Justin Bond Concert in NYC! New "Pink Slip" EP! Hurrah!
Beauty, thy name is Bond.
Justin Bond may be known best as the singing/cocktail-wielding Kiki, one-half of the world-renowned performance duo, Kiki and Herb, and it’s no wonder. The pair have had a Tony-nominated run on Broadway, played Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House -- and of course crusty gay venues from Avenue A to Kangaroo Island.
But Justin Bond is striking out on his own, with a new EP of original music just released, and a big concert next Wednesday, July 22nd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. The EP, Pink Slip, boasts 4 new original tunes from Bond and his collaborator Our Lady J, and one killer Radiohead cover (“Weird Fishes”). The results are gorgeous, dramatic, melodic, severe and searingly fresh, much like Bond himself. (“The Puppet Song” is beyond fabulous.) And head’s up: A full-length release of new tunes from Justin is due later this year!
If you’re in NYC, don’t miss the concert next week. Clint Michigan (a rising indie duo you should know) will be opening, as will the comic treats Jeffery & Cole (also seen in "Jeffery & Cole’s Casserole" on Logo). AND... If you can, splurge and buy the VIP seats for the show; for $50, the proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, which provides housing and services for LGBT homeless youth. Plus, you’ll get a meet-and-greet with La Bond himself!
And go check out Butt Magazine’s great, lengthy new interview with Justin, in which he discusses his music-making process, Radical Faeries, Michael Jackson, life after Kiki, and other tasty topics.
After the jump, check out our video interview with Justin and Our Lady J from last year, when Justin's show "Lustre" was opening at P.S. 122 in the East Village. (And apologies: The sound on the video is low. You'll need to turn it UP. Thanks!)
Fritz Helder and the Phantoms Go All Out at Mr. Black
With so much fierceness/craziness on one stage, how could this night be anything but amazing?
When I think of the up-and-coming glam/electro/dance confab Fritz Helder and the Phantoms, the last thing I think of is the word boring. Flashy, wild, hip, and crazy are the more likely to come to mind. I had the opportunity to see them perform at Mr. Black in NYC this past Friday and they definitely did not disappoint. Maybe it was the open bar, the hot shirtless men, or the awesome performance, but that show was one of the craziest and most entertaining ones I've been to in a while.
The boys and girls of Fritz Helder and the Phantoms started the night off by being introduced by their mentor (and the celeb whose label their debut is out on) Nelly Furtado, who disappeared as quickly as she came out. Seriously, it was a "blank and you miss her" moment. After the quick introduction, the band went into a thirty minute onslaught of loud music, crazy dancing, voguing and posing, and all around craziness. It was awesome. Each song was better and louder than the next.
Muscled up dancers and all around insanity...after the jump!
Video: A Visit to Butt Magazine's Big BANG Party in NYC!
A few weeks ago, everyone's favorite artsy/risque gay mag BUTT Magazine threw a big party here in NYC, hosting a slate of some of the most raucously cool up-and-coming bands, including Hunx and his Punx, Salem, and the rappin' freshness that is Sissy Nobby and Big Freedia.
We went to the sweaty, sexy, trashy BUTT BANG affair and we took a camera along to record some of the madness. Have a look! And you'll hear from BUTT Mag's own Michael Bullock and Adam Baran -- and the performers -- about why BUTT is something you can never get enough of!
Awwww, you gotta love sexy/dirty/cool NYC.
Sissy Nobby & Big Freedia came to celebrate, Kids! Salut! Photo courtesy of Althea Smith, via ButtMagazine.com.
Also, big props to our intern Gina Valvo for shooting & editing the above video, too!
An Interview & Performance Peek from Kind Monitor's Joshua Guthals
--by Becca Roth
Four months ago, on a crowded subway, Aja Spears and Joshua Guthals first met. She was batting her eyelashes, minding her own business, when a tall, dark and handsome man bumped into her with his guitar case. He apologized profusely and told her she was very beautiful. They began spending lots of time together, and four months later wound up with a residency at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, singing beautiful duets to intellectual indie audiences every Thursday in July. Perfect fairy tale? Except that Joshua’s gay. (Or maybe that’s even more perfect?)
Joshua (seen above! watch!) is the frontman for the up-and-coming Brooklyn-based band Kind Monitor (or perhaps he himself is Kind Monitor; the world may never know). I was fortunate enough to catch the first installment of “The Aja and Joshua Show” last Thursday at Pete’s, where Joshua and his impossibly stunning subway-riding friend Aja enchantingly harmonize acoustic originals as well as covers. Not only is the duo very nice to look at, but their unique sound, mixed with the cool red atmosphere of the intimate but not stuffy space that is Pete’s Candy Store, is something definitely worth checking out.
Why should you know all this? The pair will perform four more weekly (free!) shows at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg at 9 PM. The show is under an hour (it’s a school night) and every week is a different set, so keep on comin’ back!
More Kind Monitor show info, and the "Cairo" video, after the jump!
Pride Weekend Mega-Show: Stonewall 40th Anniversary Concert & Love Ball!
Advertised as the "Woodstock" of gay concerts, the Stonewall 40th Anniversary Commemorative Concert is set to turn NYC's Times Square on its gay ear when it serves up a night of great music and entertainment (while honoring the Stonewall riots, the catalyst for the gay rights movement, of course). Combining gospel singers, porn stars-turned-singers, and drag queen trios performing electropop (and lots, lots more), I highly doubt the concert won't keep you entertained.
Be sure to stick around after the show for the Love Ball after party at 10pm. Continuing in the theme of having the most eclectic group of performers, the Love Ball will feature tributes to Judy Garland, Broadway musicals, and the Harlem house balls. Expect lots of voguing, hot men, and plenty of dancing.
