Issue 49 - noiZe Magazine

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Knowledge is power. That maxim has never
been more true, as the rise of an internetbased culture challenges a lot of the spoonfed assumptions that have been given to
us by the powers-that-be. Circuit Noize
has always believed in providing valuable
information to our readers. Starting with
the calendar as a focal point of critical
information to those attending Circuit events, we have grown
over a decade to include features of interest to our readers on
such topics as harm reduction, safe sex, personal responsibility,
and health and fitness. We promote joy and moderation as
guiding principles in our sometimes hectic lives.
Surviving life’s curve balls is a topic that we feel deserves our
attention as well. We talked with Kristine W for this issue about
her brush with cancer, and it was truly inspiring. Often it is
through the pain that life can sometimes bring that we find the
best within ourselves. Kristine certainly embodies that idea, and
we’re so excited that she’s back to doing what she does best
– inspiring us with her music. Another survivor, nightlife legend
Kevin Aviance, spoke to us about his harrowing ordeal with antigay violence during Pride Month this year. She’s doing just fine,
thank you very much, and has a renewed sense of purpose to
educate people about what it means to be gay (it means ‘happy’,
remember?)
We have some important harm reduction information for you
concerning that unpredictable bitch GHB. It’s so important to
remember that just because the hype surrounding some of the
substances we enjoy is often full of hot air and paranoia, there
are still some sensible people out there who can teach us how to
keep partying as safely as possible. We’d like to see some of the
same smiling faces in our photo montages year after year, after
all.
If you’re planning a winter escape, you might want to consider
Sydney. We have the scoop on this vibrant city that you won’t
get from Fodor’s. We even have some advice from a professional
life coach on how to form more meaningful relationships (you
should have a few of them at least, right?)
Circuit Noize has always been a bit of an underground magazine.
We fill the gaps that some of the larger mainstream gay
publications may not be nimble enough to get right. We hope
you enjoy this Circuit season, whether it be sunning yourself in
the Sydney harbor, or catching Quentin Harris at Fresh Fruit in
New York. Whatever kind of noize you’re into, we’ll continue to
bring it to you – live and uncensored.
- Stephen Ceplenski
Circuit
2
Noize
Promoter Spotlight:
David Flower
DJs who played house music. Most of
the music you heard at other places was
disco. No one went to the other clubs,
because of the music. At that time Wes
and I were also famous for throwing
crazy after-hours parties. Since the bars
closed at 1am many people were still
looking to continue the party. We lived
in an old barn that we would convert to
a mini club, and practically all the town
would show up and stay till 6am. Of
course now if we tried that we would be
arrested and jailed.
The Love Shack owners decided to close
after that season. When we got wind of
this we decided to move the party to a
more central location for the following
summer. The Crown & Anchor was totally
dead and had zero promotion and no
patrons on any night. We negotiated a
deal to return the summer of 1995 with
a party on Saturday night called Summer
Camp at the Crown & Anchor. It was
history in the making.
Tell us about the beginning of your
career as a promoter – when, how,
and why did you start producing
parties?
I started doing events in
Provincetown first. My first weekly
events were in July and August
of 1994. The party was called
Kemistre and it was produced by
me and my best friend Wes. We
felt at that time there were no good
parties to attend in Ptown where
you could hear house music and
the vibe was more city-oriented.
We as individuals were shaping
the scene in Ptown and going
out every night anyway, so it was
logical to throw our own parties.
We did Kemistre at a short-lived
club called The Love Shack and
it was very well received and very
busy for a Wednesday night.
In the fall of 1995, I also simultaneously
launched a new party in Miami called
Liquid Sundays at Liquid nightclub with
my friend Jack Benggio. I was going
between Miami and Ptown doing the
seasonal thing. It worked out great
because when one place and party
would slow down the other would start
up and get busy. Liquid Sundays in
Miami is really where I fine-tuned my
promotional skills. It was a fierce time
to be in promotion but it was also a
tough market in Miami from 1995-2000.
I learned a lot and would credit Jody
McDonald, Michael Difonzo, and Jack
Benggio as people who really helped
The DJs were Jay Ine and Richie
Ladue out of Boston. Back in the
day they were only a few of the
Circuit
34
Noize
Promoter Spotlight
Page 34
KRISTINE W
STRONGER THAN EVER
by Charlie Rocafort
Circuit
52
Noize
Kristine W
Page 52
WHEN SISSIES
ATTAC K
by D. Michael Taylor
Circuit
92
Noize
When Sissies
Attack
Page 92
The Premier Guide to Dance Events Worldwide
TM
Editor in Chief
Steve Kammon
[email protected]
Publisher
Stephen Ceplenski
[email protected]
Associate Publisher
Advertising Sales
Gary Steinberg
818-769-9390
[email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12
Flying High for Less
Senior Editor
Jeffery Taylor
[email protected]
by Mike Grasso
16
24
City Spotlight: Sydney
Associate Editor
D. Michael Taylor
Quality Connections
Art Director
Anke Mackenthun
by Robert Notter
30
Calendar Editors
Tony Hayden
William Swadley
G-H-See?
by Kat Coric
34
40
Promoter Spotlight: David Flower
Quentin Harris - No Politics
by Jeffery Taylor and D. Michael Taylor
46
My Life as a Circuit Performer
by Adam Killian
52
Kristine W - Stronger Than Ever
by Charlie Rocafort
56
The Ears Have It
58
Spirit Pop
Writers and Contributors
Josh Adler
Kat Coric
Mike Grasso
Adam Killian
Jamie Nicholes
Robert Notter
Charlie Rocafort
West Coast Office
11288 Ventura Blvd #700
Studio City, CA 91604
818-769-9390 (voice)
818-232-7047 (fax)
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website: www.circuitnoize.com
www.partyfinder.com
travel.circuitnoize.com
by Josh Adler
62
Circuit Photos
Josh Adler
David Morgan
Moody Mustafa
Russ Youngblood
www.GreatPartyPics.com
Circuit Noize Magazine, LLC
Music Reviews
by Jamie Nicholes
Subscribe: www.circuitnoize.com/subscribe
66
Summer Circuit Photo Album
74
Fall Circuit Schedule
92
When Sissies Attack
©Copyright 2006 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 D. Michael Taylor
Published in February, May, August and
November
Circuit
3
Noize
Flying High for Less
by MIke Grasso
The excitement of the fall Circuit is rapidly approaching, and
deciding which parties to attend takes center stage. Who’s going,
who’s not invited, what’s the DJ lineup, and where are the afterhours?
But before you go out and buy
yourself a new tank top and undies
for the party, consider just how
you’re going to get your booty
there. Indeed, nothing is quite the
buzzkill like realizing the cost of the
plane ticket far exceeds your daily
ATM withdrawal limit. What’s a boy
to do?
The obvious answer to finding
cheap flights is to shop different
websites and book tickets far in
Circuit
advance. Travelocity, Kayak, Sidestep,
and Orbitz are great resources to
start with. This method of booking in
advance may prove fruitless when, say,
your friends decide they want to go to
a party this weekend. (Can’t they ever
get their act together and plan stuff
ahead of time?) Have no fear, however,
because whether you’re leaving soon, or
sometime in the future, here are a few
other suggestions to get you flying skyhigh at a low cost in no time.
12
Noize
•
•
Shop for tickets online at
various times of the day and
throughout the week. Fares
change often; the price you
see now may magically change
in just a few short hours. One
consideration is that ticket
prices may be cheaper early in
the morning because “courtesy
holds” of reservations usually
expire at midnight. A cheap
seat someone found and
placed on hold but never
p u rc h a s e d m a y s u d d e n l y
become available – and yours
for the taking! Cheap looks
fabulous on you.
Mix and match the airlines. If
the overall cost of the ticket is
too expensive, try breaking the
ticket apart. Check prices for
one-way fares in each direction.
For example, you may find
JetBlue has a great fare to the
party, but a party-pooper price
on the way back. If so, try
•
•
•
Circuit
13
Southwest or another airline instead
for your return flight.
Consider alternative airports. If
you’re flying with other Circuiteers
you may find flying in/out of an
airport even 75 miles away will save
you $100 bucks each. Yeah, yeah…
the extended drive back home from
the airport will be painful after a
long weekend, but think of all the
extra bottles of water you can treat
yourself to with all the savings.
Use frequent flyer miles. Airlines
realizing they haven’t quite filled
the plane up enough will often
release these “freebie” seats the
closer it gets to the travel date.
And remember, your miles can
sometimes be used on partner
airlines. For example, if you’re
using Northwest Airlines miles,
but no seats are available, you
can search for seats on Northwest
partners Continental and Delta. The
“mix and match” method above
works when redeeming mileage as
well.
Consider off-peak travel days such
as Saturday. Tickets are often
less expensive, and you could still
feasibly arrive in plenty of time for
the Saturday night party.
Noize
Maybe You Haven’t Been Everywhere.
Buenos Aires to Rio Cruise
February 21 – March 5, 2007
Oceania Insignia
True luxury on our first 5-star cruise ship
Tango in Buenos Aires, Samba in Rio
Explore colonial Parati
Beach yourself in Buzios
Do Florianopolis
Jetset in Punta del Este
Be seduced by Sao Paulo
Make 680 friends in 12 unforgettable days
Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise
March 10 – 17, 2007
RCCL Serenade of the Seas
Start in gay-friendly San Juan
Add 4 diverse and exotic islands
Shop, dine, & explore St. Maarten’s two countries
Step back in time to historical Curacao
Hike the rainforests of St. Kitts
Hit the perfect white sand beaches of Aruba
And enjoy the top rated ship in RCCL’s fleet
Hawaiian Islands Cruise
April 23 – 30, 2007
New NCL Pride of Hawaii
The newest ship in the world
A new island every day
Volcanoes in Hilo, waterfalls in Kona
Discover the best of Maui in 2 full days
Sail the Napali Coast
Relax completely in Kauai
Surf’s up aboard the largest US-flagged ship
do
you cruise? Atlantis takes you to our hottest destinations yet with three exciting
new all-gay cruises. From the best of South America to the islands of Hawaii, you’ll find a comfortable,
friendly, and fun environment. Filled with the entertainment and parties that make an Atlantis cruise truly
special. All onboard the newest and highest-rated ships sailing the world today.
Discover why more gay and lesbian guests travel with Atlantis than any other company in the world. Isn’t it
time you became part of our family?
For information about these and our other all-gay cruises
and resorts, see your travel agent, visit our web site, or call
us today at 800-6-ATLANTIS.
CST# 2033720-40
atlantisevents.com
Every year, Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras provides thousands of
North American, European, and Asian guys and girls with the perfect
escape from the Northern Hemisphere winter. At any time of year, Sydney
provides a very special welcome for the gay traveller, but the city really
comes alive in the Australian summer months of December through
February.
Sydney is an unusual mix of buzzing, cosmopolitan metropolis and
relaxing resort destination. You can get from the high-rises of downtown
to the beach in around twenty minutes by car; alternatively, ferries can
take you from Circular Quay in downtown out to idyllic Manly Beach in
under half an hour.
Circuit
16
Noize
Sydney must be one of the easiest
places to be gay in the world. The
city prides itself on its progressive
and liberal stance. Certainly no
other city has embraced its Gay
Pride event with the enthusiasm of
Sydney, though this wasn’t always
so. The first parade in 1978 was
met with police brutality as many
marchers were thrown into the
back of police trucks. This caused
widespread outrage and the Mardi
Gras soon became a focal point for
progressive Sydneysiders (as they
are known).
Circuit
There are two distinct gay areas
in Sydney. Darlinghurst, close to
downtown, has traditionally been the
big gay hub. Oxford Street, its main
thoroughfare, is synonymous with gay
Sydney and is packed with gay bars,
cafés, restaurants, and stores. Traditional
pubs like the Oxford or Stonewall still
pack them in, but the real stars of the
strip these days are more upmarket
cocktail lounges like The Colombian
and the sexy new cabaret joint Slide.
On a weekend night, Oxford Street will
still be heaving with people at five in
the morning.
17
Noize
When Arq empties out at around
8am on a Monday morning, you will
see hundreds of boys scurrying to
the nearest café to get their first
latte fix of the week.
However, the biggest nights in
Sydney are one-offs in normally
straight venues. Fag Tag is currently
the hottest ticket in town and moves
from venue to venue, including
enormously popular Sunday nights
in the terrace bar at Sydney Opera
House. Toybox, DTPM at Tank, and
Homesexual at Home, Australia’s
largest club, take place every few
Meanwhile, a bit further from the
city is King Street in Newtown - a
grungier, more alternative place
than Darlinghurst. Gay is very much
part of the fabric of Newtown life.
There are very few specifically gay
venues, but gay people are visible
everywhere. King Street currently has
the most vibrant restaurant strip in
Sydney (over thirty Thai restaurants
alone!) and you will see them packed
full of gay students and lesbian
mums with their kids any day of
the week. A must-visit in Newtown
is a pub called The Imperial, the
spiritual home of Sydney’s enormous
drag scene which was featured as
the starting point in the movie The
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the
Desert.
months. Pick up a copy of the
Sydney Star Observer or SX to see
what’s happening that week.
Wherever you go, you can expect
to be surrounded by hundreds
or thousands of very buff Sydney
boys. Since this is a sports-obsessed
nation and the beach culture keeps
plenty of flesh on show for most
of the year, it’s not surprising that
the body culture is very strong here.
There’s an enormously camp side to
Sydney, but with a lot of the party
boys it’s hard to tell them apart from
their toned, metrosexual brothers. A
lot of people find their gaydar fails
them when they get to Sydney.
If you want to check out boys on the
beach, head to Bondi. The north end
is the gay end, but you’ll find lots of
families there too. When it comes
to Mardi Gras season, the rest of
Sydney’s two major gay clubs, The
Midnight Shift and Arq, are both on
the Oxford Street strip. Friday night
is the big night at the Shift while Arq
shines brightest on a Sunday night.
Circuit
18
Noize
will be sitting between them. This is
just a part of an enormous harbour
full of inlets, bays, and beaches.
A wide network of ferries allows
you to explore many of these, but
nothing compares to hiring a boat
with a skipper and going as you
please. A stunning place for lunch
is the Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral
Beach which looks straight out of
the twin heads of Sydney harbour.
For a spectacular sunset, head to
Watsons Bay and enjoy its famous
fish and chips while the sun dips
behind the city skyline.
In the last decade, Sydney has
established itself as one of the
w o r l d ’s g rea t culina ry cities.
Australian chefs led the way in
developing fusion cuisine and they
continue to take it to new heights.
New restaurants with dizzying
menus and fabulous views come
and go, but one constant on the
Sydney restaurant scene is its most
famous chef, Tetsuya Wakuda. If
you get the chance to sample his
sublime French-Japanese wonders,
you should definitely take it.
