was a fetish geisha rubber dominatrix. I wore black leather boots what went almost to my knee, had 1.5″ platform and 6″ heels. A rubber corset with Japanese style flowers and bamboo on it. Fishnet hose. A rubber miniskirt. Makeup. And a geisha style wig.
Clck + Drag was wonderful; filled with engaging, fun, creative freaks in all their glory. I arrived abot 1am. Jessica Rabbit Domination and Hattie were working the door. I lost my ticket somewhere so coughed up some more dough; they were nice to give me a door discount. I handed off my coat and started back up to the main space. On the way, I met MaKi* who took this great shot of me. Thank you MaKi*! When I entered the main space, I was pummeled with Sammy Jo’s music; who by the way was wearing a rubber tuxedo. It was techy-deep-funked out bliss. People everywhere.
I was immediately approached by a woman. She said her name was Lucille and that she was waiting for me all night. I had never met her before but immediately I liked her. She was in proper high-end mature goth garments and beautiful. I invited her to have a drink with me; she wanted white wine. We went over to the bar hand in hand. Shortly after I ordered, an older gentleman came over and said he had to leave. I said to him, “So soon?” He said yes and left. I didn’t know him. And then Lucille said she had to go with him. I said goodnight and told the bartender she didn’t need that wine anymore.
I met my friends Julio, Ryan, and Blue on the dance floor. By then, both of them had stripped off some clothing. Julio to pants. Ryan to a jock strap. There was a faint smell of poppers and then suddenly I found them at my face. I ducked to avoid; I personally don’t like them. We were talking of outfits, or lack thereof, when Abby Ehmann appeared.
I love Abby. I’m slowly getting to know her and its a delight. She was one of the originators of the original Click + Drag years ago. She was also a Burning Man regional for the New York City area recently. She’s got a good soul, creative spirit, and a megawatt smile. She’s also a master of smut. We gabbed on about the night, the nightlife scene in New York, and how she thinks I’m the perfect mix of west coast, gay, Burning Man, and New York. I like to think so, even if it makes me quadpolar.
Soon after, the Pixie Harlots performed. I have two friends (and others I’m getting to know) in the troupe. Darrell Thorne was front and center holding fire and slowly gyrating while wearing a horned headdress. Machine Dazzle appeared later in a skirt made of football shoulder guards and a welders helmet; all of it sequined and mirrored. All of it. The Harlots’ performance was perfection. The Village Voice captured many pictures from the night. I’m in picture 34 with my friends Ryan and Blue.
And then (hang with me), Sammy Jo segued off the turntables and Xris Smack took over. Xris played a darker more industrial sound. I hadn’t heard that sound since my twenties in Atlanta dancing at the Millhouse with Angela. It consumed me and I was in dark dancing heaven.
And then (so much more to come), a tall woman named Jennifer appeared. She asked me if I thought I was the tallest person in the room; taller than she. We checked and I was maybe an inch or two taller. We were both wearing high heels. (Side note: my feet were killing me. It was my first time in heels.) She and I clucked on about everything from other outfits to the Harlots to laser hair removal.
Somewhere along the way, more glasses of Maker’s were consumed. I danced with a guy dressed head to toe in rubber with only a zipper open for his mouth, three small holes for his eyes and nose, and rubber port to piss. I caught up Machine. Complimented Rob Roth on his projection visuals. Exchanged compliments with another woman in Asian garb. Teased and was teased by Leo because his boyfriend/my friend, Blue, and I are his wet dream. Ran into
Slowly, we moved downstairs where Sammy Jo had started playing music again. This time in pansexual dance classics like West End Girls, Rio, and others that all of us just smiled and smiled. I felt as if the music warmly embraced our pansexual (in my case, gay) dance asses.
Sometime around 5 am, I and my feet were done. I gave kisses to all, hugs to some, and a grope or two. It was a fantastic night. It would have been great to experience the actual event back in the late 90s, but time has passed along with nightlife culture. New York is not the same as it was back then. Its a little sad. But we do have some groups, like the friends and family of Mother NYC and the Jackie Factory that march forward creative rich nightlife. I bow to them and give my greatest thanks! I also thank New York City for which there is no other place that Click + Drag could occur.