The list of performers for the big Stonewall Concert include a mega-list of fab out music artists. There's host Murray Hill, and then comes (stand back...) Billy Porter, Deepa Soul, Baron, Colton Ford, Jasper James & She Dick, Lori Michaels, Rachael Sage, Ari Gold, Ajoshua, Kin4Life, Christine Martucci, Jen Urban & The Box, The Maine Attraction, Jason Walker, The Lavender Light, Gospel Choir, DELI, Ron Morris, Johnny McGovern, Ariel & The Hired Guns. The event will also honor Jack Doroshow, the Legendary Mother Queen “Sabrina Flawless”, Mildred “Dred” Gerestant and Randy Jones, the original Cowboy from the Village People.
The concert takes place Saturday, June 27th, at 8pm at the Nokia Theater in Times Square, while the Love Ball starts at 10pm in the same theater. The concert and ball are sponsored by OutMusic in association with Saint at Large.
Check out pictures of the performers after the jump!
BUTT Goes BANG with a Big, Possibly Trashy Concert in NYC
Everyone's favorite artsy and always risque gay mag BUTT has decided to offer a pre-pride concert at New York's Knitting Factory to bring a more modern spin on the month's rainbow-hued festivities called "Bang!". Taking place this Friday, the concert will feature three up and coming new bands: goth-juke band Salem from Chicago, garage punk band Hunx and his Punx from San Francisco, and New Orleans bounce rapper Sissy Nobby. Expect trashy boys rocking out with their, er... festive bits out.
The boys of Salem, Hunx and his Punx and Sissy Nobby want to "BANG" you. That's cool, right?
The always classy BUTT, the smart and savvy pink-paged magazine published out of The Netherlands, always aims to combine the titillating with the thought-provoking. It's a brilliant mix of Marc Jacobs and male hustlers; of raunchy man-action and high-end culture. Or something like that. Order your tickets now at Ticket Web before they run out. Something tells me this is going to be one scandalous (meaning excellent) concert.
Nexty Winners The Fire and Reason to Rock NYC's Power Ball Tomorrow!
With the help of The Fire and Reason, winners of the Brink of Fame: New Artist at the NewNowNext Awards, the Power Ball, a celebration of the dance music community's commitment to expanding the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include LGBT people, should prove to be a great event. The celebration is run by The Power, an online organizing network dedicated to fighting for LGBT rights.
I'm all for supporting a good cause while partying, especially when there will be $3 Svedka until midnight! Other performers include Mel Merio, Grooveheadz Orchestra, DJ Kevin Graves, and DJ Christopher Just. There's a $5 minimum donation to get in, and will take place at Santos Party House in New York City. Make sure to squeeze it into all your pride partying!
Hot, talented, and supportive of the gay community? I think they're proving exactly why they won the Nexty for best up and coming artist.
See what all the buzz about The Fire and Reason is after the jump!
NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show: Watch the Red Carpet Insanity Now!
The NewNowNext Awards are gonna be airing any moment now (at 9pm, actually, but sooner right here). But til then, watch the freaked-out red carpet coverage of the very special NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show! The first clip is above to get you started!!!
It's hosted by NewNowNext PopLab's crazy-tastic Mike Diamond, Charlene from the Logo reality series Gimme Sugar: Miami and me (er, that's John Polly of NewNowNext.com, y'all)!
To watch the rest -- featuring Cheyenne Jackson, the Real Housewives of NYC, Christian Siriano, the gigantic Wendy Williams, Scissor Sister Del Marquis, stylista Robert Verdi, hotter-than-hot rapper Eve, and lots more, click to the NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show playlist!!!
Lady Bunny, Patricia Field & Cleve Jones Score amfAR Honors!
Hot host Alan Cumming and the amFAR-award-winning legendary Lady Bunny!
Last night in NYC, the esteemed AIDS-fighting/awareness-raising organization amfAR held its 10th-annual Honoring with Pride gala, in which the bestowed Courage Awards on three notables who've been fighting the battle against AIDS for years: drag legend Lady Bunny, fashion mogul Patricia Field, and long-time activist/Harvey Milk colleague/AIDS Quilt & NAMES Project founder Cleve Jones.
The shindig was held at the Edison Ballroom and was a pretty swank who's-who of NYC gay celebs, showbiz folks, fashion stars and all-around do-gooders! I went and snapped many pics, and rubbed elbows with Project Runway alums (Jack Mackenroth, Kevin Christiana & Christian Siriano), music stars (Debbie Harry, Ari Gold, Colton Ford), designers (Kenneth Cole, The Blonds) and all around glam types (Alan Cumming, Jenny Shimizu, Michael Musto, Cheyenne Jackson)...
Lady Bunny was the most garrulous award recipient, turning her acceptance speech into a rollicking and hilarious foul-mouthed monologue of zingers, teasing her old pal Pat Field, Flotilla, bragging that her hair was bigger & better than amfAR founder Dr. Mathilde Krim's, and generally cracking filthy jokes about servicing busboys ("See this trophy? Now, I'm an award-winning c***sucker!"). But truly, Bunny -- who founded Wigstock and has DJ'd more AIDS benefits than probably anyone -- has always, in her fabulously abrasive and smartly tart way been a champion of queer equality and AIDS awareness.
All this means... Hang on to your hi-tops, this could be the summer of Little Boots! And this coming Monday night (May 18th) she's coming to NYC to do a show at Le Poisson Rouge in the Village, and you can score 2 tickets!
Just be the very, very, very first commenter to post on this blogpost, and you'll win 2 tickets to the show. You must be 21-years-old and there is no purchase necessary. And that's it... First come, first serve!
The winner has to get to the show on their own dime (your 2 free tix will be under your name at Will Call at the venue; doors at 8pm), and be sure to enter your email address when prompted as you comment (it won't be visible to everyone, don't worry), but then you're gold.
Little Boots and her magic horsies are willing you to comment first and WIN!
That's it. Hit it first, you win! And if you don't win, but wanna go here's the show info.
After the jump, the "New in Town" video and a BBC interview!
It's a bright and shiny day in Gay-land!!!! Kylie Minogue has announced she's coming to the US for her first-ever North American tour this fall. Right now, little fawns and ponies and fairies are dancing and rejoicing, from P'town to Blacks Beach (which is just outside of San Diego and full of nudies, fyi)!
