Lately it seems as though many of my pals are facing their careers head-on and I couldn't be happier. Whether it's that my friend Kylie Edmond's Rock and Rawhide is now an official non-profit or that Molly Pope is making numerous appearances all over town, it's great when my artist friends are making it happen for themselves!
Add to this list the amazing n awesome Roger Yolanda Mapes (my last guest on The Will Clark Show before we moved to The Rtiz) -- he has put together the first installment of his newest creation, a drag gospel show! And it's playing one more night - Sunday June 3rd at 6:30pm at the Duplex.
The past two Sunday's Roger has been knocking it out of the park with a tune filled show featuring real gospel numbers Roger sings himself while accompianied by guitar, cello and two awesome backup singers as well as the incredible Kenneth Gartman on piano - this is two parts gospel, two parts cabaret mixed together for a delightful evening's aural confection.
Plus, there are short/bite-sized homilies on getting a better life - a product of Roger's own ministry - he graduated recently from the One Spirit Institute here in New York.
Delightfully drected by Rev. Shawn Moniger, it's a testament to the sincerity of Roger's performance that songs focusing on God don't feel campy just because Roger is dressed up in drag (and quite fabulously I might add). Plus, hey Lucie Arnaz was in the audience to give the evening a bit more fabulousness than it already had. :)
A show chock full o cock, hair, muscle and men – superstar Colton Ford returns to the big show with an extra added helping of Pantheon Productions star Rocky LaBarre thrown in for good measure.
Tonight’s beneficiary is the Gotham Knights, New Yorks gay rugby group – no shortage of testosterone tonight!!! Erotic prizes plus… a Fleshjack up for grabs!
Cheap men, cheap drinks and your host Will Clark serving up the usual platter of good bingo fun!
Happy Saturday to everyone out there! I'm writing to you from the beach in Sayville- stayed with an old roommate who now lives out here - and this afternoon I am making my first trip of the season out to Fire Island for a big birthday blowout tonight. I've been invited to this party in the past but never have been able to make it but am looking forward to it - I could use a night of dancing and debauchery.. don't you think? :)
The Will Clark Show kicked ass this past Thursday night with Terese and Shaynee rockin the house and Vito making all the men swoon with dreamy eyes and a thick hairy chest... OK I have to stop thinking of that - I haven't even had breakfast or anything.. food before sex! (I would make some comment about how I think of food first before sex as I get older, but I'm pretty sure that food has always been my priority.. I'm the guy who, in the middle of an intense orgy will be all like "hey, can I get a sandwich?" Yeah, I'm that guy) :)
My other highlight of the week was getting interviewed on the podcast, THIS SHOW IS SO GAY where apparently I announced my candidacy for the Mayor of New York. Hey less competent people have run (and won) over the years so what the hey? However, living on the east side in Gracie Mansion would be a drag because geez, it's going to be a long time before the 2nd Ave. Subway is completed... maybe they'd let me stay on the upper west side in my fourth floor walk up rent stabilized apartment? You can hear more about my sole platform by listening to the show. Thanks to Ken who runs the show - that man is such a great interviewer - I used to say that I would never do an interview again (and hey, Ken, thanks for bringing THAT up!) but you know, with Ken, well, it's easy to be fabulous, charming and coherant. :)
BTW you'll notice little hyperlinks spread around the blog.. it's some new feature that Typepad offers and I'm kind of thrilled and kind of nervous that it's taking you to weird places on teh internets.. you know, like the Catholic League website or a Rick Santorum fan page or something. :)
I'll be back online bright and early Monday morning and in the meantime, here's a picture of Vito Gallo from Thursday night. My usual photographer, AB was not with us so I had to fend for myself - do you know how hard it is to do a show and take pictures of it at the same time? So I did manage to get this one pic of Vito but thankfully there is an awesome photog that works with the Ritz and he got some great snaps.. I'll be snagging those and posting them early in the new week.
Best to you all and have fun whereever you are this bright and sunny weekend - at least far out on Long Island!
I know, I know, I'm like a kid in a candy store today pumping info about tonight's guests out like crazy - I can't help it, I'm just beyond thrilled about tonight's show - and I hope that if you're here in NYC and like hot male studs and delicious jazz/cabaret singers, and you support Marriage Equality, that we'll see you from 7pm to 9pm to play some Bingo at the Ritz.
As you might remember, I've had Terese Genecco on the show before but it's been a couple years and I'm so excited to see her again especially since she'll be bringing along her fiancee Shaynee Rainbolt, an established performer in her own right. :)
If you haven't been to Terese's monthly event at Iridium, then you're simply missing out on one of the singular pleasures that New York has to offer - seriously. If you pay the big rents here, you owe it to yourself to check out this gem of a show. I've been with friends a couple times and it's just a dynamite time - the show is incredible and of course there are drinks and food.. so it's a whole evening for you and your pals ... actually writing this reminds me that I haven't been in a long time and it's high time I make a plan to round up some friends and go (maybe for the next show, Tuesday May 29th?? Care to join me?)