Here are some pictures I took from the 2008’s Night of a Thousand Stevies #18. An amazing night!
My friends at Mr. Black and Tubway launch a new saturday night party “The Church Sessions” starting this Saturday 15 March 2008.
Expect the spirit and energy of Mr. Black combined with the serious house, soulful, sexy, banging beats (on up to four turntables at once) of the Tubway family. As Edina from Ab Fab said, “Names…names…names!” Many kick-ass people are involved in this to make it a party…to make it a new statement on the New York City nightlife scene.
Go go go! I’ll also be there with bells on. This Saturday night, 150 Varick @ Vandam in New York City. $10 before 2am, $15 after.
I remember now. Two weeks ago, a photographer was in Nowhere Bar. I’m talking with friends and then suddenly we’re posing for a shot. In the first, I was out of fame. Duh…I’m tall. So he asked me to scoot down. But rather than smartly bent my knees, I instead leaned my head down. Finally asked for spelling of my name to potentially be in HX magazine. HX is also known as Homo Xtra, the Totally Biased, Politically Incorrect Party Paper, the hottest guide to gay nightlife and culture in New York City.
So I look like The Hunchback of Nowhere Bar. Ugh.
But as Liz Smith told me, all press is good press.
Tonight, my friend Rainblo invited me to his new event, Sideshow. Sideshow is each Sunday night currently based in Tillman’s located at 165 W 26th St, New York. Open bar from 10-11pm w/ performances throughout the night. This opening night, the performances included sexy women dance group, erotic ballet, and juggling. Rainblo owned the room MCing the performers, spurring the crowd on to debauchery, and keeping the spirit fun, sexy and full of life. The venue has a great vibe and is perfect for this show. I’m going back for more Sideshow!
Ran into Josh, Amy from Atlanta, Murray, Rich Rent, Paul Alexander, and more. Paul Alexander is an icon of mine; being part of the Jackie 60 crew and The Ones. Paul and I talked for a while on his current band as well as his history with Jackie. I made a trip to New York City in October 1996 with a major reason being a part of a Jackie 60 party. I did and that experience is one of the significant inspiration moments in my past leading me to what I do today. I have a fantastic story about calling the Jackie 60 phone number that Tuesday morning to hear the theme and crawling the city to put together my outfit. It includes a rubber miniskirt, the Path train, and approval from Kitty Boots on my outfit you see me wearing in this picture. Ask me sometime and I’m happy to tell you this story.
Last Thursday, Sept 20th, my friend Khris held his first fashion show. It was in Astoria, NY. He had three models, many outfits, and pro hair and accessory support from his crew.
I liked several of his outfits. One woman fell in love with a dress and is having Khris make one specifically for her.
It was my first time in Astoria. I heard that is was originally a Greek community but has grown to be much more culturally diverse. I loved the models. They were beautiful, sweet, and reminded me of Jenny From the Block
There, Khris, his friends, and I stopped by Nowhere bar. Turns out it was Trannie night. Again, women in great outfits and having fun. Khris and I continued on to Lotus to meet my friend Rainblo where we picked up a friend of Khris’ and we ended the night at Cielo.
Weeee. The doc gave me a short supply of Zyrtec until my preferred Allegra arrives in the mail. Zyrtec always makes me dazed and I feel like I’m floating. No heavy machinery for me. It works great for allergies, but I can’t take it regularly.
Much of today was rest and zoning out. As it got later in the afternoon, my head cleared and I decided to venture out for Low Life at the Howl! Festival. The festival is named in honor of the groundbreaking poem Howl! by Allen Ginsberg
I first saw Miz Metro, The Trashion Dancers, and Room 404 Media. Her voice reminded me of Gwen Stefani’s “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.”