I may have to get an American Express card just to be able to buy tix a week before all the other gays. (AmEx cardholders can snatch tix on May 7th -- which is tomorrow! ack!). Everybody else must wait til May 16th.)
The glittery glamfest begins on Sept. 30th in Oakland, and prances through Vegas, L.A., Chicago, Toronto and NYC from there on! See tour dates.
And befitting a nelly icon of her status, Kylie will visit with the wonderful & hag-tastic Kathie Lee and Hoda on The Today Show this Sunday, May 8th to discuss it all. I'll be drunk and watching!!! With my Mom!!!
Below is the graphic Ky-Ky's got posted for the tour already. Bonkers! Brilliance!
After the jump, four reason why she rules... Video-style!
Amanda Palmer & Neil Gaiman Pair Up for Housing Works Show in NYC
Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer isn't content to just be a spirited, wildly talented, weird and queerly cool music artist. She's also all about creating theatre and visuals and stories and all flavors of twisted art and media. Her fans know this already of course...
And so does author/sci-fi god Neil Gaiman, as he's a fan and the pair have collaborated on the book version of her sonic opus "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?". Fans of both (or either) will be tingling to hear that the pair will unite for an event at NYC's Housing Works Bookstore/Cafe (where Bjork is performing this Friday) on June 3rd for a reading/performance, which is certain to be trippily fantastic.
Poison Eve serves her own brand of Stevie Nicks at "Night of 1,000 Stevies" last Friday in NYC. Photo by Zazoo & Santori.
--Guest Blogger, Jon Mallow
Last Friday night I grabbed my lace shawl and headed down to the legendary Night of 1000 Stevies at New York’s High Line Ballroom. At the risk of sounding a little dramatic (me? dramatic? No way!), this is one of the greatest nightlife events of all time. If you even like Stevie Nicks a little and have the opportunity to attend a NOTS in the future you should. I brought a friend with me who was not a huge Stevie fan and guess what…now she is.
From the moment I walked in and heard the opening chords of "Rhiannon" until the moment I left (at the very end, naturally), the room was full of enchanted magical energy. The place was packed, but that was never an issue. Everyone was so nice and so in tune with each other that waiting for a drink or making my way through the tight crowd became fun. Everyone was there for the same reason and was feeling the same Stevie vibe. It’s really beautiful. And don't even get me started on the gorgeous costumes... So many beautiful "girls" dressed as Stevie. Machine Dazzle's many dove'd hat was, as expected, a work of art (see more pictures after the jump!).
Amanda Lepore's new single and video, "Cotton Candy," is coming at you like a vicious, delightful, fluffy pink storm! This Sunday night (May 3rd) in NYC, there's a big bash at the Hiro Ballroom celebrating the world premiere of the video, which looks pretty amazing!
The clip is very Doris Day/Mamie Van Doren meets Russ Meyer, with Amanda pouting and puckering and posing among fluffy fake fur and pink prints, while Cazwell (in cute Clark Kent drag) plays her gallant suitor. The tune sounds sort of B-52s versus Le Tigre at a John Waters film festival, which means it's adorable!
God bless Amanda Lepore. I don't know of a more benign media figure who simply seems to exist to promote the virtues of lighthearted glamour and having fun, all via a truly revolutionarily subversive persona. Bless!
After the jump, more details about this Sunday's "Cotton Candy" video party at Hiro Ballroom; and a glimpse of Amanda in Tiga's "Sunglasses at Night" video, just to sate your Lepore jones for today.
Bebe Zahara Benet On Tour! Plus, Rebecca Glasscock! And Interviews!
It's like stumbling across a hidden gem! I did these interviews last week with the RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bebe Zahara Benet and the #3 draglette, Rebecca Glasscock, and amid all the frenzy over Bebe winning and other stuff, I'm just now getting them posted. But these broads are timeless, so no matter!
Above, Bebe opines on her own fabulousness and what's next for her... Catch Bebe tonight in Chicago as she hits the road with the big Absolut Real Fruit Tour, part of her prize for winning Ru's big drag battle. This weekend the tour takes her to Miami, and in two weeks she heads to SF and LA. It's like a traveling Glamapalooza!
Below, Rebecca tells us what she's up to now, living in NYC. She's hosting karaoke in Queens at the Lavish Lounge! And she's got advice for eager little drag beavers who wanna sign up for Drag Race, Season 2!
GLAAD served up a third of its annual Media Awards in NYC on Saturday night. Tyra Banks and Suze Orman were the night's big honorees, with Ty-Ty getting the Excellence in Media Awards for all the gay goodness she delivers on her talk show and on America's Next Top Model. Yep, you can debate how hard of a stretch it is for La Banks to put gay folks on TV when she's producing a show about fashion and the modeling industry and a daytime talk show, which has long been a showcase for LGBT issues, if often for the sensationalistic nature of how the topic is featured ("Gasp! My husband is GAY!" or "Men who want to be Women!!"). But still, Tyra's a big star and a gay icon, so... There ya go!
Clay Aiken appeared to introduce Tyra. Do with that what you will. It's good that Clay's out gaying it up openly. And evidently he guest stars on Top Model this week, so thus the Tyra link. And... That's about it, thanks.
Finance and money-advice guru Suze Orman is a goddess, however, so it was fun to see her get praise (she won GLAAD's Vito Russo Award) for being a longtime lesbian and outspoken media queen. Onsage, Orman was all enthusiasm and energy, calling on the big gay GLAAD audience to only spend money on corporations who support the LGBT community, calling out those who've supported her, like CNBC, GE, Random House, Avon, Oprah and such. Suze thanked her long-term partner, KT Travis, and the two were all over the event, hugging and talking and posing for photos with anyone who'd approach them. Total delights!!!
Suze Orman and her partner K.T. Travis. Yay!
More on the stars and a zillion pics after the jump!
If you couldn't cram in to NYC's Therapy bar on Monday night for the big RuPaul's Drag Race finale party (and for all I know you were there, it was so damned packed) have a look at the lil' video above to get a sense of the vibe.
