Art, Pepe and Chuck over at Sidetrack certainly know how to put on a show. The Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras party was an extravaganza. All the fun of the circus with drummers, a fire eater on stilts and … I was holding my breath … trapeze artists in the garden bar.
The crowd turned out in costume and some of those queens have got way too much time on their hands … thank god! I love Sidetrack because when it gets crowded in one bar, you can wander into another one for a no-crush breather. I also like that front bar bathroom, which looks like it belongs on the Starship Enterprise. It must have been designed by a Trekkie. My friend Jason Schupp says the bathroom is more Battlestar Galactica … yeah, whatever!
I bumped into several of my favorite people there: RJ from Raejin Rajeans was selling last-minute Mardi Gras accessories, my friend Chuck Renslow, and one of my favorite writers, Paul Varnell from the Chicago Free Press. And, even though I didn’t recognize him in costume, Norbert White, who is one of Chicago’s great potters. Hey Norbert, let me know where people can go and see your work these days.
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My creepy guide into the Gothic underworld is necro-fiend and chick-with-a-dick, Melissa, who phones me sometimes and says, ‘So-and-so is doing something at such-and-such. Do you want to go?’
That’s how I got to go see her friends at Berlin: the band Scarlet Life, followed by the Taissa Lada Fashion Show. As I’ve said before, I’m hopelessly out of date when it comes to modern music, so don’t expect a review. I’m the same about music as I am about art i.e. I know what I like. And I really like Scarlet Life, who were described to me as “some kind of techno-pop” -;a description that seems inadequate for a band that has Zebulun on double-bass, scratch DJ Skeptik, who is just adorable, Chandra, whose vocals haunt the listener long after they’ve stopped listening-;I could still hear her voice on the train going home-;and Preston Klik, who, I suspect, is the musical genius behind the band.
Chandra and her girlfriend are so beautiful together. Can I watch? … Oh Sukie, go wash your mouth out with soap. I’ll edit that line out. Oh screw it, I’ll leave it in.
The new CD is Sugar, Spice, Saccharin & Cyanide. For more information about the band call 773-728-2759, or write to DivaNation Records at 5602 N. Ridge, Chicago, 60660. E-mail divanation@aol.com or visit www.divanation.com
The creations of clothes designer Taissa Lada make me want to lose 15lbs. Melissa was wearing one of her dresses and I was as jealous as hell. Imagine the Pre-Raphaelites fused with post-modern Gothic and you have some idea.
I spent some time in the basement with the models who were just beautiful. God, I wish I was a 22-year-old girl … again!! Taissa is having problems with her server, but persevere and visit her website at www.taissalada.com or you can call her at 773-227-2680.
It was great to see angst-master-poet Stevan again. I lied when I said you hadn’t put on any weight, darling. You’ve slammed on at least 10 ounces since I last saw you. A three-day amphetamine binge should knock it all back into shape …
Berlin cornered the market in “alternative” entertainment years ago and no one can touch them. I just love that bar.
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I dropped into Annex 3 to see Her Royal Highness Rhodesia, who can be seen working THAT side of the bar sometimes, and cradling a cocktail THIS side of the bar other times. Mostly the latter. “Oh Sukie, you must have a shot. Give Sukie a shot … “
I’ve crawled out of the Annex several times after visiting Rhodesia. She has her monthly show coming up at Annex on March 17, at 10:30 p.m.: Goddess Productions Presents What Becomes A Legend Most?
I’ll be there.