Issue 36 - noiZe Magazine

TM
The Pr emier G uide t o C ircuit E vents Worldwide
FROM THE EDITOR
Love and Fear.
I’m not sure where I first saw what I’ll call the love/fear
theory. But flavors of it seem to be echoed in many world
philosophies, from the Toltecs to the yogis. According to
this philosophy, we are all capable of being connected with
our own heart center, allowing us to experience emotions
based in love. The absence of this connection is
characterized by the opposite - we experience emotions
derived from fear.
All of our emotions arise in the moment based on whether
or not we are connected to our own heart center in that
moment. If we’re not, then we experience emotions that are
nurtured by fear.
Right now we are being assaulted on all sides by things that
can incite a disconnection from our center - Saddam and
Osama, losing our personal freedoms, President Bush and
his cronies, the inability to find a good pill. With the media
constantly broadcasting fear, we get the trickle-down effect
from others even when we don’t watch it directly.
Original Cover Art
by Stevee Postman
www.stevee.com
Fear is contagious. We are being conditioned to live in a
heightened state of fear.
Even those of us who recognize what is happening end up
contributing to the problem - we fear we are becoming a
nation driven by fear. Rather than helping, we are increasing
the fear quotient.
In the world of the Circuit, many of us have discovered our
heart connection by using external things to get there.
We’ve been criticized for how we found this connection and
told that it’s not real or valid. We’re assaulted with more
fears of abuse and destruction.
But if we choose to view these experiences with love, what is
the result? Can we use the memories of these connected
states to help us remember how to be in a state of love – to
help us reconnect to our center?
You can’t control what’s happening in the world. You can’t
even control what is going to happen around you in your
own life. You can only control your own reactions to it all.
Does this mean I should love all this fear?
-Steve Kammon
Circuit
4
Noize
Circuit Photo
Retrospectives:
Heritage of Pride
TM
Editor in Chief
Steve Kammon
Publisher
Stephen Ceplenski
The Premier Guide to Circuit Events Worldwide
Advertising Director
Gary Steinberg
818-769-9390
[email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12
You Know Your a Circuit Boy When
22
Disclosure
24
Invincible
38
Dancin Dudes
46
DJ Profile: Escape
58
Benefit Spotlight: “Pier” Dance
62
Party Drugs & Sex
66
The Heart of the Party
70
MoodyPics: Heritage of Pride
76
Circuit Breaker
86
Music Reviews
90
The Ears Have It
92
Summer Circuit Schedule
114
Manifest Love
118
The Performance of Fierceness
122
Where the Boys Are
128
Nightmute
by Scott Van Tussenbrook
by Christopher White
by Eric Thurman
by Jeffery Taylor
by Steve Kammon
by John R. Ballew, M.S., L.P.C.
by Jim Gelder and Allen Lungo
by Moody Mustafa
Senior Editor
Jeffery Taylor
Schedule Editor
Tony Hayden
Art Director
Stephen Ceplenski
Promotions
Circuit Boyz Productions
Cover Photo
Stevee Postman
Event Accent Photos
Moody Mustafa
Circuit Photos
Circuit Boyz Productions
Moody Mustafa
Alejandro Marin
Jeffery Taylor
Joseph Mattera
Writers and Contributors
DJ Mateo
John Ballew
Jiim Gelder
Allen Lungo
Michael Taylor
William D. McColl, Esq.
Christopher White
Michael Safdiah
David Sexton
Scott Van Tussenbrook
Mickey Mason Weems
William J. Mann
Eric Thurman
East Coast Office
954-764-8210 (voice)
954-764-6392 (fax)
by William D. McColl, Esq.
West Coast Office
11288 Ventura Blvd #700
Studio City, CA 91604
818-769-9390 (voice)
818-769-5482 (fax)
E-mail
[email protected]
Website www.circuitnoize.com
www.partyfinder.com
by DJ Mateo
by Michael Safdiah
©Copyright 2003 Circuit Noize. All
rights reserved. Contents may not be
reproduced without permission from
the publisher. Publication of name or
photo of any person or organization
in Circuit Noize is not to be
construed as any indication of the
sexual orientation of that person or
organization.
by Mickey Mason Weems
by William J. Mann
Published in February, May, August
and November
by Michael Taylor
Circuit
5
Noize
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YOU KNOW YOU’RE A
CIRCUIT BOY WHEN...
... you answer almost any question with the lyric to your favorite dance song.
“Joe, you’re such a typical Circuit boy!”
“Ab-so-lute-ly not! Ab-so-lute-ly not!”
... someone tells you to get a life and you ask where you can get these “life” and if
they are better than the “omega” you had last week.
... you look through your 20 pairs of colored sunglasses and cannot find one pair
that will do you any good on a bright sunny day.
... while watching the “Wheel of Fortune” you start chanting “E! E! E! E!” when
someone says they want to buy a vowel.
... the notion of trail mix has absolutely nothing to do with nuts or raisins.
... your night is brought to you by more letters than a two-hour special episode of
Sesame Street.
... you have to ask your friend if the water bottle he just handed you is “just waterwater?”
... you pick your cell phone number so it spells out 5HTP.
... you have the most intense conversation with someone you just met and you are
now best friends... and this happens every weekend.
... you don’t recognize these “best friends” when you see them in broad daylight
with clothes on.
... you have several different colors of square-cut swim trunks and none of them
have ever been in a pool.
... you consider Listerine breath strips and mint chewing gum to be two of the main
food groups.
Circuit
12
Noize
... you’ve ever worn stick-on facial jewelry.
... you’ve bought anything from www.circuittoys.com
...on a typical Sunday morning you have Special K and Trix in your apartment, but no
breakfast cereal
... the majority of your (purchased) CD collection has naked buff men on the covers
of the jewel cases.
... the rest of your CD collection is burned copies of mix CDs.
... you’ve ever raided your niece’s pre-school art supplies in search of body glitter.
... a noon check-out time at your hotel seems terribly early - will you even be back
from the after-party by then?
Help us to continue to grow this list by completing the sentence "you know
you're a Circuit boy when..." Send your suggestion to:
[email protected]
Circuit
13
Noize
DISCLOSURE
by Scott Van Tussenbrook
It’s a familiar scenario. Two guys, possibly boyfriends, leave a party as it’s
winding down, rubbing each other’s shoulders and staring at each other
longingly as if they couldn’t possibly stare enough.
(OK, maybe they’re not boyfriends.)
Luckily, the party is at the same hotel
where they have a room. In the
semi-privacy of the elevator (two
accidental voyeurs are there to
witness but our heroes don’t care)
any pretense of decorum drops as
they lock in an embrace and a redhot kiss that would steam up the
windows if they were going more
than three floors. The growing
intensity continues down the hall to
their room (luckily a very short walk
or somebody would have to call Chi
Chi LaRue).
Once inside the room, clothes can’t
come off fast enough - except for
the underwear, of course. (These
two are pros. Underwear always
comes off slowly and with much
teasing. Any trick worth bothering
with knows that.) It gets hotter. It
gets more intense. Suddenly, “Dark
and Handsome” can’t stand it any
longer and reaches for a rubber. Uhoh. “Blonde and Cute” rolls his eyes
at him with a look on his face that
says, “Ugh. Do we have to bother?”
A lot of the conversation about HIV
has died down these days. HIV+
guys are living longer, and in some
cases they’re living healthier than
everyone else - they watch what they
eat, they’re more aware of their
health, and they get testosterone
from their doctors. Where fifteen
years ago the AIDS-afflicted were
the gaunt, hollow shells of their
for mer selves, many HIV+ guys
Circuit
22
today are in the best shape of their lives.
HIV has a gorgeous new face. It’s
becoming easier and easier to forget
that AIDS is still with us and that HIV can
still be difficult to live with.
In the Circuit Party Men’s Health Survey
[Mansergh, Colfax, Marx, et al, June
2001], 17% of the men surveyed
reported a positive result on their last
HIV test. (For the record, I disagree
strongly with the conclusions of this
study, but the numbers self-reported by
the participants are interesting.)
Combine this info with the fact that most
new HIV infections are through guys
who don’t yet know they’re positive and
that number climbs to, what, close to 1
in 4 HIV+ guys at the parties? Why is
“Dark and Handsome” getting the eye
roll? Shouldn’t it be the other way
around?
It might not be on the nightly news
anymore, but there is no shortage of
debate about this on the inter net.
Check in on any Circuit-related chat
group and you’ll see the subject comes
up every couple of months. And the
verdict is always the same - HIV+ guys
apparently owe it to all their prospective
sex partners to disclose their status, up
front, and without being asked. Failing
to do so amounts to “despicable
behavior” (an actual quote from
circuitpartyinsanity). Another discussion
thread on the same group asked,
“When should a poz guy fess up?” (In
all fairness, that question was posed by
a guy who is HIV+ himself; in which case
he was probably just letting slip a
Noize
regional colloquialism and not
indicating the sort of guilt that “fess
up” implies.)
So, when should you “fess up”? I
believe that if you’re positive, and
someone asks you, then you should
tell the truth. But that’s just my
opinion. Besides, you’ll never catch
me asking anyway, because it’s an
utterly pointless question. (In fact,
this whole discussion of what bugs
everyone might be carrying is
completely unnecessary. Checking
off a list of what diseases everybody
does and doesn’t have is a pointless
exercise in uncomfortable frustration
for everybody. So why even have
the conversation in the first place?
What good does it do - other than
put everybody on the spot for a
minute and reduce the whole
hot/romantic/naughty/fun/whatever
moment you were having to a
strained, clinical diagnosis? What’s
the point of that?)
But let’s get back to the heart of my
possibly very unpopular viewpoint.
Let’s say you’re negative and you’ve
just met a guy at a Circuit party.
Before you start anything, you ask if
he’s HIV+. He says no. Just because
he says no, are you going to forget
with the condoms? I would think
that most people out there, even
after the “moment of truth” fulldisclosure conversation, are going to
use condoms, just in case. It’s the
only thing that makes sense to me.
Besides, there are lots of things out
there which, though curable in most
cases, are a lot easier to catch than
HIV and are a major pain to get rid
of!
Furthermore, you don’t know where
he’s been or what else he might
have. And you certainly cannot
depend on him telling you. Not only
because people may lie in this
situation but, remember, most new
HIV infections come from guys who
don’t even know they’re infected. I
might even go so far as to say that
whether a guy you’ve just hooked up
with is HIV+ or not is actually none
of your business. He’s a stranger.
You might not ever see him again.
All acts of intimacy carry varying
Circuit
degrees of risk. In spite of flavored
condoms and constant nagging by AIDS
prevention networks, I don’t know
anybody who uses rubbers for oral sex.
We know that it’s possible to get HIV
that way, but many of us accept the risk.
We seem to have crossed this “risk
threshold” and seem willing to ignore
something that we consider a “tiny” risk.
There are other risk levels for fucking.
Those levels are far higher when you
don’t use a condom. You have to
decide what risks you are willing to take.
You’ve stepped into the ring, you’re
playing with fire and, don’t hate me for
saying this, sooner or later you are
going to get burned - whether that
means you’ll be running to the
drugstore in five days for the crab
shampoo or having your doctor call in a
script for Suprax because your dick is on
fire or finding that your next HIV test
comes back positive. You knew there
were risks involved when you started
playing on this field and I believe it is
your responsibility to own up to those
risks.
The responsibility for taking care of
yourself is yours. You can’t make that
responsibility anybody else’s. Don’t put
the burden of keeping you safe on some
guy you just met. It’s not his responsibility. The inter net discussions I
observed placed full responsibility on
preventing the spread of disease
squarely on the shoulders of those
carrying the disease which is not only
not fair, it’s not possible. We’re all
adults. We need to be responsible for
ourselves.
For me, being responsible for myself
means I will always use condoms with
strangers or even guys who become
“regulars”. Condoms are a necessary
annoyance in today’s world. What I ask
is that if you do find yourself to be my
“Blonde and Cute” at the White Party
this year, don’t roll your eyes at me
when I reach for the rubbers. Actions
speak louder than words, and in this situation, action is all that matters.
Join in a discussion
of this topic online at
www.circuitnoize.com
23
Noize
INVINCIBLE
by Christopher White
I was still feeling my pill. I pulled him even closer to me and kissed him
again. Every kiss was so sensual and passionate and full. I couldn’t wait
until we were both naked so that I could feel my body touching his, feel
the warmth of his skin against mine.
Back in his apartment, the air
conditioner wasn’t working and the
sweat was pouring off both of us.
Before long, the clothes were
tossed off to the side and we were
holding each other in a full-body
embrace.
I could feel him
throbbing against me.
It wasn’t long before I’d wet my
finger and placed it against his
hole. Gently, I eased it in. It slid in
without a problem. He seemed
more than ready. And so was I. I
turned him over on his stomach.
His ass was beautiful, perfect. I
spread his cheeks apart and leaning
down, I ran my tongue along the
rim. He moaned. I plunged my
tongue inside as he pushed his ass
back against my face.
I couldn’t take it any longer. I
wanted to fuck him. I asked him if
he had any condoms. He didn’t.
Everything stopped for a second. I
knew I had condoms and lube in
my gym bag but I didn’t feel like
getting dressed, going downstairs,
going outside to my car, getting my
gym bag, and bringing it back
upstairs to his apartment. “Better
Circuit
24
to be safe than sorry,” I thought,
resigning myself to this interruption.
They were just downstairs; it would
only take a few minutes.
I felt a little silly putting my clothes on
and running across the parking lot but,
let’s face it, there’s not really a choice.
You have to protect yourself. And I
had never really understood all the fuss
about condoms - it doesn’t feel that
much different. I’ve had plenty of
really incredible safe sex.
When I got back, he was still naked on
the bed waiting for me. I put the gym
bag to the side, took off my clothes,
and got back in the bed. W ithin
minutes, we were right back to where
we had left off. I put on a condom and
covered it in lube. I shoved my
lubricated finger inside him again as I
plunged my tongue inside his mouth.
His hips gyrated in circles. He wanted
me inside him and I wanted the same.
There was a problem, though. My dick
wasn’t staying hard. I started to lose
my erection as soon as I tried to
penetrate him. I wasn’t even hard
enough to push it inside. I tried to get
it back but it wasn’t happening. I took
Noize
the condom off and laid back
down.
“Wow, that pill was really strong,” I
said, knowing I was using the
classic Circuit boy excuse for my
failure to perform. (Unfortunately, I
didn’t have any little blue pills with
me.) He assured me that it was OK,
that “it happens to everybody.”
We started kissing again and soon
my erection returned. He pushed
me over on my back and got on
top of me, nestling my head
between his cheeks. He aligned his
body so that I was ready for entry. I
was harder than ever. It felt so hot
to be so close to him.
“Do we need to use condoms?” he
asked me. “You’re not sick, are
you?”
“No,” I answered. I had been
tested about five or six months
ago. And I had been safe with
everyone I had been with since
then. “You?” I asked him.
wanted to do it. I wanted that
intimacy. I wanted that connection.
And, I figured, why not? Nobody else
seems to care. Everyone else is doing
it. Besides, I justified, we’re both
negative so there’s really nothing to
worry about.
He leaned down and kissed me softly
as he lowered himself further. I felt his
body relax as he took me deeper into
him. I was actually inside of him! No
barriers. No walls. It was liberating! It
felt so good! The sensations were
magnified a hundred-fold without
those silly condoms!
I could
understand more why everybody likes
it so much. Lost in my ecstasy haze, I
fucked him raw for over an hour while
the condoms sat next to the gym bag
in their clean, unopened wrappers.
Right before I came, at the very last
second, I pulled out and shot all over
him. I collapsed in a sweaty heap next
to him. We lay there breathing heavily
as our heartbeats returned to normal.
After a few minutes, he turned to me
and smiled. “So... was it worth it?”
“No, I’m OK.”
My mind raced. I was totally
conflicted. I had always insisted on
using condoms (except when I had
a boyfriend but we had both been
monogamous and negative).
Recently, though, it felt like I was
the only one having safe sex. More
and more, it seemed the boys I was
hooking up with wanted to
bareback.
He lowered himself gently, nudging
the head in ever so slightly. I held
my breath. What was I doing? This
is crazy! I can’t do this! But what
was really crazy was the fact that I
Circuit
My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t
really sure what he meant. I just
looked at him.
“We met about a year ago, but you
had a boyfriend,” he explained.
“Remember? I was just wondering...
all the time we had to wait... was it
worth it?”
The words echoed inside my head.