The highlight for me was Low Life. Its a production at this year’s festival done by the Jackie Factory crew. They are most famous for the JACKIE 60 party throughout the 90s. It ran for 10 years, had over 550 themed weekly editions of JACKIE 60 and ended on top. I made the opportunity to go to one in, I think, 1996 with the theme being the french fetish photographer “Molaire”. I could have the name wrong; its 11 years ago. Someday, I document the hilarious and wonderful story of the tues of the Jackie 60 party starting with me calling a telephone number to get the theme. Meanwhile, if you see me in person, ask me and I’ll gladly tell you the story in person.
Low Life was fun. Easily 150 people were in the audience and included nightlife luminaries from 90s and today. I saw my friends Spot, Desi, and Brendan. Johny Dynell was upstage overseeing everything. Hattie Hathaway and Paul Alexander were MCs. I stayed for the first part of the show and saw the following performers: Dirty Martini, Sweetie, Trina Rose, Miss Delirium Tremens, Acid Betty, Robert La Fossee w/ his Broadway B’Hoyz, and Voltaire.
About 6:30pm, I left to head down to Battery Park. The River to River festival is still going and tonight the Joyce Theater and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council present the Paul Taylor Dance Company; one of the best dance troupes in New York! A borrowed summary from a River to River press release:
Tonight features the work of one of modern dance’s most celebrated artists with over 50 years of dance-making. Audiences will have the opportunity to see one of The Joyce’s 25th Anniversary Commissions with the New York premiere of De Sueños (“Of Dreamsâ€), a surrealistic dreamscape referencing Mexican culture and folklore as the Day of the Dead and the Deer Dance. In Polaris (1976), the choreography of the first section is repeated step for step in the second, but performed by different dancers, to different music and with different lighting – the results are fascinating. The program is completed by Company B (1991), set to hits of the Andrews Sisters, is a distillation of 1940s Americana tempered by the shadows of GIs dying in World War II.
I called my friend Paul, a modern dancer, to come join me. The performance was stellar. I got a great seat center stage maybe 12 “rows” back. It was lawn general admission so I couldn’t see the dancer’s feet, but the rest was clear. I got almost 400 pictures. A few are linked here, I’ll upload more later as I toss the poor ones.
After the performance I needed to decide whether to go to Blowoff or take a quick roundtrip ride on the Staten Island Ferry. I’m still not well and didn’t have the energy to go out to a late night party. So, Paul and I took the ferry ride. It was my first time on it. There are clear views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the New York skyline. I intend to visit Ellis Island soon so check for any Phurrough’s that came across the ocean. Its very likely the spelling will be wonky so it’ll be a hunt.
I did want to go to Blowoff tonight. My friend, Andy, was doing the PR for it. It was an alt-rock and electronic music show with Richard Morel and Bob Mould; they both host and DJ a musical smackdown featuring their meaty signature mix of indie rock, electro and house. So says my friend.
I remember Morel for his fantastic song “True (the Faggot Is You)” back in 1999. I heard it both in afterhour clubs and also got it on Deep Dish’s mix CD Yoshiesque
Starting today, I’m going to start taking my pictures in 16:9 widescreen format. I like the way it guides me to frame the shot and also provides more context of the surroundings. These I took on my way to the gym.
Later that night, I met my friend Peter for a cocktail party at his home. I was happy to also see Todd who flew in from Los Angeles. I know them both and they have become a long-distance couple with plans for Todd to move to New York City. I also met a few new friends at the party before we went out to Cielo.
Now, I knew ahead of time that Junior Vasquez was performing. I know his music style. And I know that I don’t like it. Vocal house w/ screeching divas, gay anthems, and the trancey-house sound that makes the gays go bump-bump in the night. But I wasn’t there for the music, instead for the friends and scene. For the scene, it was a good party and we all were having fun. I met The Legendary Father Chris, a longtime club denizen of New York since the 80s. He got me laughing more than once. Met a nice guy and woman out on the patio and spent some time lounging with them.
I went home probably 3am. I started out going the right direction, but found myself wandering in the West Village because of the architecture there and the look of the streets. So I became lost, but I didn’t care. Just kept wandering. Eventually, I hailed a cab and headed home.