The crowd was rabid and the evening's hostesses, the estimable Eve Starr and the thrillingly hilarious Mimi Imfurst, were pretty damned fantastic. And they had the big winner Bebe Zahara Benet on hand, serving her with her big fat Absolut prize money check at show's end. (Actually, Absolut's Jeffrey Moran did the official hand-off.)
Gorgeous bad girl Rebecca Glasscock was in the house, too. Both Drag Racers performed for the crowd, and all around it was mayhem and bliss.
Spring Break 2009: Jon's Top 7 Sydney Mardi Gras Looks
They're not alone... Hooray for Sydney Mardi Gras!
Guest Blogger: Jon Mallow
Last weekend, as part of a great 10-day trip around Australia, I went to the Sydney Mardi Gras parade. It's kind of like a gay pride parade in NY or LA, but much, much bigger and a national event. It's televised and attended by lots of people from across the sexual spectrum... It's amazing!
At the suggestion of our friend Michael at Qantas (thanks Michael!), we had press passes and got an incredible view. Everyone brought it to the ball, but here are 7 of the top looks I spied among and thousands of revellers turning it out.
Number 7: The Sequin Table Dress
There's never been a convenient place to rest your soda while walking through the city in evening wear...until now.
Number 6: Fly Me To The Moon
This guy had a huge, um, wing-span. Continue past the jump to see it!
It's a handy guide to what's new and hot. Alongside suggestions for the city's best chicken wings, best men's haircut or where to get a (legit) deep tissue massage, two items caught my eye... The BEST GAY BAR prize goes to the relatively new-ish East Village dive/lounge The Hose. Which makes sense, cuz it's on the still slightly seedy Avenue B, and it hosts some fun regular parties that are sassy and unpredictable and popular. Like Friday's swarthy MooseKnuckle, and the monthly Saturday night funfest Rocket. And they have big fun rubber hoses which hang from the ceiling. Swinging!
Back during her first go-round, Madonna was quite the fag hag, always seen hitting up gay hotspots in NYC. From her earliest Danceteria days ("Holiday!") to later when she'd hit the Roxy with then beau Warren Beatty or show up at Misshapes to DJ to promote "Confessions," Madonna was a NYC gay bar's surprise guest du jour.
There was no lumbering security or big fuss. The pair just hung out, celebrated and caught dragster Bianca Del Rio's weekly gig. And Madge even took it in stride when, during Del Rio's show, a contestant misidentified Britney's "Gimme More" as a Madonna tune.
What? No one was flogged for such an offense? Hmmmm... Jesus really is helping the old gal relax.
Does this mean she's moving back to NYC? Can we expect to see more?
Jack Mackenroth's Fashion Week Begins! John Bartlett, Chad White & Jillian Lewis
For the next week or so, Project Runway alum and all-around fantastic man, designer Jack Mackrenroth, is gonna be dishing up Fashion Week in NYC for us here at NewNowNext.com! Enjoy, Kittens. Go Jack!
We’ll, it’s here again! The Bryant Park tents are up for the last time before they move to Lincoln Center. The models are emaciated, the editors are frenetic and the designers are popping Xanax in a mad last minute panic. Fashion Week officially starts today, Friday the 13th (oooooooh), but the festivities kicked off yesterday.
I braved the cold and ridiculous wind–my hair was a hot mess–all for the fashion frenzy that is about to crash land in NYC. My day started with a fabulous installation by ubertalented super cutie Jillian Lewis my friend and fellow Project Runway Season 4 designer.
Jack & Jillian
Jack's delicious Fahion Week coverage continues. After the jump, hottie Chad White, John Bartlett and more!
Kat DeLuna's Big Gay Tour & "Unstoppable" New Video
Kat Deluna: Is that a gay bathroom stall?
Dominican pop starlet Kat DeLuna has a new tune and new album coming at you. And she's enlisted none other than Grammy-slayer Lil' Wayne to help her out. The album is called Inside Out and the new tune is "Unstoppable." Watch the wiggy madness here!
Deluna's totally fun. She looks like she's 12 (she's actually 21) but has the fashion sense of a Vegas drag-queen matriarch! Which maybe explains why she's on the road on a gay nightclub tour right now! She talked to the MTV Tr3s pop-culture blog, Blogamole (best blog name ever) about it:
What made you launch a national gay club tour?
I actually have a huge gay following and I toured with Cyndi Lauper last year. [The tour] is all about gay pride. It is a U.S. tour with additional dates in Mexico.
Bring it, Kat! See ya at the club! Check her big gay tour dates after the jump!
National Drag History Month: A Scintillating Interview with Sweetie!
It’s officially February now, but there’s still time for one last interview celebrating January as Drag History Month! And here 'tis...
The divine Sweetie is NYC’s own self-proclaimed “big-tittied honky soul mama,” but that ain’t all she is. This peerless drag veteran and Detroit native has been rocking the city for over a decade, coming of age and holding her own with some of the most formidable drag superstars ever – such as RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Linda Simpson, Misstress Formika...
Sweetie cut her teeth onstage a legendary homo haunts such as Boy Bar, Pyramid and Jackie60, and her weekly Cheez Whiz and High Life/Low Life nights out were some of the most fun, talent-filled events NYC has seen. Ever.
She’s a scathingly funny and brilliantly smart comedienne, a sassy glamourpuss, and she can lip-synch the sh*t out of any tune, branding it with her own sizzling drama. She’s appeared on film (Starrbooty), onstage (most recently, in Off-Broadway hit Wig Out) and on TV (you saw her on Project Runway last season, right?) and whenever she hits the stage in NYC it’s a truly blissful delight.
Sweetie’s one of the creators of a fab documentary about drag, the hard work and shear artistry that goes into it, called Charmed Life. She’s working hard to educate the world. Give her props!
But most of all, Sweetie is uncannily hilarious and a general agent for goodness and integrity in the world. But don’t just take my word for it, check out her interview (and a video snippet!) after the jump!