Was it worth it? My mind swirled.
What had I just done? All I could think
of was whether the unsafe sex we just
had was worth the risk we had just
taken. Images of the lurid sex flashed
25
Noize
through my mind. It had seemed
hot at the time but now all I could
think about was how unsafe it was.
Was it worth it?
Then I began to wonder how many
other guys he had so easily had
unsafe sex with. He might be my
first but that did not necessarily
make me his. I wanted to ask but I
was afraid of the answer. And if he
does have unsafe sex with other
people, how unsafe are they? Are
they negative? How does he
know? How can he be sure that
he’s still negative? When was he
last tested? A billion questions ran
through my head. I decided not to
ask any of them, though. What
happened had already happened.
There was no going back.
Besides, he said he was OK.
Before I left his apartment, we
exchanged numbers. When I went
to write his number down, I realized
that I couldn’t remember his name.
For the next few days, I was
plagued by what I had just done. I
felt like I had done something
wrong. Like I had done something
bad. What if this was it? What if,
after being so safe and careful all
this time, I had just thrown it all
away for a meaningless trick? What
if I got back my test results and
now I was positive? What would I
do? What if I got sick? What if I
ended up dying? And all because I
had unsafe sex with someone
whose name I couldn’t even
remember. Was it worth it?
Luckily, the craziness inside my
head settled down after a couple
days and I came to terms with what
Circuit
26
I had done and the possibilities of its
consequences. I realized that there
was nothing I could do about it now
and that I would just have to wait until
I was tested again. I would deal with it
then.
Since I was about due for another test,
I made an appointment with my
doctor. I sat in the doctor’s office and
watched as the nurse drew my blood
for the HIV test, wondering what they
would find in that dark red liquid.
I always hate when I get tested. I
worry each time that this is going to be
the time that it comes back positive.
And now, after what I had just done, I
had even more reason to worry.
The following week, I went in to get
my results. My heart pounded as the
doctor opened my folder. I was sure I
knew what he was going to tell me.
How could I have been so stupid?
“Everything looks fine,” he told me,
closing my folder.
“Really?”
Was it true? Had I really been given
another chance? I immediately vowed
I would never do something so silly
again. Of course it wasn’t worth it. It
was just a trick. It was just meaningless
sex. I vowed I would never put myself
at risk like that again.
And I was good for a while.
But then I started “cheating” a little bit
here and there. I’d let them put their
head in a little, playfully. But then I’d
take it right out. And I’d tell myself
that that didn’t count as being unsafe it was only in there for a second.
Noize
Sometimes, they’d push it in a little
farther - and I’d let them. But just
for a second (well, sometimes a
little longer...) But then I’d jump off
and run and get the condoms and
the lube - and then we’d really fuck.
Not long ago, I brought this guy
back to my apartment. He was
really hot and incredibly sexy. I
wanted him to fuck me like crazy. I
eased myself down onto him. Little
by little, I took him deeper inside of
me. I was letting him stay in longer
than nor mal. He hadn’t said
anything about condoms and
neither had I. It was really hot.
And what made it even hotter was
the fact that we were breaking the
rules. He started to fuck me slowly
and it felt so good that I didn’t
want it to stop. Besides, we had
just gotten started. Neither of us
was that close to coming. We
didn’t really need the condoms.
We fucked for a while - a good long
while. Eventually, though, my conscience got the better of me and I
stopped to get the condoms.
The next few times we saw each
other, we would have unsafe sex
even longer before I ran off to
retrieve the rubbers.
Until the one time I came inside of
him.
I couldn’t believe it
happened. I told him I was ready
to come but he didn’t get off and I
didn’t pull out. When I finally did,
he was bleeding.
“Uh-oh!” he said and started
laughing.
any unsafer? His ass was bleeding and
I had just come inside him. The color
must have drained out of my face
because he quickly reassured me, “It’s
OK. Besides, you don’t really have
anything to worry about. If anything,
I’m the one who should be worried.”
But he didn’t seem to be. So I tried
not to be either.
The next time we had sex, we got the
condoms right away. But every time
since then, we’ve had unprotected sex
for a little while before we use
protection.
It’s funny. Every time I push the
boundaries and get away with it I feel
that my new rules of safety are good
enough. Little by little, I’ve taken more
and more risks. After all, nothing’s
happened to me yet. What are the
chances that something will? And
each time the test comes back
negative, it justifies my behavior. I feel
more invincible.
I’m still negative so what I’m doing
must be safe enough, right? Actually,
I’m about due for a test. (Well, I’m a
little overdue... I’ve been putting it off
because I’m a little worried... again.)
So now I have to go get tested. And
then I have to wait for the results. And
the whole time I’ll be thinking back to
all the unsafe sex I’ve had and all the
little ways that I’ve pushed the
boundaries - and I’ll wonder again,
“Was it worth it?”
Join in a discussion
of this topic online at
www.circuitnoize.com
I couldn’t believe he was laughing.
This was nothing to laugh about.
What had I just done? Could we be
Circuit
27
Noize
DANCIN DUDES
by Eric Thurman
artwork by: David Sexton
It’s almost too easy to pick on the boys of the dance floor. So many of
them really act like caricatures of themselves when they’re spinning near
the edge. Do you recognize some of these boyz?
Gropin’ Grover
Dancing with this sextrovert quickly
degenerates into action more suited
to a backroom than a dance floor.
(It’s no coincidence that both his
initials are “G”.) The public displays
of erection can be a bit
embarrassing for the dance floor
inhibited, but for those with a bent
towards exhibitionism, a spin with
Grover can make your night.
Catching a front seat for the
performance feeds the voyeur in all
of us.
Speaker Spencer
Spence seeks the spotlights,
preferably in a location that’s
elevated above the commoners of
the dance pit. Desperately seeking
attention, he adds an extra
dimension to the dance floor whether it’s his outrageous dancing,
his rippling physique or his crazy
costumes. At times, Spencer
appears to be a dazed conductor of
an unseen orchestra as he scans the
crowd from above. Perhaps he’s
looking for his boyfriend?
Chatty Charley
Many of the popular party favors
share an irritating side effect –
diarrhea of the mouth. Charley loves
to cor ner his victims and then
proceed to chat all over them. It can
be interesting when the truth serum
effect is also present. In this
condition, you can get Charley to
spill some really good dirt!
Circuit
38
Strokin’ Stuart
If you go to the club lookin’ for dick,
what better place to find it than at the
urinals? Stuart has been deeply
distressed by the all of those sectional
walls that have cropped up in public
bathrooms everywhere. So when he
finds a club where they still let it all hang
out, he’s immediately aroused. If Stuart
is bothering you, laughing at his antics
will usually deflate his, uh, ego.
Lovin’ Louis
Louis is the most demonstrative of
Circuit boyz when it comes to
expressing the love he feels on the
dance floor. He greets his friends with
great big sweaty hugs and kisses on the
lips. He can often be seen gazing into
the eyes of both friends and people that
he’s just met, declaring, “I luv you soooo
much!” as his own eyes mist over.
Wobbly Wally
Wally’s feet don’t quite work right
anymore. He’s often found in a group of
like-headed friends who are dancing in a
huddle. The huddle provides support
for the anesthetized as well as a warm
and cozy place to leave his body while
his mind wanders elsewhere. When
separated from his group and forced to
venture out on his own (like when he has
to go to the bathroom) his movements
are toddler-like as he tries to walk
between the boys in the crowd. If there
are stairs he has to navigate, he may
stop to gaze at them as if they are
insurmountable mountains.
Noize
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39
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DJ PROFILE
DJ ESCAPE
by Jeffery Taylor
You’ll know when Escape is spinning at your club. First of all, the music
will be fierce and you will not be able to stop dancing until they throw you
out (and maybe not even then).
You’ll hear things that you’ve never
heard before and things that you’ve
never heard that way before. He’ll
give you beats until you want to
prance across the dance floor and
clear a runway for yourself. And he’ll
give you screaming diva like you’ve
never heard before while you sing
right along like you’re Kitty Meow.
You’ll also know by
looking up in the DJ
booth. You’ll see this
short, bald, cute, sexy
guy never stop moving
and mixing, pressing
buttons, twisting knobs,
and setting needles on
records.
You’ll see
someone so engrossed
in what he’s doing that
he forgets who he is.
You’ll think the headphones are permanently
wedged between his ear and his
shoulder. And you’ll know that he’s
having the time of his life because
you are as well.
Jeff Jonas, Escape’s alter ego, grew
up in Bayside, Queens loving music
for as long as he can remember. He
played violin in high school, studied
music theory, and learned how to
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read music. He listened to the radio
constantly and was drawn to hip-hop
when hip-hop was first starting to
happen. He recalls listening to such
groups as Tribe Called Quest, Beastie
Boys, and Nice and Smooth. “Back
then, hip-hop was party music! It was a
party listening to these songs,” he
remembers. “For a while, it got really
streetish - just rappin’ over
beats.
Now now it’s
starting to get fun again.”
He started to go to teen
nights, parties hosted by
the local schools for kids
thirteen and over, and
immediately discovered his
career path. He wanted to
DJ the party. In order to
“get the job,” hopeful DJs
would pass out their own
flyers advertising the party.
Whoever got the most
people to come would get to DJ half
the night. Escape, at age 13, was
spinning the entire night before long.
His specialty was hip-hop and reggae.
He decided on the name “Escape” right
from the start because, as he says,
“When I DJ, it’s an escape into the
music.” This is true for both him and his
fans.
Noize
It was Scribble who introduced him to
Junior, and he and Junior became good
friends. He would go to Twilo every
week and sit in Junior’s booth and watch
the crowd for hours. “That’s what I like
to do when I go to a club,” he explains.
He would watch to see “what they react
to, what everyone’s into, if they’re
having a good time, if they’re not having
a good time.” He continues to explain,
“If you do that for months and months, I
think you get a good idea of what’s
gonna make the room go nuts.”
It is at this
time that he
met another
DJ, Scribble,
who he says, “is one of my best
friends and has helped me out so
much along the way.” Scribble
taught him how to scratch up the
records and how to mix on beat, mix
on rhythm - helped him tune his
skills. He says, “It was so fascinating
to see what you could do with a
turntable. It was like having an
instrument.”
A few years later, when Escape was
17, Scribble took him to Palladium
after spinning at the Roxy. This
would be the first time Escape had
ever heard dance music in a club.
This was also the first time that he
would hear Junior Vasquez. He
couldn’t believe what he was seeing
or hearing. The crowd was going
nuts and all because of what Junior
was doing. “One guy controlling the
whole crowd and everybody’s just
living for him,” he recalls. Escape
was never the same again. “After
that, I started buying dance music,”
he says.
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He must have been a good student
because Escape took the knowledge he
gained for how to “make a record to
rock the room” and went on to produce
such hits as “Everybody Get Up”, “People Get Down”, “Wer*ship”, and “Music
Take Me Higher”. Junior actually broke
“Wer*ship” for him and in return Escape
allowed Junior to have it for a year by
himself. (“He loves having exclusives
like that!”) He goes on to describe the
experience, “One of the best feelings is
making a record for the room you’re
going to and having him play it for the
first time and everyone goes nuts.
That’s a feeling!”
He also got to work with Junior in the
studio on Junior’s “Be Quiet”, Vicki Sue
Robinson’s “Move On”, and a private
mix of CeCe Peneston’s “Finally 2000”
(which, according to Escape, Junior still
is the only one to have) as well as a
number of other productions.
One of the biggest breaks for Escape
came when he was offered the chance
to play at Liquid in Miami for Halloween
1998. Liquid wanted Razor and Guido
for their Halloween party but they were
booked already. Escape, who had
become very good friends with Razor
and Guido, was represented by the
same management company. His
management suggested to Liquid that
47
Noize
they try Escape out. He played so
well that they offered him to come
back on a Saturday night and he tore
that night up as well. Jack Benggio,
the promoter for Liquid’s famous
Sunday night gay party approached
Escape that night telling him, “Your
sound fits our Sunday night. I want
you here on Sunday night.” Escape
started spinning regularly there.
After Liquid closed, Escape made his
way to many of the other South
Beach clubs including Warsaw,
Salvation, Level and Pump. Escape
has also spun at a number of Circuit
events, including many of the BBCM
events in Montreal. He first spun for
the Bad Boy Club of Montreal for
their Hot and Dry 2000 which he
describes as “one of the best gigs
that I’ve done.” He has worked with
them consistently since, recently
playing their Fever event for
Valentine’s Day and is already
scheduled to play an event for Black
and Blue later this year.
succeeds. “What he is able to do with
three or four records simultaneously is
just amazing,” states Michael Tronn who
along with Paulo Pincente throws the
uber-popular Sunday night party
“Anthem” at South Beach’s very own
Crobar, where Escape currently holds a
residency, returning every six weeks to
excite the crowd into a frenzy.
Escape has also released five continuous
mix CDs: Ultimate Afterhours (Volume I
and II), Party Time 2001, Party Time
2002, and Party Time 2003 Part 1 on the
Groovilicious label (a division of Strictly
Rhythm Records) where he also spent
three years working at A&R.
Escape, together with his roommate
Guido Osario (of Razor & Guido), has
recently formed J2X Records (Just 2-Xist).
After Groovilicious/Strictly Rhythm closed,
Although Escape is straight, he
estimates that ninety percent of his
gigs are for gay crowds. “The boys
just get so into it. I do a lot of afterhours parties. The people that are
there are there to party. They’re
there for the music. It feels good
when you’re doing something and
everyone’s reacting to it. You don’t
get that at straight parties.”
And he works when he’s working, so
he appreciates it when his crowd
appreciates what he does. Not the
type of DJ to put on a record and let
it just play while he sits back and
watches, Escape is always active in
the DJ booth. “I’m always throwing
curves all night long. I try to create
live. I try to remix live.” And you
know if you’ve ever heard him, he
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48
he says, “I wanted to start my own
venture and who better to start it with
than my roommate, who is a great
engineer and producer and who has mad
so many hit records that I can’t even name
them all!” Their first release is a remix of
Kathy Brown’s “Turn Me Out” which
appears on Escape’s newest continuous
mix CD, The Circuit Party Volume 8 (SPG
Music) which he describes as “a true
indication of what I do in the club.”
Noize
With a career starting at thirteen,
Escape has already had quite a
history. At twenty-five, he is ready to
make the leap into the big leagues
of the Circuit’s DJ elite. He is one of
the Circuit’s freshest young talents
and with the passion and energy that
he devotes to his craft, this reward
would be well deserved.
For more information on Escape,
including his upcoming schedule, visit
www.djescape.com.
10
DJ ESCAPE
TOP
01. Deborah Cox- Play Your Part- (Gabriel & Dresden Mix)
02. Kathy Brown- Turn Me Out- (Escape v.s. Guido Mix)
03. Monica feat. Missy Elliot- I'm So Gone- (Scumfrog Mix)
04. Dania- Little Bit Of Love- (Escape v.s. Guido Mix)
05. Crystal Waters- My Time- (Scumfrog & Lee-Cabrera Mixes)
06. DJ JRNY feat. Ceevox- Wired- (DJ Escape Mix)
07. Alan T.- Grace To The Bass
08. Lee-Cabrera- Shake It- (DJ Escape Edit*)
09. Cedric Gervais- Keep It Real
10. Junior Jack- E. Samba
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49
Noize
WELCOME
THE WORLD
TORONTO PRIDE WEEK
JUNE 23RD-29TH
CANADA CUP WEEKEND
JULY 3RD-6TH
LEATHERBALL WEEKEND
AUGUST 15TH-17TH
465-467 CHURCH STREET • TORONTO
CANADA 416-972-0887
woodystoronto.com
BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT
by Steve Kammon
Photos: Heritage of Pride
While the idea of a gay identity was born long before the 1960’s, it wasn’t
until June 27, 1969, that a small group of gays finally stood up to the
harassment that had been accepted as our birthright for many generations.
The historical incident occurred at
the Stonewall Inn, a small bar frequented by a motley crew of drag
queens, street punks, semi-out
businessmen, and lesbians. Police
raids were so commonplace at the
Stonewall that a signal had been
devised to war n if someone
appearing to be a cop should come
to the door. The doorman would
flash the bar’s lighting and all samesex touching would immediately
cease.
During this infamous night’s raid,
most of the people in the bar were
released after showing identification
(names being noted). However, rather
than leave, many stayed outside the bar
waiting for their friends to come out.
