THE SLIDE

Shaboom Boom

Shaboom Boom

     In the short amount of time since it has entered New York City gay nightlife, The Slide (The cellar of 356 Bowery Street in the East Village. Call [212] 420-8885.) has quickly become one of the most intense hot spots in the bar and club scene... as anyone who's been there already knows. But what you may NOT know is that the colorful venue wasn't the first downtown NYC bar named The Slide. Back in the good old naughty days, there was another bar called The Slide, a hangout on 157 Bleecker Street which was described by The New York Herald as a "notorious gay gaslit scene", where there were "orgies beyond desciption" going on. Whoa! Where's my time machine? The original Slide was closed by police in 1892, most likely by an ancestor of Bloomberg. Today, The Slide-- still very sexy but not quite as lascivious as the Slide of old-- has events going on all week long. On Sunday, The Slide has its "Super Size Sundays", featuring supersized drinks and even more supersized performances. The night should be called "Super-STUFFED Sundays", because you're unlikely to find any place that packs more fun into a single night. Go-go boys, drag shows, comedy, music, impromptu performances, and a seriously cute clientele-- all jammed into one spot. Super Size Sunday is hosted by Shaboom Boom, award-winning performer ("I'm not a drag queen. I'm a gender illusionist technician!") who's appeared at The Monster, Barracuda, and other spots. This super-talented diva is perfectly suited to host the over-the-top weekly party. The highlight of Sunday nights is an "American Idol"- like competition featuring three celebrity judges each week.

THE SLIDE

THE SLIDE

      On August 3rd, the celebrity judges were comedian Keith Price, drag diva Sunrize Highway, and singer/songwriter Ari Gold. Keith Price hosts his own show at The Starlight Bar and Lounge on Wednesday nights (More about that later!). Flame-haired, statuesque Sunrize Highway didn't just serve as judge. She grabbed the mic and did the lesbian-flavored "When You're Good to Mama" from "Chicago". Sunrize doesn't lip-synch: She REALLY sings! Ari Gold, the self-proclaimed "Paula Abdul" of the group ("I'm supposed to say nice things!"), is one of the most talented rising stars in the New York-- and world-- music scene. He's also very, shall we say, "easy on the eyes". The diverse contestants that night included three self-styled drag performers: Michelle, Dominique, and Samantha Diamond. Michelle did a drag rarity: "Lick It Up" by Kiss, complete with guitar. Dominique did "Whatever" by Shakira. She was dynamic and energetic, and made the most of The Slide's stage. She was also striking to look at. Samantha Diamond gave us Whitney's "It's Not Right, But It's OK"... complete with mock cocaine! Other contestants included a talented "real girl" named Alexia (who must be just a bit tired of being called a "real girl"!), who's got an affinity for showtunes (She gave us "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy".); and a guy named Stromar, in a cowboy hat and "ass-less" chaps, who did a dirty version of "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from "Oklahoma". Stromar may remind you of a young, buff John Waters. Seen that night: Spin Cycle's Chip Duckett, who brought a trio of Liza Minnelli look-alikes (from the off-Broadway hit "Make Love") and suggested a moment of silence for the REAL Liza... for reasons you should know already!

Jeremy Christiansen

THE SLIDE

THE SLIDE

      It was packed that night, The Slide was literally busting out at the seams when I showed up two weeks later. It was one unique, over-the-top performance after another, by both contestants and special guests like singer Jeremy Christiansen. The celebrity judges that night included two creative talents behind the scenes of "Hairspray": John Jordan, who does the hair for the show; and Pepper, who does the wardrobe. Sure enough, there were free Hairspray giveaways: T-shirts, hats, mugs, and more. The third judge was the astonishing, one-of-a-kind performer Lavinia Draper. "Real girl" (Oops... I did it again!) Alexia won that night with her belting of "Don't Rain on My Parade". She got to be a Celebrity Judge the following week. Among other aural delights, DJ Aaron Elvis played a medley of hits from the Jackson family: "Centipede" by Rebbie, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" by Janet, and "Thriller" by Michael. What, no LaToya? Hell, she just may be the next Celebrity Judge!

Ari Gold

      Ari Gold was winner of the 2002 Outmusic Award for Male Outstanding Debut Record for his self-titled debut CD "Ari Gold". He's got a new CD coming out on September 1st called "Space Down Under", which will feature 13 new songs as well as a remix of "Wave of You", done by PM Magazine's own DJ Denise "Twisted Dee" Gurney. He's also got a new video. You can see some eye-popping pics, listen to and download Ari's music (including a soulful remake of Culture Club's "Do U Really Want 2 Hurt Me?"), and read his bio at www.AriGold.com. You'll also get some fascinating tidbits about Ari Gold's career-- like the fact that he was a guest voice on the animated cult favorite "Jem and the Holograms"(!) back in the '80's. Stay posted for more about this multi-talented performer.