National Drag History Month: A Pretty & Witty Interview with High-Profile Drag Queen Linda Simpson
Ladies and Gentleman, your hostess, Linda Simpson!
Linda Simpson is the Fran Lebowitz of the NYC drag scene. Only less rumpled. She's the sharp wit, the smart cookie, the funny hostess, the savvy writer, the sly comedienne... And she's been doing it forever!
Somewhere between 1987 and 1992 Linda founded My Comrade magazine, "the revolutionary gay magazine," which was a compendium of art and words celebrating downtown NYC in all of it's twisted, draggy, hard-living, high-art, grungy pre-Giuliani hey-day. She cut her teeth in the NYC club scene alongside such talents as Lady Bunny, RuPaul, Sweetie and Misstress Formika, and Linda was also a cohost of the legendary gay cable show Party Talk in the mid-90s!
Basically, Linda's never stopped. MyComrade.com thrives now as a blog. And Linda also has found time to work as a magazine editor at Time Out New York, a playwright (her play The Bad Hostess recently debuted in NYC) and a bon vivant, a weekly bingo hostess and cultural superstar.
Paper Magazine even dubbed Linda "the thinking woman's drag queen." Such a brainy girl... But still very popular!
Please enjoy an interview with Linda after the jump. It's short! After all, brevity is the soul of wit. And so is Linda!
National Drag History Month: An Intoxicating Interview with Sherry Vine
Sherry Vine works hard for the money. The longtime NYC drag darling sings, hosts, cracks jokes, travels the globe, acts -- and she's been doing it for aeons! When she puts her lips around a song (either a parody, or just by twisting a pop gem around her titanic vocal chords), watch out.
One of Manhattan's nightlife veterans, she's worked stages in unforgettable Theater Couture shows in the East Village throughout the 1990s with troupers like Jackie Beat and Mario Diaz, and Sherry was also one of the legendary Bar d'O divas, belting tunes weekly alongside mega-talents like Joey Arias, Raven O and Sade Pendarvis.
Sherry's always had a scathing wit, big hair, masses of lipstick and a yeoman-like dedication to her gorgeous craft. She's even becoming a burgeoning video star: Check her Britney-inspired "Supersizer" for which she teamed up with porn pup Ben Andrews. It's big.
You can also glimpse Sherry in the fierce video for up-and-coming Brooklyn band Neon Glitter Bliss' scorching electropop nugget "Wilted Flower." It's in the running to be named "Ultimate Drag Video" (which gets announced later night on Logo's Click List, 11pm EST), and I'm guessing it'll be up there!
For National Drag History Month, we quizzed Ms. V about her inspirations, gender issues, drag icons and the high cost of looking so fabulously cheap. Read the full exchange after the jump!
JD Samson, originally of Le Tigre fame, has long been imprinting the DJ scene with fresh sounds, from her joint project DJ MEN (with Le Tigre bandmate Johanna Fateman) to boisterous individual shows.
So as a huge Le Tigre fan, I was shocked to hear a rumor that last month on New Year's Eve JD Samson DJed in Australia and cleared out a dance floor of 200 people. Maybe Australians dance differently than Americans? Determined to find out if there was any truth to this rumor, this past week I went to see JD spin at Plumm in the West Village.
Tonight's All About Big Balls! Including a Gay One!
Tonight in D.C. there are 10 or so big Inaugural Balls dropping. (Heh, heh...) And one of the most fabulous will certainly be the shindig sponsored by the HRC. Out for Equality will gay it up at the Mayflower Hotel and feature performances by Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Dave Koz, Thelma Houston, Catie Curtis and surely some others. It's sold out, but maybe you can flirt your way in?
At the biggie, the Neighborhood Ball, Beyonce will sing the Etta James classic "At Last" (which she also sings in Cadillac Records) as the First Couple take the floor for their first dance.
MTV will broadcast live from D.C. tonight with "Be the Change: Live from the Inaugural" starting at 10pm, which will be full of dish and news from the whole crazy ball scene around D.C.
New Queer Bands Alert! Inner Princess, The French Letter & Ladystein
Posted by Tate Nova
Once a month Cake Shop, a queer-friendly venue nestled in the Lower East Side of NYC, hosts a monthly musical bash of up and coming queer artists called Queers, Beers and Rears, and this past Saturday night did not disappoint. On hand there were rowdy hipsters, adorable fans, and enough homo-enthusiasm to rally even the most skeptical rocker. Also, their male go-go dancers were better than cheerleaders!
Peep the video above to see a glimpse at some up-and-comers you might wanna know about... And get more dirt on them after the jump!
Helping stuff gay stockings: (clockwise from left) Debbie Harry, "Simply Barbra" and Lady Bunny -- with Vanessa Williams!
Christmas is a week away; Hannukah's even closer! If the seasonal spirit of giving charitably hasn't hit you yet, we understand (we're all feeling poor right now). But if you do want to share the love and donate during the holidays, here are some ideas how to help!
Today's Huffington Post has a piece by Ryan J. Davis illustrating the urgent situation faced by homeless LGBT youth in New York City. Right now, the Ali Forney Center, the city's leading organization that houses and serves these kids is in a bind, financially. If you can chip in with a donation, you can help make sure that a gay kid who's been kicked to the curb by his or her family gets a second chance at life.
If you need a little theatrical urging, Barbra Streisand might influence you. Actually, the supreme Babs impersonator Steven Brinberg is doing his "Simply Barbra" show this Saturday in NYC as a fundraiser for the Ali Forney Center, fyi...