Since this was in the heart of a thriving
gay district (and at a prime cruising
hour), the crowd built quickly as
passersby joined the throng. Someone
threw coins which soon turned into
others throwing rocks. The crowd got
angrier and angrier and a riot erupted.
The police retreated inside the bar to
await reinforcements, while the
protestors used a parking meter for a
battering ram to express their rage. The
protests resumed each night for the next
three nights.
Photographer: Felix Bennett
Although the riots didn’t immediately
change things, they did serve as a slap
in the face to a lot of queers as to how
unfair they were being treated. Sparked
by these events, new organizations blossomed, not only in New York but in
other cities like San Francisco and Los
Angeles. Perhaps the real start of the
“gay rights movement” happened one
month after the Riots with a gay
liberation march from Stonewall to
Washington Square Park culminating in
a small rally there.
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58
Noize
The first Dance took place in 1986. The
real impetus for the Dance was the need
for a big bang-up end to Pride Week.
The plan was to give people something
to do after the March and the Rally. And
it was to be a party - a celebration. The
organizers were unsure if this enormous
undertaking would fly but the
community loved the event from the
start with 5000 people attending the
very first year. Even with tickets at $5,
the event made a small profit. Years
later, the Dance would become the
primary fundraiser for Heritage of Pride.
It wasn’t long before special dance
parties were held during Gay Pride
in New York. For example, the
legendary Saint held “The Liberation
Day Ball” with some proceeds going
to the expenses of producing the
March and the Rally.
The first several Dances were held on
the Christopher Street Pier right at the
end of this gayest of streets. As the pier
disintegrated and the West Side
Highway underwent its seemingly
ceaseless
construction
and
reconstruction, the pier simply could no
longer hold the weight of all of the
equipment and the joyous bouncing of
Photographer: Joe Barna
The March and the Rally, meant as a
commemoration of the Riots, would
be the first “gay pride” events. Each
year they would grow larger. The
early rallies took place at the end of
Christopher Street in the parking lot
at the base of the same pier that
would later host the first dances.
Bordering the Hudson, this area was
well-known as the West Village’s tar
beach - a place to catch some rays in
a part of town with very little in the
way of public parks. (And also
extremely cruisy.) In many ways, gay
life on the piers is as much a part of
our history as Stonewall.
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59
Noize
thousands of dancers. The Dance
was moved off of the pier and onto
solid land for a couple of years at the
base of the pier in the bulkhead
along the Hudson.
The Dance was originally created out
of the fevered imagination of Matt
Foreman and the folks at the Lesbian
& Gay Community Services Center,
who co-hosted the event with
Heritage of Pride. Today, Heritage
of Pride is an all-volunteer managed,
grass roots organization that exists
to put on Pride events in New York
including the Dance, the March, the
Rally, and the Festival.
Photographer: Joe Barna
The year of Stonewall 25, held in
conjunction with the Gay Games,
was the year of the largest Dance
with more than 10,000 ticket
holders. A separate Stonewall 25
organization produced the March
and Rally, allowing Heritage of Pride
to focus on the Dance and the
Festival. The Dance and the Festival
were next to one another, stretching
along the West Side Highway and
the banks of the Hudson. Both
events were produced on both
Saturday and Sunday night. There
was an ornate greenhouse, which
normally sold plants, that was used
as the entrance to the Dance, creating a special moment for each
person that entered the dance
space.
The Dance has always had the
advantage of the magnificent New
York skyline for its backdrop. And,
due in part to the lobbying efforts of
the Heritage of Pride organization,
the Empire State Building glows
lavender for Gay Pride.
King. Perhaps the most memorable
show, however, was the Judy Garland
extravaganza. Twenty drag queens were
all dressed as Judy Garland at different
points in her career. There was Judy at
the Palace, Judy in top hat and tails,
skinny Judy’s, fat Judy’s, even Asian and
Black Judy’s. The finale to this gay
fantasia was Judy as Dorothy, all dressed
in a gingham pinafore holding her little
dog, Toto, in a basket on her arm. She
was raised on a snorkel lift over the
crowd while a fog machine spewed from
the bottom of the lift. Fireworks
erupted as she lip-synched “Over the
Rainbow” and the crowd went nuts.
The Dance has featured major live
performers over the years, including
Whitney Houston, the Village
People, Deborah Gibson, Laura
Branigan, and Evelyn Champagne
The fireworks that end the Dance are
perhaps the most delicious aspect of
this party. This tradition was started in
1989 and it was supposed to be a oneshot deal to commemorate the 20th
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60
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anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
But it was so beautiful and such a
perfect ending to the Dance and the
week of Pride events that it became
an instant tradition. One year, some
of the fireworks looked like little
sperm zipping across the sky. Some
of the guys started chanting “Sperm!
Sper m! Sper m!” There was an
uncomfortable silence and, as some
round-shaped fireworks exploded, all
the guys started chanting “Ova!
Ova! Ova!” The whole crowd broke
into laughter.
Mistakes have been made and
lessons have been learned along the
way. There was the one year that a
lot of effort was put into a big laser
show which no one could see
because the party basically ends as
darkness is falling. And then there
was the year that the discovery was
made that porta-potties sink very
quickly when dropped in the
Hudson.
The Heritage of Pride organization
(HOP) was founded in 1985. The
organization that had previously put
on the March and Rally, the
Christopher Street Liberation Day
Committee, fell apart in the spring
before Pride. A small group that
included Brian O’Dell, Matt
Foreman, Candida Scott Piel, and
Marc Berkeley pulled together the
March and Rally in about two
months. Brian O’Dell, who went on
to be co-Chair of the organization,
actually came up with the name
“Heritage of Pride”. The miracle that
they pulled off could not have
happened without a series of
fundraisers at The Monster and a loan
from the Greater Gotham Business
Council (which became an outright gift).
The biggest job of HOP is producing
the four major events that make up Gay
Pride in New York. But beyond this, the
mission of the Heritage of Pride
organization has always been to
commemorate and celebrate the
Stonewall Riots. One of their biggest
achievements was being the first gay
pride march to actually obtain a permit
from the city.
They were also
instrumental in having the block of
Christopher Street in front of the
Stonewall Inn renamed to “Stonewall
Place”. In addition, the Federal
Government has named the Stonewall
Inn as a National Historical Landmark.
HOP also produces a “thank you”
party/awards ceremony in the fall and
has had a hand in founding the
inter national pride organization
Interpride and the conference for the
North East Regional Pride organization
(NERP).
This year, the Dance (featuring Kris
Kono in the leadoff slot followed by
Masterbeat’s Brett Henrichsen) will take
place on Sunday, June 29, on Pier 54
(off the West Side Highway opposite
13th Street). You can purchase tickets
online at the Heritage of Pride website
at www.nycpride.org.
Photographer: Julie Pena
This article was compiled from
information supplied by Janice Thom
who first volunteered for HOP on the
1986 Rally which ended to the sounds
of the beginning of the first Dance on
the Pier. Since then, she has had two
terms as Female Co-Chair and been
both the Fundraising and March Chair
for the organization. She is currently
Media Director.
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61
Noize
PARTY DRUGS & SEX
by John R. Ballew, M.S., L.P.C.
A friend was talking with me about sex recently. Let’s call him Paul for the
sake of discussion. Paul, a professional guy in his early 30’s, is handsome
and sexy.
He turns heads when he walks into a
room. “I don’t think I’ve ever had
sex without being high,” he told me.
He seemed a little startled to hear
himself say that. “I’m usually rolling
when I go out to the clubs. And I
always do something if I’m going
out just looking for sex. I mean... I
never really thought about it
before.”
universe.
Paul is not alone; many men use
drugs of one sort or another in
connection with sex. Fact is, one of
the biggest motivations for getting
high or having a drink is to become
less self-conscious and to feel sexier.
When we become less inhibited, our
sexuality seems less complicated
and more powerful. Chatting
someone up is easier. We’re feeling
good and social anxiety disappears.
A night of partying starts out as a lot of
fun. But a long evening mixing too
many substances (including alcohol) can
turn into something that is not much fun
at all. We chase the guy we’re seeking
and eventually catch him but find out
that we’re no longer up for sex figuratively and literally. Many drugs
increase the desire for sex but limit the
ability to actually have sex by causing
erection problems. Or, after long hours
of dancing and drugging, we’re just in a
very different place and sex feels like
something of a chore.
Sex and drugs each allow us to
enter a different sort of headspace.
We’re not as distracted by the
ordinary stuff that usually fills our
thoughts (work, paying the bills,
etc.); we’re more focused on what is
happening right in the moment. At
best, that can lead to the sort of
event people talk about as a “peak
experience” where everything
seems to flow just perfectly. Our
ego boundaries are down. We feel
connected with the guy we’re
dancing or having sex with – maybe
even feel connected with the whole
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62
The problem with cosmic experiences is
that you can’t order them on demand
like a pizza. So we can end up chasing
the experience longer than we should,
and working ourselves into a state
where we lose our sense of ourselves.
We suddenly find ourselves feeling lost,
not blissful.
Different drugs affect sexuality in
different ways. Many men find that
ecstasy increases their self-confidence
and sense of connection with others; it
can make sex seem incandescent. Like
crystal meth or cocaine, it is a stimulant
that accelerates the central nervous
system. Depending on the amount
taken, it can also make users feel
panicky or anxious.
These stimulants’ effect on the central
Noize
nervous system means they can also
have a powerful effect on male
sexuality. For instance, these drugs
may make sex much more intense
the first few times they are used –
almost like an aphrodisiac. But with
time, they have the opposite effect.
Sexual arousal shifts and decreases.
Some men find that they never get
erections when using ecstasy, or
they get aroused but never get off.
There is growing evidence that longterm use of stimulants can cause
impotence in some men.
GHB and ketamine are depressants,
not stimulants. Users enjoy a sense
of euphoria and sometimes a
heightened sense of touch, so the
connection with sexual pleasure may
seem obvious. (They share some of
these characteristics with another
central nervous system depressant alcohol.) Unfortunately, GHB, K and
alcohol all interfere with male sexual
response.
Notice a common theme here?
Almost all drugs have the potential
for interfering with erections.
Erections are relatively precarious
things, which is one reason why
Viagra is popular among many men
seeking greater sexual selfconfidence.
But what’s the effect of combining
Viagra-induced
boners
and
chemically disinhibited brains? If
guys toss poppers into the stew,
there is the real possibility of a fatal
interaction - Viagra and nitrate
inhalers do not play well together.
And men under the influence are
much more likely to think with their
dicks – a prescription for riskier sex.
Men using stimulants may find that
the sex gets rougher than they
intended because they are
processing physical sensations
differently; they are more likely to
wear out a condom or run out of
lube. And guys who know better
find it easier to break their own rules
about risky sex if they are enjoying
Circuit
the relaxing effects of their favorite
substance.
Having sex when our brain chemistry is
significantly altered can reinforce the
separation between sex and intimacy.
Too often, there’s a fine line between
being
uninhibited
and
being
unconscious. In this state, we’re more
likely to make bad choices of sexual
partners or find ourselves in situations
without a clear understanding of how
we got there.
How do you know if you’ve got a
problem? Ask yourself:
u
Are friends telling me they are
worried about how I am with drugs
or sex?
u
How often do I use drugs while
having sex?
u
Do I have sex that is riskier than I
really want if I’ve been drinking or
using?
u
Am I having trouble starting or
maintaining the sort of relationships
I want?
u
Am I guilty, ashamed, or worried
about what I’m doing?
It’s not good sex if you feel injured,
guilty, or ashamed afterwards. If you
think you may have a problem, get
help. Find a doctor or therapist who is
knowledgeable and nonjudgmental
about both gay sexuality and drug use.
You need someone who will help you
sort out what is best for you, not
someone who wants to run your life.
Sorting out your choices will help you
stay healthy and happy.
John R. Ballew, M.S., is a licensed
professional counselor in private
practice in Atlanta. He specializes in
issues related to coming out, sexuality
and relationships and spirituality. He
can be reached via the web at
www.bodymindsoul.org.
63
Noize
DESIGN: RICK AVILA • PHOTOGRAPHY: GREG BRUCE (WWW.GREGBRUCE.NET) • LEATHER: MR. S LEATHER
THE HEART OF THE PARTY
by Jim Gelder and Allen Lungo
Have you ever left the dance floor simultaneously elated and with tears in
your eyes? This is one sure sign that the party has crossed over into the
territory of the heart.
You might think that all it takes are
certain required elements that can
be ordered, coordinated, installed
and used in creating the party. But
to create a party that is heartcentered requires techniques that
are a little more intangible. It means
finding a way to touch people
deeply. Once a deep connection is
made, the experience can transcend
music, lights, sexual energy, and
substances. The party takes on an
instinctive and emotional quality
that so many Circuit partygoers try
to decipher for days and weeks
afterward. Is it possible to find the
intangible source of a heartcentered party?
Prehistoric party producers learned
everything they knew about
producing parties in the school of
hard knocks. Production styles
alternated between the joys of the
carefree and the foolish risks of the
inexperienced. The events were
technically primitive, but we didn’t
notice. (We were still marveling at
the fax machine.) Most events had a
discer nible “soul” in their
dedication to HIV/AIDS fundraising they united us as a “family” in
reaction to the health crisis. Is
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66
memory just tinted by rose-colored
glasses or were these parties often
loaded with that heart-centered quality?
We didn’t realize then that we were on
the brink of an explosion in Circuit party
evolution. As with everything gay
people embrace, the early parties
quickly grew into an entire industry complete with marketing and
technology
that
exceeds
the
capabilities of most third world
countries. The advancements were
breathtaking and the competition was
fierce. Equipment experts, technical
consultants, marketing firms, sponsor
programs, internet manifestations of all
types, periodicals, professional
societies, rating systems, superstars,
fashion, and Circuit social climbers all
evolved and fed off of the scene. The
spiraling pursuit of fabulousness
seemed to be straining the heart
connection, but with all that was going
on, what possibly could be missing?
There was an uneasy “runaway train”
feeling but who could really stop to
think about it? Would it all crash in a
tragic pile of spandex, designer
sunglasses, and empty water bottles?
It wasn’t all madness and mayhem.
Certain parties kept their spiritual
Noize
foundations alive, even while the
number of guests who actually had
known someone who died of AIDS
grew smaller and smaller. Many of
them remain heartwarming favorites
to this day. However, all did
succumb to the need to compete on
technical and marketing grounds,
especially with the for-profit events.
The first signs of the next wave of
evolution have begun to appear in
the last couple of years. Maybe it
was the passing of the millennium,
or the aging of the founding Circuit
crowd, or simple “fizzled fabulousness”, but there is a growing trend
toward a renewal and investment in
the heart connection. Producers,
mostly fundraising veterans in the
non-profit sector, are experimenting
with the re-emergence of meaning,
new inclusive imagery, event
diversification, and a decidedly
personal touch. These efforts are
the happy convergence between
the “soul energy” that was born
with the party era and the growing
cooperation and confidence that is
alive in the broader GLBT
community.
What are we talking about? Just
scanning ads and party summaries
in Circuit Noize offers some of the
best clues.
Producers are starting to utilize
images that appeal to the broader
community. Fireball, Winter Party,
and Purple all made use of close
perspective models representing
diversity in race, ethnicity, gender,
age, or some combination of two or
more traits. While all models were
attractive (Carrot Top won’t sell
many Circuit party tickets), they
were “everyday” enough to allow a
Circuit
broader audience to identify with each
ad. Inviting smiles and a sense of
happiness all contribute to a first
impression of “welcome” and “join the
fun”. Identifying with one of the
models, as someone they might see in
their own neighborhood, makes the
event feel specifically open to them.
Sure, there is enough skin to catch the
erotic eye, but it is done with class.
This is not just a karmically positive
thing to portray, but is a smart business
move to attract a larger and more
diverse following.
Producers are creating themes and
messages that lift everyone’s attention
and tell a story. For the last two years,
BBCM and the Hearts Foundation have
themed their events to highlight
meaningful dimensions of the
experience. “Origin” and “The Quality
of Being Human” drew attention in
Montreal to the things that unite us as
mankind. “A Sense of Belonging” and
“Keepers of the Flame” in Chicago
identified the “What You Get” and the
“Who We Are” as members of the
Circuit community. In 2004, the Fireball
theme will identify the “Why We
Celebrate” as the next chapter of a
multi-year story. The role of inspiration
in attracting partygoers is a key aspect
of the move toward substantive
messages.
Producers are creating diversified event
lineups that complement the party
schedule and message. Festival weeks
are growing in size and sophistication.
