Friday, August 30, 2024
Remains of the Day (08/30)
Undercover Kept: Whatcha gonna do with all that junk in the trunk?
The Randy Report: DEI is the new critical race theory "boogeyman"
Saturday 'Stache: Three "regular" men who’ll get you going
Brian Ferrari: Full-frontal cowboy from “The Boys in the Band" (1970)
Dallas Voice: LGBT attendance strong at DNC
The Advocate: A gay man was the only applicant for a town council seat in Ohio. He lost anyway -- because of his sexuality.
Speedo Sunday: That skimpy orange number definitely works on him
MetroWeekly: Dan Link is unafraid to get naked in the wild
AP: It’s official, the census says: Gay male couples like San Francisco. Lesbians like the Berkshires.
Hot Cat of the Day: Who's a little cry-baby?
Say you'll bid me: Register to get your hands of Christine McVie's wares HERE!
Recommended viewing: Watched two gay movies last weekend and really enjoyed them. (Are we getting better at this, or has the democratization of filmmaking really broken the gay dam?) The less you know going into both the better. But to whet your appetite I'll quickly tell you that Corey Sherman's "Big Boys" examines a teen's sexual awakening when he goes on a camping trip with his brother and college-age cousin, who brings along her hunky boyfriend. And Giuseppe Fiorello's "Fireworks" is about two gay teens who discover their blossoming romance is not going unnoticed in virulently homophobic Sicily in the early '80s.
SPOILER ADJACENT: If you have seen both -- or if you end up watching them -- I'd be curious to hear if anyone else noticed how the filmmakers dealt with the depiction of gay sex/romance involving minors. (Don't ruin things for yourself, but in one case your research will reveal something I'm not sure was necessary.) Email me HERE or send me on a message on Facebook HERE.
The corrections: Don't feel bad, National Enquirer. The newswire where I was working at the time accidentally changed her name to Princess Diana of Whales, which undoubtedly would have triggered a whole new eating disorder had Harry's mom lived.
Song of the Day: ‘The Unloving Plum’ by Haircut 100
As promised, Haircut 100 today released their first new music in over 40 years. "The Unloving Plum," available on all platforms, is the debut single from the long-overdue proper follow-up to 1982's "Pelican West." Hardcore fans will remember that the boys had laid down 10 tracks for the sophomore effort in 1983 -- five with vocals ("Brookfield Girl," "Haley's Heart," "I Believe in Sunday," "Sunny Boy, Sunny Girl" and "Club Boy at Sea") and five without ("Cheek to Cheek," "Maytime Moments," "Steambus Junction," "Blue Hat" and "Coming Home") -- before Nick Heyward left the band after a mental breakdown, convinced he was no longer welcome in his own group. Of those, only "Club Boy at Sea." "Blue Hat" (now fleshed out with lyrics as "Blue Hat for a Blue Day") and "Coming Home" (now with lyrics as "When It Started to Begin" -- have materialized, all on Nick's "North of a Miracle" solo debut. (Another HC100 demo called "Moving England" wound up becoming "Whistle Down the Wind," also on the solo debut.) Will be curious to see if any of the other tracks resurface on the still-unnamed album planned for 2025.
Until then, enjoy "The Unloving Plum," which captures the boys at their bubbly best.
P.S. Here's a look at the bootleg Greg and I produced of the lost album in 2004. Interesting that on the live version of "Coming Home" included here, it's being performed at a Haircut 100 gig (on Graham's birthday) and Nick says it hasn't been recorded yet -- "because it's not good enough" -- but that "it's off our next album ... better than the first one."
Thursday, August 29, 2024
On the Rag, Vol. 823
The sexiest men alive in 2024; a "laborer" of love; lust at the laundromat; and more in this week's rag 'n' mag roundup BELOW.
Open Season
It only seemed right that Damian and I would celebrate one year of wedded bliss in Queens ... where we attended Day 2 of the U.S. Open. We got quite an eyeful around the grounds, so much so that we never made it to our actual seats in Arthur Ashe Arena. Feast your eyes on it all -- including our future throuple partner -- BELOW.