Plus, a hot GMHC/Deborah Harry/Lady Bunny/Xmas party fundraiser after the jump!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have jumped on the Xmas song sleigh ride. They’ve got their own take on “All I Want for Christmas.” And no it’s not the Mariah tune. - MySpace
Gahhhh! A sneak peek at the new season of Lost. Ben and Jack are shacked up in a hotel. And Locke’s still in the orchid station? Plus, Sawyer! And Juliette! And general confusion. - NY Mag
All this and True Blood season 2 dish, too??? Fang-bang me, already! - EW.com
Finally, the Kardashians' modest Bev Hills manse is on the market. For $3.4 million. Can you keep up? – L.A. Times
Gossip Girl baddie Chuck Bass, aka actor Ed Westwick hung out last night in NYC's West Village at the lovely basement bar, Marie's Crisis on Grove Street, deep in the heart of the super-gay Christopher Street hood. Why? Here are some multiple choice options:
A. He loves show tunes. Marie's Crisis, where Ed and his Gossip Girl bud Jessica Szohr were hanging, is known as the most legendary haunt for musical theater queens. Every night gays cram down the stairs to the below-street-level joint to sing-along as a piano player plonks out songs from Little Shop of Horrors, Les Mis and Cabaret.
B. He loves the gays. Yep, while Marie's welcomes anybody, 95% of the clientele are gents who still get a sparkle in their eye recalling their high school production of Pippin.
C. He loves history. Marie's Crisis is ancient. In fact, Thomas Paine (remember him from American Lit in 11th grade?) wrote one of his big scribes here. Either Common Sense or The Rights of Man or one of those. And he died in the building. Also, Bette Midler's first apartment in NYC was upstairs, too. The building just oozes austerity.
D. He loves a drink. Yep, the hooch at Marie's is a bargain. With generous vodka-crans doled out for $4, betcha can't drink just one.
Ready for the STARS Ball? Justin was... And down on the floor, even the Hetrick-Martin staff were striking poses.
Were you out in high school? Did you have a posse of fabulous and devoted gay friends to call your own? How about your own ball-rocking "house" to back you up? If not, then you might learn a thing or two from the brave and brilliant kids who are served by the good folks at NYC's Hetrick-Martin Institute which provides services for at-risk (and just plain fierce) LGBT youth. Hetrick-Martin also runs the Harvey Milk High School, which was pretty much the first LGBT high school to provide a safe haven where endangered kids can get an education in peace.
All that said, the Hetrick-Martin kids now how to throw down and have a ball. Last Thursday was their annual STARS Ball, where the kids bring forth their "houses" for a voguing and walking competition that would make the LaBeijas and Extravaganzas of Paris Is Burning very, very proud. The houses competing included those of McQueen, Mujer, Mini, Mafia and the Pink Ladies.
We got to attend and snap some photos, and the evening was inspiring. The theme was "Disturbia" and the children infused the night's events with a vocal and thematic message about safe-sex and HIV Awareness. Most impressive was the confidence and fun that they all brought to the occasion. Gay, trans, lesbian -- all was represented and honored.
You get the idea... Just check out the pics and gag at the fabulosity, already. More details after the jump!
Solange, Wilson Cruz & Katy Perry Bust Out At Cherry Pop
Perez Hilton, Katy Perry, party producer Tom Whitman and Stephen Theiss get fruity at Cherry Pop! Bring on Solange!
Throw a party in West Hollywood and you never know who's gonna show up... Like last Saturday night, there was a big Levi's Unbuttoned Live mega-event (also brought to you by Downelink & Logo) at Cherry Pop, the weekly gay dance bash that Tom Whitman throws at Ultra Suede. On the bill to perform at the shindig was the faboo Solange Knowles. Sweet, right?
Well, in addition to a tasty show from Sol-Angel, homo party folks also got served up a heaping helping of crazy Katy Perry, who pounced up on the bar (or was that the stage? who can remember?) to smurf her way through her megahits "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N Cold." Seems that Ms. P was brought to the the gayness by media mary Perez Hilton himself.
Lovely Wilson Cruz (who hosted the gig live, and online to 25,000 virtual party folks via TopFloorLive) and a bunch of the cast from Noah's Arc was in the house too. From the look of the festive photos after the jump, a good time wuz had by all. Especially tipsy Katy.
Watch host Wilson Cruz's chat with sassy Solange right here... And after the jump, more dish on Katy Perry and the rest of all the fierce festivities.
Labelle Unites After 30 Years at OUT 100 Party in NYC!
OUT magazine held its 15th annual OUT 100 Awards Friday night, and while the evening at Gotham Hall was a glam, drunken, power-gay affair to be sure, we hadn't see nothin' till Patti Labelle came to the party stage ... after three hours of open bar and after Nikka Costa destroyed everyone's eardrums. So let's say it would take someone like Patti to get the gays' attention at this point.
And it wasn't just Patti: Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash of the original Labelle joined in for the group's first performance together in 30 years! Patti even teared up at one point ... and then - I thought this was kind of weird - Wilson Cruz got on stage and started singing, "singing," "Lady Marmalade" with them - definitely fulfilling some kind of lifelong dream, but not necessarily enjoyable for everyone else.
Check after the jump for lots of glamor-gay pictures - like this one of winner Cheyenne Jackson, who was all cute and gracious - and my overall take on the evening's festivities, which included host Chelsea Handler, an OMFGPadma! moment and the magic of Katy Perry via satellite.
OUT Covers Katy Perry, Cheyenne Jackson, Gus Van Sant & Sam Sparro
I know Katy's accustomed to being surrounded by gay men, but what a demure change for her ... especially after the Vans Warped Tour and that cake incident! As you can see, for its end-of-year double issue,OUT magazine chose director Gus Van Sant, Broadway fave Cheyenne Jackson, Australian singer Sam Sparro and fauxmosexual - but a big friend to the gays, nonetheless - Ms. Katy Perry to grace its cover ... and I liked it.
And as you may have read in previous posts, my idol Chelsea Handler will host OUT magazine's OUT 100 Party this Friday at Gotham Hall in New York - along with OUT's E-in-C, Aaron Hicklin - which will honor major movers for the gays in 2008.
Gay Men's Health Crisis & Tim Gunn Host NYC "Fashion Forward" Runway Show
GMHC CEO Marjorie Hill, Tim Gunn, Gretchen Monahan and Jack Mackenroth. All photos by Giovanni Koll, courtesy of GMHC.