Black and Blue, Winter Party, and White
Party (Miami) have had weeklong
schedules
that
are
including
community-based elements such as
receptions, film nights, and art exhibits.
The Fireball joined the group this year
by offering a weeklong “Fireball Festival” that offered several large-scale
67
Noize
GLBT community events in addition
to the Circuit party lineup. These
festival style events emphasize
remembering our “soul”, supporting
our thriving community, and
partying responsibly.
Producers are emphasizing an
attitude of personal welcome,
customer service, and family
affiliation in embracing each guest.
Organizations are starting to behave
like theme park operators who want
to make sure every single aspect of
a Circuit partygoer’s experience is as
satisfactory as possible. Volunteers
are being trained to see themselves
as customer service representatives
and personal hosts, especially to
out-of-town visitors. Nothing boosts
customer loyalty and takes the
intimidation out of a first-time visit
to a city like a response to an
advance email question in 24 hours,
a friendly smile at the Welcome
Center, a special concierge service
at all venues, a shuttle bus ride to
distant events, and a sincere “thank
you” at the end of every party. This
emphasis is not unique to the Circuit
party world, but who says we can’t
adopt things that are tried and true
as well?
So, will adding these four new
ingredients to your Circuit party
recipe automatically create the heart
connection in the Circuit party
experience we have been talking
about? They will certainly go a long
way, but there is one more essential
aspect.
Producers must live the belief that
the heart connection is just as
important as the latest technical
innovation
or
superstar
perfor mance. It must be the
Circuit
instinctive understanding from the top
of the organization to the most
temporary staff member or volunteer,
that we all are one family, that we all
must respect and care for ourselves and
one another, and that these events are
about gathering the love in our
community. They are about “everyday”
individuals joining together to create
inspiration and energy. Once this
thread of energy takes hold in the
production team and the guests, then
making the “Circuit heart connection”
starts to become second nature.
The ability to create the circumstances
for a heartfelt Circuit experience is a
talent, maybe even a gift, but it is
certainly not a mystery. This trend
represents a return to the spiritual
foundation of the earliest events and
parallels a growing sense of confidence,
responsibility, and inclusiveness in the
Circuit community. We believe that a
talent for weaving together the
elements that make up a heart-centered
party will become an essential part of
the Circuit scene of tomorrow.
Nurturing the heart connection is the
future of the Circuit. And when that
heart connection becomes second
nature everywhere, we can only imagine
how far we can take our parties and our
community.
Jim Gelder is an illustrator, graphic
designer, and art director in Chicago.
He has been creating the themes,
graphics, and advertising for The
Fireball Weekend and the Hearts
Foundation for 6 years.
Allen Lungo, a remodeling contractor, is
President of the all-volunteer Hearts
Foundation in Chicago, producers of
the Fireball Festival, Fireball Weekend,
and Hot Tea as well as many other
events and promotions.
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A Heritage of Pride
Retrospective
All photos by Moody Mustafa
Circuit
70
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Circuit
71
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Circuit
72
Noize
A Heritage of Pride
Retrospective
All photos by Moody Mustafa
Circuit
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Noize
CIRCUIT BREAKER
by William D. McColl, Esq.
I flew back to rainy Washington, D.C., from sunny Miami where I had the
pleasure of basking in a month of spectacular dance music. It started with
Winter Party week and segued into Winter Music Conference, an
international gathering of the world’s top DJs and the parties that
showcase their talents.
The crowning event was Ultra, an
electronic music festival on the water
in Bayfront Park which attracted
30,000 people. While I did enjoy the
music, I was actually in Miami on a
mission for the Drug Policy Alliance.
I was there to talk to people in the
dance community about the RAVE
Act and similar bills in Congress
which could drastically change the
dance scene we know today. We
managed to stop
this bill last year and
my mission is to
stop it again.
The Drug Policy
Alliance is a nonprofit organization
working to reduce
the harms of both
drug misuse and
drug prohibition.
Our Washington
office has led the
charge against the
RAVE Act not only
by publicizing it but
also by creating a coalition and
helping organize others to fight
back. The coalition now includes
people in the electronic music
industry, promoters, DJs, dancers,
beverage industry associations, and
hotel associations. Additionally, we
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76
work on issues such as making medical
marijuana available for HIV/AIDS and
other patients, ending the ban on
students obtaining loans and grants due
to
drug
convictions,
ending
discrimination against minorities created
by mandatory minimum sentencing and
racial profiling, and other similar issues.
(For more information about the Drug
Policy Alliance, visit their web site at
www.drugpolicy.org.)
It shouldn’t be a
surprise
that
politicians are using
drug laws to go after
dance and music.
After all, these laws
have been used in the
past to suppress
music and (for lack of
a better word) “lifestyles”
that
are
disliked
by
the
p o l i t i c a l
establishment. Jazz in
the 1940s, rock and
roll in the 1960s, and
heavy metal and rap in the 1980s were
all targets of government regulations.
Electronic music and hip-hop are today’s
targets.
The “lifestyles” that
government officials are targeting seem
to include anyone with dreads, boys
who might be tempted to kiss other
Noize
boys, and possibly Ani DiFranco.
Opponents have dubbed these new
bills the “Footloose” bills (after the
1984 movie about a small town that
banned dancing). The RAVE Act
threatens not only raves but every
single music dance event - including
Circuit parties. (Actually, it’s so
broadly drawn that it could affect
your backyard barbecue - but that’s
another story.) If enacted, the RAVE
Act would make it easier for the
defendants themselves were involved in
any drug activity. Even clubs with strong
anti-drug policies have been targeted.
In Panama City, Florida, prosecutors
went after a nightclub that publicized
and enforced zero-tolerance drug
policies, had well-trained security, and
consistently reported drug-related
incidents to local police. In New
Orleans, a certain club took these same
precautions and even went so far as to
have its security staff hold patrons
caught in possession of drugs while the
URGENT UPDATE
Late on Tuesday, April 8, the Senate and House Conference Committee, without
public notice, hearing or a debate in Congress, attached the Illicit Drug AntiProliferation Act (formerly known as the RAVE Act) to a child abduction bill. The
bill was then approved by both houses and sent to the president's desk. It is
expected the bill will be signed.
Opposition to these provisions will continue. The coalition that has mobilized to
oppose these measures will scrutinize law enforcement raids of clubs and
properties, and will monitor any prosecutions taking place under the Act. The
coalition plans to work to find ways to help property owners and others to stay in
business and will continue to work to enact legislation that helps ensure the safety
and free speech of the music community and of others who may be affected by
this law.
federal gover nment to punish
property owners for any drug offense
that their customers commit - even if
they work hard to stop such
offenses. The RAVE Act would give
the government even more power to
prosecute nightclub owners and
promoters that organize electronic
dance music events and would
enable them to harass and arrest
innocent musicians, promoters,
venue owners, and fans - all in the
name of the War on Drugs.
There
have
already
been
prosecutions of owners and
promoters of nightclubs in which
there were no allegations that the
Circuit
police were on route.
Ignoring the efforts made by these
clubs, prosecutors instead claimed that
the sale of bottled water and an onsite
ambulance showed that owners knew
about and encouraged drug use.
Prosecutors presented glow sticks, blow
pops, and pacifiers (all legal items)
seized from the venues as evidence that
patrons were using drugs. In the Florida
case, prosecutors showed jurors a video
of a man massaging another man’s back,
stating that somehow this was evidence
of drug use. (It leads us to question
whether or not the prosecutors were
attempting to sway the jury through
blatant homophobia.) Fortunately, the
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Noize
jury didn’t buy these ridiculous
cases.
Because we have been so
conditioned to blindly trust our
government, much of society might
be willing to accept these kinds of
government actions. But can we
really expect club owners to be held
responsible for the actions of their
patrons (especially when the
government’s own high-security
prison wardens cannot prevent their
own inmates from using drugs)?
Even the patrons themselves have
become the victims of overzealous
policing. In Wisconsin, local officials
recently raided a popular nightclub
and tried to give $1000 fines to 442
customers. W ith help from the
ACLU, most of the clubgoers were
able to have their charges dismissed.
A total of only three customers were
charged with actual drug violations.
What is particularly galling about
these prosecutions and the
“Footloose” bills themselves is that
they are likely to make it that much
more difficult to keep people safe at
dance parties. Proclaiming that legal
items such as bottled water and
ambulances are evidence that
promoters and owners know about
drug use will discourage promoters
from providing these services at all.
Dr. Chris Mann, the Medical Director
of MedEvent in Dallas, commented
that, “Instead of being worried
about there being an ambulance at
large dance parties, officials should
expect it to be there just like they do
for sporting and other events.” He’s
absolutely right.
Having an
ambulance at these events is just
basic common sense and good
public health.
Circuit parties are especially in
danger from these bills. One
homophobic prosecutor or DEA
agent is all it would take to bring
Circuit
78
down a party. In the past, local
politicians have attempted to shut down
the White Party in Palm Springs based
partly on allegations of drug use. With
the RAVE Act, these politicians will have
that much more ground on which to
stand. Even with the support of local
politicians (who often like the fact that
such parties bring customers and
tourists to town), it may be impossible to
keep the doors open. These bills would
lower the burden of proof required to
levy fines of as much as $250,000 on
property owners. No one can stay in
business under those circumstances.
Driven from regulated spaces such as
nightclubs, the parties will just go
underground to warehouses, open
fields, and other unregulated spaces
with even fewer safety resources.
How can you help stop the “Footloose”
bills? Primarily, we can use your financial
help. Drug Policy Alliance and our allies
stopped the bill last year and with your
help we can do it again. We need to
hire a lobbying firm who can help us
either tie the bill up in knots or at least
amend it enough to protect Circuit
parties and other dance events. Right
now we are trying to raise $180,000
towards
that
end.
Visit
www.nomoredrugwar.org/donate if you
would like to help out with a donation.
I also strongly urge you to get active.
Write your member of Congress. You
would be surprised how many times I
talk to a politician who says that he or
she voted in a particular way because of
the phone calls or mail that they
received. We really do have a chance to
stop this bill - but only if we speak out.
Visit:
www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact
to find out more about what you can do.
The RAVE Act clearly threatens the right
to dance. Together we can stop this
madness.
William D. McColl can be reached at
[email protected].
Noize
MUSIC REVIEWS
by DJ Mateo @ Perfectbeat.com
Dance Mix NYC Volume 3
compilation schizophrenia can be
attributed to the label looking to use as
many of their own (often shady) cuts in
an attempt to keep licensing costs down
and help in getting their own tracks out
on the dance floor. However, that isn’t
the case here as The Riddler’s askew
selections only include two Tommy Boy
tracks - Amber’s questionably cool
“Anyway (Men Are From Mars)” and the
screeching trance gem “Say You Will”,
an uneasy-on-the-ears Alice Deejay
homage from Halo.
Dance Mix NYC Volume 3
Mixed by The Riddler
Tommy Boy
Direct from Tommy Boy’s dance
imprint, the somewhat unpredictable
Silver Label, comes the third
installment of Dance Mix NYC.
Once again, chintzy radio personality
“The Riddler” has been brought in
for the mixing honors - a feat that he
actually pulls off quite well
(especially considering the overall
cheese factor of several of the
included cuts). Much like Silver
Label itself,
In other words, any misgivings one
might have of Dance Mix NYC can’t be
blamed on licensing, DJ popularity, or
public demand - it’s just The Riddler’s
bad taste at work.
Dance Mix NYC fluctuates between
two very different styles. One is a
cool and subdued dark vibe which
can be found on tracks like Cassius’
furtive “The Sound Of Violence”,
Robbie Rivera’s otherworldly “The
Hum Melody”, and Oscar G. & Ralph
Falcon’s pitch-black anthem “Dark
Beat”. The other is a trashy vocal
dance sound that reminds one of
neon-tinted sports cars, blow pops,
and an afternoon spent at the local
mall. Many times, this sort of
Circuit
86
Noize
Masterbeat - The Club
Mixed by Brett Henrichsen
Easily among the most talked-about
compilations released so far this
year, Masterbeat – The Club is the
latest addition to Brett Henrichsen’s
widely popular Masterbeat series.
Henrichsen originally created a name
for himself through underground
mixed compilations and a string of
high-profile DJ gigs. Henrichsen’s
company, Master Entertainment, has
quickly risen to become one of the
top record labels for Circuit
enthusiasts worldwide. In fact,
Henrichsen’s annual White Party
compilations have grown to become
the quintessential souvenir for
virtually any serious party boy who
attends
the
Palm
Springs
spectacular.
Such successes in the Circuit scene
are perhaps why the release of
Masterbeat – The Club comes as a
strange surprise to Henrichsen’s
most loyal fans. Recruiting colorful
gay artist Joe Phillips to illustrate the
cover sleeve and inside booklet for
Masterbeat – The Club would lead
most to believe the title would have
an altogether gay vibe – but,
actually, it’s quite the opposite.
Instead, the cover sleeve depicts a
heterosexual couple cruising each
other
outside
the
club,
complimented by an inside book
that shows them closing in for a kiss.
All told, not a single same-sex
Circuit
couple is depicted anywhere within the
packaging… leaving Masterbeat fans to
wonder what caused this sudden switch
in marketing. Still, before any drama
queen can start shouting from the
rooftops that Henrichsen & Co. have
gone straight on us, one need only slide
CD1 of the 2CD set into their stereo to
hear that, at least musically, absolutely
nothing about the Masterbeat sound
has changed.
The collection is a non-stop showcase of
one Circuit anthem after another – from
Wide Life’s “pack your bags” epic “I
Don’t Want U” to Gloria Gaynor’s
euphoric masterpiece “I Never Knew”.
Even die-hard dance fans will be
impressed by the inclusion of the highly
sought-after Tracy Young remix of Cyndi
Lauper’s “Shine” as well as Thunderpuss
vs. Wide Life’s theatrical reinterpretation
of the theme from Six Feet Under. True,
it may not be Brett’s most visually ontarget release, but Masterbeat – The
Club sounds just as strong as always.
87
Noize
worldwide. In a display of both
technique and taste, each style is highlighted in small groups that gracefully
transition into the next. For example,
the CD’s first track, Ralphi Rosario’s
remix of “Superwoman” by GTS
featuring Karyn White, ignites Winter
Party 6 with a particularly Miami-styled
disco house vibe that rides along until
track four (Drive featuring Marvel’s more
Circuit-inspired “The Music Lifts Me
Up”) which serves as the ideal segue
between the two genres.
Party Groove Presents
Winter Party Volume 6
Mixed by Roland Belmares
Centaur Entertainment
If you gauge the quality of
continuously-mixed CDs by the DJ’s
ability to “take you on a journey”,
you just might consider Winter Party
6 a virtual trip around the world. The
latest release in the popular Party
Groove series (sister-series to the
gay-essential Global Groove titles),
this 12-track compilation spans a
variety of styles from t-dance to
tribal, and includes top names like
Robbie Rivera (“There Some Disco
Fans In Here Tonight”), Cyndi Lauper
(“Disco Inferno”), Kristine W. (“When
The Money’s Gone” featuring Bruce
Roberts and Elton John) and
Thunderpuss’ Chris Cox (“I Believe”).
The DJ responsible for uniting these
monsters is Los Angeles Circuit DJ
Roland Belmares whose previous CD
mixes for Circuit Sessions and Dance
1 have proven his skills to audiences
Circuit
88
Things continue to get more “late
night” until the pressure is at last
released with Sherrie Lea’s feel-good
vocal anthem “Anyway” which provides
a suitable finale for Belmares’ session.
As an added bonus, a portion of the
sales for Winter Party Volume 6 go to
benefit The Gay & Lesbian Foundation
of South Florida which certainly helps
make this mix an even sweeter selection.
Buy these releases and all your other
dance music favorites at
Perfectbeat.com.
Noize
The Circuit Party Volume 8
Mixed by DJ Escape
SPG Music
Arguably one of the most heated
debates in Circuit music surrounds
the issue of straight DJs and whether
or not they “have a place” in a
proudly gay-owned-and-operated
atmosphere. There are some who
contend that the sexual orientation
of a DJ is a key ingredient in making
sure the music perfectly suits the
crowd’s tastes - most notably the
pervasive penchant for wailing divas
and theatrical production that is
often missing from the majority of
straight DJs’ sets; elements often
replaced instead by limp, rock ’n’ roll
aesthetics and Fatboy-Slim-styled
fraternity dance.
