This year, my inexpensive costume was the iconic Cleopatra. I meant to kill two birds with one stone by ordering a Bloody Mary to continue my research. Yet the bar was “provisional,” meaning they only stocked the commonly ordered drinks.
The three radio hosts dressed as neon trees–the headlining band for the evening. They got the evening rolling and spoke in between acts. Unfortunately, some asshole seated near me in the balcony section, booed them just about every time the hosts were on stage. Although his friends tried to persuade him to stop, their giggling just fueled him on. For this reason and how far it seemed I was from the action, I’m buying a mezzanine ticket next year!
I liked the huge masks that were hung up in the background of the stage.
They looked different, depending on how different colored lights hit them.
Hanging above the center of the stage was a Janus-faced skull. Here’s a shot of the more gruesome face.
The first burlesque group seemed to have a story… I just didn’t follow what it was.
Just when I thought the narrative would come together, it was over. The first band was quite entertaining. Kind of a raunchy, loud rock band.
After their first song, I whipped out a bag of every middle-aged person’s favorite little friends–earplugs!
The first aerial dancer not only performed well on the ring, she managed to add a little extra tease: when she removed her heavily-sequined bikini top, she revealed a smaller set of of heavily-sequined bikini costume.
The second band had a secular gospel sound. Not just saying that because one of the backup singers was black–all the singers sang as if they’d grown up singing in a black Baptist church.
The second burlesque performer had an elaborate costume, part of which she wore and part of which started off as a display.
The next performers were a combination of military zombie burlesque and aerial dancing.
They did a mash-up of popping and locking with “Thriller” moves. After a couple of formations, throwing in some “natural” movements in between, the aerial toys descended.
Four of the zombie troop hopped on an aerial toy with another dancer in the middle on the pole.
My excitement reminded me of being a kid again and not knowing which ring at a three-ring circus to look at.
Before the headliners, they brought up the female costume nominees. I thought the most out-of-the-box costume was the “pregnant” woman who had the baby’s limbs jutting out through her shirt. The human flamingo was imaginative as well, but the audience voted for both the human flamingo (far rt) and the zombie bride.
The male costume winner was a no-brainer. As soon as the guy with the big black wings walked on stage, the other guys could’ve walked off.
When Neon Trees finally came on, I’d already started turning into a pumpkin. Yet I was curious to know if I knew more than one of their songs.Turns out, I didn’t!
Fortunately, the third song was the only one I knew. So, I could have left then. I optimistically stayed for a few more songs. I got to witness two older, nearly legless women cry at the bar, their seat and stumble all over the stairs and occasionally dance.
I left soon after the lead singer, who said he’d dressed as a dead cheerleader in heels to show empathy for women, sat down on the stage and remove his shoes. He declared, “I’m done with these heels. I don’t know how you women do it.”
Amen, brother! That’s why I no longer do it.