Of course it was nice to see a runway show of select looks from six major designers - including the lovely Michael Bastian ensemble pictured below - and of course it was even nicer to know benefits of the Fashion Forwardfundraiser in New York went to the Gay Men's Health Crisis - but I have to say, the evening's highlight was hearing Malan Breton, pee-ing next to fellow Project Runway vet Suede, say in Malan's made-up accent, 'What a lovely fashion show!'
Kidding, kidding ... the event wasn't all about designer spotting and model ogling. And prior to the Tim Gunn-hosted runway show - which featured collections from Betsey Johnson, Ports 1961, Michael Bastian, Charles Nolan, Tim Hamilton and John Varvatos - both Jack Mackenroth and GMHC CEO Marjorie J. Hill gave genuine and moving speeches about what the organization has done and hopes to accomplish in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition, JackMack gave out scarves he designed for his new education campaign, Living Positive by Design.
Now bring on the skimpy male models! Lots of pictures after the jump...
Levi’s Serves Up Milk, Retro Realness in San Francisco
San Francisco in the 1970’s was all about free love, disco, Castro Street, men in tight jeans, mustaches, shaggy hair and (hello…) the rise of the gay culture and the gay rights movement—led by Harvey Milk—as a vital political force. Last night all of these elements got celebrated at the city’s lavender landmark, the Castro Theater, when local legends Levi’s threw a hometown bash for the movie Milk.
It was dubbed the “People’s Premiere” which meant that Levi's doled out 1,400 free tickets to the Castro community via their new swank little Levi's store on Castro Street. Which meant that eager denim-clad gays crammed the Castro Theater for the rousing, call-and-response screening. Levi’s honcho Robert Hanson, Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and out SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty introduced the film to a packed house that was palpably stoked. And given last week’s passing of the hateful gay-marriage banning Prop 8 and the near daily protests which have followed, the movie (which chronicles the rise of Harvey Milk as America’s first elected gay male politician and the 1978 battle to defeat a homophobic ballot proposition) couldn’t have come at a better time.
Levi's, hankies, flannel, queens at the Castro Theater... Some things never go out of style!
More photos, drag queens and Levi's-wearing studs after the jump.
Britney Did Get on Stage With Madonna, Y'all! And Madge is Not Happy About Prop 8...
Wow ... what a wacky evening: Not only was Madonna's Sticky & Sweet concert in L.A. last night 3 hours late due to technical difficulties, both Justin Timberlake (for "4 Minutes") and Brit Brit (for "Human Nature" ...?) joined Madge on her malfunctioning stage. It looks like Britney's still tentatively doing well, and she even greeted Madonna's audience with an affectionate, "It's Britney, bitch." But alas, some slight disappointments: Brit and J.T. were never onstage together, and Brit and Madonna only kissed on the hand. Aww...
Madge made time for a political statement, of course: With President-elect Obama on the screen behind her, Madonna lamented, "I am sorry we did not win Proposition 8. If we can have an African-American in the White House, we can have gay marriage."
Pictures from Lady GaGa's The Fame Premiere Party in NYC
All photos courtesy of Robin Roemer
Doin' it for The Fame! I bring you another Lady GaGa update, gays: In honor of her record release, The Haus of GaGa - Lady GaGa's official blog and out-there, creative side project, if I can call it that - hosted a release party, concert and signing ... and boy were those gays excited!
Please enjoy all of these photos: you'll get a real sense of the hot tranny mess that is a Lady GaGa concert.
More pictures - including GaGa's ultra-gay openers - after the jump...
On The Red Carpet of The Noah's Arc Movie Premiere!
Yes, from the queer (at least for the night) carpet at Mann's Chinese Theatre, Daniel Leary brings you all the fab Noah action of the Jumping The Broom premiere - the one you heard so much about, yeah? AfterElton's etiquette expert chats up the entire cast - Darryl, Rodney, Christian and Doug, the whole gang - along with the fab Jennia Fredrique, who admits she and her character, Brandy, may have a few traits in common...
Daniel also meets the Noah's Arc creator himself, Patrik-Ian Polk. Don't miss out, girl!
Lady GaGa Comes Home to New York for Perez Party & The Fame Release
And these pictures - as ridiculous and amazing as they are - don't even do our girl justice: GaGa's concerts are majorly nuts, I can attest ... or maybe I just have a major gay crush on her. Either way! As part of New York's CMJ music marathon, Perez Hilton (ugh, I know) hosted one of his One Night in... concerts on Friday, and Lady GaGa was the evening's main event. Perez intro-ed GaGa as "the future of pop music," but I greatly preferred the moniker Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons, GaGa's opener, provided: "She's a tranny with a real vagina!" ... such an apt description!
And in other news, GaGa's debut album,The Fame, comes out in the U.S. tomorrow - and you lucky New Yorkers can party with said tranny at the "Haus of GaGa" CD release party tomorrow night. Feee-uz!
Daddy, I'm so sorry! More insanity - and Haus of GaGa ball info - after the jump...
We come bearing gifts for your Friday afternoon in the form of a sweaty, sleeveless, key-tar-playing Sam Sparro (you've heard of him? He’s totally gay and Australian). You're welcome! "Pocket" - as in, "keep your enemies in your pocket" - is the third single from Sam's self-titled debut album, and it's got that same dark, velvety hotness of "Black & Gold." Mmm...
This performance from Indigo2 - part of the O2 arena in London, I believe - is actually from a few months ago, but I just found it and I love Sam Sparro ... and so does Beth Ditto, apparently!
Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, The L.A. Premiere Party Pictures!
The gang's all here: At the official Hollywood premiere of Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, the spiffed-up cast worked the carpets, savored their big screen debuts and, of course, after-partied it up! I included up top my personal favorites, Wade and Baby Gat (well, Jensen Atwood and Jason Steed, really), but be sure to check out the rest of the Arc cast after the jump...
Sandra Bernhard and Famous Gays Turn Out for Queer Homeless Youth!
Clockwise from top left: Colman Domingo, Sandra Bernhard, Justin Bond, Carson Kressley, Murray Hill, Robert Verdi, Alan Cumming and Ari Gold
A massive crew of gay performers and media folks (see above) are joining together to raise funds to help house homeless LGBT youth in New York City this coming Monday night. And if you're in NYC and are feeling charitable you can help, too!
