THE BIG THREE OF 2010
January 11, 2011
These next performers are in their own category because they rank as the ones I talked about the most all year. I can gauge how much I like I something by surveying my external monologue. When I have recounted in overly-excited detail someone's act more than ten different times to performers, fans, friends and strangers...then I realize that I've been really moved. These are the 3 artists I talked and thought about the most in 2010.
-T.L.
SURLIE TEMPLE Denver, CO
Surlie Temple performed a quite literal interpretation of Weezer’s “Sweater Song” during the Colorado Burlesque Festival that had me torn between complete hysteria and stunned silence. Looking like a Gen-X fiber arts major, Surlie took the stage attired in an crocheted knee-length dress, matching stocking cap and leg warmers. When the song began, it was plain to see where this scenario was headed. She’s going to unravel a sweater. BUT THIS? A hand-made crocheted art project that probably took 3 hours to reset each time it was performed? Make no mistake...I am no fan of literally interpreting songs in burlesque, but this was SO literal and so well executed, it is worth recounting in more detail. Ms. Temple began pulling at a single thread slowly. Bright yarn pulled out faster and faster, revealing that the dress was pieced from crocheted strips that she had stitched together. As I screamed “YAAAARRRRN ARRRTTT!!!” over and over again with my arms raised above my head, Surlie took a break form the dress and paused to unravel a gorgeous leg warmer that would probably have cost $200 at Anthropology, but she had obviously made them herself. Genius. As the final chorus built.... “lying on the floor, I’ve come undone...” the sweater dress deconstructed into a pile around her feet that literally and figuratively immobilized her. At this point, the act had completely transformed in something timeless. The sight of Surlie’s yarn (of course) pom-pom pasties was nice, but her performance had a transcendent quality. This journey had begun as a disaffected yet stylish battle between hurt, revenge and sacrifice... A sacrifice of not just an incredible craft project, but of something more elusive: time and love. I found out later her mother was in the audience that night. Her mother who taught her how to crochet....and, it turns out, she wasn’t a fibers major in art school after all. Epic.
MICHELLE L'AMOUR'S "PANTHER" ACT
It seems so obvious to celebrate Michelle L'Amour. She continually puts on the most professional burlesque shows, seamlessly stars in them, tops even herself artistically year after year and runs a huge talented burlesque empire in a major American city. SO FUCKING WHAT, MICHELLE....WE ALL WORK HARD! So what, indeed. But really, let's break it down. She's a major pioneer in the world of burlesque and tirelessly titillates huge audiences on the largest stages in the country. And this year she turned out her best work yet with her "Panther Act." The act is smart, smoldering art house sex brought to life. Set to Artie Shaw's ominous "Nightmare" Michelle slinks around with a dark and dirty edge that makes the act completely mesmerizing. The performance is innovative not only for it's thorough use of a giant cage (girls take note on how to work a prop!), or for Michelle's minimalist costume that included shoulder garters for her gloves and paw shaped merkin, but REALLY it's innovative because it's completely modern. Not a hint of camp anywhere. She fucking means business. This act gets my highest praise because Michelle is a woman who can present the filthiest stripper moves like they are high art and you feel smart for being so turned on.
And last but not least, there was one artistic achievement that stood out the most for me this year. One that deserves the overall top prize this blog can offer...
THE 2010 BIG ARTISTS OF THE YEAR...THE STAGE DOOR JOHNNIES
If I heard myself ask one more person in NY this fall, "Have you seen the Johnnies yet?" I think I was going to poke my own eyes out. I've fallen hard and fast for them. The love affair began in June in Vegas at BHOF when Jett Adore swished his cape around my heart during his Zorro number that had me wondering why the hell that perfectly choreographed, dashingly flirtatious and hilariously executed act didn't make it into the competition. I proceeded to quietly stalk him all weekend and take pictures of him whether he was looking in my direction or not. I had met the Johnnies before, but seeing them on their own was like meeting a hot guy who is friends with two other hot guys...oh, crap! Even my ability to make analogies is immobilized with them! Anyway, then in August I got see all the Johnnies together on their home turf: at their weekly boylesque show in Chicago. Ray Gunn, Jett Adore and Bazuka Joe. Jaw-on-floor. They did it all: they danced solo, they danced together, they were serious, they were funny, they had great costumes, they looked great naked, they flipped out of their pants, they teased constantly and totally tormented the audience until I found myself screaming my head off to see their junk.