Even on a more day-to-day basis,
Sydney is a city that takes its food
seriously, most particularly weekend
brunches.
the beach can be quite empty, but
there will always be a mass of boys
at North Bondi. Also on the southern
side of the harbour are Tamarama,
Bronte, and Coogee which are all
very gay-friendly. On the north side,
it’s worth visiting the stunning Manly
Beach where many a happy hour can
be spent watching beach volleyball.
There are also nude beaches, the
harbour beach at Lady Jane, and the
ocean beach at La Perouse.
For those keen to have a go at
surfing you can get lessons from
Let’s Go Surfing at Bondi Beach.
They will have you standing on a
board in no time, and there’s always
the possibility of being rescued by a
bronzed Aussie lifesaver if it all goes
wrong. Finish the day with cocktails
at Icebergs which is perched on a
cliff at the south end of the beach
and enjoy its incomparable ocean
views.
If Sydney doesn’t sound quite
gay enough for you yet, consider
a few more examples of the
entertainment it has to offer. If you
want to get fully acquainted with
the city on arrival, the obvious way
to do it is with “Sydney by Diva,”
Then there is the harbour. Nothing
can prepare you for your first glimpse
of the bold sails of the Sydney Opera
House and the enormous elegant
span of the Harbour Bridge. If you’re
lucky, the QE2 or another cruise liner
Circuit
19
Noize
Mardi Gras
a citywide bus tour run by drag
queens. Or how about dinner with
Clare de Lune? Clare, originally from
France, is one of Sydney’s leading
drag queens and also a TV chef in
Australia. Clare creates fabulous
gastronomic experiences in her
stunning warehouse apartment – the
perfect thing if you have a group of
eight or more. Clare always has a fine
crew of hunky French waiters on hand
to give the evening that extra je ne
sais quoi. Or you can always jump on
the Pink Plane, an all-gay charter air
service that can whisk you off to the
Hunter Valley wine area or to a fine
regional restaurant for the day.
Sleaze Ball
The Sleaze Ball is the major
fundraising party for the Mardi
Gras season. It draws up to 10,000
partygoers to celebrate the end of
the Sydney winter in late September.
In its early days, the party was totally
wild and anarchic. Tales of its sexual
decadence are now part of Sydney
folklore. Today it has cleaned up its
act, but it still ranks as the darkest
and sexiest major party in the Sydney
gay calendar. It runs from 10pm till
10am. Afterwards, you can freshen
up and head to the Toybox techno
recovery party which takes place
at Luna Park, Sydney’s equivalent
of Coney Island, nestled under the
Harbour Bridge opposite the Opera
House. It is a stunning venue and you
can enjoy the rides between sessions
on the dance floor.
Circuit
20
Over the last thirty years, Mardi Gras
has grown to encompass over 200
artistic, sporting, and social events
that take place during February,
culminating in the world-famous
parade and party on the first
weekend in March. The parade is a
major gay celebration of course, but
the whole city gets caught up in the
buzz. Around half a million locals,
plus thousands of tourists – including
hordes of young straight Japanese
women – pack the parade route.
As the sun goes down, the parade
traditionally opens with the roar of
the Dykes on Bikes who lead around
100 floats up the parade route. It’s
always glitzy, brash, and timely. In
2006, a troupe of twenty Kate Moss
‘line-dancers’ hoovered their way up
Oxford Street using giant rolled up
bills and credit cards.
The post-parade event is one of the
world’s great parties with around
20,000 people spread out over four
major dance venues. Big international
names, outrageous stage shows,
roving entertainment, and a great mix
of locals and overseas visitors make it
a night like no other. As with Sleaze
Ball, there is a Toybox recovery party
at Luna Park as well as a dozen or so
other options for those who don’t
wish to recover at the beach or their
hotel pool.
Other key events in the Mardi Gras
season include the Launch on the
footsteps of the Opera House in
early February, a glittering night in
an iconic space; Fair Day in midFebruary, a big gay picnic in the park
with sports events, dog shows, and
live music that pulls in around 75,000
people; and the Azure harbour party
in the Botanic Gardens directly
opposite the Opera House, which
takes place the weekend before the
Mardi Gras Party. Also, don’t miss
Dykes on Mikes, Queers on Ice, and
the Queer Screen gay film festival.
Noize
Welcome
to Sydney
Where February means summer,
Gay Mardi Gras and thousands
of boys flying in from all over the
world to party with us.
www.visitmardigras.com
TURN THIS WINTER UPSIDE DOWN
Feb. 28 – March 5, 2007
Save the Date!
www.winterparty.com
Quality Connections
by Robert Notter
Increasingly, people have less and less connection with others
and are living more isolated lives. The Washington Post recently
reported that twenty-five percent of Americans say they have no
one with whom they can discuss personal troubles, more than
double the number who reported similar isolated feelings in 1985.
We often see our Blackberries
and iPods more than our friends
and lovers. Our society, with all
of its technological and scientific
advances, has helped foster a
culture of people who feel less
connected with one another
and with themselves. The gay
community is no different. The
gay rights movement has made
significant strides in protecting us
from discrimination, but I find in my
work as a health and life coach that
many gay men feel disconnected
from one another and from their
community. I’d like to suggest a
few ways to combat that feeling.
Gay men of all physical types feel
the same need to connect with
one another – having great abs or
a huge dick doesn’t ensure your
happiness. Many gay men try to
fill their need for relatedness by
hooking up indiscriminately
and often. Some create a false
connection with substances or
insincere acquaintances. Others
simply resign themselves to an
Circuit
isolated lifestyle. One of the common
themes to all of this is an inability to
create genuine intimacy by refusing
to look past the superficial qualities of
those around us. When your pattern is
just a series of quick sexual encounters
your life can start to feel empty and
meaningless. Getting to know people
and experiencing who they are – and
not just how they make you feel while
having sex – provides a real opportunity
to enjoy life in ways you may not have
experienced before.
I find that many of my clients, especially
younger guys, assume that the fastpaced excitement of youth will continue
forever. Eventually, though, you wake
up one morning and behaviors and
friendships that previously fulfilled you
aren’t what they used to be. Instead
of finding new ways to make ourselves
happy, often we just increase the
amount of time we spend doing the
unsatisfying things. When your life lacks
quality relationships you are more prone
to crave these unfulfilling behaviors,
be it overworking, whoring around, or
exploring other addictions. Life isn’t
24
Noize
always about having the next best
thing. Without some sense of
quality in your life, the next best
thing will quickly become the next
meaningless thing. The more you
can connect with your true desires
by doing things that you genuinely
enjoy, the more you can truly
connect with quality people and
feel better about your life.
I am not suggesting that you
need a committed, monogamous
relationship to be happy. I think you
should trust what works for you, and
do what makes you really feel alive
and inspired, whether that means
an open relationship, multiple
life partners, or being single and
developing really meaningful
friendships. A lot of us never stop
long enough to get to know one
another better, or are too quick to
judge each other. How we relate
with one another says a lot about
how we truly relate to ourselves
and the world around us. When
relationships and friendships are
nurtured, they can bring us great
joy and help us feel more fully alive.
You learned at an early age how
to relate to the world, based on
the way your parents and other
influential people in your life
related to you and to each other.
Eventually, though, you are the one
in control of the actions you take in
your life. You have the responsibility
to examine your relationships and
determine if you feel supported
and cared for, or undervalued and
ignored.
Take a moment to reflect on the
s t a t u s o f y o u r re l a t i o n s h i p s ,
Circuit
romantic and platonic. Do you feel that
you are supported and that your friends
are really there for you, through thick
and thin? Or do you sense that there is
always an underlying jealousy or some
type of conflict that seems to linger. If
you meet a hot guy at a party, are your
friends happy for you, or do you sense
jealousy and hear snide remarks? When
you come home from a long day at work
and need some attention, does your
significant other listen to you and give
you support, or is he too wrapped up
in his own drama to be fully present for
you and your life?
Remember, we are all in this together.
What you give out is what you get back.
If you want to be treated with respect,
think about giving a little more to others.
The next time you meet someone, stop
for just a moment to see past their
external features and try to see who they
really are - living, breathing, feeling and
thinking people. We all get older, and
looks fade. So when you are seventy
and your six pack is gone, will you be
sitting alone sipping a bottle of Ensure
and popping Vicodin to numb the
pain? Or will you have taken the time to
develop deeper, lasting friendships and
relationships?
Robert Notter, HHC, is a Board Certified
Life & Health Coach. He works
with individual and group coaching
clients. Additionally, he is a workshop
presenter and teacher. You may email
him at Robert@WholeLifeHealing.
org or visit his website at
www.WholeLifeHealing.org.
25
Noize
One of the World’s oldest & largest
November 22 - 27
Host Hotel
Book your room through
DOUBLETREE
SURFCOMBER HOTEL
MIAMI - SOUTH BEACH
1717 COLLINS AVENUE
HIV/AIDS Fundraisers.
WHITEPARTY.ORG
Featuring DJ’s Abel,
Brett Henrichsen,Tracy Young,
and many others!
More than 10
fabulous events!
Benefiting
Presenting Sponsor
Emerald:
Sapphire:
WIRE MAGAZINE
Ruby:
Pearl:
DOUBLETREE
SURFCOMBER HOTEL
MIAMI - SOUTH BEACH
1717 COLLINS AVENUE
Sponsors as of July 1st.
G-H-See?
by Kat Coric
This has happened to me time and time again. I’m winding my
way through a hot, dark, sweaty party. The music is blaring and
the boys are out in full force. I inch my way along the
perimeter of the packed dance floor and
then I see it.
Off in the distance seated on a
bench, a guy is hiding his boyfriend
from the rest of the crowd. He is
propping him up and all I can think
is that it’s like the Circuit meets
Weekend at Bernie’s. I come closer
to ask if they need help. “No,”
the friend says looking around
nervously. “He just needs some
Tina and he’ll be OK” I rush away
hoping I can reach the nearest
medic on-site before that bullet
reaches the schnozzle. My eyes scan
the crowd looking for the familiar
red t-shirt. Saved!
Flash forward to summer; the
location is a large, outdoor dance
party. My friend and I witness what
we perceive to be a GHB fallout and
within seconds a panicky, agitated
group has surrounded the person
who can no longer stand on his own.
Outstretched arms of “Good Circuit
Circuit
Samaritans” are offering a hodgepodge
of instant remedies comprised of every
kind of favor complete with their own
form of a tested and true quick fix:
“Give him Tina!” “Give him water!”
“Pour ice down his pants!” “Don’t die
Bruce! Don’t die!” screams the one I’m
assuming is the boyfriend, all the time
deflecting dirty looks and the shaking
heads of onlookers. They all pretend
they are dancing in one big circle, but
we know what time it is.
While I honestly don’t think that
the average Circuit boy takes G with
the intention of waking up in the ER,
this drug does seem to be a little
unpredictable, to say the least. Most
overdose cases at parties happen
because there is too much G in the mix.
There is one big common misperception
about treating a G overdose. I asked
around, and the alarming answer that
I got from a lot of people was that the
best way to get somebody out of a Ghole was to give them a bump of crystal.
Before you can understand why you
30
Noize
are cases where the body cannot
compensate for everything going on and
ends up developing respiratory failure or
heart difficulty. It is for this reason that
we in MedEvent do not recommend at
any time using a bump to try to bring
your friend out of a G-hole as it only
complicates things both medically and
in the ultimate recovery of the patient.”
shouldn’t give somebody
Tina when they’re in a Ghole, you need to understand
what G actually does to you. Your
central nervous system is flooded
with the neurotransmitter GABA
and it makes you feel buzzed
and horny. At the same time, G is
slowing down your heart rate and
expanding your lungs’ tidal volume.
It’s hot and it’s fun, but if you go too
far, you’ve just purchased a oneway ticket to an unconscious ride
that can last anywhere from thirty
minutes to four hours. An attempt
to stop this with a bump of Tina is
futile at best, and could be quite
dangerous. According to MedEvent
Medical Director Christopher R.
Mann, D.O., “The direct problem
with having just introduced a
stimulant before this collapse into
sleep is that the stimulant wants
to give the body the opposite
signals to the vital organs and can
subsequently lead to complications
that could be deadly. Instead of
a person going into a quiet deep
sleep from just a G overdose, you
get a person who is combative,
aggressive, and thrashing around
while vocalizing all kinds of
gibberish interrupted by periods of
sleep. The real danger lies in the
fact that the body is completely
confused physiologically; there
Circuit
Now that you have heard from our
resident authority “Queer Eye for the
Messy Guy” and you know what not
to do, do you know what to do in case
somebody goes down on G? The most
important thing is to stay calm – don’t
panic. If you are at a party and there
is medical help on-site, call them.
They’re experts at this and they’ll know
what to do. Tell them exactly what the
person took so that they know the
most effective route to help your friend
properly. Remember, now is not the time
for glossing over the truth and being
minimalist when describing quantities of
drugs taken. Despite what you may think
and feel at the time, nobody is judging
you or your friends here; they just want
to help. If you are at a place where there
is no medical personnel available, the
best thing to do is call EMS. Lay the
person on their side so that they don’t
choke, because vomiting may occur. Do
not under any circumstances give them
anything to drink because they could
choke. A good thing to remember is
that they should only drink if they can
administer it themselves. Although the
person may be in a deep sleep, you
don’t want to take the risk of monitoring
them yourself, even if you are a trained
healthcare provider. Their system may
be in a fragile state depending on what
other substances they took, so it’s always
better to be safe than sorry.
Special thanks to MedEvent who are
always there to help us when we need
them most.
31
Noize
Promoter Spotlight:
David Flower
DJs who played house music. Most of
the music you heard at other places was
disco. No one went to the other clubs,
because of the music. At that time Wes
and I were also famous for throwing
crazy after-hours parties. Since the bars
closed at 1am many people were still
looking to continue the party. We lived
in an old barn that we would convert to
a mini club, and practically all the town
would show up and stay till 6am. Of
course now if we tried that we would be
arrested and jailed.
Tell us about the beginning of your
career as a promoter – when, how,
and why did you start producing
parties?
I started doing events in
Provincetown first. My first weekly
events were in July and August
of 1994. The party was called
Kemistre and it was produced by
me and my best friend Wes. We
felt at that time there were no good
parties to attend in Ptown where
you could hear house music and
the vibe was more city-oriented.
We as individuals were shaping
the scene in Ptown and going
out every night anyway, so it was
logical to throw our own parties.
We did Kemistre at a short-lived
club called The Love Shack and
it was very well received and very
busy for a Wednesday night.