In the meantime, see you all the Ritz TONIGHT!
Terese Genecco (pronounced "Teh-REECE Jeh-NECK-oh") & her 8-piece "little big band" is currently the "longest-running nightclub act on Broadway," appearing as a headliner at The Iridium NYC on the 3rd or the last Tuesday of every month, now going into its 4th year of monthly performances.
Originally from San Francisco, Genecco was recently cast as the co-lead with Broadway stars Eric Kunze and Alexandra Wailes in "Brindlebeast!" a brand new musical gearing up for produced staged readings in New York City and Hartford, CT in the fall of 2012.
Terese recorded her 2008 MAC Award-winning debut CD, "DRUNK WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO FRANCES FAYE!" (her live tribute show) over a week in October of 2006 at The Metropolitan Room in NYC. It was released on the BUG:OUT:MUSIC label in April of 2007, and can be considered a companion piece to Ms. Faye's "Caught In The Act" LP's, which are currently available through GNP Crescendo Records and distributed online through iTunes, http://www.Amazon.com and other music retailers.
Genecco recently recorded, "If I Was A Boy," now available through CDBABY.COM, iTunes, http://www.Amazon.com, etc. The song was written by Maria Gentile and Caren Cole and was nominated for "Love Song Of The Year" and "Single of The Year" by the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts in December 2010. Sean Harkness plays guitars and bass and Joe Abba is on drums.
"Terese Genecco & Her Little Big Band Live From The Iridium NYC" was released on the BUG:OUT:MUSIC label on March 20, 2012, recorded live at The Iridium Jazz Club in Manhattan on October 12, 2012.
It's a couple weeks later and I'm sitting here at home on W. 102nd Street looking at the clock. It's just after 2amEST Thursday morning as I write this and I realize that last night was Wednesday night and I didn't head downtown to do the show at Pieces tonight.
Yeah, I sort of felt this way last Wednesday but I had too many butterflies in my stomach over the first Thursday show to really be able to reflect in the right way.... and I don't know if I was ready to completely let go.
You know how it is, right? You do something long enough - and three and a half years at one venue is a lifetime in New York's gay nightlife world - and you never really realize that you've become family until someone says it on your way out the door. We didn't sing "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" but there was a moment when I knew that although I was doing the right thing, it was still somewhat melancholy and I would miss some things about the place - the back room where our stars would occasionally get dressed, getting constantly tangled in the streamers along the back of the stage and of course doing an ongoing show on Christopher Street - the most historic street for the LGBTQ community this side of Castro Street.
The night was full of special moments - I had invited Roger "Yolanda" Mapes to be the sole guest weeks before I knew that it would be the final night there and, in retrospect, it was fitting. Roger has been a good friend to me ever since I did the weekly talk show at View Bar (RIP) back in 2004. We've both seen our share of changes, peaks and valleys and twists and turns. And, fittingly, he sang "We Are Angels", not only one of my all time favorite songs, but also one that Roger wrote.
But he didn't just perform it, no, Roger, sat on stage with me and took my hand and sang it to me as a beautiful serenade. I literally couldn't have been happier. The world sort of vanished for those couple minutes. The best part is that I can relive it anytime I want, as AB got video of it (and it's posted below). BTW you can check out Yolanda's newest show, a Drag Gospel Hour at the Duplex on May 13th and 20th. Will post info closer to the date. :)
Speaking of AB, I took the opportunity to celebrate his birthday - you know, the one that happens in January every year. I totally dropped the ball four months ago mainly because I was not well for a couple weeks but couldn't not do the event .. so I owed him a birthday celebration. I brought cupcakes and tapped singer Terry Christopher to sing happy birthday to him.
Now it's significant that Terry joined us impromptu-like for the final night at Pieces as he was one of the first guests at Pieces when we moved there in September 2008 - and his ride for Braking the Cycle was our last beneficiary at the old 9th Ave Bistro. So Terry has a little bit of history with the show and I was really thrilled that he could join us and have some fun with us especially so soon after he had done such a bang up job a few weeks ago at the birthday bingo. :)
Naturally the night was also a benefit for the Bear Den, and we raised funds for their meeting space at the Queens Pride House. :)
Later, after the end of the game, a few of us did what we did for nearly every week for the past couple years - go get bar food over at Julius' and rehash the show - the good, the bad, the hilarious (intentional and otherwise). I always wanted to do an Oprah-like "After the Show" show. That would've been kind of fun. :)
Anyway, I will also miss the Julius staff - they were consistently great to us whenever we'd come in and the chicken fingers never failed to satisfy the late night munchies.
Farewell 8 Christopher Street - thank you for three and a half great years!
