Back to regularly scheduled programming. You can interpret this piece as feeling “disconnected.” In reality, it was influenced by an iconic Grace Jones cover.
Here’s the Psycho Bunny sketch of the week for March 5th, 2019.
Psycho Bunny sketch of the week for March 5th, 2019. Based on the comic written and drawn by Michele Witchipoo on WitchesBrewPress.
Last week’s social butterfly quest ended with a night at Dorian Gray. Usually I’m not that much of a clubber, but the way NYC has become so sterile as of late, perhaps it was good to take what I could get. First on Friday, I attended the Kunst party in Williamsburg, on Saturday it was Hank’s Saloon to celebrate Mike Moosehead’s birthday (Blackout Shoppers, Skum City), a break on Sunday, onward Monday to the 16th Annual Mr. L.E.S. Pageant, now this.
For those who don’t know about Dorian Gray, it’s a monthly club party created by Kayvon Zand, which combines Glam, Goth, and all around creativity. This month’s theme had an ’80s vibe. Many of the current nightlife personalities took to the stage to cover songs by David Bowie, Grace Jones, Pink Floyd, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and more.
One of the hosts of the party was NYC legend Gerry Visco. She’s a photographer, writer, academic, performer, nightlife personality and NYC legend.
Gerry Visco, writer, photographer, actress, academic, performer, nightlife personality, and NYC Legend. One of the hosts for the Dorian Grey party. Photo by Michele Witchipoo Feb. 2015.
Michael T did an amazing cover of Bowie’s hit ‘Modern Love.’ As an adult, listening to the lyrics of this tune made me reflect a bit about my own life.
MC of the 1980s Dorian Grey party, Michael T. Photo by Michele Witchipoo Feb. 2015.
A personal favorite of the night was seeing a club goer dressed up as a member of Strawberry Switchblade.
Someone dressed as a member of Strawberry Switchblade. Dorian Grey party. Photo by Michele Witchipoo, Feb. 2015.Classic Madonna. Dorian Grey party. Photo taken by Michele Witchipoo, Feb. 2015.Someone doing a Siouxsie cover of ‘Happy House’ Dorian Grey party. Photo by Michele Witchipoo, Feb, 2015.Two Devo fans. I’m the one in the yellow. Dorian Grey party. Feb. 2015.A cover of Bily Idol’s ‘Eyes Without A Face’ at Dorian Grey. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Feb. 2015.Cover of Bronski Beat’s “Hit That Perfect Beat’ at Dorian Grey. Photo by Michele Witchipoo Feb. 2015.
Originally I had wanted to come dressed as Boy George. Someone suggested I go as Siouxsie Sioux. Which was a good suggestion within itself but I had spent a good part of my teenage years cloning her. My trusty old DEVO outfit ended up being recycled. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much of a reaction, knowing how the rest of the club revelers dress to the nines at Dorian Grey. To my surprise, DEVO got a positive response.
Here’s a video of Leo Gugu covering Grace Jones’ ‘Pull Up To The Bumper.’
Now I must get back to my own work, since March is going to be a much busy month for me. You can check out another link of the night’s activities in the NEXT Magazine article. With that I’ll leave you with the Video of the Bowie cover, by Micheal T.
Here’s a recent illustration inspired by two things: Beto Hernandez’s cover for New Love issue one and Lady Gaga.
Glam Bam Madam. Illustration by Michele Witchipoo 2010
I’ve always loved Los Hernandez Bros. I especially love the 1996 cover to New Love issue one, published by Fantagraphic Books.
New Love by Beto Hernandez
As for Lady Gaga…I should hate her. I’m aware about how she puts product placement in her videos. Check out her ‘Telephone’ video for example. Let’s see, there’s Virgin Mobile, her special line of Heartbeats headphones, Beats laptop, among others. If it wasn’t for this video extravaganza, I would have never known that PlentyofFish.com was an actual dating website.
Lady Gaga Pulls A Poker Face
Besides the brand name dropping, Lady Gaga has obviously ripped off many of edgy entertainers that came before her. On the roll call you can find Grace Jones, Dale Bozzio, and maybe a tiny bit of Madonna. If you’ve heard the rumors of Lady Gaga being either a transsexual or a hermaphrodite, nods can be given to both Amandas. Amanda Leer along with current model Amanda Lepore. Then there’s the various Disco 2000 club kid outfits. No question Leigh Bowery was one of the many influences behind the Bad Romance video.
Lady Gaga From Bad Romance VideoLeigh Bowery
Despite all of the evidence, I can’t bring myself to hate Lady Gaga. In fact, I love Lady Gaga. Her kind of music isn’t what usually gets me into the groove. Doesn’t matter though.
I adore the garnish stage outfits, admire her “don’t give a fuck” attitude, and thinks its awesome that she brought back extreme glam fantasies into the pop consciousness. Besides taking the crown from Madonna, she’s this generation’s answer to music extremities. We needed a Lady Gaga actually. After a while, you get bored with manufactured sex kittens like Britney Spears. You just wanna puke after watching blank slates try to build their careers on the American Idol factory line. Plus underneath the electro euro trash beat, there’s a woman who could actually sing. A muse for the odd kid stuck in suburban wasteland.
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