      The success of Supersized Sundays can be credited to the trio of Shaboom Boom, DJ Aaron Elvis, and Promoter/Producer Joey Tolino. Shaboom Boom is more than just a drag star. She's a comedy dynamo: funny, raunchy, acrobatic, and loaded with non-stop energy and twisted facial movements. I'd seen Shaboom Boom before, when her most famous act was a deliciously demented medley of the campiest lines from "Mommie Dearest". This time, our heroine did bits from the cult faves "Showgirls" ("It's a Ver-SASE!") and John Waters' "Female Trouble". DJ Aron Elvis hits that perfect beat all night long. He's got an affinity for '80's hits that are just begging to be heard again, including the Eurythmics' "Missionary Man", "Erotic City" by Prince, "Strut" by Sheena Easton, Duran Duran's "Rio", "Vacation" by the Go-Go's, Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel the Noize", and even a remix of "Ease on Down the Road" thrown in as well. But Aaron doesn't just spin; He gets into the act as well, interjecting some comedic one-liners to antagonize poor Shaboom Boom. When our hostess announced that she was going to be appearing in a movie-- the upcoming drama "At Home At the End of the World"-- Aaron retorted, "I thought it was gonna be 'Deep Inside Shaboom Boom 3'!" When asked about the blackout, Mr. Dee Jay said, "I stayed in with my roommates and drank a lot. We had to get rid of all the ice before it got bad!" Lastly but not least, the success of the night is due in large part to the sexy Joey Tolino. Joey's also a model (He's appeared in New York's hottest subculture mag "Vice") and a TV and theater actor as well. His newest venture at The Slide will be a Tuesday night two-floor party called "Roadhouse": an "all male dance and body shot festa" (Think of it as sort of a "male 'Coyote Ugly'") featuring DJ Aaron Elvis upstairs, and DJ Brenda Black downstairs. There's no cover, with drink specials all night. This is gonna be big!

Ken Price

THE SLIDE

Candis Cayne

Sweetie

     Speaking of "big", one of The Slide's most popular nights is Saturday's "High Life/Low Life" Party, which is hosted by big and beautiful drag star Sweetie. For "High Life/Low Life", the upstairs area, with a second bar and a dance floor, is open. On August 16th, Sweetie's very special guest was the dynamic, sexy Candis Cayne. After the show, the crowd of tank-topped trendsters and downtown scenesters stayed to hear more great tunes, including the priceless 1977 gem "The Night the Lights Went Out" by The Trammps. Who knew that 25 years later, this disco song couldn't be more timely?

Shecky Beagleman and Yvonne Mojica

Blanca Dominguez

Keith Price and Matt Montgomery

     The best kept secret in New York City comedy is The Starlight Bar and Lounge (on Avenue A between 10th and 11th Aves. Call [212]475-2172.) On Wednesday nights at 10:30 PM, comedian Keith Price hosts "The Starlight Revue", a night of the best up-and-coming gay and gay-friendly comedians in the city. The Starlight Bar and Lounge, located in one of downtown's most formative neighborhoods, boasts two sections: a bar/lounge area, and the performance area where the shows take place. On Wednesday nights, it gets crowded here! Keith Price has been hosting the show since January 8th, making The Starlight Revue the longest running regular gay and gay-friendly comedy show in Manhattan-- as well as the object of many imitations. Although you'd think that New York City comedy clubs are very liberal, there are actually limits as to the material that some clubs will allow their performers to do. Keith told me, "At some comedy clubs, there are things that you cannot say. The Starlight Revue is always something I've wanted to do. I always did shows, but always with other people. I get to do this show with my friends, and I do what I want to do. I also let them do what THEY want to do!" He added, "I'm the only openly gay black man that's doing this!" Keith doesn't just host. He also gets on stage, dances, and warms up the crowd with his comedic take on what's goin' on lately--including Kobe Bryant, the California governor's race, the new George Bush action figure (gasp!) and the movie "Camp": "I laughed, I cried, and I walked away saying, 'It's OK for me to love a showtune!'" That night, Mr. Price presented three wildly diverse comedians: Shecky Beagleman, Matthew Montgomery, and Blanca Domingeuz. Shecky Beagleman ("I'm staying at the Tempura Women's Shelter. It's for lightly battered women.") is without a doubt one of the most self-styled and outrageous funny gals out there. You gotta catch her-- and wait till you see her impression of a "seeded bagel"! Matt Montgomery based a lot of his humor on having grown up a half-Asian gay boy in the Deep South, as well as his current adventures with finding Mr. Right. (Boy, can we relate...) His act just got more wild and over-the-top as it went along. Last, there was Blanca Domingeuz. This Latina spitfire is no less than a comic powerhouse! Her act-- mostly her reflections on life and love in the big city, with a generous helping of "I-ain't-takin'-no-sh*t" attitude-- was big, bold, and loud. I can't wait to see her full one-woman show. Also present that night was cartoonist/comedienne Yvonne Mojica, who performs at Starlight occasionally. The Starlight Revue is a must for lovers of comedy. Keith Price plans to continue his show all September long with "Fall Fabulousness". In the future, he may be adding singing competitions to the night's festivities. The best part of all? It's free!