Alternately, the other side of the
fence argues that it’s only the DJ’s
taste that matters, not whether or
not he has a girlfriend (which, by the
way, he does). We’re talking, of
course, about DJ Escape, one of the
Circuit’s hottest DJs and sought-after
production talent. And while he may
indeed be straight, his style is at
times even too queer for a few gay
clubgoers. Never one to wince at
the presence of a screaming diva,
Escape appeals to even the savviest
Circuit boy on
The Circuit Party Volume 8, the most
recent addition to the series. With
the previous installment employing
the mixing talent of Tracy Young,
Circuit
there was a great deal of pressure on
Escape to deliver something of equal
impression. Fortunately, with hard-tofind tracks like Thunderpuss & Branes’
“Head” and classic cuts like Chicco
Seccit & Robbie Rivera’s “Let’s Get
Together”, the recipe for a sweaty
Circuit session is seriously sweet. Not to
say there isn’t the occasional misstep,
such as the inclusion of the dead-in-thewater “Safe From Harm” by Narcotic
Thrust, but these errors are forgivable
for, well... you know... a straight guy.
The popular hits du jour also make their
way towards center stage, such as Oscar
G & Ralph Falcon’s ubiquitous “Dark
Beat”, Superchumbo’s still-strong
“Irresistible” and Iio’s awesome “At The
End”, ensuring satisfaction among the
ever-present anthem queens. But
perhaps what makes The Circuit Party
Volume 8 especially satisfying is the fact
that it stands as yet another example
that the scene and its inseparable music
continue to get bigger and better each
year.
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THE EARS HAVE IT
…you never know who’s listening!
"I just got my numbers back and the
doctor said they were the highest
she's ever seen."
"You always were an overachiever."
"You know, except for the fact
that we don't want to have sex
with each other, we could be a
great couple."
"Good point. I guess we'd have
an 'noncommitment' ceremony!"
"Did you see that guy's
arms? He could fuck me
with his forearm!"
"Have you seen the bubble
butt on that boy?"
"Oh, I know! I could pack a
lunch and spend the weekend
in his ass."
Circuit
90
"People that live in glass
vials should not throw
crack rocks."
Noize
"I've eaten my fair share of
assholes, but licking and
spitting in someone's
mouth - now that's fetish."
"Did you get laid last night?"
"Of course. I would never leave
this town. These people know
how easy we are."
"Hey, don't knock
masturbation! It's sex
with someone that I
love!"
"The energy at that
club was fierce. Even
the shady people were
being nice."
"How did you manage to ditch that
creepy guy hitting on you?"
"I just told him, 'Sorry, babe, this is a
four ticket ride and you've
only got three tickets. On your way,
now."
"You are such a cunt."
"Careful honey, when it
comes to cunts, I'm
Yoda."
"Please, all DJs are
bottoms."
"He banged me
like a screen door
in a hurricane!"
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SUMMER
CI RCU IT
2003
As the warm weather of summer rolls in across most of the world (sorry Australia),
many embark on their long-deserved vacations. Summer comes early to Orlando,
where it will already be balmy when this city hosts GayDays - which has grown into
one of the largest events on the Circuit today. This is quickly followed by the Gay
Pride festivals in most every major city, which kick off this season.
The sunshine also brings a host of outdoor parties and the gay resort towns along
the beaches will all be happening - Provincetown, Laguna, Rehobeth, Saugatuck
and Fire Island are just a few of the towns that become a lot more gay at this time
of year.
As the war comes to an end we may see more of the boys traveling. This should
make the summer events bigger than ever as we've all been a bit stir-crazy and
need to get out and let our hair down.
Circuit
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SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
May 2 - 4, 2003
THE PURPLE PARTY - Dallas, TX
Approaching its third year of great events, Purple Party Dallas returns with a splash
of color for your springtime entertainment. DJs include Roland Belmares, KioKio,
Tracy Young and Eddie X with performance by CircuitMOM. The Purple
Foundation has donated $30,000 to the Resource Center of Dallas from its first two
events and aims to continue this tradition with Purple 2003.
Info: www.purplepartydallas.com; [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________
May 2 - 4, 2003
MOTORBALL X - Detroit, Michigan
With events and DJ's that put the "drive" into your dance, this year's Motorball
Weekend celebrates its fast and furious 10th year with Peter Rauhofer, Julian
Marsh, Mike Duretto, DJ Biff, Steven Dearborn, Wayne Shepherd, and Tom
McBride. Returning this year is the Friday Opening Party at Menjo's and the
Closing Party at Bleu Room plus plenty of racy fun in-between. Geared-4-life is a
not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to raise funds to benefit organizations
that provide direct service to those affected by HIV/AIDS in the metro-Detroit area.
Info: www.geared4life.org
__________________________________________________________________________
May 2 - 4, 2003
CHERRY 8 - Washington, DC
There's a new venue with a colossal space that provides all the room you need for
a night you won't forget. Washington DC's brand new Convention Center awaits
you for the ever-popular Saturday Night Main Event. DJs Brett Hendrichsen and
Tom Stephan provide the sounds. Cherry 8 also brings you back to the water with
the return of the Sunday Afternoon Capital Tea on the Potomac with "The Spirit of
Washington Cruise". Admission to this limited capacity event is guaranteed for
Host Pass holders. Also, a favorite for many, Sunday Night's Closing Party will
return to Nation, where the turntables will be manned by Abel and Don Bishop.
The Cherry Fund is a volunteer-driven organization that donates 100% of their
proceeds from this benefit weekend to local charities supporting the gay and
lesbian community.
Info: www.cherryfund.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.circuitnoize.com and www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
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Noize
SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
May 10, 2003
THE SCARLET BALL - Atlanta, Georgia
Temperatures are rising with Scarlet fever as Atlanta is brought to a boil. The
talents of DJ Renato Cecin, DJ Victor Calderone and performers RKM Futureboys
and Power Infiniti will make this make this a special night. The party is at the
Foundry at Puritan Mill. Tickets can only be acquired through the 20 hosts of the
event. To contact the hosts please see website.
Info: www.scarletball.com
__________________________________________________________________________
May 3 - 10, 2003
CLUB ATLANTIS - Cancun, Mexico
Pristine white sand beaches meet azure Caribbean seas at the newest Club Atlantis
all-inclusive resort. Discover a shimmering new secluded paradise on the heart of
the Mayan Riviera Coast - a playground of natural beauty perfect for sports,
sunshine, and exploring ancient ruins. This week features a wide range of activities
and some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean, all on one of the most
beautiful beaches in Mexico.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
__________________________________________________________________________
May 16 - 18, 2003
PURE PARTY - Charlotte, North Carolina
Groove to the sounds of the country's hottest, smoothest and most sought after
DJs while basking in Charlotte's down home fun. DJ Joe Gauthreaux headlines the
Saturday night main event. Catch DJs Kimberly S, Edward Jones, Mac Quayle and
more all weekend long.
Info: www.purecharlotte.com
__________________________________________________________________________
May 15 - 19, 2003
HOT & DRY WEEKEND - Montreal, Canada
Are you ready for something HOT? Montreal gets ready for its hot steamy summer.
After spending the last four months in the cold, the boys are more than ready to
get out and have some fun in a warm and friendly place. This is the second biggest
event that the BBCM produces and this year. DJs Paulette, Stephan Grondin and
one more DJ to be confirmed, will spin the Saturday night "Fresh" party. Sunday is
the ever popular "Hot & Dry" party. DJ Alison Marks returns for her second year as
spin-master, along with DJ Alain Vinet. These events highlight Montreal's
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SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
incredible local clubs and talent plus guest DJs. Hot & Dry Weekend is a benefit
event for the BBCM Foundation, in support of direct care to people living with
HIV/AIDS and gay & lesbian community groups in Montreal.
Info: www.bbcm.org
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May 16 - 18, 2003
LONG BEACH PRIDE - Long Beach, CA
One of the largest Pride festivals in the nation, Long Beach Pride attracts over
100,000 visitors annually. PowerHouse Productions is proud to present The Official
Long Beach Pride Parties where partial proceeds from your ticket sales are donated
back to the Long Beach community. Friday night begins the weekend celebration
with DJ Warren Gluck from New York at the Hilton Long Beach Resort for the
Opening Party. On Saturday night for The Main Event DJ Mike Duretto opens the
evening and superstar DJ Manny Lehman closes the party at the ultra-plush, Club
Cohiba. And finally on Sunday, DJ Abel shakes the main room at Club Cohiba for
the Official Pride Closing Party. VIP all access passes are available.
Info: www.powerhouse-productions.com
"Tribe-2" takes place adjacent to the festival grounds aboard the Historic Queen
Mary Cruise Ship now permanently docked in Long Beach. Will Gorges & Evenstar
Communications return to the Hotel Queen Mary for Long Beach Pride Weekend
with six DJs and five parties in tow. On Saturday Will Gorge's main event begins
with DJs Dawna Montel and Tony Moran spinning the Queen Mary Exhibit Hall &
Engine Room while aerial acrobats Eye of Newt whirl above. Later that night, DJ
Escape takes you through "Ghosts in the Machine" the Saturday after-party at
nearby Naga Ballroom. On Sunday MasterBeat maestro Brett Henrichsen spins the
unique Queens-Tea on the Queen Mary's Britannia Decks at 7pm. Boyz disembark
for a midnight closing party on Sunday night at Naga Ballroom with LA Jungle
Record's DJ Rafael M. Host Hotel is the Queen Mary: 800-437-2934.
Info: www.willgorges.com and www.michael-evenstar.com
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May 25, 2003
RESOLUTION MAYAN THEATER - Los Angeles
An almost staggering array of sound and lights are waiting for you at the Mayan.
DJ Alex Lauterstein creates a mystical masterpiece at the magical Mayan Theater
for the kickoff party of the summer.
Info: [email protected]
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May 23 - 26
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND - Pensacola, Florida
Johnny Chisholm does it again! In conjunction with Oz nightclub in New Orleans
and Emerald City nightclub in Pensacola, he is planning one of the most
spectacular Circuit party weekends of the year. Memorial Day Weekend 2003, will
find Pensacola, Florida overflowing with over 60,000 gay men and lesbians. Guys
and gals will bop around the Hampton Inn's pool at "Bounce" on Friday afternoon.
Then it's off to the beach for "Wave" later Friday night, which goes until sunrise.
Saturday brings "Sweat" to the surface at Emerald City. This was all just warm-up
for the grand-daddy of all Circuit Parties "Abracadabra" at the Pensacola Civic
Center on Sunday night! So, you like to party into the wee hours? Don't worry,
Spellbound, the after-hours parties will keep the guys hopping late Saturday night
and Sunday night. Mention "Oz Group" at host hotels for discount.
Info: www.ozneworleans.com / The Hampton Inn on the Beach (1-800-320-8108) /
Crown Plaza/Pensacola Grand (1-800-348-3336).
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May 23-26 2003
LAGUNA MEMORIAL DAY - Laguna Beach, CA
The ever-infamous Boom Boom Room invites social boys up and down the coast to
revel in the hot sands of West Street Beach all weekend and then head to town
each night at the Boom. LA DJ Ron Thomas opens the weekend starting Friday.
On Saturday LA's hottie DJ, Peter Barona, teams with Provincetown mistress
Wendy Hunt for a side-by-side DJ Duel...East Coast vs. West. Sunday, Brian Pfeifer
gets things hopping a little earlier, at 6pm followed by a Laguna Beach 1st
appearance for LA, DJ nineteen-sixty-nine. On Memorial Day be prepared for the
Booms infamous tan-line contest as DJ Dawna spins a laser lit journey for the
closing party. Host Hotel is the Boom's own Coast Inn: 949-494-7588. The
weekend supports the efforts of local charity Laguna Shanti.
Info: www.boomboomroom.com
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May 23 - 25, 2003
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND - San Francisco, California
San Francisco's original Circuit party returns with four big events over three nights!
Kick off your Memorial Weekend on Friday night with the "Temple" party featuring
the mighty DJ Victor Calderone. The newest Saturday night hotspot in the city by
the bay is Mezzanine and this weekend they fly in the Thunderpuss duo - Barry
Harris and Chris Cox. Also on Saturday it's the "Metropolis" party at 550
Barneveld with Circuit favorite Manny Lehman. San Francisco's legendary T-dance
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"Mass" heats up Sunday evening at a special surprise ballroom location which
features 75 foot ceilings and a huge dance floor. Susan Morabito and Local favorite
Phil B will share DJ duties for this amazing party. "Sanctuary" with DJs Lydia Prim
and Neil Lewis is the Sunday night closing event. This big holiday Sunday party
attracts the biggest and hottest men dancing until the sun (or fog!) comes up in the
city by the bay.
Info: www.guspresents.com / www.mezzaninesf.com
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May 23 - 25, 2003
MELTDOWN 2K3 - Austin, Texas
Celebrate the start of the summer with your friends, on the Lake surrounded by
blue water. Feel the light breeze as you're surrounded by hot bodies. Add to that
the sounds of Austin's hottest new DJ, a catered lunch from Austin's Central Market
and plenty of fluids to keep you satisfied. Dance all Memorial Day Weekend to the
sounds of DJs Roland Belmares, Alyson Calagna, Joe Gauthreaux, Ric de Barros
and Kirk Druey. Special appearance by Jonny McGovern 'The Gay Pimp' featuring
his hit 'Soccer Practice' and more.
Info: www.partyaustin.com; 888-558-1791
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May 22 - 26, 2003
INTERNATIONAL MISTER LEATHER - Chicago, Illinois
Let the silver shine on this 25th anniversary of this tanned hide weekend. This is
one of the biggest leather/fetish weekends in the world. Be there as the world's
hottest Leathermen compete for the title of International Mr. Leather 2003.
Saturday night, CircuitMOM Productions presents an experience you're "Bound" to
remember with the dark sounds of New York City Producer/DJ DeMarko at Club
Rouge. The Hearts Foundation presents "Hot Tea" with DJ Mark Anthony at the
helm. Returning on Monday is the Infamous Black and Blue Ball. Grease and slide
into the Chicago Eagle. This is the original sweat disco...hard bodies and lots of
flesh in the final blowout party of the weekend. You might want to book a late flight
and late checkout from your hotel on Tuesday just to make sure you're here to
participate in this event!
Info: www.imrl.com / www.circuitmom.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.circuitnoize.com and www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
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May 23 - 26, 2003
GARAGE PARTY XX WEEKEND - Indianapolis Indiana
At 20 years old, The Garage Party is one of the oldest High NRG / Circuit
weekends around. And it's in Indiana. Its name was derived from the Indianapolis
500, also held during Memorial Day Weekend. The Garage Party reaches a regional
audience (Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, St. Louis, Chicago,
Detroit) all within 3 hours drive, and in 2003 anticipates 3,000-4,000 attendees.
Sunday is the main event with "Platinum" at the State Fair Grounds, followed by an
after-hours at Talbott Street featuring DJ Joe Bermudez. Proceeds from the
Garage Party Weekend are donated to the Gregory Powers DEFA Fund for
assistance to HIV/AIDS clients throughout Indiana. In 2002, the GP DEFA
distributed over $150,000.
Info: www.garageparty.org
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May 25, 2003
ALEGRIA MEMORIAL DAY - New York City, New York
Now there is a reason to stay IN the city this Memorial Day Weekend. Alegria is
your party-passport to the wild side of life. DJs Tony Moran and the sexy soundster
DJ Paulo heat up Ric Sena's man-magnet of a party. This has quickly become a
sexy Sunday tradition while in New York City on the most popular holiday
weekends. The legendary Sound Factory is home again to all of the hardbodies
and fleshy fun that Alegria is so nakedly notorious for.
Info: www.alegriaevents.com
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May 31, 2003
I LOVE PARIS - Paris, France
Roger V. (White & Black Party, Paris) and Laurent J. invite you to an exceptional
night under the sign of hope, romanticism, sensuality and passion in the hot
summer. For this first summer Circuit Party in the city of love, the Queen will put on
her crown and her black dress for a seduction game that has no limits. Your night
will never end... On the DJ decks - David Gimenez (Salvation, London), Michael
Kaiser (W! Music, Queen) and Michael Marx (Butch Paris). This evening benefits
Solensi Association, for next generation's hope. This party is at the infamous
Queen Club, 102 av des Champs Elysees
Info: www.queen.fr
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June 6 - 8, 2003
GAY DAYS DISNEY - Orlando, Florida
Gay Days Disney explodes one more time - on to the dance floors, the streets and
in the skies of the area's favorite mega-million dollar attractions.