The DJs were Jay Ine and Richie
Ladue out of Boston. Back in the
day they were only a few of the
Circuit
The Love Shack owners decided to close
after that season. When we got wind of
this we decided to move the party to a
more central location for the following
summer. The Crown & Anchor was totally
dead and had zero promotion and no
patrons on any night. We negotiated a
deal to return the summer of 1995 with
a party on Saturday night called Summer
Camp at the Crown & Anchor. It was
history in the making.
In the fall of 1995, I also simultaneously
launched a new party in Miami called
Liquid Sundays at Liquid nightclub with
my friend Jack Benggio. I was going
between Miami and Ptown doing the
seasonal thing. It worked out great
because when one place and party
would slow down the other would start
up and get busy. Liquid Sundays in
Miami is really where I fine-tuned my
promotional skills. It was a fierce time
to be in promotion but it was also a
tough market in Miami from 1995-2000.
I learned a lot and would credit Jody
McDonald, Michael Difonzo, and Jack
Benggio as people who really helped
34
Noize
me through my career. I eventually
had to make a decision to be in one
of the two places as the back and
forth was getting too tedious and
draining. I chose Ptown in 1999 and
left Miami permanently.
What drew you to Provincetown to
create parties?
Provincetown has always been a
magical place. I believe in the late
1800s and early 1900s Ptown used
to be called Helltown as it was a
place for pirates and outlaws. It has
always had that bohemian flavor
and outlaw energy. I was in the
corporate world in my early twenties
when I decided to spend a weekend
in Ptown with an artist friend who
lived there. I was on the verge of
a huge job promotion and needed
a weekend away to think about it.
Boy was my boss shocked when
I returned home and, instead of
accepting the promotion, I gave my
resignation and packed my things
to move to Ptown. I had no idea
what I would do or where I would
live. The community took me in and
I started a fresh new life there.
were only around 300-400 people on
any given Saturday. But after the first
year, the party started to really take off.
In 1997 I decided to start making it more
than just one night and renegotiated my
contract to include Saturday and Sunday
on long holiday weekends, for example
July 4th and Labor Day. In the spring
of 1998, the Crown & Anchor burned
down so I had to move the whole party
across the street for two years at a club
called Antro. It was a beautiful old
theater space that was smaller and more
intimate. When I made the move I was
Do you find it difficult to deal with
throwing parties in a city that is so
paranoid about its noise ordinances
after one in the morning?
Ptown will always be challenged
with accepting the party scene as
part of its fabric. There has been
a plan by some folks in town to
change the scene to be more like
Nantucket where the clientele is
over 50; they only go out for dinner
and drinks early so the town can roll
the streets up by 8pm. In some ways
they have succeeded, but I think
on some level that undercurrent
of pirate and outlaw behavior will
always be there. The town doesn't
support tourism as its main income
and has suffered because of that.
How did Ptown evolve into such
a powerhouse production that is
now one of the longest parties (in
number of consecutive days) on
the Circuit?
Summer Camp started out as a
weekly party. Back in 1995, there
Circuit
35
Noize
production of an event evolve and
grow, taking an idea and concept and
spinning it into a finished product. I love
to see the look of first time excitement
on a customer’s face when they walk in
to see a venue completely transformed
into a magical place. Production has
always been exciting and rewarding for
me. I somehow just wound up doing
it in the Circuit scene. Who knows? If
circumstances and opportunities were
different, I might be working in some
small theater somewhere or be lucky
enough to work on some major national
production.
also given the opportunity to take
over more than just weekends. That
is officially when Summer Camp
over July Fourth became a week of
events.
When I returned to the C&A, I did
a week of events at the club and
started to add signature events
outside of the club like boat cruises
and pier dances and now this year
the event at the airport hangar. It
just evolved into what David Flower
Productions is today. A company
that just does special events at
unique and different venues.
After twelve years of nightclub
work the challenge was no longer
there, nor the customer support.
I officially left the C&A in 2005.
Club attendance had been on the
decline for several years so it just
made sense to focus more on what
we as a company preferred to do
anyway. I think people are looking
for more interesting locations and
unique experiences.
Have you done anything in cities
besides Ptown?
I have done events in Miami (Liquid
Sundays), Boston (Summer Camp
at Chaps), and in Columbus, Ohio
working with Corbett Reynolds for
the Red Party.
With all the stress and politics with
producing events, what drives you
to continue in this line of work?
I guess the truth is I am just an
old theater queen at heart. I love
nothing more than seeing the
Circuit
Sometimes all the elements of a party
come together beautifully: the crowd
shows up, the music and lights click,
the shows work. Your party is the place
to be. What does it feel like to look at
one of those stellar events?
I t ’s l i k e w a t e r i n g a p l a n t f ro m
germination and watching it grow to
a strong hearty plant. From beginning
to end, the process is rewarding. I get
an opportunity to work with wonderful
people who help me make a fantasy
or dream concrete and real. It’s an
amazing feeling to see it all to fruition,
even when things don't always go as
planned. In event production, things
never go as planned, but it keeps you
on your toes and keeps the process
interesting. I made a pact with myself
that in any job that I was in, if I felt I
had reached a point that I had stopped
learning, I would leave the business. I
have to say, up to this moment, I am still
learning.
Is there anything we should know
about new developments or plans in
your future?
David Flower Productions will continue
to do special events in Ptown or
wherever else there might be an
opportunity to do something fun and
interesting. With the recent opening
of my coffee shop, the Wired Puppy
in Provincetown, I have to be more
discriminating in my choice of projects
as my time is much more limited. I've
always been in event production for the
excitement and fun of producing events.
When those pieces are no longer part
of it, I will be glad to leave with many
happy memories and rewarding times.
36
Noize
Quentin Harris
No Politics
by Jeffery Taylor and D. Michael Taylor
Quentin Harris left Detroit ten years
ago to make it big in New York
City, and he hasn’t stopped since.
He connected with the legendary
Shelter crowd, known for their
deep appreciation of both classic
and underground house music,
and started a buzzworthy monthly
night at Cielo in Manhattan’s
Meatpacking District. He has also
taken his top-notch production
skills into the studio to create
his first full-length album, due to
release in September. We sat down
with Quentin one night in Chelsea
after he got home from a gig in
Toronto at David Morales’ new
club Sonic. He ordered a cocktail,
the ominously-named “Do Not
Disturb,” and gave us the scoop
on his exciting new project as well
as how he feels about the state of
dance music currently. There was
no holding back, and certainly no
politics, involved.
Why is your album called No
Politics?
Because there shouldn’t be politics
involved in the process of making
music. But there is. It came from
somebody at a major label telling
me they only want producers
who are good at doing one kind
Circuit
of music because, “We don’t want a
jack-of-all-trades because he’s all over
the place.” And I said, explain Quincy
Jones. I feel someone that can do more
than one thing is a hotter commodity.
So when you say politics, you mean
more like “industry” politics?
No, even just politics in general. For
instance, nightlife in clubs – people
only live in one world. They box
themselves in. We shouldn’t be that
way. I remember going out and hearing
everything, or going to different clubs
and hearing about five or six of the same
records at each club. You don’t get that
anymore. It’s either this or that. There’s
no in-between.
Your music has a kind of “classic” sound,
but it’s still relevant now.
I’m an old soul. I’m all about mixing
things that don’t go together. I feel like
all music is relative. It’s all related. If
François [Kevorkian] can play some really
banging techno record and right after
play Jimi Hendrix and it make sense to
you, that shows that you can do that.
But some people don’t want to take
those risks.
40
Noize
you’re Victor or your Timmy Regisford.
There’s no in between.
How did your career begin?
Well, first of all, I’ve been around
for a long time. When I was living
in Detroit, I was working as a studio
musician and a drum programmer
for Michael J. Powell. Michael J.
Powell produced Anita Baker’s
first three albums. I’ve worked
as a studio musician with Aretha
Franklin, Anita Baker, and various
artists here and there.
My background is R&B and hiphop, actually. I’ve been playing
instruments since I was five; I’m
a classically trained piano player.
Most of the music and production
you hear, I do it all.
I decided to move from Detroit
eight and a half years ago because
I felt there was more competition
here. I felt if I could go to New York
and do something big where there
are so many people trying to do the
exact same thing I’m trying to do…
I was fueled by that.
What do you think of the fact that a
lot of smaller venues are doing house
music now, a shift away from the larger
club scene?
That’s because the larger club scene has
become a big business.
Do you like the more intimate spaces
though?
I like both, but I think the problem I
have with the big places is that they’re
so faceless now. For instance, if you
wanted to experience Sound Factory,
there was only one place you had to go
to experience it – New York City. Now,
the club scene is like a big franchise. It’s
not special anymore.
How do you decide who you want to
work with on your remixes and original
work?
I do these records because I generally
like these artists and respect them.
Why did Fresh Fruit at Cielo start?
There was no middle ground. Either
Circuit
I’m all about the song, because a good
song is a good song. You can take
41
Noize
any good song and put it under
whatever track, as long as it’s a
good song. I like artists or writers
that have some kind of depth into
what they write about, that makes
you think. One thing that drives me
nuts is if I can predict the next line
you’re gonna sing. I know you’re
gonna say, “I love you because
such-and-such…” There are a
million ways to say, “I love you.”
Be creative with it.
You seem to like remixing a track
and making it uniquely yours.
You know who had a knack for
taking something that was someone
else’s and making it his own? David
Cole (from C&C Music Factory).
I think I try to do that. I take
elements of things and make it my
own.
Tell us a little about the original work
you did for the new album.
I have a song called “Moist Groove”
which sounds like Carlos Santana just
popped into the studio and decided
to jam with me. I have a down-tempo
record by Monique Bingham called
“Beautiful Black Women Come From
Brooklyn.” I have songs from Colton
Ford where I’ve totally changed his
sound. Jason Walker is on my album;
he did a cover of After 7’s “Can’t Stop,”
which showcases Jason in a whole other
light. Because he has such an incredible
voice, I didn’t want to mask him in
production. His voice is that incredible
that you should hear it and hear every
word that he’s saying.
A lot of your stuff seems more
album-ready than DJ-friendly, is that
intentional?
There’s a certain way that I make my
Circuit
42
Noize
records. I wouldn’t say it’s different;
I guess it’s old school of a certain
nature. I don’t believe in DJfriendly records. For instance, I did
this India.Arie “Ready for Love”
and there were eight bars and then
she starts singing, whereas in your
normal dance record there are
thirty-two bars of beats, then some
miscellaneous vocal snippet, and
then you hear her voice. I’m like,
why do you need all that? Get to
the point.
Let’s talk about how you approach
your production work…
The way I produce, I make this part
right here, then I make this part…
Because I’ve been in bands, I’ll play
everything straight through, and
then go back and play another part
all the way through, so it sounds
like it’s moving, changing. I never
take the easy route.
There’s one thing I don’t do in
my records that a lot of people
do, I don’t believe in using a lot
of effects on people’s vocals, like
tricking them out or making them
sound inaudible. I don’t need to do
all that. They’re vocalists. Let them
be heard.
A lot of my songs are minimal, but
they’re very complex. I layer things.
“Let’s Be Young” is very minimal, but
when you start to listen to it, you hear all
the layers. It’s simplistic but it’s layered.
What do you think the music industry is
missing right now?
I think what’s really lacking is artist
development. The majors set you up
to fail. It’s like they’re always looking for
the next this, the next that. “We want
the next Britney.” How about somebody
who’s not Britney? How about the next
that?
Sometimes people forget what it’s all
about – the music. All this other stuff
comes into play. That’s why the name of
my album is No Politics.
Does this approach affect how well you
are known in the dance community?
Some people are like, why aren’t your
records reported to Billboard? I’m like,
because I don’t exist in that world. I
don’t try to work myself into that world.
Because I know how those records
get to number one. They don’t get
to number one because they’re good.
“Can you please support my record?”
Why bother? A good record will shine
through.
“I’m feeling like a proud papa,” says promoter Benny Soto when asked about the oneyear anniversary of Fresh Fruit this August. The monthly party, created by Quentin
Harris and Steve Travolta, was inspired by trips the two made to Stereo in Montréal.
Soto, who is also responsible for such parties as 718 Sessions with Danny Krivit and
Just Dance! at Element in New York City, is one of the most trusted names in the New
York house scene. Having managed Vinyl for over seven years, he has worked closely
with such legends as Danny Tenaglia, François K, and Timmy Regisford. Now he helps
manage Cielo, an intimate venue that is home to Fresh Fruit one Sunday a month. “I
feel really proud to say that I do a party with Quentin Harris. He’s one of the really
great things about New York. His sound appeals to people across the board. It’s kind
of soulful and deep, but at the same time you can hear the Detroit in there, too.”
Circuit
43
Noize
«BBCM AIRWAYS»
PRESENTS
Supersonic
2006
MAIN EVENT AT THE MONTREAL OLYMPIC STADIUM
SUNDAY OCTOBER 8
Artistic Direction : Jean-Pierre Pérusse
featuring amongst others:
CHUS & CEBALLOS
www.djchus&ceballos.com - www.yoshitoshi.com - www.tca-web.com - www.stereo-productions.com
THE WORLD’S LARGEST GAY BENEFIT EVENT!
THE BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL :
50 EVENTS INCLUDING MAJOR PARTIES
JOCK BALL
LEATHER BALL
MILITARY BALL
RECOVERY PARTY
EVENT PASSES NOW ON SALE:
WWW.TICKETPRO.CA
1-866-908-9090
REDUCED PRICES FOR A LIMITED TIME!
INFO: WWW.BBCM.ORG
Photos: Hrant Boghossian - b514.com
Official Airline
Convention code : CV061482
1-800-361-7585 - www.aircanada.com
Official Hotel
Reduction code : GGBBC2
www.deltamontreal.com - 1-877-286-1986
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
ALL PROCEEDS TO
GRAND
MAJOR
WWW.AIRCANADA.COM
For the fight against AIDS
and for gay & lesbian
community action
Bad Boy Club and Black & Blue are registered trademarks of the BBCM Foundation, Montreal, Canada.
ASSOCIATE
SECOND
MY LIFE AS A
CIRCUIT PERFORMER
by Adam Killian
Performing since the age of 19 in Hamburg, Germany, Adam Killian immediately
realized that he had a passion for entertaining crowds. After a few years focusing
his performance abilities onstage, Adam returned home to California to graduate
from UCSC with a degree in Theater Arts. Soon after moving to LA in 1998, Adam
dove into the American Circuit scene by performing at Jeffrey Sanker's White
Party. He has created quite a resume since then working with superstar DJs and
some of the most talented performers in the Circuit world.