MADONNATHON

     And now... onto Madonna news. Did you think you were going to get away with it this month? Yep, I admit, shameful as it is: I was one of the first ones to pick up a pair of those new Gap cord jeans. You know, the ones that Madonna and Missy Elliot are pushing (and pushing... and pushing... and pushing...) in those commercials. I belong to the e-group www.MadonnasWorld.com, and everyone kept posting about how there was going to be a MAJOR event at The Gap on 54th St. and 5th Avenue on July 30th. Doors would be opening at 8 AM, and the first customers would get a RARE (Wow!), EXCLUSIVE (Wow!), NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES (Wow!) CD featuring two songs. You could also get your initial (In my case, a "J") embroidered on to your ass pocket, like Maddy and Missy have in the commercial. Supposedly there was going to be massive media coverage as well as music all day and breakfast being served in the AM. Gradually on the e-group, the "event" was being made to sound bigger and bigger each hour, with some members practically geting hysterical and warning us that there were only limited numbers of CDs and embroidered initials... So we needed to get there early! I was trying to tell myself, "Hey, Jed, this is just blatant commercialism at its worst! Don't fall for it!" But of course, the more rational side of me got pushed into a corner by the more impulsive side, and I went. I arrived at 7:45 AM and was #5 on line. The huge masses never showed up. And for breakfast, the staff of The Gap-- the only ones excited about the whole thing--handed each of us waiting on line (all 40 of us) a Krispy Kreme donut and a napkin in a paper bag as we waited for the doors to open. To add insult to injury, there was a DJ at The Gap who just didn't get it right. Yeah, the CD is nice. But with just two songs, it doesn't take that long to get tired of. One of the songs is the theme from the commercial, with the music of "Into the Groove" and lyrics of "Hollywood", plus some rapping by Missy. The other is a rather alienating, unremarkable dance remix of "Hollywood". And the jeans are nice too, but I was wondering just when I was going to get the chance to wear a pair of navy blue cord jeans with a big gold "J" embroidered on my right cheek...

MADONNATHON

MADONNATHON

    But luckily, I got the chance to we ar them at a much, MUCH more fun Madonna event, when on Monday, August 18th, the Times Square Blues Club and Grill B.B. King (237 W. 42nd St.) had a "Madonnathon" party to celebrate Madonna's 45th birthday. A blues club paying tribute to Madonna? It sounded a little odd. But who could resist? Not me! The event was organized by Cathy Cervenka, a diverse performer who produced all the live entertainement for the show. (Visit Cathy's website at www.Cathyland.com.) Madonnathon featured Cathy's band, The Material Boys. Cathy described B.B.King perfectly when she said the club was "like a Vegas showroom in the middle of Manhattan". There was a huge dancefloor-- and we needed it! Hordes of cute and sexy Madonna fans showed up to celebrate the spirit of "old-style" Madonna music, when the emphasis was on fun and escapism. To put it bluntly, what an amazing fucking time! It's well known that Madge doesn't like to do her old stuff when she performs nowadays, so it was a big thrill to get to hear so many of her earliest hits that night. From 8 PM through to midnight, Madonna fans paid a diverse array of musical tributes to The Goddess, accompanied by an amazing light show. There were solo acts, full bands, and performance art... and whether the renditions were done by male or female vocals, were comic or serious, or were faithful or used artistic lisence, ALL the acts were supremely talented. Among the treats included a reggae version of "True Blue", a folk rock version of "Crazy for You", and a version of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" that started out slow and torchy, gradually progressing into a pounding, funked-up rendition. Another gal reworked the lyrics to "If Madonna Calls", the 1996 song that got Junior Vasquez into trouble! Our diva changed the song to "If Madonna shows up tonight... If Madonna shows up tonight... If Madonna shows up tonight..." Well, you get the idea. (Incidentally, that never happened! Oh well.) The one-of-a-kind Dazzle Dancers appeared to do their famously outrageous revue to Maddy's "Keep It Together". Some of the attendants that night had never seen the Dazzle Dancers before, and let's just say that they were in for a surprise... especially at the Dazzle Dancers' finale! Another group called Hot Sausage did a crazy, sexy performance piece in the spirit of the "Vogue"-era Madonna. And in between all the live shows, there was... Madonna, Madonna, Madonna. Courtesy of the DJ, that is... and again, the emphasis was on her earliest hits. There was also a Madonna look-a-like contest. In the wildest segment, a handsome guy dressed as a priest performed "Like A Prayer", and handed out "communion" to the front row of the audience. He also threw mock "hosts" into the crowd. After seeing the club's reaction, I'm convinced that "Like A Prayer" is Madonna's fans' all-time favorite. The last song was an all-out, no-holes barred version of "Holiday", and all the performers of the night got on stage as the audience practically exploded with excitement. It was a tribute fit for... well, Madonna! Amazingly, Cathy Cervenka, with her heart-shaped face, bears a great resemblance to Madonna circa the "Lucky Star" era... and that night, she was dressed to match that time period of Madge's career. "Madonnathon" will be an annual event, so stay tuned for more info! Why just listen to the Goddess' music when you can listen to it with dozens of other die-hard Madonna-lovers?

     Gotta go. And if one more person asks me what I was doing during the blackout, I swear I'm gonna lose my damn temper. Or maybe I'll just smile and say, "I was with your boyfriend!"

JED