Friday
A sexy new circus is in town as Mark Baker delivers his 5th anniversary "Circus
Eroticus" edition of The Colosseum Party. This event is held in a locale that truly
deserves the title "the club space of the new Millenium" - Universal's Hard Rock
Live. Ringmaster/DJ Abel headlines all of the risqué fun.
✸ Johnny Chisholm and Jeffrey Sanker present the "Climax II" after-hours with DJ
Barry Harris at the Hilton Walt Disney World.
✸ Mark Baker's "Magic Journey's" after-hours at Arabian Nights features Hex
Hector
✸
Saturday
One Mighty Party returns with its seventh party edition. The boyz will shake and
quake the MGM Studios to sounds that combine the crowd-pleasing talents of
DJ's Joe Gauthreaux and Kimberly S.
✸ Gay Day's wettest party, "Beachball," has bounced over to Saturday night. This
year's Mark Baker Typhoon Lagoon Ball has DJ Tracy Young spinning and
splashing at the Walt Disney World water wonderland.
✸ DJ Brett Henrichsen provides a Magical Mark Baker Journey at Arabian Nights.
✸ DJ Susan Morabito is signed on for Jeffrey Sanker's Saturday night after-hours at
the Hilton.
✸
Sunday
The "Stars" come out at night on Sunday as last year's mega party returns in a
Jurassic proportion. This party will feature full-scale Dinosaurs on the back lot
and the sounds of DJ Manny Lehman. This year there will be two mammoth
dance floors - one inside and one outside at the Islands of Adventure theme park
and Universal Studios Backlot. Besides the Spiderman and Hulk rides, Doctor
Doom's Fearfall will be open.
✸ Circuit favorite DJ Victor Calderone delivers a dark and tasty "Climax" at the
Hilton Walt Disney World well beyond the wee hours.
✸ Late night sparkles with DJ's Lydia Prim and Roland Belmares at Arabian Nights.
✸
Hotels and Pool Parties
The pool parties are only available to the people staying at the host hotels and
their guests. The after-hours at the Hilton is an open party.
✸
The original Reunion pool parties return to The Hyatt. Good luck getting a room
here at this late date.
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Mark Baker hosts the Sheraton Safari Hotel. Pool party DJs are Friday: DJ Marcus
Purnell (San Francisco) Saturday: DJ Jon Brown (Orlando) Sunday: DJ Alyson
Calagna (San Francisco) & DJ Jeremy Martorano (Phoenix). Free transportation
to the Magic Journey's afterhours.
✸ Jeffrey Sanker and Johnny Chisholm in association with OZ New Orleans present
the host hotel which features both in house after-hours events and daily pool
parties. The Hilton at Walt Disney World Resort hosts this special weekend.
Mention "One Mighty Party" for special discounted rates) 800-782-4414
✸
Info: www.markbakerpresents.com; www.jeffreysanker.com; www.gaydays.com
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June 13 - 15, 2003
TIDAL WAVE - Norfolk, Virginia
The Boathouse sets on the water in downtown Norfolk and is just what it says - a
renovated boathouse. While normally used as a concert venue, The Boathouse is
opening its doors to help Norfolk, Va. make a splash on the Circuit scene with
"Tidal Wave". This premier event promises to be grand, and Norfolk promises to
be very accommodating with huge support coming from their local bars,
restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, and corporate sponsors. Not to mention that
Norfolk, Va. is home to more than 200,000 military men and yes there are a lot still
here. Beneficiaries include but not limited to: The Greater Peninsula Care
Foundation, Service Members Legal Defense Network, and The American Breast
Cancer Awareness (Local Chapter)
Info: www.tidalwaveparty.com
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June 21 -23, 2003
LA PRIDE - Los Angeles, CA
"True Colors" is the theme for the 33rd Annual Christopher Street West LA LGBT
Pride Parade and Festival in West Hollywood, one of the largest of its kind in the
world. Cyndi Lauper and Belinda Carlisle are just some of the talent you'll see this
weekend. When the sun sets the boys come out to play. On Saturday night Rohan
and Gus join forces to present Metropolis LA, at the LA Entertainment Center.
Peter Rauhofer and Tracy Young spin the night away. Also on Saturday night,
Jeffrey Sanker and Brett Henrichsen join forces to present “Los Angeles Pride” as
DJ Manny Lehman returns to LA for the first mega-Circuit event ever to be held at
the incredible Wiltern Theater. At the Saturday night after-hours it's time for a
"Resolution" at the Mayan Theater with DJ/Producer Victor Calderone. On
Sunday, Primal 2 unleashes the madness once again at the LA Zoo. This Will
Gorges and Greg Gilbert Productions is the largest Sunday night gay dance event
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held in conjunction with the LA Pride festival. Sunday night's Mayan event features
Phil B and Brett Henrichsen. Host Hotel The Graftton, call 800-821-3660/mention
Will Gorges.
Info: www.masterbeat.com / www.jefferysanker.com / www.willgorges.com /
[email protected]
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June 22 - 29, 2003
NEW YORK PRIDE CRUISE - New York City, New York
Get ready for the ultimate summer vacation with the first all-gay cruise sailing from
New York City. Atlantis sails the largest and most spectacular ship ever for an allgay cruise: the brand new Norwegian Dawn. Explore the Bahamas and exciting
cities of the Eastern Seaboard before the ultimate entrance to New York's Gay
Pride celebration. It's a cruise unlike anything Atlantis has ever offered, and closer
to home than ever before.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
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June 27, 2003
WHITE PARTY - Paris, France
For this "Pride festival 2003" it will be white and only white. In the tradition of the
wonderful Miami and Palm Springs parties comes this euro-delight. Prepare to
sparkle as one of the best British DJs, Rob Sykes gives you funky and happy rhythm
for an unforgettable night. Let the Queen take your breath away. Queen Club, 102
av des Champs Elysees
Info: www.queen.fr
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June 27 - 29, 2003
GAYPRIDE - New York City, NY
When it's time to get serious about Gay Pride, there's a party in New York City just
for you. On Saturday at the Roxy, John Blair presents New York's favorite Saturday
night party. With Peter Rauhofer and Circuit fav Manny Lehman providing the
soundscape, this is the place to be. Sunday morning Junior Vazquez turns it out at
Earth, New York's hottest after-hours. This party will last on through the afternoon.
Sunday brings the biggest gay pride celebration in the world to the streets of New
York. After the parade, the seventeenth edition of "Dance on the Pier" happens on
Pier 54 (13th st. @ the Hudson River) in Hudson River Park with MasterBeat DJ Brett
Henrichsen and Kris Kono as the opening DJ. See the "Benefit Spotlight" article in
this issue for more on this fabulous event. Sunday Night a Circuit "Spectacular"
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rocks the city as Ric Sena's Alegria party comes to the Sound Factory. Music is by
resident DJ Abel.
Pier Dance: www.boxofficetickets.com / 800-494-TIXS
Roxy: 212-645-5156
Earth: 212-582-8282 www.juniorvazquezmusic.com
Alegria: www.alegreaevents.com
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June 26 - 30
UNIFIED WEEKEND - Toronto, Canada
Miles from the ordinary, but in a place that you know and love, the largest Gay
Pride celebration in Canada heats up your summer once again. All of your
preferred party favorites return again this summer for the Unified Weekend. The
muscle military party stands at attention on Friday night and last year's new crowd
favorite Mardi Gras, "Celebration," returns to Sunday night. Be sure to save some
energy if you've been out all day at the festival and parade. DJ Tracy Young takes
the wheel for the Unity2003 Main Event. DJ Joe Gauthreaux headlines the Pep
Rally and DJ Peter Rauhofer spins victorious for the Victory Party. Don't forget to
drop by and check out some of Toronto's friendliest hunks at Woody's. Voted one
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of the best values on the Circuit, come see why Toronto has become one of the
choice destinations for daytime and nighttime prideful fun. Due to the one million
plus visitors expected in Toronto during this weekend, these events are expected
to sell out.
Info: www.unitytoronto.com / www.woodystoronto.com
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June 27 - 29, 2003
GAY PRIDE - San Francisco, CA
Splash! is San Francisco's most popular outdoor, daytime pool party and it's on the
Saturday of Pride Weekend. Now in it's 8th year, this 'sip & twirl' around the
Phoenix Hotel Courtyard Pool has established itself as the spot for out-of-town and
hometown boyz to get their Pride Weekend off to a great start - and get some sun
before ReUNION that same night. This year the West Coast DJ Showcase
sponsored by ReUNION will be presented during Splash! The Showcase will feature
the five DJs selected as the most exciting new talent. Each DJ gets one hour to
wow the crowd. ReUNION, is Saturday night at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
This year's theme is "Celebrating Community." ReUNION, now in it's sixth year, is
the "Official Saturday Night Dance Party of San Francisco Pride Weekend" and
ranks annually as the largest Circuit party in San Francisco. Produced by the allvolunteer Noble Beast Foundation, this huge celebration features DJ Paul
Goodyear and lighting designer Alan Parkinson, both from Sydney. This event
always delivers an impressive line up of special entertainment, including Kitty
Meow and Ceevox plus an amazing art installation from Michael Sigmann. Also on
Saturday, San Francisco's hottest new night club, Mezzanine, features New York DJ
Billy Caroll. Sunday, after the parade, Gus Presents Mass, his celebrated Sunday
tea dance. Mass will take place at one of San Francisco's most amazing spaces, the
breathtaking Warfield Theatre. This pre-deco era gem is located right on the
parade route and features notable architecture, 125 foot ceilings and a huge
balcony. Just think of it as The Mayan of the Bay Area. This large scale T-dance will
feature DJs Roland Belmares and Phil B, a 6 foot mirror ball, stacks of monster
sound and a massively expanded and elevated dance floor. Mezzanine features
the return of "Pleasuredome," San Francisco's legendary Sunday night party. DJ
Wayne G of Heaven in London is at the helm. Also Sunday night, Gus Presents a
special gay pride weekend "Sanctuary," where DJs Neil Lewis and Lydia Prim
preside at the turntables.
Info: www.noblebeast.org / www.guspresents.com / www.mezzaninesf.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.circuitnoize.com and www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
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June 28 - July 6, 2003
SUMMER CAMP JULY 4TH - Provincetown, Mass
This is a weekend where you can make friendships that will continue, long after the
party is over. One of the best values on the Circuit, this weekend is best described
as hot, wet and bee-yoo-tiful. Mark your calendar now to experience a week of
fantastic parties and DJ's. Join DJs Richie LaRue, Monty Q, Wendy Hunt, Chad
Jack, John LePage, Paulo, Gustavo Motta, Joe Gauthreaux, Phil B and Randy Bettis
as they allow you to enjoy in-depth explorations of the local nightlife. DJ David
Knapp and Manny Lehman invite you aboard the High Tea Boat Cruises and DJ
Lydia Prim "rocks the block" at the first annual “Block Party Street Dance” to
celebrate our nation’s independence. Dance in the street with hundreds of party
revelers as the sun sets over beautiful Provincetown.
Info: www.davidflower.com
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July 3 - 6, 2003
INDEPENDANCE - Laguna Beach, CA
The number one destination point on the West Coast 4th of July Weekend is
Laguna Beach. Kick the weekend off with DJ Dawna Montel Thursday night at the
Boom Boom Room. On Friday there's no one better to celebrate 4th of July with
than DJ Brian Pfeifer, catch him at 6pm at the Boom, walk down to the beach to
watch the fireworks, then close the night with DJ Mike Duretto. On Saturday get
back to the Boom early to catch Miami DJ Alyson Calagna before shuttling over for
all-night dancing with Joe Gauthreaux and Neil Lewis at the nearby Hidden Valley
Amphitheater. On Sunday afternoon take in your 3rd and final day at the Beach
before stopping back at the Boom for a T-Dance with NYC DJ Keana and a special
performance by Flava. Host Hotels for the weekend include the Doubletree Irvine:
949-471-8888 and the Coast Inn: 949-494-7588. The Weekend supports the efforts
of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, primary HIV caregiver in Orange County.
Info: www.willgorges.com / www.boomboomroom.com
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July 3 - 6, 2003
FREEDOM 03 - Charleston, South Carolina
The weather is heating up and so is Charleston. The Freedom 03 theme highlights
the most important element of the event: "Red, White and YOU". The newest
additions are a pool party, brunch, and mini movie festival. Beginning on Thursday
a mini gay movie festival premieres. On Friday, LA's newcomer DJ Chris Wren is
featured at the pool party followed by Lydia Prim and a special Independence Day
performance by Kim English. Barry Harris will round out the Saturday night event
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with stunning visuals by Aubrey. The day party, Freedom, has been moved to
Sunday afternoon. The day begins with a brunch, and then it's on to the wonderful
daytime party on the harbor, the signature event of this weekend.
Info: www.freedomfundsc.com / www.circuiticket.com / Host Hotel-Hampton Inn
Historic District 843-723-4000
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July 25 - 27, 2003
SAN DIEGO PRIDE - San Diego, California
Prepare for the perfect mix. Good times plus good friend's equals one of the
largest gay prides that California has to offer. Powerhouse Productions again
brings you a fantastic line-up to celebrate your pride. The official opening night
pride party features DJ Wendy Hunt and Lydia Prim. Returning this year is Circuit
Daze at the San Diego Sports Arena with DJ Manny Lehman and Mike Duretto. Hit
your pride-stride on Sunday at the world famous San Diego Zoo as the legend
continues with DJ Brett Henrichsen at the Zoo Party. DJ Abel waits for you along
with Phil B at the official pride closing party.
Info: www.powerhouse-productions.com
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July 24-27, 2003
Dancin' Weekend - Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland heats up the summer scene with Dancin' Weekend. A line up of hot
parties, featuring some of the hottest DJs on the Circuit, Kimberly S, Joe
Gauthreaux, David Knapp and Susan Morabito. ErieParty on Saturday night will be
hotter than ever at The Odeon! Dancin', in its 19th year, will be at Tower City
Ampihteater next to the Cuyahoga River on Sunday. The AIDS Taskforce of Greater
Cleveland expects over 5,000 visitors from all over the country, all convening into
downtown Cleveland.
Info: 216-357-2223 www.dancinweekend.com
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July 31 - August 3, 2003
HOTLANTA RAFT EXPO - Atlanta, Georgia
The magic is back for the most incredible Hotlanta River Expo ever. "Valley of the
Kings," is a four-day celebration of the uniqueness of the gay community.
International Superstar DJs, divas from the Circuit and even Broadway, and a nonstop kaleidoscope of dazzling imagery will command the crowds for the 25th
Anniversary edition of Hotlanta River Expo. The granddaddy of all circuit parties is
in for some changes this year with an all-new, all-Circuit boy organizing team.
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Expect a spectacular weekend of world class events. Friday night, experience
international superstar DJ/producer Wayne G (London) in one of his few US
performances. Saturday's main event boasts the talents of Chris Cox, and Sunday's
T has the first North American performance of Andy from Almighty (Almighty
Associates/Almighty Records). The closing party features DJ Frank Abraham.
Music, art, dance, entertainment, theater, physique, RKM, Pat Hodges, Morpheus,
Inaya Day are all a part of the weekend's festivities.
Info: www.hotlanta.org
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July 31 - August 3, 2003
TWIST WEEKEND - Montreal, Canada
BBCM steps out with pride during Montreal's Gay Pride Weekend. There are
plenty of chest pounding and pleasurable activities all weekend long in and around
the Gay Village. Returning this year is the main event "Twist Party," a T-dance.
And the party keeps going at the Twist Encore Party. Pride Montreal features seven
days of celebrations including a cultural festival, and a community Pride Parade
that attracts over 800,000 people.
Info: www.bbcm.org / www.admission.com
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August 1 - 3, 2003
RAPTURE: VANCOUVER PRIDE - Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver's hottest pride events return this year as TBB Productions present
"Rapture Pride Vancouver." The weekend's soundscape is provided by DJs Bill
Bennett, Lydia Prim, Stephan Grondin and Brett Henrichsen. Rapture Pride
Vancouver has grown to be a three-night Circuit celebration, featuring both
sanctioned and after-hours events. Rapture is a cutting edge, world-class dance
event, featuring top-of-the-line sound and light systems, exciting venues and liveentertainment. Rapture also includes the best gay after-hour events in Western
Canada and the Pacific Northwest, attracting partiers from all over North America
and abroad. Events will benefit the Vancouver Pride Society and A Loving Spoonful.