His long list of performance destinations includes White Party (Palm Springs,
Miami, Ibiza), Heaven (London), Red Hot & Dance (Germany), Cherry (DC), Alegria
/ Caligula / Black Party (NYC), Black & Blue (Montréal), Mardi Gras (Sydney), Viva
Las Vegas (Las Vegas), Zoo Party (San Diego), Decadence / Halloween / Mardi
Gras (New Orleans), Altitude Ski Week (Whistler), Rapture (Vancouver). His stage
presence and sexy charm famously tease and tantalize the crowd, taking them on
a playful, erotic journey. From the fashion runways of Tokyo to the sandy clubs of
Ibiza, Adam adapts his onstage character to the energy of the moment. Adam's
image is similarly versatile, jumping from the boy next door look on the cover of
Instinct's 5th anniversary issue to the guy your mother warned you about in the
first Dream Boys book. Adam reminisces about his career onstage and what it has
meant to him in this Circuit Noize exclusive.
"I remember when I first got to
LA, having so much fun go-go
dancing at Mickey's with Flava
and Shockra and thinking we
need to take this shit on the
road!"
pads, tear-away business suits, metal
cock rings, Swarovski crystals, duct tape,
black light body paint. Those are great
tools to create a provocative and sexual
fantasy world to go with the music and
take you on a journey.
I love versatility and dualities,
mixing things that normally
don't go together. I want to
create imagery that is dirty and
masculine as well as spectacular
and thoughtful, and paint it up with
some glitz and glam. Liquid latex,
leather jockstraps, cowboy boots,
baseball hats, laser lights, football
Of course, putting these things on
incredibly sexy playful guys wearing ohso-little to cover tanned and muscled
bodies, writhing around on stage with
each other as the beat pounds harder
and faster, the sweat dripping down
flexed pecs and ripped abs, lips almost
kissing, grinding crotches and asses
together, horny with the anticipation
Circuit
46
Noize
of the hot crazy sex that is bound
to happen afterwards as everyone
explodes in a musical orgasm.
The biggest surprise for me is how
many amazing people I've met
– so many sexy friendly faces that
welcome you with a smile and
offer a compliment or a bump or
their room number. Good times. I
definitely have made some lasting
memories that I will always cherish
and be able to relive when I'm old.
I owe a lot of thanks to the people
that pushed me to be better. I will
always respect Flava and Dante as
performers and love them as friends.
Lena Love, Power, Shockra, RKM,
and Circuit Mom all keep pushing
the bar further and make me want
to do the same. I have to admit it's
pretty cool to jump around city to
city sharing the stage with these
freakshows, and then hang out in
the dressing rooms complaining
about how hard we have it. I love
the rehearsals. I love the feeling
right before the show starts. I love
making a mess. I love fire effects.
I love ripping costumes off of half
naked men. I love when people
put their hands in the air because
Circuit
they're feeling it. I hate having to pick
up nasty wet costumes and pack them
back in my bag, but I love watching the
tape of the show afterwards to see what
worked and what didn't.
I love the balance between friendships
and working relationships, all the work
it takes to put a production on, and all
the work it takes to party like a rock
star after. I love the downtime I get
to spend with the people behind the
curtains. Promoters like Jeffrey Sanker,
Tom Whitman, Bill Hardt, Ric Sena, and
Stephane Prince have been an honor
to work with, and usually a pleasure to
hang with (I'm sure I get on their nerves
sometimes, too.) I love the people
who inspired me to go further. Manny
Lehman was the first DJ I met in LA and
helped me to perform at bigger events.
He was getting buff at the time, which I
thought would inspire me to work out
more, but after one kickboxing class
with him, I was done with that. Abel,
Paulo, and Brett Henrichsen have all
allowed me to integrate their music into
my shows which helps to really connect
the whole experience. I actually got
Kimberly S in a ninja outfit and a black
Japanese wig, had her climb out of the
DJ booth down a rope ladder, do a
47
Noize
blacklight nun chuck routine and
karate chop boards for her first CD
release party. She was so nervous
she couldn't talk, but she was
fierce, and when she ripped the wig
off at the end the club went wild.
Moments like that make me love
what I do even more.
I love the imagination behind the
shows, some of which are simply
sex fantasies with production value.
I love to be intimate. I love for
everyone to feel connected. That's
why I love going across the dance
floor as part of a show. It visually
connects the room and physically
connects you to a lot of sexy men.
Hot. I love when you're out on that
dance floor and there are those
magic moments where it's like your
body, mind and spirit open up and
you can sense everything around
you. The lights, the music, and the
smiling faces merge to create this
beautiful loving energy, a sort of
bonding togetherness.
he gave me a nod that he was starting
my music. At first, people didn't really
know what to do, but within seconds
of the material going over their heads,
everyone raised their arms in support
to help move such a huge length of
fabric forward. Before the show, a lot
of people said that it wasn't going to
work. They said it was going to be too
packed for us to be carried over the
crowd and pull a piece of fabric to cover
the entire dance floor. So as we started,
I was hoping that it wouldn't snag or
run into problems, but about halfway
across, that beautiful feeling of magic
hit me. I saw all the smiling bouncing
boys behind me with their hands raised
high, wanting to touch the fierce light
show that Ross Berger was projecting
onto the white chiffon. The guys in front
of me were all watching and pointing
and putting their hands in the air ready
and willing to help.
Everything makes sense. Everyone is
connected. Everyone is sharing that
moment. I love it! And when I'm
too old to do this anymore I will love
watching the videos we made, reliving
those magic moments on the dance
floor, and the magic moments after the
party. Good times, good times…
I remember one of the first times
I went across the dance floor at
Cherry 7 with about ten sexy guys
helping me pull a sheer piece of
fabric over the entire crowd. Abel
was working the crowd into a frenzy.
I was two feet in front of him as
Circuit
48
Noize
KRISTINE W
STRONGER THAN EVER
by Charlie Rocafort
Photo: Korby Banner
Circuit
52
Noize
No one can deny that Kristine W is
a fighter. You don’t achieve recordbreaking success without the ability
to pack a good punch. Kristine
holds the title as the first artist
in the history of Billboard's Hot
Dance Club Play to release nine
consecutive number one singles
(beating records previously held by
Madonna and Janet Jackson who
have each had seven) including
such hits as “Some Lovin’,” “Land
of the Living,” and most recently,
“The Wonder of It All.”
Four years ago, however, Kristine’s
strength was put to the test
when she was diagnosed with
leukemia and forced to undergo
chemotherapy. It was a trying time
for the gay icon who is also a loving
wife and mother of three young
children. She suffered a number
of side effects from the radiation
including E. coli poisoning, a
horrible staph infection, and a fever
that the doctors couldn't lower.
Family, friends, and fans showered
Kristine with support. Grammy
Award-winning songwriter John
DeNicola offered his love through
song, penning a powerful tribute
for his courageous friend. He titled
it “I’ll Be Your Light” and two years
later, while in remission from her
cancer, Kristine recorded the track
and released it as a preview to her
upcoming full-length dance album.
Who has been your light through
your fight against leukemia?
My children have been my biggest
light.
Circuit
How can someone best support their
loved ones through such a difficult
ordeal, and what shows of support
were most special to you?
To be available for blood and platelet
transfusions. Knowing that somebody's
fluids that I knew were going through
my body was extremely comforting. It
was very scary, and knowing that at least
I was getting healthy blood made me
feel a bit better inside.
Were you surprised by shows of
support from strangers?
Yes, I was. Extremely. We were running
out of friends and family to call because
I was in the hospital for such a long
time. People from the Marino Valley
church were coming forward and having
their blood tested and donated and
we had friends from Wells Fargo Bank
come forward also. Julie Michaels, who
is a very close friend of mine from my
high school days, was extremely helpful.
She works in Hollywood as an actress
and stunt woman and was instrumental
in organizing groups from Hollywood. I
am blessed to have friends and family
like that.
How did John DeNicola come to write
“I’ll Be Your Light” for you?
He wrote it as a gift for me. He knew
that I needed a song. I was having a
hard time writing a love and goodbye
letter to my children because the reality
of death was upon me. He helped
with a song that said everything that I
wanted to say.
How was the experience of recording
“I’ll Be Your Light”?
When we cut the lead vocals in NYC,
the sun was in its full glory as it was
setting. It was so bright and beautiful
53
Noize
and was lighting up the whole
skyline. Everyone in the studio was
commenting on it and everyone
knew that this song was meant to
happen. It’s times like that when
you realize that music is extremely
powerful. Fans sent me letters and
emails telling me how much that
song means to them and how it has
gotten them through difficult times.
That's my reward right there.
What do you hope people will get
from the single?
I hope that people feel the power
of love and how important it is to
get behind people emotionally
when they're struggling through the
big issues in life. Our society has
become accustomed to thinking
that if you throw money behind
something everything will be better,
but feelings and emotions play
an important part as well. UCLA
and my doctor, Mary Torito, were
instrumental in my recovery, but
without the encouragement of my
family and friends I wouldn't have
had the power to struggle and fight
through all of the chemotherapy.
Did you ever fear you might not be
able to record or perform again?
Absolutely. That's what scared me
the most about all of the radiation
because it fries certain organs. I
actually did lose my voice for a long
time after my stem cell transplant.
How has your life changed since
surviving leukemia?
I don't take anything for granted
anymore – especially my health and
my family.
Circuit
Your career has been incredibly
successful. What do you hope to
accomplish next?
I don't like to look too far into the
future. I've learned to enjoy the now. I
have a great new single coming out for
the summer called “Walk Away.” I also
have a new jazz album coming out. I
want to see where life takes us next.
I'm looking forward to working with
and meeting new positive people and
making music that makes people happy.
I'm also looking forward to touring this
summer and seeing all of my fans who
are like my giant extended (sometimes
dysfunctional) family.
Whose idea was it to re-record your
hits as jazz standards?
The idea was mine but my fans solidified
it for me because ten minutes into my
54
Noize
first jazz show I looked into the
audience and their faces confirmed
it. I don't only want to be with them
on the dance floor. I also want to
be with them during their dinner
parties and when they're getting
into their Jacuzzis!
Was it a challenging process? Were
all the songs suitable for jazz?
Actually, I had a bit of a difficult
time convincing my keyboard player
when we began working on the
arrangements, but within an hour
he was beginning to come around.
Then when we got to the studio, we
rehearsed for about ten hours and
I could tell that he was confident
with my choices. There are a lot
of surprises. We ended up doing
versions of my songs, brand new
songs that I've written, and covers
from some unexpected songs as
well.
When will you be releasing the album?
We're shooting for an early fall release.
Is it true you recorded a new single
with Junior Vasquez?
The rumor is true. I did record a song
for my album with Junior but that's a
surprise that you'll get when the new
dance album is released. I will never
leave the dance community. I am a
dance artist through and through, and
I will continue recording dance music as
long as people continue to dance to it.
You and Junior go way back. When was
the first time you worked together?
The first time we worked together was
at the Sound Factory in 1996. Junior was
spinning and I came out and sang “Feel
What You Want.” Junior was the first to
break that song out to the public.
Are you and Junior going to reignite
dance music?
I don't think that dance music needs to
be reignited because I don't think that it
has lost its power at all. Every day that
I listen to commercial radio I can hear
that they steal a lot of their production
ideas from dance music.
What does the future hold for dance
music?
Someday soon it will be the number one
force in pop music as it is in Europe.
Where will Kristine W be in that future?
Everywhere, hopefully!
For more information on Kristine W,
including updated tour information, visit
her website at www.kristinew.com.
Circuit
55
Noize
THE EARS HAVE IT
…you never know who’s listening!
"So we were kissing and making out
in the bathroom of a diner, and I had
to push him away
because it’s a diner, y’know?"
"Well, I would have
“You need to get laid.”
pulled his cock out at least."
“Can you really tell that just from my
"Oh, I did."
face?”
“No, it’s your personality.”
“It’s a small world when
you suck dick.”
“I don’t know.
I’m glad I didn’t
do any coke.”
“Yeah, well, you know me… if
there’s powder on a plate, it’s
going up my nose.”
Circuit
"I love being versatile."
"Dear, just because you're
sitting on it, doesn't mean
you're a top."
56
Noize
“I heard you stuck a finger
up his ass
on the dance floor.”
“That wasn’t my finger
and that wasn’t his ass.”
“I’m a little nervous.
I haven’t heard from him today.”
“Yeah, it’s over.”
“Oh well, back to cock.”
“You cannot be first,
but you may be next.”
"Beauty is only
a light switch away."
“My wallet’s getting a big workout
this weekend.”
“That’s OK. These weekends don’t
happen that often.”
“Yes, they do. Like once a week.”
“I just went to the
bathroom for the third
time today. I’m so empty,
I could get fisted.”
"I wouldn't know him from
a dick in the wall."
“Are you positive
you’re negative?”
Submit your own “Overheards” to us at
[email protected]
Circuit
57
Noize
Spirit Pop
by Josh Adler
Under a typical Orlando summer sky with patches of blue mixed
with threatening masses of gray thunderclouds, hundreds of
Reunion party boys congregated near the poolside platform
where David Knapp was spinning the final two hours of his bright,
Sunday afternoon set.
Most of the crowd was eagerly
awaiting Kristine W’s scheduled
perfor mance, but before the
dreadlocked Circuit queen made
her entrance, two boys wearing
colorful cereal t-shirts took the
stage. Jason Warner (Cheerios)
and deMarco DeCiccio (Cocoa
Puffs) preceded Ms. W with a
fervent and sensual performance
of their new song “Trying to Get
to You,” leaving those of us in the
crowd to wonder, “Who are these
hotties with their shirts on, and
where did they come from?”
Shortly after they exited the stage,
the two boys galloped off to
Metropolitan Community Church
where they offered another Sunday
performance to a slightly different
crowd. Jason & deMarco are an
openly gay singer/songwriter duo
from Los Angeles who also happen
to be deeply spiritual, committed
Christians. They produce music
for adult contemporary audiences
under the self-created genre “Spirit
Pop,” and they regularly perform
at progressive church venues
across the country. As out gay
artists who have been together
in a five-year, loving relationship,
Jason & deMarco are blazing new
Circuit
territory both at Circuit parties and in
the mainstream music industry.
Released nationwide on June 27th, their
new album Till the End of Time is full of
the kind of music you would normally
hear on heartland radio stations, not
at Circuit parties. The Grammy-award
winning production team has worked
with Ricky Martin and Barbra Streisand,
among others. While the album is
mostly acoustic rock/pop, the first hit
single “Trying to Get to You” has been
brilliantly remixed by Tracy Young and is
featured on Centaur Music’s new Global
Groove CD. David Knapp calls the
remix “the fruit of these boys’ endeavor
to reach into the dance community with
the combined essence of their talent
and spirituality.” They performed
the track live for the first time at the
Evolution event at Winter Party and
have since performed at the White
Party’s Inferno event in Palm Springs,
Reunion pool parties in Orlando, and
the closing ceremony of the Gay Games
in Chicago.