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Love Plus One (Great Friend)
Death in the family aside, what a splendid time I had seeing Haircut 100 open for ABC and Howard Jones on Sunday in Kansas City, where my Arizona childhood best friend (Greg) came to meet me from Omaha. The show started at 7 o'clock sharp -- exactly as stated on the tickets -- and we were both dazzled by how youthful leadman Nick Heyward looked and sounded, as if a fraction of the 42 years since the band's seminal debut album had been released.
Longtime fans will recall that the band imploded after "Pelican West" became a worldwide hit, spawning several hit singles and garnering rave reviews. By the time the band returned to to the studio for a follow-up, Heyward began suffering from psychological issues -- before it was trendy to admit it -- and ended up leaving the band. (After returning from a mental institution, he discovered the guys had been writing songs without him, and decided he was no longer welcome, never bothering to talk things over.) Although he went on to have a moderately successful solo career in his native Great Britain, he never returned to the U.S. Top 40 again, with just one of his albums hitting the Billboard Hot 200 at all ("North of a Miracle" peaked at No. 178 in 1983).
But this tour -- the band's first in the U.S. since 1982 -- was all about revisiting happy times, as was my reunion with my 1980s partner in crime, with whom I saw my first concerts (Go-Go's, Missing Persons, Pretenders, A Flock of Seagulls, Talking Heads, etc) .
Although the set list has changed slightly from city to city, our show was six straight songs off their famed LP, which at point led to a fan standing up and screaming: "Do you have any idea how frickin' great this album is?"
Bummed the ticket -- which I paid to have a hard copy of -- didn't even mention HC100.
"Love Plus One" live from Kansas City!
Afterward, and before the main acts, Nick, bassist Les Nemes and guitarist Graham Jones signed memorabilia and posed for pictures with their adoring public. Here's me and Greg with the guys, who truly seemed to be basking in the adulation.
Haircut 100 is about to release their first single with Nick since 1982's "Nobody's Fool" --- called the "The Unloving Plum" -- and Nick tells me a full album will follow soon. (Percussionist Marc Fox and saxophonist Phil Smith aren’t part of this reunion, but I’m not sure what drummer Blair Cunningham's status is. He was in the recent promo photos but I haven't seen him in any of the videos from this tour.)
Confession: Don't tell Mr. Heyward, but Greg and I both loved the Nickless follow-up album, "Paint and Paint," with Fox on lead vocals and even produced a CD version in the 2000s long before it got a Super Deluxe reissue!
Next up was ABC, which for decades now really just consists of Martin Fry and his touring band. Damian and I had recently seen them in NYC, yet they were so "on" that it felt like a whole new sensation.
The band also focused on its famed debut (also from 1982), "The Lexicon of Love," but quickly reminded the audience that they were far from one-hit wonders, having succeeded on the U.S. chart with numerous singles after "The Look of Love" including "Poison Arrow' (a favorite), "That Was Then but This Is Now," "How to Be a Millionaire," "Be Near Me" and "When Smokey Sings" as well as the U.K. hits "Tears Are Not Enough," "All of My Heart" and favorites like "Vanity Kills," "The Night You Murdered Love" and "King Without a Crown."
Something that I didn't see the last time I saw ABC was their hunky keyboardist.
And then last (but least), Howard Jones came out with his guitar-style synthesizer and crazy duds. He opened with "New Song," which happens to be the one single of his I bought at the time (the 12-inch, natch!), back when I was so in love with him, and doing everything in my power to look like him. (Who knew I was once a wannabe boyfriend twin?!) It's funny to think I have seen him at least three times before this, yet didn't purchase an album of his until "The Essentials" CD in the 2000s.
It didn't take long before Greg noticed that former Kaja(GooGoo) bassist (and onetime lead singer) Nick Beggs was there on (an annoying) bass. This led to a sweet (if a bit awkward) moment where Howard got the audience to participate in a singalong of "Too Shy," which apparently cannot be officially performed presumably because ex-bandmate Limahl won't allow for it. (I've read that the other guys pushed him out back in the day when they discovered he was gay, although I don't know this to be a fact.)