Info: www.rapturepridevancouver.com
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August 2 - 3, 2003
GAY PRIDE WHITE PARTY VI - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gays from all over the world flock to Amsterdam to celebrate the best gay pride in
Europe. Friday night features “Salvation”, the hottest monthly reoccurring event in
Amsterdam. On Saturday, Riedijk Productions presents one of the top European
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Circuit events and the main dance event of the weekend - “The White Party”. Held
at the largest dance venue in Holland, the White Party has two dance floors, a salsa
lounge, fashion lounge, women’s lounge, and a Miami Beach room. It has annually
attracted almost 5,000 people. Still not had your fill? Join any of the many street
parties and after hour events. On Sunday, Amsterdam's Gay Pride Parade takes to
the scenic waterways of this beautiful city of canals. In this gay pride parade the
floats really float. Relax on the banks and watch the boys and boats pass by. To
continue your Euro-party, continue on to Ibiza for their White Party events.
Info: www.gayeventseurope.com / www.gayevents.nl
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August 8 - 9, 2003
Market DAYS-WORLD MARKET - Chicago, Illinois
Circuit MOM again brings you "World Market", a party weekend that features a
dazzling array of themes and DJ's! Friday's "Carnivale in Rio De Janeiro" kicks off
the weekend with Grammy nominated DJ/Producer Tony Moran. The "Taj Mahal "
serves as the backdrop for Saturday's main event with DJ Manny Lehman and
Circuit Mom teaming up for an India-flavored extravaganza. Super Soviet spy DJ
Lydia Prim returns for her fourth year at the helm of Sunday's "Closing Regime".
Moscow's Kremlin is the backdrop for this final event. The daytime street fair in the
heart of boystown also has live DJ's, food and over 100,000 people - you've got to
see it to believe it! A sexy new host hotel awaits your arrival with the largest rooms
in Chicago along with amazing views and convenient location. Call Hotel 71 at 1800-621-4005 before July 25 and ask for the "Circuit MOM/Market Days" special
rate.
Info: www.circuitmom.com
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August 9, 2003
PINES 2003 - Fire Island Pines, New York
Nothing becomes real ‘till it is experienced. Encounter the new tradition at The
Pines Party. This community beach party, from sunset to sunrise, features
gambling, live entertainment, cocktails, food and, of course, dancing till dawn.
Info: www.fipines.com
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August 8 - 10, 2003
SUNDANCE - Guerneville, CA
Yes, Sundance is happening! The 6th annual Russian River Morning Party is back;
bigger, stronger and better than ever! This beloved Circuit weekend under the
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redwoods is known for its big fun, low-attitude vibe. Gus Presents and nearly 4,000
hotties take over the Russian River town of Guerneville for a weekend of fun, sun
and lots of dancing! This "summer camp weekend for muscle boys" features 5
parties over 3 days, including the "Dusk" cocktail and dinner party, "Moondance"
on Saturday, "Sunset" Sunday night's closing T-dance, and the newly added
"Sunrise" recovery Brunch. The main event is the Sundance Morning Party on
Sunday afternoon. Sun, grassy meadows and 14 acres of California redwoods
surround the dance floor. DJs Manny Lehman, Phil B are just two of an impressive
DJ lineup.
Info: www.guspresents.com
__________________________________________________________________________
August 9 - 10, 2003
WHITE PARTY IBIZA - Ibiza, Spain
After Gay Pride in Amsterdam, take a 2-hour flight to “recover” on the Spanish
island of Ibiza! This island allows you to experience the best clubs in the world.
And during the day you can explore the world’s most perfect gay beach. World
famous promoter Steven Gomez in association with Riedijk Productions and
Sebastian & Co. will be hosting events at Club Privilege, the world's largest dance
club. On Friday don’t miss the renowned Lover Boy Party to kick-off the weekend.
This is followed by an unforgettable “Mardi Gras Carnival” celebration on Saturday
night. End your European experience with a bang on Sunday at “White Party Ibiza
III.” Music by DJ/producer Manny Lehman and performances by divas Kevin
Aviance & Funky Green Dogs. If this is not enough, the final morning party,
produced by Stephen at club Space, takes place right after the White Party on
Monday morning. You haven’t been to a party until you’ve been to Ibiza.
Info: www.gayeventseurope.com / 877-GAYEVENTS
__________________________________________________________________________
August 17, 2003
MORNING PARTY - Laguna Beach, CA
Supporting the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, this ocean-side tea is in its
seventh year. An incredible location, directly on Laguna's beautiful West Street
Beach, the event expands its VIP area into a private beach side estate as the
increased attendance pushes boys off of the dance floor and into the ocean. The
party runs right into the official after-party at the Boom Boom. Weather at this time
of year is perfect in Laguna Beach, making it a great time to visit. Host Hotel is the
Coast Inn: 949-494-7588.
Info: www.willgorges.com
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SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
August 31, 2003
RESOLUTION - Los Angeles, California
Sunday night, of Labor Day Weekend offers some sweaty boy-action at the Mayan
Theater. With pleasurable sounds induced by Manny Lehman, Angelo Kortez and
Joe Gauthreaux, this is a LA Labor Day to leave a lasting impression.
Info: [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________
August 28 - September 1, 2003
SOUTHERN DECADENCE - New Orleans, LA
This weekend is New Orleans' gay Mardi Gras! It's a weekend where everyone tries
to be more decadent that the boy next door. And all types of boys come for this
wild 30-year-old event. DecaDance XV, the largest event of Southern Decadence
weekend, returns for its 15th year. DJs Max Rodriguez and Lydia Prim turn it out.
"Meltdown" is the climax of the weekend, with the most amazing stage
productions that must be seen to be believed. This is the fourth year it's presented
in association with Bad Boy Club Montreal as an official pre-party for Black & Blue.
Bourbon Pub Parade has a whole wicked weekend of seductive events planned
with some of the hottest DJs the country has to offer including Jayskee, Kimberly
S., Rick Mitchell, Warren Gluck and Darren Thomas.
Info: www.bourbonpub.com / southerndecadence.net / www.ozneworleans.com
__________________________________________________________________________
August 29 - September 1, 2003
PERFECT DAY 'FLESH' - Austin, Texas
Get here in the Flesh and then bare it all as you bask in the rays of the sun around
this "party on the lake," which is the crown jewel of Texas. At Perfect Day 2K3 "the
Flesh," we're looking for some skin this Labor Day as thousands of guys bring it to
the Hyatt Hotel on beautiful Town Lake in Downtown Austin. Join our Super
Heroes as DJ Jon Herseth spins you around Friday Night at the 'Fantastic
Fiercesome'. Trust us when we tell you DJ Ric de Barros will force you to get your
groove on at Lake Travis Saturday afternoon at "Aquaboy", leaving you in your
bare essentials. Saturday Night, DJ Mark Tarbox dares you to show your skin as the
sun goes down and you slip into 'the Flesh'. Later, help DJ Michael T. Diamond
fight the moonlight with after-hours until dawn. Of course, Labor Day would not be
complete without the BareDevil himself, DJ Don Bishop. Join Don as he is sure to
get your blood pumping at the Pool Tea Dance. Finally, Sunday Night, join Mr.
Dyn-o-mite himself, DJ Roland Belmares as the week-end culminates with
DynaDance!
Info: www.partyaustin.com; 888-558-1791
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SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
August 30 - September 6
ATLANTIS CRUISE - Barcelona-Italy-Ibiza
What better way to experience the magic of the Mediterranean than to sail across
it? Once again, Atlantis creates the largest all-gay cruise ever to sail Europe with
1800 gay and lesbian guests. From beautiful Barcelona, Atlantis will explore six of
Europe's most fascinating cities aboard the majestic Splendour of the Seas, one of
the finest ships ever to sail the Med. You land in Ibiza at the perfect time, when the
crowds of August have diminished but the island is still loaded with German boyz.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
__________________________________________________________________________
September 27 - 28
FOLSOM STREET FAIR - San Francisco, California
This is San Francisco's most famous street fair for the leather-inclined. Jito's
infamous Magnitude is now a benefit for the Folsom Street Fair. The notoriously
wicked party returns with DJ Mark Anthony pounding you hard through the night.
Immediately following Magnitude is Aftershock with DJ Abel at 715 Harrison.
Info: www.jito.com
__________________________________________________________________________
October 8 - 14, 2003
BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL - Montreal, Canada
There are some parties that could be anywhere, and then there is Black and Blue.
The BBCM has launched a new era in parties and it is unlike anything you've
experienced before. The largest festival of its kind in the world, it features a wide
diversity in its 50 activities, including major parties, art exhibits, brunches, cocktails,
museum visits, sports events, etc. The main event, the Black & Blue Party will take
place on Sunday night and will feature major production with various multimedia
shows during the night and international DJs. Other main parties will happen
during the weekend: the Jock Ball on Thursday, the Leather Ball on Friday, the
Military Balls on Saturday and the Recovery party on Monday. The VIP passes for
the Black & Blue Festival are on sale via the BBCM web site.
Info: www.bbcm.org / (514) 875-7026 / www.admission.com
__________________________________________________________________________
October 31 - November 2, 2003
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE - Palm Springs, California
You love what Powerhouse-Productions means to San Diego Pride and now you'll
adore what they are going to produce for Palm Springs Pride. The best parties,
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SUMMER CIRCUIT 2003
venues and DJs are waiting for you this fall.
Info: www.powerhouse-productions.com
__________________________________________________________________________
October 25, 2003
HELLBALL - San Francisco, California
HellBall returns to San Francisco this Halloween! Gravity defying entertainment,
outrageous costumes and thousands of the West Coast's hottest boys makes this
one event you won't want to miss. In its 7th year, HellBall kicks-off a whole week's
worth of Halloween celebrations. Come for the weekend and stay through Friday
October 31 for the Castro "March of Light" Halloween Parade, also produced by
the all-volunteer New Heritage Foundation. Net proceeds to benefit Maitri and
Continuum.
Info: www.hellball.org
__________________________________________________________________________
October 23 - October 26
Halloween - New Orleans, Louisiana
This weekend features four festive days of parties, all benefiting Lazarus House, a
residential facility for men and women living with AIDS. Besides these official
events don't forget to check out the Bourbon Pub / Parade, which promises to be
as wild as this town gets. The week ends on the 31st with a fabulous Halloween
Night Celebration. DJs at the Parade include Kimberly S., Masterbeat's Brett
Henrichsen, Lydia Prim, Rick Mitchell,Darren Thomas, and Jayskee.
Info: www.gayhalloween.com / www.bourbonpub.com / www.ozneworleans.com
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MANIFEST LOVE
by Michael Safdiah
I just found a book that proves what I’ve always believed – we gays are
indeed better. Better than society tells us we are - better even than we
think we are.
t’s high time, the author says, we
gave ourselves a break and started
to love ourselves and each other. It’s
time we learn to show our love in
ways that we, up until now, haven’t
been courageous or wise enough to
do.
David Nimmons, president emeritus
of the New York City Gay & Lesbian
Community Center and
former deputy director of
New York’s Gay Men’s
Health Crisis, wrote this
deeply moving book, The
Soul Beneath the Skin –
The Unseen Hearts and
Habits of Gay Men. He
cites with hard facts and
statistics that “gays are
the most generous,
nurturing, altruistic, nonviolent
members of our society.” Imagine
that.
We might even be an evolutionary
offshoot indicating a spiritual
advancement of mankind. Wait. I’m
serious here. What’s the point? It’s
this: maybe if we start to bond in
wholesome ways, we’d create a
power that might change the world.
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But even if we don’t change the entire
world we can make a huge change in
the way we enjoy – and live – our lives.
We can make being gay – well... gay!
Woo hoo!
As loving and deserving human beings,
we end up “feeling cynical,
dehumanized and lonely,” and all most
of us ever wanted out of it all was to
touch and to be touched.
So here’s the deal: if we
get in touch with the sides
of us that are truly good
and worthwhile, and
believe in them, our entire
relationships with one
another are likely to
change. Hey, it’s worth a
shot.
“If a state or an army could be formed
only of lovers and their beloved, how
could any company hope for greater
things than these, despising infamy and
rivaling each other in honor? Even a few
of them, fighting side by side, might
well
conquer
the
world.”
- Plato, Symposium
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Think about the possibilities in an
army of lovers. It really happened in
ancient Greece - the Sacred Band of
Thebes.
Putting his money where his mouth
is, Nimmons has started a
nationwide organization
based in eleven cities so
far, and still growing. He
conducts free “Manifest
Love” seminars and small
groups, and has even
conducted a “massage
festival” once. Some
groups will go into bars to
create
“loving
disturbances” to change
patter ns of negative
interactions. His goal is to
help gay men “find new ways to be
with and for each other.”
“We try to change the atmosphere
of a bar on a given night. We’re
trying to disturb the patterns of what
gay men would normally be doing
on a Saturday night.”
our lives – that “we ain’t no good, and
we don’t deserve.” He thinks gay guys
at Circuit parties do drugs in order to
feel uninhibited and touch people.
“The gay world needs to do a better job
of designing a dance where gay men
can go and feel uninhibited
and touched.”
I’ve been attending the NYC
series of six meetings (which
he calls a “six pack”). It’s
exciting.
I strongly
recommend checking it out,
if it gets to where you live.
It’s free, it’s fun, it’s good for
your soul. Keep your eye on
this phenomenon, dear
friends. This handsome,
energetic man might just
begin to change the entire gay scene,
culture, society - call it what you will one mind at a time.
For more information about the Manifest
Love
movement,
visit
www.manifestlove.org.
Nimmons cites drug use at Circuit
parties as an example of a gay
behavioral patter n that needs
disturbing. “What we haven’t heard
much is any creative approach to
addressing the reasons these guys
are taking drugs at the Circuit
parties,” he says. “Why have drugs
become the narrative about Circuit
parties?” The author believes that
people are doing drugs to try and
overcome
their
pain
and
awkwardness about breaking down
barriers and seeking real intimacy.
These barriers - call them demons come from the crap we internalize
from what society has taught us all of
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THE PERFORMANCE OF
FIERCENESS
by Mickey Mason Weems
On the weekend of February 14-16, Ohio State hosted the 11th Annual
Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Ally College
Conference entitled “Loving with Pride”.
On the weekend of February 14-16,
Ohio State hosted the 11th Annual
Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay,
Transgender, and Ally College
Conference entitled “Loving with
Pride”. I held an hour-long forum
called “The Perfor mance of
Fierceness: Circuit Folkways” which
is, to my knowledge, the first
academic workshop on the subject
of the Circuit. We focused on
history, community-building, genres
of performance, harm reduction
efforts, new definitions of
masculinity, and dance floor
spirituality.
The workshop had about fifty
attendees, mostly male, though a
few women decided to attend our
workshop rather than “The Female
Orgasm” workshop in the next room.
After showing a five-minute clip from
the WPPS 2000 Souvenir Video, I
launched into a history of the Circuit
- from the Harlem drag balls, the
Stonewall Revolution, the Saint, and
the epidemic to the birth of the
modern Circuit as we know it today.
Without ignoring the problems that
affect our community (unsafe sex,
obsession with physical beauty, and
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substance abuse were given as
examples), I pointed out that there is
something remarkable when a muscular
man is reinterpreted from a source of
aggression to a source of pleasure. In
terms of masculinity and violence, the
Circuit is teaching new ways to be
manly. The social relations that are
being taught in the Circuit concerning
masculinity and nonviolence could be
key in the reduction of all violence.
It was interesting that when I mentioned
feminist theories concerning violence
and masculinity, some of the women in
the audience nodded their heads in
agreement. I would not be a bit
surprised if we find many more allies
among feminist/lesbian communities.
Of particular interest to these young
minds was the movement for harm
reduction in the Circuit community.
More than a few expressed surprise to
hear that many of the parties raise
money for gay charities and AIDS
support groups. Most of them had no
idea organizations such as the Hearts
Foundation and MedEvent exist.
We had hung posters from Circuit
parties across the nation behind us. I
spoke about the rich pool of talent that
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goes into the production of sound,
lights, decor, and shows. I passed
around some of the harm-reduction
materials that are distributed at the
parties in which the messages of
safer sex, informed use of intoxicants
and their dangers, and mutual
support are accompanied by sexy
shots of hot guys or fun pictures of
happy people having a good time.
The audience’s reaction to these
materials was mixed. Many of them
were attracted to the pictures,
curious about the information, and
shocked that safer sex and
intoxicants were discussed so
explicitly.
The floor was opened to questions.