In many ways it makes perfect sense
that these passionate (and adorable)
artists have found their way to the
Circuit. Their lyrics exude the same
kind of inspirational wisdom and soulful
emotion found in classic Circuit anthems
58
Noize
by artists like Kim English, Suzanne
Palmer, and Jeanie Tracy. It should
not shock anyone that spiritual
Christian energy is a main source of
fuel at parties from White to Black.
How many times have you rocked
your body to “Rise up, put your
faith in Jesus?” Who do you think
Kim English refers to when she
sings, “He only wants the best for
you” or “He keeps me safe and this
is something he does everyday?”
While Circuit music has historically
been powered by black female diva
vocalists who lyrically project deepseated faith, Jason & deMarco
are fueling the parties with a new
kind of spiritual force. It’s a raw,
unapologetic energy that challenges
society’s assumption that to be gay
and to be spiritual are mutually
exclusive. Jason & deMarco
exemplify the kind of Christianity
that is lacking in so much of our
current political and cultural
debate. With the President seeking
to amend the Constitution with a
ban on gay marriage and growing
factions of the Religious Right
Circuit
using fear tactics to spread messages of
hate and intolerance, Jason & deMarco
are Christian voices that counteract
the stereotypes often associated with
religion.
“We believe we’re here to usher in a
new movement,” says Jason. “We feel
that we must take a stand politically and
share our personal spiritual beliefs,”
deMarco reinforces. “Our spiritual walk
is a personal journey, and neither the
Church nor the Bible have final authority
on how we grow spiritually.”
Jason War ner (the blond, Randy
Harrison type) was raised in the
Pentecostal church and in the late 90s,
prior to meeting deMarco, toured with
a Christian rock band whose members
literally kicked him off the bus when he
came out to them. He met deMarco
in Los Angeles in 2001 when both
were performing solo. Born and raised
Roman Catholic in Canada, deMarco
DeCiccio (the curly-haired, Jacob Dylan
look-alike) produced several solo albums
but feels that something truly magical
happens when he and Jason work in
partnership.
59
Noize
Jason & deMarco are neither Circuit
boys nor Bible-thumpers, club
kids or evangelical missionaries.
By venturing into the gray area,
they dare to challenge the rigid
b i n a r i e s t h a t s e g re g a t e a n d
isolate communities. Even though
they do not attend the parties
independently of their cameo
performances, they seem to have
a keen understanding of what the
Circuit represents: “[The Circuit]
is…just a different type of spiritual
experience. It’s a community of
people that come together to
celebrate each other and life, where
the music and DJ are the driving
force and stars of the show.”
The mainstream music industry
is hardly receptive to openly gay
artists. In fact it’s difficult to name
even one uncloseted rock/pop
performer who actually receives
mainstream radio play in the United
States. “The fact is, there is no
place for a ‘gay Christian artist’
yet,” deMarco comments. “The
mainstream Christian music industry
won’t have us because we’re gay.
To make matters worse, most of
the gay community fears the word
‘Christian’ and have reason to do
so since many have been wounded,
beyond return, by the Church.”
While the big record labels and
corporate radio executives might
not be willing to immediately
embrace Jason & deMarco’s unique
and unprecedented brand of Spirit
Pop, the boys of the Circuit are
receiving their fiercely remixed
sound with arms open wide. In
fact, “Trying to Get to You” became
the number-one best- selling single
on www.perfectbeat.com, the
largest online dance music retailer,
the week of its release.
Circuit
“Although we are people of faith, it
doesn’t seem to bother the Circuit
community,” Jason remarks. “It’s about
the music, not about what the people
singing it personally believe or don’t
believe.”
Whether their new album achieves
mainstream commercial success, Jason
& deMarco remain deeply committed
to their judgment-free vision of social
integration, inclusiveness, and spiritual
truth. On their current summer tour,
they will be performing live at such
diverse venues as Church of the Holy
Spirit Song in Fort Lauderdale and a gay
pride rally in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Jason puts it best: “When we look out
on a dance floor and there’s a sea of
people, we see our brothers and our
sisters. We’ve all made it through this
journey and ended up in this one space
together. It’s really beautiful. We’re in a
place where we are free to be whoever
we want to be; we are free to love
whomever we choose to love; we’re
free to let go and soar with the music
and with each other. It’s an amazing
opportunity to feel free in every sense
– politically, socially, personally, and
spiritually.”
Hopefully, Jason & deMarco will
continue to grace the Circuit with their
heartfelt vocals and their inspirational
energy. Their music empowers us with
light and reminds us to shine brightly
in the face of darkness. When clouds
obscure our collective desires, Jason &
deMarco challenge us to dance freely,
live boldly, and love ecstatically.
For more information on Jason &
deMarco, visit the website www.
jasonanddemarco.com
60
Noize
MUSIC REVIEWS
by Jamie Nicholes
WARM UP
Masterbeat: SPF 2006
Brett Henrichsen
Master Entertainment
DJ Brett Henrichsen’s compilations
have always brought to the masses
the biggest and best of what most
would not have otherwise known
they love or had any clue how
to get their hands on. All that
combined with Joe Phillips’ eye
candy artwork and over-friendly
package design make for a truly
“chocolate and vanilla” consumer
product. So it was all the more
confusing when I went to see him
spin during LA Pride just weeks
after this album’s release, expecting
his trademark happy, sing-a-long
style to continue the “Yay, we’re
gay” vibe, and Brett pounded
out a 90% “pots and pans (and
hammers and anvils and wrenches
and hubcaps and cock rings)” set
that left me looking for a warm and
fuzzy K-hole to fall into. Apparently
even this Mary Sunshine likes to
spread a little stormy weather
every now and then. But despite
what the attendees of that party
experienced, Brett’s compilations
Circuit
never fail to bring a smile and generate
multiple instances of, “Oh my god, I
love this song! What is this???” After
branding last year’s clever S.P.F. 20
(Summer Party Favorites), the gimmick
went to series with this 2006 installment
boasting just as many top club tracks
and hard-to-find remixes including
Persephone’s Bees “Nice Day” (Chris
Cox Club Mix), Meleni Smith’s “Meet Me
In The Bathroom” (L.E.X. Bathroom Vox
Mix), Sandy B’s classic “Make The World
Go Round” (Jamie J. Sanchez Tribal
Anthem), Goldfrapp’s unreleased “Ooh
La La” (Peter Rauhofer Reconstruction),
a Circuit makeover for the Ferris Bueller’s
Day Off soundtrack track “Oh Yeah,
Oh Six” (Big Room Dub), and my new
happy house favorite: Pulse 81’s “Got
To Believe” (Stefano Sorrentino Club
Mix) featuring vocals by Marijana. Most
of those aforementioned are more on
the underground side, but don’t think
that classic diva Circuit house isn’t duly
represented as well – vocals by Dolce (“I
Will”), Hannah Robinson (“Give Me Your
Love”), Claudja Barry (“I Will Stand”),
and Inaya Day & China Ro (“Movin’
Up”) are twined between producer
names like Eddie X, Chus & Ceballos,
Ralphi Rosario, Tony Moran & Warren
Rigg, Carl Cox, Mike Cruz, and Antoine
Clamaran. A two-disc, continuously
mixed set, Masterbeat’s S.P.F. 2006
brings home the party (though not the
one I went to) to be enjoyed anywhere
and anytime you need a little Circuit
pick-me-up, and can spark a slow day
at the office like coffee never could.
And never you mind your co-workers’
looks when they walk by and see the
disco ball hanging above your cubicle
– they’re haters, you’re fabulous.
62
Noize
HANDS UP
Free Your Soul
Ellis D
Junior Vasquez Music
“Divas, drag queens, trannies,
straight boys… and tweakers to the
dance floor, please! The runway is
now open!” Even before J-Boogie
Ryan finishes that MC call-out, all
the old people reading this (read:
gays over 25) get a little tingle in
both heads, the warm squirt of
nostalgia, and you remember what
clubbing was like before Will &
Grace conquered the Midwest and
“gay” wasn’t yet “the new black.”
Free Your Soul has the power to
build bridges across the decades
that separate The Real Gays from
the Nouveau Fags. Brought to
you and composed entirely by
Junior Vasquez (using his alternate
moniker, Ellis D), this third chapter
of the Free Your Mind and Free
Your Body series harkens back to
the old-skool feel of true peak-hour
clubbing with new-skool production
value. Within moments of the disc’s
start, the mental imagery is clear:
filthy perspiring walls, shirtless
men writhing in rhythm in tight
Levi 501s, and the air heavy with
the aroma of poppers and Crisco.
Mmmm, welcome home. Junior
keeps the vibe truly underground
by using mostly samples instead
of full vocals, including such gay
favorites as The Gay Pimp Jonny
Circuit
McGovern, Vernessa Mitchell, and
Shirley Q. Liquor (“Tell yo’ mama I say,
‘How you durrin?’”) Production samples
abound as well, including a zillion beats
from Junior’s own library of mixes (one in
particular that tickles my fancy is the beat
used in Junior’s mix of “Strange World”
by Ké from the mid-90s) along with
instantly recognizable elements taken
from a handful of underground club
tracks. The tracks that most commanded
my attention are “Lift Up The Needle,”
with its nearly fifteen-minute run time,
dramatic production dynamics, and
bitchy vocal hook, “Play something else,
motherfucker,” and “Y’all Had Nuff Yet?”
a brilliant little bootleg in the same vein
as “Cha Cha Heels” by Jeanie Tracy,
which is constructed entirely around a
sampled outtake from Vernessa Mitchell’s
recording of the 1999 anthem “This
Joy” and, while it’s been making the
compilation rounds for a few months, it
just sounds best here nestled alongside
likeminded compositions. The disc ends
in style with a sassy queen ranting, “Did
he play it yet? What? You know, ‘I’m
Every Woman.’ Well I ain’t leaving ‘til he
play it. You hear me Junior? I am not
leaving ‘til you play ‘I’m Every Woman.’
You understand me? Oh wait, I hear a
tape hissing, is he really playing? Oh
no…” Get it, girl.
63
Noize
STAY UP
Back 2 Back
Chus & Ceballos
Star 69
Having made a name for
themselves after being
commissioned for such highprofile remix projects as Madonna’s
“Hung Up,” Yoko Ono’s “Hell In
Paradise,” Jody Watley’s “Looking
For A New Love,” and Paris Hilton’s
“Stars Are Blind,” Chus & Ceballos
are taking turns bending tribal
at the waist and stirring its guts
the same way Gabriel & Dresden
tag-teamed trance a few years
back, championing the revolution
of a genre that had become dry
and crusty. The usual approach
to tribal after-hours is more a
senses-oriented one – negating
the need to put any emphasis on
the musicality of the set, instead
focusing more on beats heavy
enough to vibrate your innards.
What Chus & Ceballos are doing
is putting the music back into the
genre and exercising artistic license
to create landscapes where before
there were only vapid planes. DJ
Chus starts off this two-disc set with
the proclamation that “the music
saves the soul, is part of the body”
(in Spanish, of course) and enters
into the dubby, dreamy “Musica vs.
El Dinero” with sex-soaked vocals
Circuit
by Monica Hernandez before bitchslapping you with Cytric’s “I Need You”
and the overlaid acapella, “Women beat
their men, the men beat on the drum.”
This classic DJ technique of acapellas
mingled with disparate tracks, which
is entirely underused today, continues
throughout the disc’s duration, but
repeated hooks are generally used
in place of full vocals for the sake of
preserving the atmospheric tone of a
true after-hours set. As with the 2005
House From Home compilation, DJ
Chus employs tracks with a lushness to
the music that brushes softly against
your face like jungle foliage in contrast
to the lead-heavy beats that encase
it and trades a catchy vocal hook for
imaginative production paired with
complex percussion and beats. DJ
Ceballos saddles up the second disc,
and after an environmental intro track,
smacks hard with the 80s-esque synth
stabs of Andrea Doria’s remix of “Deep
Sleepless Night” by Mad8 vs. Shawn
Christopher. Definitely the more playful
and varied of the two discs, Ceballos’
set is less serious and seems to bring the
mood up a bit (perhaps in preparation
for the sunrise) and chooses to vocalize
the same tribal revolution that Chus
beat into us. Deep sub-bass is replaced
with sparkling instrumentation and
river stone smooth, almost trance-style
keyboards and leaves you hungering for
a misty blue dawn. The overall effect of
Ceballos’ set is the second wind of the
night, when you’re no longer sloppy,
just happily buzzed, and what’s been
around you the entire time feels and
sounds completely different, and it’s as
if the evening began again and you get
to live it all over. Ceballos concludes
his set and this disc with the uplifting
and endlessly ambient “Pure Reality” by
Kult of Krameria, pulling you up and out
of the dirty, salty din and out into the
delicately budding light of tomorrow.
All hail the new horizon of tribal.
64
Noize
LEGS UP
Today
Junkie XL
Ultra Records
Junkie XL defines the term “jack of
all trades” – musically speaking. His
name will ring bells with the remixes
he’s done for artists like Coldplay,
Sarah McLachlan, Britney Spears,
Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan,
Natalie Imbruglia, The Scissor
Sisters, and BT, among others. But
unlike most producers who acquire
that kind of clientele, Junkie XL
has never relied on a formula to
consistently deliver the goods. He
totes a more worldly mantra, “I
think it’s really important to absorb
as much music as you can and be
really open-minded about a lot of
things.” That impressionable nature
is reflected in the stylistic diversity of
his productions. Today brings us to
a thoughtful, pensive side of Junkie
XL, far from the thumping beats,
that plays like an expressionless
face staring blankly toward nothing
in particular, with worlds colliding
behind clear, intent eyes. And
while the disc’s lead single “Today”
is what’s getting all the attention
and heavy rotation on indie radio
stations, it’s the disc’s ten-and-ahalf minute first track “Youthful,”
with vocals by newcomer Nathan
Mader, that serves as a tonal thesis
for the album’s autobiographical/
self-portrait quality, constructed of
melancholic lyrics and meandering
melodies over smooth beats.