The Ali Forney Center, an organization that provides housing, counseling, medical and educational services and other emergency care for homeless queer youth, is hosting a big cocktail-y fundraiser, A Place at the Table, at the Chelsea Art Museum on Monday, October 6th at 7pm, and headlining the event with a performance is the ever fierce Sandra Bernhard.
DJ/producer/party host/electro-magnate/shootist Spencer Product. His first compilation CD, "...Product," is out now.
If you've been out anywhere cool in the last eight or so years in New York City, then the name Spencer Product oughtta be a familiar one. He's the man who, along with legendary DJ Larry Tee, launched the whole Electroclash movement and the freaky/fashionable, influential/arty Williamsburg music scene back in 2001. The club Berliniamsburg played a big role in launching folks like the Scissor Sisters, Fischerspooner and Avenue D, and was a haven for nightlife style-mongers, music mavens and club kids. Justin Bond, Andy Bell, Naomi Campbell--freakin' anybody who was anybody in after-dark NYC trolled through its sweaty envirions.
And ever since, whether hosting club nights around NYC (he presently rocks the Lower East Side every Friday night with Ruff Club at the Annex), or helming gigs for fashion folks like Hedi Slimane or Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney or Anna Sui (or providing soundtracks for their runway shows), Product has been a hot man on the cusp of all things cool.
I went to his Soho apartment to chat him up about his new compilation CD, ...Product-- a buzzy mix of sounds from bands like Bloc Party, Cut Copy, Matt & Kim and A.R.E. Weapons, as well as up-and-comers you haven't heard of yet. We also chatted about parties, New York, fashion and TV. Spencer's super-nice, too. Check out the interview above!
Tim Gunn looks happy. And this Michael Bastian-clad hottie might be one reason why. Catch 'em both at "Fashion Forward" on November 10th in NYC.
Since the future of Project Runway seems iffy these days (will it be on Lifetime or what?), you might want to take advantage and get your fill of Tim Gunn -- everyone's favorite stylish fairy godfather -- whenever you can. If you're in NYC in November, why not rub elbows with him charitably at the swanky GMHC-benefitting Fashion Forward event on November 10th?
Watch the promo (above)! And after the jump, check out the pics of looks from some of the designers who'll be showing their wares. It's a who's-who of who's hot right now (Tim Hamilton, Charles Nolan, Michael Bastian, Ports 1961 by Tia Cibani), who's classically fun (Betsey Johnson) and who's just groovy/sharp (John Varvatos).
DOLLYPOP curators Steven Corfe and Marc Malkin (also of E! Online) flank Dolly diva Lenora Claire. Eeek! Photo by Debbi Rotkowitz.
The gays out in Hollywood are super-excited about the new stage musical version of 9 to 5 that just opened at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theater for its pre-Broadway run. In fact those festive gay media mavens at World of Wonder (The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Party Monster, the forthcoming RuPaul's Drag Race) have mounted a big, spangly, chesty group show of over 40 artists paying tribute to 9 to 5's creator and gay icon Dolly Parton.
The show, DOLLYPOP, opened last Friday at the World of Wonder Storefront Art Gallery, and we got some pics sent in by our lovely pal Marc Malkin of E! Online. Looks like the big opening was a hoot! Drag Dolly's!!! Cute guys! More Dolly drag queens. I Love New York/I Love Money castaways. And Sophia Loren! Click to see a fab World of Wonder Daily Freakshow video from DOLLYPOP with legendary James St. James, and catch this preview below!
If you're in L.A. check out the show (it runs thru Oct. 8). And enjoy more pics from the opening (after the jump) to tide you over 'til then...
Fashion Week is ovah! But here’s one last video glimpse back at some of the glamour and mess that we found when we took a video camera to the glizty, ritzy, gay-riffic show put on by the downtown NYC design duo, David and Phillipe Blond. The pair (They're a couple! And as they told us, they like SEX!) design trippy, shiny, clubby pieces for the likes of Rihanna, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Fergie. Their style is very much what would happen if Bob Mackie got kidnapped by a gaggle of diamond-encrusted club-kids at Trannyshack. Yay!
Have a look at the noisy clip! Spot guest stars like Aubrey O’Day and D. Woods from Danity Kane (for reals!), Lady Bunny, fashionista Andre J, Vanessa and Angela Simmons (they’re Run’s kids – from Run’s House – and they’re Russell Simmons nieces), Diddy survivor Laverne Cox, Michael Formika Jones, and other cute folks. And yes, you’ll see The Blonds themselves, with Phillipe Blondworking the runway and both of them chatting giddily backstage after the show.
Having fun with The Blonds: D. Woods, Angela Simmons, Amanda Lepore, Aubrey O'Day and Vanessa Simmons. Mercy...
Amy Sedaris Blows Out Bust Mag's 15th B-Day Candles
The mighty Amy Sedaris was the perfect hostess for Bust Magazine's extravagant 15th birthday celebration in New York City's South Street Seaport last week.
The evening was a hallucinatory mix of circus, music and burlesque - perfect for the girl-power magazine whose motto is "A magazine for women who have something to get off their chests." Amy casually introduced the acts as if we were in her living room instead of the elegantly mirrored Spiegeltent. You can't see it here, but her dress is embroidered with the words, "I Like Rum." Cheers!
NewNowNext at The Trevor Project Summer Gala Red Carpet
The Trevor Project, an outreach and suicide prevention effort for gay youth, held its 8th annual summer gala earlier this month, and we at NNN.com were there to interview all the gay celebs before the event (which we didn't get to go to, natch).
But! We still loved chatting up the evening's host / America's Gaysian Sweetheart, Alec Mapa, as well as famously-engaged couple George Takei and Brad Altman, Trevor Hero Award recipient Alan Cumming ... and more!
The Trevor Project will also be hosting the New York premiere of Sordid Lives: The Series July 15. We'll be there ... since we're all about after-parties for a good cause.
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