One of the first that came up was
“How do you define ‘fierceness’?” I
told the audience that it should be a
technical ter m in scholarship
(chuckles all around) and then asked
them how they would define it. A
young man said that it was the
“generation of energy around
oneself,” a definition that I find
fascinating.
The conversation went to dance
floor solidarity and people started
relating their own experiences at
Circuit parties. I cautioned the
audience that the intensity of the
Circuit can be so enthralling as to be
addictive. It is easy to get sucked
into the scene and to forget that
there are other things in life (kind of
like being “born again”).
I conjectured that the source of the
intensity comes from feelings of
transcendence and solidarity with
the other dancers. On a good night,
the whole crowd seems to share this
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feeling. On a great night, people bond
with the universe itself. This got more
than a few people in the audience
excited. One man related how he felt
unity on the dance floor that he had
never felt elsewhere. Participants spoke
with eyes shining about bonding with
their friends. Small buzzes of animated
conversations blended with the
testimonies. It was as if people had
been keeping their experiences to
themselves for a long time. Finally they
had a chance to speak them in public.
But not everyone was ready to see the
Circuit as a good thing. An earnest
fellow raised his hand and said, “Why
are you trying to sell us on the Circuit?
You make it sound like it’s a good
thing!” I told him that yes, the
community has many problems, and if
the audience wanted to talk more about
them, we could. I waited for specific
questions (GHB, AIDS, and body fascism
had already been covered) but none
came.
A participant brought up the movie
Circuit, which, interestingly enough,
made some of the audience laugh. I
said that it is a sad thing for a director to
entice us with the hot boys of the Circuit
and then tell us, “No! Bad!” In other
words, Circuit the movie allows some
segments of the gay community to get
their thrills watching all of the fun and
sex and then lets them feel superior to
the participants by showing how tragic
they are.
Someone asked what I thought was the
best party. I handed the question to my
husband Kevin who was sitting next to
me. He promptly responded that
“Colors of the Fall” in D.C. - the party
held at the Marriott Ranch outside the
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city in a cow pasture and bar n
(complete with awesome sound and
lights) - was his favorite. Being from
the country, he said, it was truly
magical to attend an event that was
not in just another big dark space.
Few had ever heard of Colors of the
Fall but most were amused by the
possibility of partying in the pasture.
Another young man, apparently
bothered by the lack of a “Just Say
No” message, said, “It’s wonderful
that we can go dancing on the farm,
but let’s face it - the Circuit is not
real. It’s just drugs and dancing.” I
told him about an interview with a
famous DJ who told me the same
thing. I asked the DJ if he had ever
experienced total connection with
the crowd. The DJ’s eyes lit up and
he told me how, every once in a
while, he experiences total unity with
the crowd, as if they can read his
mind and he can read theirs. I said
that I consider such experiences to
be quite real. He admitted that, yes,
according to that definition, it is
indeed.
One of the two critics against the
Circuit walked out. The group really
warmed up after this, and more
testimonies came forth about the
positive side of the Circuit
experience. When our time was up,
many people came up and spoke
with my husband Kevin. The fact
that we did the Circuit workshop as a
married couple had a profound
effect on many of the young’uns. A
“Circuit couple” was an oxymoron
for them. They had never before
thought of the possibility of
attending a Circuit party and
remaining faithful in a relationship.
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After the workshop, several people said
that that they were glad to have learned
more about the Circuit’s positive aspects
as well as its negative ones. It seems
that, for most young people, the Circuit
is a taboo subject - an exotic fantasy
that most of them would be afraid of
attending and, if they did, would be
careful about whom they told. Being
gay is obviously not the only closet they
have to face in their lives.
“The Performance of Fierceness” was
only the first step. In keeping with the
spirit of the workshop, we will be
hosting “Qualia: A Conference on Gay
Folkways” on May 9-11 in Columbus. It
will be a forum for academic research on
performance in the gay community in all
of its facets, including the Circuit. If we,
the Circuit community, want any
legitimacy in the face of all of the
negative press generated about us, we
should demonstrate to the world that
there is more to us than sex and
intoxication. We have a history, we have
evolved,
we
have
developed
mechanisms by which we accomplish
fabulous things and deal with the
drawbacks of our own exuberance.
Qualia is a forum where our past, our
accomplishments, and our challenges
can be outlined and discussed.
Our biggest enemy is ignorance. The
more we teach people about the good
things in our community, the stronger
we become.
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WHERE THE BOYS ARE
by William J. Mann
The following article is an excerpt from a new book by William J. Mann
called, Where the Boys Are.
“Hey,” I say, suddenly realizing I’ve
forgotten the guy’s name. Jack or
Jake or Jacob or something. I
stammer a little. “Hey. How are
you?”
“You want to join us?” I ask. “We’re
heading over to Club Café.”
“Hey, Jeff,” he says.
Suddenly I remember his name. It’s
Jason, and we did sleep together, and
we had a huge fight because he took
one look at my video collection and
launched into a tirade about gay
c u l t u re t h a t I f o u n d p e r s o n a l l y
offensive. “What is this fascination
with Bette Davis and Marilyn Monroe
and all these dead movie actresses?
Gay culture is so tiresome. Recycled
hetero pabulum, in my opinion.”
I’ve known him for years; we
marched in a couple of ACT UP
demos way back in the Eighties
when marching was cool and we
were young.
“What’s going on?” I ask. “What
have you been up to?”
“Oh, you know, keeping busy,”
Jack or Jake - or is it Joel? - says.
He hands me a flier about a rally to
be held at the State House in favor
of gay marriage.
He rolls his eyes. “To watch Madonna
videos? I don’t think so.”
Oh, you can be sure I did not allow
him to spend the night. I look at him
now, with his sour expression and the
joyless way in which he passes out
fliers to people on the street.
“Still the activist, huh?”
He nods. He’s gone a little flabby
since our ACT UP days. I try to
re m e m b e r : d i d I h a v e s e x w i t h
h i m ? I t ’s p o s s i b l e . I t ’s q u i t e
possible.
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“I haven’t been to Club Café in ten
years,” he tells me, as if he’s proud of
t h e f a c t , a s i f i t ’s s o m e k i n d o f
achievement. Suddenly I find Brent’s
prattle infinitely preferable, and I get
us away from Jason as quickly as I can
manage.
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“He’s toxic,” I tell Henry, settling
myself at the bar so I can see the
video screen, where Shania Twain
i s t e l l i n g t h e b o y s t h e y d o n ’t
impress her much. “Why do some
gay people hate gay culture so
much?”
Henry shrugs.
“I mean, old Bette Davis films
speak to something for us.
Marilyn’s story has relevance. Judy
Garland, too. And so on, all the
w a y u p t o P r i n c e s s D i a n a . I t ’s
archetypal.”
“Maybe
they
think
stereotypical,” Henry says.
i t ’s
“So what?
Behind every
stereotype, there’s truth. Gay men
do love old dead movie actresses.
And larger than life divas. What’s
so wrong with that? Why do some
g a y p e o p l e a c t l i k e i t ’s a b a d
thing?”
H e n r y d o e s n ’t a p p e a r t o b e
listening to my rant.
I love gay men. I look around at all
the men in the bar. Pressed close
t o g e t h e r, t h e i r d r i n k s i n t h e i r
hands, laughing and bitching and
waving their hands to make their
ridiculous points. I think of Jason,
passing out his fliers, seemingly so
committed to the advancement of
his gay brothers. But he despises
them. He hates the people he’s
supposedly trying to help. What a
p i t i f u l s t a t e g a y c u l t u re h a s
devolved into.
I won’t deny the banality of much
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of what goes on in places like this. A
couple of weeks ago, two queens
actually got into an argument over
whether or not Cher had had a rib
removed. I’m serious. That’s what
they were fighting about. One of
them actually stormed off in tears. In
tears! As if it mattered when kids were
killing themselves in Roxbury over
Nike sneakers. As if it mattered even
if kids weren’t!
Still I love them. I love gay men.
They’re my family, the only family I’ve
ever really known. I love them despite
their silliness, their bitchiness, their
m a d d e n i n g re v e re n c e f o r t h e
superficial. Sometimes I even love
them for such things. Last summer, on
Fire Island, I overheard a bunch of gay
guys talking among themselves.
“Poor Kate Hepburn,” one of them
said. “She’s the next to go.” It was
completely endearing. Once, over
breakfast at Bickford’s after some latenight partying, Henry had asked me, in
utter seriousness, who I loved better Cher or Madonna – and I, with equal
solemnity, had paused to consider the
profound implications of the question.
Our waitress may not have literally
rolled her eyes as she tore off our
check and placed in on our table, but I
felt her bemusement nonetheless.
Henry and I looked at each other and
cracked up.
I forgive gay culture its indulgences
because they’re sincere. I’m so tired
of all this caterwauling and bitchery
from the self-appointed critics of gay
culture, who throw out words like
tedious and childish and trifling.
Sometimes gay people can be far
more savaging of our own lives than
any faultfinder of the religious right.
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“I never want to become so ironic
and detached from the culture that
I s o u n d b i t t e r a n d re s e n t f u l o f
those who aren’t,” I suddenly blurt
out to Henry.
“Okay. Then let’s go to the Blue Ball
in Philly instead.”
I look over at him.
“You love Philly, Jeff. What do you
say?”
“Huh?”
“I’m just thinking out loud. Our
worship of divas, our reverence of
pop culture, our veneration of the
ephemeral, our obsession with
dreams – in our very celebration of
the cursory, we are in fact often
being far more genuine than those
who pontificate endlessly on the
weighty and profound.”
“I guess
shrugging.
so,”
Henry
says,
I consider it. Why not? At that
moment, being in the midst of a
throng of shirtless gay men, their
sweaty torsos pressed against mine,
singing all the lyrics to a remixed
Karen Carpenter song, seems mighty
appealing.
“I emailed Rudy,” Henry’s telling me.
“You remember that guy we met at
the White Party last year? He said we
could stay with him if we came to
Philly.”
“ O f c o u r s e i t ’s s o . A g a y m a n
pining over the loss of a summer
love can evoke the soul of a
Shakespearean tragedy. There’s a
realness to gay men that gives the
lie to our superficial veneer. It’s
t h e g e n u i n e n e s s o f c h i l d re n ,
passionate and honest in its
sincerity.”
“ H m m m . R u d y. I d o re m e m b e r.
Pretty eyes.” I smile, leaning against
the bar and lacing my fingers across
my chest. I think about the small
wooden box that I keep on my dresser,
filled with little slips of papers and
business cards, phone numbers, and
E-mail addresses scrawled upon them.
My extended gay family.
“ B u t c a n ’t o u r c h i l d l i k e - n e s s
become childishness?
“It would be nice to see Rudy again,” I
say. “And Eliot and Oscar and Adam
and Billy. They’ll probably all be
there.”
“I’m not denying that. But why
must the pettiness of one be
allowed to obscure the joy of the
other?”
“Sounds like an article,” Henry
says, smirking. “Your really ought
to try writing it down, Jeff.”
“I’m sure they will be.”
“You know,” I say, feeling thoughtful,
“they can blast circuit culture all they
want, but there’s a real brotherhood,
isn’t there? A real gay fraternity linked
by E-mail.”
I sneer. “Don’t go there, Henry.”
“So that’s a yes?” Henry asks.
Circuit
124
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All information subject to change.
CST#2020963-50
Advertise!
Everyone Else Does.
Next issue: August 1, 2003
Ad Deadline: July 1, 2003
[email protected]
(818) 769-9390
NIGHTMUTE
by Michael Taylor
Darkness holds me in it grip. I can’t avoid it. Even in high school, dosing LSD in
my room and listening to The Smiths over and over again, becoming more and
more convinced that Morrissey was definitely writing songs about my unique drug
experience, darkness held me in its thrall.
When I finally discovered electronic
music, I always went for the dark shit.
Deep House, Industrial, Gabber,
moody Trance.
It’s no wonder New York fascinates
me. Scott Henry from Baltimore
used to run bus trips up to Brooklyn
raves in the early 90’s and I realized
then that everything exciting
happens after 3am in this city. The
gay club kids didn’t even show up
until 9 or 10am. Even the harsh
sunlight that streamed into the
massive warehouse spaces the next
morning seemed sinister. I was
hooked. Beneath all the candycoated raver chic was a twisted
Bacchanal, represented classically by
the Greek god Dionysus who
Pantheon.org says “represents the
outstanding features of mystery
religions, such as those practiced at
Eleusis: ecstasy, personal delivery
from the daily world through physical
or spiritual intoxication, and initiation
into secret rites.”
Awesome.
There are some dark things
happening in my fair city recently, to
be sure. SARS has everyone
spooked, and even the new designer
Circuit
logo facemasks are the classic brown
somber pattern for Louis Vuitton, not
the new bright colors on white
background. The cruel irony that it is
simply a mutation of the common cold is
lost on no one. It’s disturbingly poetic.
Young military boys skulk through the
underground maze beneath Times
Square, casually wielding guns big
enough to excite the most ardent
enthusiast. They didn’t spook me too
bad until I realized that they weren’t
there to prevent problems, but to
mediate the chaos and the crowds once
the shit hit the fan. They represent the
inevitability of terrorism, not it’s cure.
No matter how cute some of them are,
they always make me nervous.
Perhaps worse than any of this is the
ban on smoking that even has restaurant
critics up in arms. Bloomie just bought
himself a one-way ticket back to the
private sector. Reuters reports that “the
Italian restaurant Serafina Sandro
unveiled a ‘Tobacco Special’ menu on
Wednesday, with such delicacies as
gnocchi made with tobacco and filet
mignon in a tobacco-wine sauce,
garnished with dried tobacco. Tobacco
panna cotta, an Italian cooked cream
dish, is available for dessert, followed by
a strong glass of tobacco-infused
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grappa.” We’re constantly finding
new and inventive ways to flip
people the bird. Bloomberg’s
response to the firestorm is to offer
everyone free nicotine patches. It’s
only a matter of time before some
downtowner finds a subversive use
for those.
It’s within this context that Black
Party came and went this year. The
ad in HX was appropriately moody.
A blurred close-up of some guy’s
face. Evocative instantly, but you
weren’t sure why. Then someone
had to point out to me that if you
hold the ad away from you it reveals
that he has a huge black eye.
Flawless. Repulsive. Domestic
abuse as a selling point? Hell yeah,
when what you’re selling is darkness.
$100 seems a bit much for the
privilege of attending one of the
biggest backrooms of the year, but
no other party says New York quite
like the Black Party. We have a
White Party, but that’s really Miami’s
domain.
Black Party is an
unashamed dive into our group Id a romp in the pig trough for a night.
All of those nasty little stereotypes
that GLAAD is so busy whitewashing
away for us are on full display for
one evening a year.
I’m supportive of any party that
glorifies codpieces and chainmail,
where anyone can play who has
enough balls to show off a sore red
ass or hang from a crossbeam for a
few hours. It may sound slightly
counter-intuitive, but there’s a
democratic impulse to the
leather/fetish community here that
our culture could probably use a
little bit more of. Most guys get
tired of feeling like only the most
beautiful 5% of our population
deserve to feel sexy and desired. So
Circuit
grow your chest hair back, boys, and
start focusing on the quality of the sex
you’re having instead of the amount of
steroids your partner has managed to
cram into his diet. If Christina Aguilera
can be beautiful, no matter what they
say, then anyone can.
Recently, I saw the movie Insomnia, with
Al Pacino and Robin Williams, two of my
least favorite actors. Miraculously, the
director got them both to avoid
overacting. No mean feat. The setting
is the small town of Nightmute, Alaska,
where it is daytime for six months out of
the year. Pacino goes nuts, can’t sleep,
tries to catch serial killer Williams who
seems to know his every move. Blah,
blah, blah. The concept of Nightmute and the name - fascinated me though.
A time that banishes darkness, which
hides in deep places best left
unexplored.
Perhaps my own penchant for seeking
out the moody and melancholy in life is
a healthy denial of that type of craziness.
When all you know is daylight, it’s
impossible to see the healthy
brightness. I learned a lot from my exboyfriend about what I need
emotionally, but I learned everything I
need to know about what I need
physically from dark encounters with
people who will never meet my mother.
As summertime envelops us in the sun
once more on the dank streets of New
York, I always marvel at how even the
most boring, mild spring weather seems
glorious to us. Boys rip off their shirts,
strap on their rollerblades, and the very
air seems alive with possibility.
In a world without darkness, it is
impossible to appreciate such beauty.
Maybe I’m just a big dopey optimist
after all. Wouldn’t Morrissey be
disappointed?
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