Circuit
Junkie XL’s rock influences take center
stage throughout the album. Nearly
every track has a steady beat, but
it’s the endlessly-layered melodic
instrumentation reminiscent of bands
like New Order and U2 that brings it
down, makes it deeper, and makes this
an album to chill to after the crowds
have scattered. After having done
multiple commercial projects, like the
remix revival of Elvis’ “A Little Less
Conversation,” later used in a 2002 Nike
World Cup commercial, the album’s title
comes from a desire to describe his own
musical development in this moment and
the mental state he was in at the time
of its conception, the winter months of
2005. The first half of the album sounds
like an incredible release of emotion
created by commercial restriction, an
overwhelming need to say something in
his own words without parameters and
another’s intentions. “Mushroom” uses
a sinewy melody stretched across and
between a rock beat, “Such A Tease”
conveys the slow pace and up/down
dynamic of a crush unbeknownst to the
other, and “Today” belts out a love song
to his own musical ability. The pace
drops with “Drift Away,” hinting at what
will comprise the mood of the disc’s last
four tracks, but not before “I’ve Got A
Xerox To Copy” moves with heavy beats
but soothes with sympathetic synth
chords. “Yesterdays” (which totally
needs to be the next single) is the most
successful contemporary throwback
to 80s dance ballads I’ve ever heard,
and “Honey” and “Become One” both
sound like they would play well with
BT’s down-tempo electronic love songs.
I feel weird calling this a “chill album”
– there are so many beats throughout
– but once you hear it you’ll understand
why all I can think about while listening is
hanging out with someone late at night,
lit by the blue light of a swimming pool
as deep oranges come through huge
patio windows.
Buy these releases and all your other
dance music favorites at
Perfectbeat.com
65
Noize
Summer Circuit
Photo Album
Photographer: Moody Mustafa
www.MoodyPics.com
Circuit
66
Noize
We received so many photos from this summer's events - (Queens
Day Amsterdam, Dallas Purple Party, Atlanta Pride, San Francisco
Pride, Babylon Tour, Madrid Pride, and many more from One
Mighty Party and Gay Disney) - that we are unable to print most of
them in this issue.
However, please find hundreds of these new photos online in
Circuit Noize's Online Photo Gallery:
www.circuitnoize.com - all for free.
Send any photo as a free postcard to your friends.
Circuit
67
Noize
Photographer: Moody Mustafa
www.MoodyPics.com
FALL
CI R C U IT
2006
Circuit
74
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
August 3 - 7, 2006
MONTREAL, CANADA
TWIST WEEKEND
Night:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
DJs:
Patrick Guay
Tom Stephan
Serge Duchesne
Escape, Tony Moran,
Stéfane Lippé
DJ Norm Robert, Joe
Gauthreax, James
Andersen
Stephan Grondin, Victor
Calderone
DJ Norm, Cesar Murillo
DeMarko, Alain
Jackinsky, Patrick Guay
Venue:
Calder Monument Jean-Drapeau Park
Club Parking
Metropolis
Notre-Dame Island
Stereo
Sky Pub
Club Parking
Celebrate your pride! The Twist Weekend is the “major party” portion of the Gay
Pride celebrations in Montreal. Now in its eleventh year, this is one of BBCM’s
biggest crowd pleasers. The Twist Party main event includes a special BBCM
dancers show. Included in the weekend’s activities is a Saturday afternoon mega
t-dance and the popular and always sold out Twist Encore. The warm weather
always gets those hot French Canadian boys stirred up so that they’re even more
eager to show their tourist friends a good time.
Info: www.bbcm.org
August 4 - 7, 2006
VANCOUVER, CANADA
RAPTURE PRIDE
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
DJs:
Brain Gorr
Stephan Grondin
Kio Kio
Eddie X
Venue:
Scotiabank Dance Centre
Commodore Ballroom
Commodore Ballroom
Gorg-O-Mish
The ToyBoxBoys Team invites you to join the influx of sexy men, feel the joy of
the music and the heartbeat of the crowd at Rapture Pride. Since its humble
beginnings during Vancouver's 2000 Pride celebrations, Rapture Pride Vancouver
has grown to be Vancouver's largest gay dance event. Held over three nights,
this combination of licensed and late-night dance parties held during Vancouver's
Pride Weekend combine top name DJs, incredible music, stunning visuals and
amazing live performances. The largest gay population in Western Canada lives
in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city. Now before you other provinces
get your jocks in a knot, Vancouver’s only claiming to be the gayest place in
Western Canada (back-off Toronto and Montreal!) Vancouver’s gay community
is centered around two distinctly different neighborhoods - the West End/Davie
Village and Commercial Drive, both of which enjoy a wide variety of restaurants,
Circuit
75
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
coffee shops, nightclubs and boutiques catering to gays and lesbians, so go be
your own queer self.
Info: www.rapturevancouver.com
August 5 - 6, 2006
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
GAY PRIDE
Amsterdam Pride is over ten years old now. The kick-off party on Thursday is the
perfect way to get ready for an exciting weekend and check out the locals and
tourists alike. On Friday night the immensely popular Salvation party at Escape
Venue attracts a variety of us, from muscle boys to fashion queens and everyone
in-between. Make sure to get your ticket in time because this is a guaranteed
sell-out. The party continues with the Steamy After Salvation at Thermos Day
Sauna, where hundreds of horny guys dance at the sauna. Most convenient! On
Saturday celebrate Pride with thousands of gays in the streets. For the occasion
Amsterdam is one big open-air club where you can drink your beer or smoke your
joint on every corner of the street! The unique Pride parade, on the Amsterdam
canals, features more than one hundred of the most outrageous floats and over
a half-million spectators. You can even buy a ticket to be a part of the parade
on the White Party Boat. Saturday night's White Party is at Powerzone, which
features two floors of dancing, an outdoor terrace and a swimming pool. Another
party you won't want to miss, Joystick is held at one of the largest dance venues
in Amsterdam and has all the ingredients for an incredible party experience. The
full schedule of events includes a Sunday t-dance cruise, street parties and afterhours events all weekend long. Oh, and try not to mention Barcelona. Very sore
subject right now.
Info: www.whiteparty.nl | www.joystick-amsterdam.com | www.clubrapido.com
FIRE ISLAND
BLACK OUT
Night:
Saturday
August 12, 2006
FIRE ISLAND CHERRY GROVE, NEW YORK
DJs:
Wayne Louis
Venue:
Icepalace
Since its inception in 2002, Fire Island Black Out (FIBO) has stayed true to its
mission: to encourage same gender loving (SGL) men and women of all colors
to converge on Cherry Grove (a gay-friendly though predominantly white section
of Fire Island located off the Long Island shore) for a day in the sun. And people
are taking notice. In 2002, fifty SGL participants attended FIBO’s inaugural event.
By 2005, over 600 men and women of color (and even some of "not-so-much
color") descended on the sands of Cherry Grove with a vengeance and their
beach chairs, blankets, suntan lotion, and spirits to add some proverbial “color”
to the beach which soon proved to be one of the blackest and darkest days in
Fire Island history. At that rate of expansion, by 2007 we should see in excess of
30,000 participants, so you may want to go this year.
Info: www.fireislandblackout.com
Circuit
76
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
August 17 - 19, 2006
PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
CARNIVAL WEEK
Night:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
DJs:
Phil B
Joe Gauthreaux
Tony Moran
Chris Racine
Venue:
Paramount
Paramount
Paramount
Paramount
Three Parties! Three Days! Three International DJ Sensations! Located in the
heart of Provincetown, The Crown & Anchor features six unique bar venues
including the town's largest nightclub (Paramount), the town's only video bar
(Wave), a cabaret venue, a poolside bar with heated pool, a piano bar, and an
ever-popular leather bar (The Vault). The Crown also features the Central House
Bar & Grille – a year-round restaurant offering lunch and dinner, and the Crown &
Anchor Inn – a waterfront hotel with eighteen rooms and luxury suites.
Info: www.onlyatthecrown.com
SANDSTORM THE DUNES RESORT
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
August 17 - 20, 2006
SAUGATUCK, MICHIGAN
DJs:
Mark Vallese
Manny Lehman
Mark Vallese
Venue:
The Dunes
The Dunes
The Dunes
They don't call it "Fire Island West" for nothing, you know! For over 25 years,
The Dunes Resort has provided a simple, comfortable place for gays and lesbians
to escape the doldrums of Middle America. Now crowned the largest gay resort
and entertainment complex in the Midwest, The Dunes is heralded as western
Michigan’s premier gay and lesbian vacation destination and a pinnacle of the
gay Saugatuck-Douglas community, which flourishes here during the summer
months.
Info: www.dunesresort.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
77
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
August 18 - 20, 2006
FIRE ISLAND PINES, NEW YORK
ASCENSION
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
DJs:
Wendy Hunt
Phil B.
Brett Henrichsen
Tony Moran
Venue:
Pavilion Nightclub
Pavilion Nightclub
Pines Beach
Pavilion Nightclub
Ascension, a daytime beach party, is the newest happening on Fire Island. Sundrenched sand, a cool ocean breeze, and scintillating music will lift your spirits.
(And those gorgeous boys should lift other parts as well.) Events include a VIP
Cocktail Party, the Aqua pool party and a Saturday night reception celebration,
all featuring world-renowned DJs and entertainers. The main event is held on
Sunday amidst the stunning backdrop of one of the most beautiful residential
beach properties in the world. A large dance floor, complete with luxury
cabanas, is created on the sands of this world-famous destination. Proceeds from
Ascension benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and The Fund in the
Sun Foundation.
Info: www.ascensionparty.com
August 20, 2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
RED BALL
What to wear to the Red Ball?!? Think red. Over the years, Red Ball has provided
one of the most popular dance events in Florida. And Fort Lauderdale, this
premier gay and lesbian destination, is the perfect place for it, featuring long
sandy beaches, warm tropical weather, world class cuisine, exclusive shops,
festive nightlife, and a gay-friendly atmosphere, too. The Red Ball is one of the
most successful fundraising events on the Circuit. It’s an amazing party every
year, and every dollar you spend is well worth it as 100% of the proceeds are
donated to Children's Diagnostics and Treatment Center for the medical care of
children living with HIV/AIDS (none of the board nor volunteers takes a cent from
this event).
Info: www.redballftl.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
78
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
August 19, 2006
TORONTO, CANADA
LEATHER BALL
Night:
Saturday
DJs:
Paul Grace
Venue:
Opera House
The journey of Toronto’s Leather Ball began in 1995 with an inspiration by
producer Graham Long. In 1997, MLT gained ownership of Leather Ball and has
been developing it ever since. Leather Ball has been awarded “Best Men’s Event
of the Year” several times (XTRA! Magazine readers’ poll). They put the hottest
men and the sexiest music together for a memorable leather dance journey.
Leather Ball dress code is strictly enforced so listen up, boyz: thong-chaps and
black studded dog collar, uh… yeah; white tank top and blue jeans, not so much.
Info: www.mrlt.com
NORTHERN XPOSURE
WEEKEND
Night:
Friday
Saturday
August 24 - 27, 2006
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
DJs:
TBA
Blaine Soileau
Sam Andrews
Kimberly S
John Miller
Sunday
Venue:
The Seattle Eagle
The Cuff Complex
The Chapel
Argosy Cruise Lines
The War Room
Northern Xposure Weekend is a fundraiser benefiting Lambert House, a GLBT
underage resource center in Seattle. Since 2000, Northern Xposure has raised
over $66,000 for Lambert House, mainly due to the hard work and generosity of
people in our community and abroad. But don’t let good intentions mislead you
– this is a weekend of dancing, socializing, cruising, and wildness. The out-oftown guests will have a chance to experience one of the most beautiful places in
the country, during a month where it actually is sunny!
Info: www.nxposure.com
Look for the Circuit Noize QuickTrip Logo to make
fast travel and ticket reservations for selected events.
Enter to Win FREE Airline and Party Tickets online at:
travel.circuitnoize.com
Circuit
79
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
August 27 - September 12, 2006
BARCELONA-ATHENS
ATLANTIS CRUISE
Climb aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas! This summer, Atlantis will
make history by offering its first-ever, back-to-back cruises, affording guests the
opportunity to choose from two distinct seven- and nine-night Mediterranean
vacations, or a once-in-a-lifetime 16-night odyssey with no repeat ports.
Departing from cosmopolitan and gay-friendly Barcelona, the seven-night
cruise sails to classic must-see destinations throughout the Mediterranean,
including Cannes (pronounced “can” puleese!), Rome, Santorini, Mykonos, and
Ephesus. The trip concludes in Athens. Guests wishing to stay in Mykonos, the
Mediterranean nightlife hotspot, may disembark early and extend their vacation
with ease.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
SOUTHERN
DECADENCE
Night:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
August 30 - September 4, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
DJs:
DJ Jayskee
Tracy Young
Jayskee, Randy Bettis
Kimberly S
Max Rodriguez, Joe
Gauthreaux
Alyson Calagna
Rick Mitchell, Lydia Prim
Tony Moran
Darren Thomas
Venue:
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
When you think you're an experienced, well-traveled partier with all your hardearned, world-weary ways and think you've seen it all, along comes Southern
Decadence to show you that you haven't even been looking at the right map.
Southern Decadence started thirty-five years ago as a simple going-away party.
As is so often the case with these things, the actual facts surrounding the party's
inception seem dubious. One can be reasonably certain of at least one thing
– one lovely autumn morning, in or around 1972, something happened, and
mayhem ensued. This occasion is now observed annually with more mayhem, a
parade, costumes, noisemakers, drinking, dancing, and the namesake decadence
in abundance everywhere (and right out in broad daylight!) As a top gay Labor
Day weekend destination, SD has evolved into one of our world's major annual
events. One of the largest annual celebrations in New Orleans, it has become
known as the "Gay Mardi Gras." People begin to arrive on the Wednesday
before Labor Day, and generally don't even think about stopping or going home
until the following Tuesday. Southern Decadence is now one of the largest free
street parties you can attend, and really is something you have to see to believe.
Come see and be seen in the wildest, most decadent costumes on Decadence
Sunday. New Orleans hot spots Oz and Bourbon Pub have a great balcony above
Bourbon St. for overseeing the street-level festivities below and welcomes top
Circuit DJs.
Info: www.southerndecadence.net | www.ozneworleans.com
Circuit
80
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
September 1 - 3, 2006
DAYTON, OHIO
FLIGHT PARTY
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
DJs:
Kio Kio
Monte Q
Eddie X
Venue:
Masque
Dayton Convention Center
Masque
A new Circuit party in Ohio! Yes, Ohio. Quiet. Nestled nicely in the heart of the
Midwest somewhere between the Nation’s largest Air Force base & the Wright
Brother’s bicycle shop lies Flight. When the average person thinks of flight in
Dayton, Ohio, a very traditional definition of the word comes to mind. When you
reach your destination in Dayton that first weekend of September, Flight will have
taken on a very new definition. Flight party is a passionate three-day convergence
of dance music, environment, and imagination. Flight’s cabin is a dance floor and
the pilots are your DJs. Listen, breathe, and be moved by the music. Unfasten
your seatbelts as your journey begins. You’re there for three days, so go visit the
amazing Wright Brothers Aeroplane company.