March 14th was a night when the GeeksOut group came out to play with us at Bingo - and we featured Marvel Comics editor Daniel Ketchum (what a cutie!) and drag superstar of New York, Peppermint! I indulged in some super geeky conversation with Daniel about comics (so rare when I get to have a conversation like that :( ) and then got a chance to talk with Peppermint about her recent community event at XL (some people spend their birthday raising money at a bingo event, Peppermint spent hers emceeing a town forum type of event). And yeah, the picture here pretty much sums up the great mood of the night! LOL
It was also DJ Chris Padilla's final night with us. Originally scheduled to be with us for three months back towards the end of 2010, Chris enjoyed the show so much that he stayed on for nearly a year and a half until he decided to leave our fair city for Florida where he has new opportunities awaiting for him. I am grateful for all the great sounds he gave us over the time he spent with us. Best to you, Chris!
I have a habit of celebrating my birthday not just for a long weekend but sometimes for weeks - and one memorable year I celebrated for two months solid - from the first dinner to the last party.. it was quite an extravaganza. This year it was a little more sedate which means that I celebrated like normal people do - just on the day and maybe a little bit extra.
The party on Wednesday March 7th at The Will Clark Show was the "little extra". And boy was it a blast!
I don't think I could have packed more into the night if I had tried - four guests - Amanda Takehometomother visiting from LA on her way to a week-long nudist event, Justin Luke who joined us with the very first advance copy of the just published GULLIVER TAKES MANHATTAN (formerlly titled GULLIVER TRAVELS), the incredible Kylie Edmond who has been having an amazing year after founding Rock and Rawhide and traveling to Australia (where she had a run in with a kangaroo) and our beneficiary, singer Terry Christopher who, this year, is riding in the Wisconsin AIDS ride which is kind of neat since I'm originally from Wisconsin. :) Plus, Christopher from the Black Party was back selling fortune cookies to benefit the New York ride, Braking the Cycle!
Plus Bingo friend CB Kirby dropped by to present me with a certificate of appreciation.. which is a pretty awesome thing.
But the biggest thank you for the success of the night goes to my cohort AB who arranged for the guests to bring special items (like Amanda brought handi-wipes given my advanced age! LOL) and arranged for DJ Chris Padilla to play some of my favorite tunes and, best of all, arranged to bring cupcakes with happy birthday candles.
Most of all, thank you AB for not bringing 48 of them. We would have burned the place down! Seriously, I'm glad that I don't have to face the good times or the challenging times without my pal, AB... and that's a fact.
And you know, I am one of those entertainers who couldn't care less if you know my real age.. I've never shied away from it ... especially when many people in our community didn't get to have many of the birthdays I've been enjoying (and hope to enjoy in the future). You and I owe it to all those that have died because of AIDS or hate crime violence to lead full, amazing, fun lives. You and I owe it to them to live as long and as healthfully as possible. You and I owe it to them to treat life like a banquet. RIGHT?
There's something kinda fun about posting Bingo pics from a few weeks ago - sometimes when a particular night whizzes by at what feels like lightning speed, it's great to enjoy it again later on.
TONIGHT March 28th I've got hottie Torez and super talented singer/actress Bianca Leigh as my guests on the Will Clark Show .. this is the night that a certain gay/lesbian human rights org had agreed to benefit from but backed out because the show poster was deemed too hot for their org!
Their loss is the gain of homeless LGBT youth who benefit from our new beneficiary for the evening, Brainpower!
Come on by tonight to find out exactly what Brainpower does to help affected youth rise up out of their situation and get real professional arts training as a way to get off the street and back into the world.
That's starting at 8pm (sharp) with myself, our photographer AB and the newest addition to the Will Clark Show team, DJ Chauncey Dandridge! No cover, $1 bingo cards gets you playing!
Cabaret acts are a dime a dozen here in New York - you can't throw a stone without hitting someone who thinks that putting together an act is as easy as mixing a vodka cran... and some of these shows have about as much potency too.
Thankfully there are some folks around town who are consistently entertaining - and fortunately I know quite a few of them - most notably my longtime friend Kenneth Gartman. Certainly my admiration for his talent (and I'm not talking euphemistically here) is part of the reason that he's in the "long time" category among the notoriously flaky and transient showbiz community here in New York City.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of catching the first set of shows of his current "..Not Like The Other Cavemen" and I found him and the show to be a delightful romp of growing up gay in rural Texas. There are some wonderful original songs, a few that you won't have heard that much and, most of all, Kenneth's charm and the delicious twinkle in his eye he gets when he's all up in his own grill performing. It's magic.
Today's show is at 4 (which, at this writing, is in like 10 minutes) but he's got two more shows - Wednesday February 1st at 7pm and Saturday February 4th at 4:30, both at Don't Tell Mama located at 343 W. 46th Street. Cover is $20. The night I went last time, the place was jam-packed so best to make reservations. Click here to go to Kenneth's website for all that kind of information.