Howard, of course, had his share of chart hits in the U.S., including "What Is Love?," "Like to Get to Know You Well," "Things Can Only Get Better," "Life in One Day," "No One Is to Blame" and "Everlasting Love." But as the headliner he did a longer set, including many the crowd wasn't familiar with, as well as adding sort of a "house"/"rave" beat and light show to the set that didn't really work coming from a 69-year-old white dude. Still, there was enough nostalgia to make for an enjoyable set, which of course was all the better by having my BFF by my side again.
P.S. We weren't in Kansas City but 24 hours, but I can report that I liked what I saw. We stayed at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza and were dazzled by the stately homes along Ward Parkway, all the way to the Trader Joe's where we stopped by so Greg could do some reconnaissance. (He works at an Omaha location.)
Midtown, where the concert was held at the fabulous Uptown Theatre, and the whole Westport area was charming and full of restaurants and shops. (I got Damian an anniversary present at The Bunker Inc., although we were bummed the city's Hamburger Mary's is closed on Monday.) Greg visited Lenexa (where my aunt lived) and thought it was very nice, too.)
Here's hoping global warming doesn't make it uninhabitable -- it was over 100 on Monday -- because it seems like a lovely place to live.
I'm told Midtown/Westport isn't officially a "gayborhood." But with numerous LGBT bars and gay-friendly shops and restaurants, it definitely reminded of my beloved Chelsea back in its heyday.
UPDATE: Greg pointed me to these photos from Haircut 100's previous U.S. tour -- back in 1982!
Doesn't get any more '82 than a Jane Fonda workout video!
No Detroit or Phoenix dates, so I was doomed from the start!
Total Fox: I can see why Nick felt "threatened" by this one!
Weekend Tennis Roundup
While I was away, it was titles for Sonego, Noskova and Kessler. Full report -- plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Gaya Culpa
Hey, everyone! Sorry to have gone missing, but let me quickly catch you up.
On Sunday I flew to Kansas City to attend the Haircut 100, ABC and Howard Jones concert with my Arizona childhood best friend, Greg, who drove over from Omaha (It was a hoot. Pics including meeting Nick Heyward TK!)
While there, I had planned to surprise my mom’s only sister (who has lived there forever), only I found out she died two hours before my plane landed. She wasn’t a big part of our lives but knowing she was getting up there (84) I thought it would be only right to visit so am deeply sad she’s gone and that it didn’t happen.(My poor mother is now the matriarch of the family.)
On a more cheerful note, is my first wedding anniversary. Damian and I met because of tennis -- and attend our local major each year -- so celebrated in Queens for the day, natch! Lots of photos and a couple surprise pics-with also TK. (I also am behind on my tennis roundup.)
But for now I’m going to rub my homosexual bliss in Margaret Court’s face -- maybe raise a glass to Aunt Dianne -- and I will get back to blogging tomorrow. xo
Dianne and my mom (Molly), circa 1944.
Friday, August 23, 2024
Remains of the Day (08/23)
Sirius-XM: Does Hugh Jackman have a big penis?
Saturday 'Stache: Well that's one way to sell men's underwear
Baseline: I'm sorry I missed this Djokovic/McEnroe vs. Alcaraz/Agassi exhibition ... we're going on Tuesday -- say hi if you're there!
Tom Zohar: America deserves a first son who's an otter
The Epic Alper: Remember when there used to be commercials for albums, like this one for "Vacation" by the Go-Go's?
CBS News: Gay penguin Sphen dies at Australia aquarium, leaving behind partner Magic -- and an iconic legacy
Gimme Shelter: A handsome Dakota co-op next to Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s home lists for $6.2 million -- and you get to live near me!
Hot Cat of the Day: Happy birthday to this beautiful creature, who reminds me of my childhood cat (Tweet)! xo
Coming Oct. 16: After a decade of mistakes, a struggling writer leaves Manhattan to start over in a small college town. Populated with egotists and narcissists, Jameson Currier’s resilient and unflinching "We Are Made of Stars," a “memoir in the form of a novel pretending to be a memoir,” reveals a gay man’s journey through grief during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Keep posted HERE.
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