Info:
www.flightparty.com
September 1 - 4, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Info:
nfo: www.flightparty.com
LABOR DAY
The seasons don't really change in California, which is why you don't see the
LA boys getting all wistful this time of year. Instead, the party continues on as if
summer never ended. And if the global warming trend continues, summer will
really never end; West Hollywood will just become beachfront property. The best
clubs pull out all the stops to heat you up and hose you down. If you’ve been
to LA during the hottest days of the summer, you know what you’re in for, as
clothing is (almost) optional, especially on the dance floor. If you’ve never made
it, don’t you think it’s time? I mean, you’re gay, right? It’s summer in LA. What
exactly are you waiting for?!?
Info:
www.resolutionevents.com | www.jeffreysanker.com
www.johnbradypresents.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
81
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
FINAL BEATS
OF SUMMER
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
September 1 - 4, 2006
PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
DJs:
Lydia Prim
Richie LaDue
Monty Q
Venue:
Paramount
Paramount
Paramount
The Final Beats of Summer at The Crown & Anchor, dedicated to bringing worldclass DJ talent to Ptown at Cape Cod’s largest waterfront venue, celebrates the
end of summer with a triple-threat of talent Labor Day weekend.
Info: www.onlyatthecrown.com
September 3, 2006
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
ALEGRIA
Night:
Sunday
DJs:
Tony Moran, Abel
Venue:
Crobar
All those hot summer months of sun and faithfully going to the gym have paid
off. Everybody's sporting that golden glow and the amount of rippling muscles
at an Alegria event is enough to constitute a bodybuilding convention. Anyone
who's not on Fire Island this weekend will be at Crobar, sweating and sparkling
with New York's finest partiers at New York's sexiest party. Be sure to include in
your weekend a visit to our friends at G Lounge and Splash.
Info: www.alegriaevents.com | www.splashbar.com | www.glounge.com
September 15, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
LATTITUDE
Night:
Friday
DJs:
Victor Calderone,
DeLeon
Venue:
Avalon
Follow the beats and the boys to a night in Los Angeles like no other. Summer
dress code is still the standard, since the only thing more sizzling about a
Southern California night is the men that strip and flip over the sounds that only
Avalon can provide.
Info: www.lattitudevents.com
Circuit
82
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
FOLSOM STREET
FAIR
September 24, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Night:
Saturday
DJs:
Joe Gauthreaux
Sunday AM
Sunday
Abel
Pete "Jester Savas"
Venue:
Loading Dock of the Gift
Center Pavillion
715 Harrison
1015 Folsom
Folsom = Freedom. It's a city where "formal dress" on an invitation usually
means "Don't chicken out and wear Levi's underneath. Buttless chaps are that
way for a reason!" No surprise, then, that San Francisco pulls together the
hottest leather festival anywhere, as nearly half a million woofy leathermen and
their fans descend on this city, all looking to scratch that one particular itch. The
Folsom Street Fair takes place during San Francisco's Leather Pride Week, eight
days of leather at the end of September. This is a week’s worth of intense activity,
with the Folsom Street Fair being the crowning finale to a festive time! Many bars,
clubs, and organizations have parties and events all during Leather Pride Week.
More than 400,000 people attend this major leather event from all over the
world every year. We hope to see the fairgrounds filled with people in their most
outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire enjoying the world’s largest and bestloved leather fair. The Folsom Street Fair always takes place on the last Sunday
in September and is located in San Francisco's South of Market district on Folsom
Street between 7th and 12th Streets. Donations at the gates and proceeds from
beverage purchases benefit local charities. Be sure to make an appearance at
the annual Magnitude party, “a dungeon on the dance floor.” You’ll feel right at
home in your boots and cutout chaps… additional apparel optional.
Info: www.folsomstreetfair.com | www.jito.com | www.realbad.org
September 30, 2006
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
SLEAZE PARTY
First of all, remember that in Australia the end of summer for us is the end of
(ready?) spring for them! That’s right, October is the beginning of the Summer
season in Sydney! So if you’re just not ready for summer to end right when your
abs count six and you’ve got the whole Mystic Tan schedule thing nailed, it
doesn’t have to. Go do summer Down Under! Everybody knows about Sydney
Mardi Gras, but the truly discriminating party boy ready to play with his kinky side
heads to Sleaze every year. Since first appearing in 1982, it's one of the longestrunning events in the world. The October long weekend is an awesome time to
get together with friends and celebrate the start of the summer party season at
Sleaze. Sleaze is the major fundraiser for the Mardi Gras Season. A successful
Sleaze enables the Sydney community to celebrate the Festival, Launch, Fair Day,
the Parade and the Party. If you are looking for a gargantuan dance party that
attracts hedonistic and broadminded folks from around the globe, then this is
your party. With the accent on fun, this is the place to be for thousands of muscle
daddies, club kids, slave boys, fierce fashion and an international assortment of
hunks. Expect spectacularly themed stage shows, lots of dragged-up eye candy
and lavish attire as well as the best dance music that the Sydney gay scene has to
offer.
Info: www.mardigras.org.au
Circuit
83
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
BLACK & BLUE
FESTIVAL
October 4 - 10, 2006
MONTREAL, CANADA
The Black & Blue Festival is one of the best and biggest events of its type on the
planet, and it has gained a solid reputation worldwide. Why do the participants
keep coming back, and from as far as Australia or Asia? The best way to know
is to come and see for yourself! A whole week of activities ranging from art
exhibits, movie screenings, and athletic events, to the famous dance parties. It
is all crowned by the magnificent Black & Blue main event on Sunday night. The
crowd at the main event is mixed, as thousands of straight friends of our gay
party community join us in a celebration that has earned a reputation for breaking
new ground in the gay party world by hiring DJs and drawing a crowd to which
we're not ordinarily exposed. This party fosters a kind of cultural interchange
that is unique to the Circuit. The parties the rest of the weekend are, of course,
good ol’ back-to-basics Circuit parties. Montréal has some world-class clubs, and
this week they're packed full of hot guys from all over North America and Europe.
World-class events include the Leather Ball, Military Ball, and the ever-popular
Recovery Party on Monday night
Info: www.bbcm.org
October 20 - 22, 2006
PHUKET, THAILAND
NATION
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
DJs:
De León
Sawa, Tony Moran
David S., Kate Monroe,
Victor Cheng
Venue:
Asia's largest party, Nation, happens on the idyllic shores of paradise, Phuket
Island. Expect non-stop partying with Asia's crème de la crème, surrounded by
state-of-the-art sound and eye-popping visuals. This party has evolved into an
international festival comprising eight high-octane parties held back-to-back over
the weekend. The crown jewel of the festivities is Nation which features mindblowing pyrotechnics, lasers, and lighting, as well as a world-class roster of DJs
and rising stars on the Asian Circuit scene from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand,
Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Info: www.fridae.com/nation
Look for the Circuit Noize QuickTrip Logo to make
fast travel and ticket reservations for selected events.
Enter to Win FREE Airline and Party Tickets online at:
travel.circuitnoize.com
Circuit
84
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
October 20, 2006
BERLIN, GERMANY
HUSTLABALL
Night:
Friday
DJs:
Jack Chang, Mike
Kelly, Dealer, Dominox,
RedTomKat
Venue:
Kit Kat Club
Tom Weise and Rentboy.com's Hustlaball Berlin is back at the legendary Kit Kat
Club (of Cabaret fame). Berlin's famed nightlife scene has a licentious underside
that rivals anything you'll find in any other northern European capital and it's a
city where a party full of porn stars and hustlers feels right at home. The mayor of
Berlin, who happens to be gay, officially recognizes the mega-party. It's an
evening of ultimate fun, with sexual pleasures of all kinds being showcased. The
HustlaBall is a world of hustlers, hookers, pimps, streetwalkers, flesh-peddlers,
porn stars and other scandalous sorts. The HustlaBall has changed the playing
field for event parties, attracting hot crowds in record numbers. Their cast of
characters and performers include unbelievable fetish acts, club-transforming
installations, and cutting edge lighting, music and all around atmosphere.
HustlaBall events are based on the notion that the underground lifestyle and
music is a major part of that world.
Info: www.hustlaball.com
October 21 - 29, 2006
SAN DIEGO-ACAPULCO
ATLANTIS CRUISE
Climb aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas! Mexico’s best beaches
meet Atlantis’ biggest party. Atlantis will bring an all-new ship and a fabulous new
itinerary to a perennial favorite, its fall Pacific Coast cruise. Serenade of the Seas
is the newest ship in the Atlantis lineup. Atlantis’ Mexican Riviera cruise is always
designed for fun in a variety of styles. Guests dance into twilight outdoors at the
themed afternoon t-dances, and revel under the stars as Atlantis turns Serenade’s
wide-open decks into the largest outdoor nightclub at sea. All the outrageous
productions feature concert sound, massive light and laser shows, special
guests, and the friendliest crowd you’ve ever seen. Atlantis is also bringing back
its popular eight-night, Saturday-to-Sunday itinerary, but with an exciting twist
– adding Acapulco to its list of sun-drenched ports-of-call. Departing from San
Diego, other ports of call on this fun-filled odyssey include Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta,
and Cabo San Lucas.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
Circuit
85
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
October 27 - 31, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
HALLOWEEN
Night:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
DJs:
Manny Lehman
Lydia Prim
Phil B.
Rick Mitchell
Tracy Young
Susan Morabito,
Joe Gauthreaux
Venue:
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
Oz Nightclub
Bourbon Pub
New Orleans is the gay destination for Halloween, especially if you like a costume
ball. There are four days of benefit events that provide funding for Lazarus House,
a residential facility for men and women living with HIV. Saturday's costume ball
is like no other - gangs of friends dress in group themes with each group getting
their moment in the spotlight on stage. A lot of these boys go all-out. The
Bourbon Pub video bar and The Parade dance club have a non-stop weekend
planned with outstanding DJ talent, hot and bad stripper boys, and a crowd that
likes to get rowdy.
Info:
w w w. o z n e w o r l e a n s . c o m
www.halloweenneworleans.com
|
w w w. g a y h a l l o w e e n . c o m
Info:
nfo: www.ozneworleans.com
www.ozneworleans
| www.gayhalloween.com | www.
October 28 - November 4, 2006
halloweenneworleans.com
RSVP CRUISE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
RSVP pulls out the stops with this journey from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta,
Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Planned highlights include a Tiaras, Crowns &
Septers Bon Voyage Party, Day of the Dead Black Party, Dungeons and Dragons
Leather Party, Trick or Treat T-Dance, Royal Scivey Underwear Party, Princess
& Pauper Renaissance Ball (Costume Party) with a performance by Kristine W,
Diamond Stud White Party with performance by Deborah Cox and a Military
Party. Star DJs include: Kimberly S, Randy Bettis, Robbie Leslie, and Bryan Pfeifer.
Info: www.rsvpvacations.com
Look for the Circuit Noize QuickTrip Logo to make
fast travel and ticket reservations for selected events.
Enter to Win FREE Airline and Party Tickets online at:
travel.circuitnoize.com
Circuit
86
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
October 28, 2006
VANCOUVER, CANADA
HALLOWEEN
Night:
Saturday
DJs:
Rob C.
Venue:
Commodore Ballroom
ToyBoxBoys Productions is very pleased to be the event producer of the
Vancouver Men's Chorus Halloween Party, one of the largest gay Halloween
events in the Pacific Northwest. This event has proved to be a popular fundraiser
for the Chorus, with the majority of proceeds going directly to finance the annual
series of concerts and other activities the non-profit association holds each year.
Don’t miss Vancouver's most flamboyant, fun, and fabulous party.
Info: www.halloweenvancouver.com
ALEGRIA
HALLOWEEN
Night:
Sunday
October 29, 2006
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
DJs:
Abel
Venue:
Crobar
Most of the buff boys of Alegria won't be dressed up for this gay holiday, they'll
be sporting those fabulous physiques that they work so hard on. But you won't
care, there are tricks and treats aplenty at Ric Sena's wildly popular Crobar event.
Info: www.alegriaevents.com
October 29 - 31, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
HALLOWEEN
Night:
Sunday
DJs:
Manny Lehman
Venue:
Mayan
Though some are nostalgic for the anarchy days of untamed, gay Halloween
before the City of West Hollywood co-opted the decadence, wiped off some
of the grime, and put some serious dough into it, there’s a lot to be said for the
over-the-top street festival that closes famous Santa Monica Boulevard for a mile
or so to accommodate several stages, thousands of Halloween revelers, and the
best costume parade (still!) anywhere on the planet.
Info:
www.resolutionevents.com | www.visitwesthollywood.com
Circuit
87
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
November 21 - 26, 2006
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
LATIN FEVER
It's not just a party, it's a really cool vacation! Head to sunny Puerto Vallarta for
Thanksgiving weekend where Will Gorges & Gilles Belanger are bringing you six
boy-packed parties at hot local clubs and hotel rooftops, featuring the hottest/
hippest American import DJs as well as Mexico's finest. This unique party south
of the border is so special that those who come once always come back for more.
See for yourself what all the raving is about.
Info: www.willgorges.com
WHITE PARTY
WEEK
November 22 - 27, 2006
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Since the beginning of time, Florida is where chilly New Yorkers have been going
to thaw out. So it’s no surprise that, after some queen walking down 8th Avenue
was heard exclaiming into her phone, “...freezing my Armani-laced tits off!” one
of the most venerable events on the Circuit was born in Miami Beach. An allstar roster of DJs beckons you to a long weekend of parties in the city’s famous
nightclubs and, perhaps most importantly, the spectacular white sandy beach.
Giving that same (now Prada-wearing) queen another excuse to exclaim into
the phone, “It’s snowing here too, girl, but it’s 80 degrees!” The crown jewel of
AIDS fundraisers, The White Party at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the event
that makes this weekend over-the-top special. At Vizcaya the crowd is as much a
part of the show as anything else, with 3000 beautiful people in white, many of
them in costumes you simply won’t believe. With dancing under the stars, a food
court of delicacies from some of Miami’s hottest restaurants, and ten acres of the
most breathtaking Renaissance gardens in the country, this is not your typical
party. The exciting new addition this year is the White Party Village, created to
accommodate the many divergent international and national guests into one 500yard square block area on spectacular Ocean Drive. White Party Week is what
other parties would look like if you wrapped them in mink, served champagne
and invited Madonna (relax, it’s just an expression). You can practically hear the
flashbulbs now, can’t you? And it’s all for a good cause, too - the whole week
benefits Care Resource, Florida’s one source for HIV/AIDS services.
Info: www.whiteparty.org
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
88
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
December 29, 2006 – January 1, 2007
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Night:
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
DJs:
Brett Henrichsen
Manny Lehman
TBA
Venue:
TBA
Hollywood Paladium
Hollywood Arena
It’s official—LA’s favorite weekend on the Circuit schedule is New Year’s Eve. The
California boys pull out all the stops… There’s something for everyone - so you
get to decide! West Hollywood, with the boyz and the tourists and the touristboyz all eager to get into just the right space in the “perfect club for me” before
the last minute of the old year ticks away. Or, for those of you who prefer the
manly men scene, sleepy Silverlake really comes alive on this night like no other.
Happy New Year!
Info: www.masterbeat.com
December 31, 2006 – January 1, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Obviously, there’s no need to let those kids down south get away with thinking
they’re having all the fun on the West Coast. Gus presents Colossus New Year’s
weekend in San Francisco. This one starts with one of those now-infamous
underwear parties, so get over yourself already and lose the Levi’s. Top DJs spin
the soundtrack for the ensuing debauchery. Round out your weekend on New
Year’s Day with the yin to the previous night’s trashy yang - a Mass reunion giant
t-dance recovery pajama party! Things get downright cozy at 1015 Folsom as
your year begins with a night of t-dance madness, featuring massage, treats and
munchies, movies, and a very cozy bean bag room! (On second thought, this
might not be as wholesome as it sounds - what do YOU wear in bed?)
Info: www.guspresents.com
December 31, 2006 – January 1, 2007
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
SNOWBALL
Night:
Sunday
DJs:
Luke Johnstone
Jamie Sanchez
Venue:
Nangang 101
Fridae Events presents its winter party, Snowball, in Taipei city each New Year's
Eve. Attracting the most beautiful and charming boys from North Asia and
beyond, Snowball promises to turn up the heat for a night of adrenaline-pumping
action. Join the Fridae boys in the most spectacular countdown party in this part
of Asia and stand side by side as we usher in the New Year in perfect harmony.
Info: www.fridae.com
Circuit
89
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
December 31, 2006 – January 1, 2007
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
G POP
Night:
Sunday
DJs:
Bill Coleman
Venue:
G Lounge
No sound says “celebration” like the popping of champagne corks (you heard
one just now, didn’t you?) Come pop one yourself as the New Year is rung in,
at gPop - amazingly festive and energetic without being excessively chaotic or
expensive. Each year, g lounge is beautifully decorated in sapphire balloons
and silver streamers. The shirtless bartenders sport bow-ties and serve a
complimentary champagne toast at midnight to mark the occasion! And what
would New Year’s Eve be without the perfect mix of house, R&B and party
favorites, spun flawlessly. It’ll be wall-to-wall sweaty hunks and outrageous club
kids well into the afternoon. Come early and stay really, really (really) late.
Info: www.glounge.com
December 31, 2006 – January 1, 2007
MONTREAL, CANADA
BAL DES BOYS
Yes, it’s cold up here this time of year, but the hot clubs and hot guys this town
is so famous for will more than make up for it. The Bal des Boys is a spectacular
all-night event on New Year’s Eve at Cinema Imperial. This spectacular renovated
art-deco theatre is a historical monument, allowing you a little culture with your
dance party. The weekend includes a whole slate of fabulous DJs and plenty of
extracurricular activities.
Info: www.bbcm.org
December 29, 2006
RIO DE JANEIRO
ALEGRIA IN RIO
Music by DJ's TONY MORAN & ABEL and Lights by Ross Berger. Production
design by Ric Sena.
Info: www.alegriaevents.com
Look for the Circuit Noize QuickTrip Logo to make
fast travel and ticket reservations for selected events.
Enter to Win FREE Airline and Party Tickets online at:
travel.circuitnoize.com
Circuit
90
Noize
FALL CIRCUIT 2006
ASPEN GAY SKI
WEEK
January 14 - 21, 2007
ASPEN, COLORADO
A winter wonderland on four world-class mountains, beautiful people in
expensive sunglasses, floor-length furs and diamond tiaras, cocktail parties and
guest lists and names, names, names - and that’s the REST of the year! Add the
here! TV film festival, a downhill costume parade (read: drag queens on skis),
dance parties featuring big-name DJs and entertainers, a gay vs. straight hockey
game, a night of invite-only shopping, and cocktails at Aspen’s most glamorous
boutiques, and you have an idea of the festivities of Aspen Gay Ski Week 2006.
Not to be missed!
Info: www.gayskiweek.com
ATLANTIS CRUISE
FREEDOM OF THE SEAS
January 28 – February 4, 2007
MIAMI-CARIBBEAN
In 2005, Atlantis chartered the Navigator of the Seas for the largest gay cruise
in history. Now, a bigger, bolder, and grander spectacle with an all-new Western
Caribbean itinerary. The Navigator boasts some of the most amazing features
on any ship today - a rock-climbing wall, five-story promenade, full basketball
court, inline skating track, and ice skating rink. (Don't you just love cruise ships?
Like a floating city but only the fun stuff-not a DMV office or grocery store
checkout in sight!) There's also a five-story theater, an authentic 50s diner, a
world-class casino, a spectacular three-story dining room and a nightclub called
The Dungeon (exactly who is running this ship?) There's also complimentary 24hour room service (although, with all that's going on up on deck, including exotic
ports of call like Cozumel and Belize City, if you've chosen to spend 24 hours in
your stateroom, it's likely that food is not high on your list of essentials). Atlantis
will turn the Navigator's outdoor decks into the largest outdoor celebration ever
at sea, with spectacular lighting, lasers to light up the sky, and concert quality
sound. And the high-tech nightclub hosts a wide range of musical styles, and a
sensational after-hours scene. All of this featuring six of the leading DJs working
today.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
Circuit
91
Noize
A giant preening mascot for the club-going set, Kevin Aviance is constantly
coming up with a new way to wear a giant hat, some glitter and little else. The
lips, the face, his long massive legs, and that voice. Booming with a low end that
rivals the bass box on the floor next to you, he has pitch-perfect timing and always
says just enough but never too much to inspire you to keep dancing the night
away. I only saw him attempt to share the stage once for a duet; he performed
the male vocal himself with a sock puppet. No one else could have done it
justice.
June 9th started like any other
Friday for Kevin. A photo shoot
in the East Village, followed
by cocktails at a local bar, finally
ending up at Phoenix on 13th Street
and First Avenue for a nightcap.
Phoenix is one of those bars that
reminds you that gay people like
to relax and play pool sometimes
just like everyone else. Very laid
back atmosphere, and not as
seedy as you would expect at first
glance. Lots of beer drinkers. The
most exciting thing that happens
there is a periodic visit from Janice
Dickinson, who will probably have
go-go boys at her funeral.
Kevin was relaxing that night as well,
going casual after the shoot wearing
a black muscle shirt with a hoodie,
black pants down to his calf, and
a Balenciaga bag on his shoulder.
He was still Kevin Aviance, who can
wear little more than a thong and
some pumps and look fully dressed
somehow, but he was in a decidedly
less glamorous mold that evening
from all accounts.
He left the bar early, probably
1:30am, to make the walk to his
apartment near Seventh Avenue.
Approaching 14th Street, Kevin
thought nothing of it when he
passed a small group of young
men. 14th Street is one of lower
M a n h a t t a n ’s m o s t b u s t l i n g
thoroughfares, even at two in the
morning. Like much of that area
of the city, it feels dirtier and more
dangerous than it usually is in
reality. Even the junkies seem to
respect the basic code of civility
that every New Yorker learns to
Circuit
exercise. That corner, near the Phoenix,
now houses three or four gay bars alone
in a two block radius. It’s probably safe
to assume, therefore, that Kevin felt
comfortable in full “Strut” mode, and
was paying these children no mind.
Circuit Noize spoke with Kevin while
he was in L.A. still recovering and
performing in Penny Arcade’s theatrical
montage of gay history. “I’m really
scantily clad. I represent the big, black,
bald-headed queens of the world.”
Kevin recounts how the boys called
out to him that night, “You ain’t diesel,
son!” “Diesel” is a term the Online
Slang Dictionary defines as “muscular”
or more likely “masculine” in this case.
“I just kept walking,” Kevin continues.
“They kept tempting me to watch out
for the back of me. I turned around
and they started heaving trash at me.
I said, ‘Guys, leave me alone. Just go
about your night.’ They said, ‘What
did you say to us?’” Then something
whizzed by his head and missed him.
He whirled around to see one of the
boys approaching him, motioning for
his friends to join him. “We’re gonna
get you, faggot!” the boy called out
to Kevin. The reality of the situation
dawned on him finally. The punches
started landing, knocking him to the
ground.
A man of impressive stature perfectly
capable of defending himself under
nor mal circumstances, Kevin was
nevertheless overwhelmed; first by
shock and disbelief, and then by the
fact there were simply too many of
them kicking him in the face. Over and
over again. One big kick in the head
finally broke his jaw. It took at least four
of them to take a drag queen down.
93
Noize
Not exactly something to brag
about back on the mean streets of
Newark.
Of all the places one expects to
see Kevin, the local evening news
isn’t high on the list. Nevertheless,
the next day we all stopped what
we were doing as a local anchor
related the grisly tale in clipped
bulleted shorthand. Legendary
nightlife performer and musical
artist Kevin Aviance has been
attacked, his jaw is wired shut and
he may not be able to perform at
any of the huge events coming at
the end of June. It was Gay Pride
month. Even the anchor seemed
overwhelmed that something like
this could occur in the East Village
weeks before the largest gay pride
parade in the world, just avenues
away from the bar that began the
modern gay civil rights movement.
As the news developed, it wasn’t
hard to find leading gay voices
to address the standard talking
points, but in no time at all Mayor
Bloomberg himself was holding a
press conference to denounce the
attack. His second in command,
New York City Council Speaker
Christine Quinn, is a fiercely proud
lesbian herself, and is vivid proof
that this city has one of the most
powerful gay lobbies in the country,
despite the recent, and temporary,
setback on the marriage issue.
Just thirty-seven years ago, at
the eerily similar time of 1:20am,
it was another drag queen that
threw the first shoe that sparked
three days of rioting and forced
The New York Times to mention
t h e w o rd “ h o m o s e x u a l ” f o r
the first time in its history. Four
decades later, some treat Gay
Pride almost reflexively as a time
to celebrate and party. Kevin was
a grim reminder that there are
still dark forces of ignorance and
depravity left in this city, even in
neighborhoods that have become
known for their diverse and colorful
residents.
Circuit
We asked Kevin how he felt about
the boys’ defense posture, that they
were merely reacting to a suggestive
comment that Kevin made, setting them
off. He replied, “They said that I called
them ‘sweetie’ which is not even part of
my vocabulary at all. ‘Darling.’ ‘Honey.’
‘Miss Girl.’ OK, fine. Everybody’s ‘Miss
Thing’ to me. Not ‘sweetie.’” Kevin
scoffed at the suggestion that he even
glanced their way, “I didn’t make any
kind of connection with them. They
weren’t my type at all – a little young,
which is not my type. What was the
problem then? Because they didn’t like
me? Why didn’t they like me? Because
of the obvious.”
Since the incident, Kevin has been
overwhelmed by the positive response.
“It’s been amazing. If I had any issues
about being loved before, honey,
those are gone,” he remarks. “I am
one loved queen. I know that. And
I’m so blessed.” Kevin was genuinely
moved by the outpouring of support
and affection that he received in the
hospital both from those he knew and
those he didn’t. “All these queens from
the pier came by to drop off flowers.
‘Miss Kevin! You don’t know us, but you
changed our lives, girl! You’re gonna
get through this!’ I was like, OK, these
girls got through the nurses! They got
through to see me.” People have also
been generously making donations to
www.kevinavianceworld.com, a website
that was set up to defray his hospital
bills and legal expenses.
Asked how he felt about participating
in the Gay Pride parade so soon after
his injuries, he surprised us a bit by
exclaiming, “Girl, I don’t know what the
hell I was thinking! It was beautiful and
it looked great, but the real truth, honey,
I was in pain! My jaw was like, ‘What
have you done for me lately?’” Still,
he chooses to look on the positive, “It’s
really interesting how everything works
out. Even though something really bad
happened to me, it has been a blessing
in the sense that I’m performing, getting
out there again. People really want to
see me now. It’s really been a blessing.”
94
Noize
“Why am I so lucky to be alive?
What is the point? Why me?” Kevin
asks. “I feel like I’m on the second
leg of my life. I need to go and
live my life with dignity and major
purpose now – to help, to educate,
to teach, to show people that I’m
not a bad person. We are not bad
people. We gay people are not bad
people. We
a re h a p p y
people. We
have a lot of
bad things
that
we
have to deal
with, yes.
And, if that’s
what my
job is, then
that’s what
my job is
now. It’s so
important.
We have to
show that to
the world.”
The NYC
G a y
&
Lesbian AntiViolence
P r o j e c t
recently
released
t h e i r
numbers
for 2005.
V i o l e n t
incidents
a g a i n s t
gay people
dropped
13% last
year over
2004, but we
are warned
in the press
release not
to get too
comfortable.
There was a big spike in incidents
in 2002 due to the well-funded
lobbying against us by the Religious
Right, and 2006 is an election year;
the numbers are already spiking
Circuit
again. Fueled by the well-worn rhetoric
for a tired anti-gay Constitutional
amendment that gets trotted out
religiously by a foundering GOP, bigotry
seems to have a season now.
The same weekend that Kevin was
attacked, two gay men in Queens were
also brutally beaten to within an inch
of their lives.
The fact is that
many of these
incidents never
receive the
kind of press
attention that
K e v i n ’s d i d ,
which is what
makes his high
visibility such
an asset in
the ongoing
s t r u g g l e
against antigay violence.
As we achieve
more and more
of our goals as
a community,
gaining access
to more of
the societal
infrastructure
that has been
closed to us for
so long, there
is bound to be
some backlash
that results
in tragic gay
casualties. But
things have
been going our
way for a long
time, and you
simply cannot
turn the clock
backwards any
longer. Kevin
Aviance is
living proof
that sissies may land a good punch
once in a while, but we will continue to
walk our streets proudly and visibly. If
that’s not diesel, then the word has no
meaning at all.
95
Noize
I’ve been through a lot in my life,
And right now I just want to make it right.
Life’s too short for enemies,
But for some reason you never seem to like me.
You criticize,
You don’t apologize.
I am who I am,
And you need to recognize,
That all the attitude,
And all the different moves,
And all the words you say,
That could never change my way.
Sorry I can’t be what you want me to be.
Hate won’t change me.
Hate won’t change me.
Lyrics from “Hate Won’t Change Me” by Byron Stingily
from Quentin Harris’ forthcoming release
No Politics.
Circuit
96
Noize