I got to spend more time with them in September in NYC during Tigger's Man-A-Tease show at Coney Island, and exchanged fascinating emails while researching the Boylesque article for this blog in October. And that's when the deal was sealed. They have so much physical talent, such clever ideas, execute them so well and are so incredibly pleasing to the eye, they truly are BIG Artists. They have raised the bar for all of us and I hope they continue to astound us for a long time!
CONGRATS, JOHNNIES!! You win...uhhh....you win a lot of love, CAPITAL LETTERS and bragging rights, woo hoo!
Enjoy them together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R95IYxmHzTY
Enjoy them separately: Ray Gunn, Bazuka Joe and Jett Adore
January 11, 2011
These next performers are in their own category because they rank as the ones I talked about the most all year. I can gauge how much I like I something by surveying my external monologue. When I have recounted in overly-excited detail someone's act more than ten different times to performers, fans, friends and strangers...then I realize that I've been really moved. These are the 3 artists I talked and thought about the most in 2010.
-T.L.
SURLIE TEMPLE Denver, CO
MICHELLE L'AMOUR'S "PANTHER" ACT
It seems so obvious to celebrate Michelle L'Amour. She continually puts on the most professional burlesque shows, seamlessly stars in them, tops even herself artistically year after year and runs a huge talented burlesque empire in a major American city. SO FUCKING WHAT, MICHELLE....WE ALL WORK HARD! So what, indeed. But really, let's break it down. She's a major pioneer in the world of burlesque and tirelessly titillates huge audiences on the largest stages in the country. And this year she turned out her best work yet with her "Panther Act." The act is smart, smoldering art house sex brought to life. Set to Artie Shaw's ominous "Nightmare" Michelle slinks around with a dark and dirty edge that makes the act completely mesmerizing. The performance is innovative not only for it's thorough use of a giant cage (girls take note on how to work a prop!), or for Michelle's minimalist costume that included shoulder garters for her gloves and paw shaped merkin, but REALLY it's innovative because it's completely modern. Not a hint of camp anywhere. She fucking means business. This act gets my highest praise because Michelle is a woman who can present the filthiest stripper moves like they are high art and you feel smart for being so turned on.
And last but not least, there was one artistic achievement that stood out the most for me this year. One that deserves the overall top prize this blog can offer...
THE 2010 BIG ARTISTS OF THE YEAR...THE STAGE DOOR JOHNNIES
If I heard myself ask one more person in NY this fall, "Have you seen the Johnnies yet?" I think I was going to poke my own eyes out. I've fallen hard and fast for them. The love affair began in June in Vegas at BHOF when Jett Adore swished his cape around my heart during his Zorro number that had me wondering why the hell that perfectly choreographed, dashingly flirtatious and hilariously executed act didn't make it into the competition. I proceeded to quietly stalk him all weekend and take pictures of him whether he was looking in my direction or not. I had met the Johnnies before, but seeing them on their own was like meeting a hot guy who is friends with two other hot guys...oh, crap! Even my ability to make analogies is immobilized with them! Anyway, then in August I got see all the Johnnies together on their home turf: at their weekly boylesque show in Chicago. Ray Gunn, Jett Adore and Bazuka Joe. Jaw-on-floor. They did it all: they danced solo, they danced together, they were serious, they were funny, they had great costumes, they looked great naked, they flipped out of their pants, they teased constantly and totally tormented the audience until I found myself screaming my head off to see their junk.
I got to spend more time with them in September in NYC during Tigger's Man-A-Tease show at Coney Island, and exchanged fascinating emails while researching the Boylesque article for this blog in October. And that's when the deal was sealed. They have so much physical talent, such clever ideas, execute them so well and are so incredibly pleasing to the eye, they truly are BIG Artists. They have raised the bar for all of us and I hope they continue to astound us for a long time!
CONGRATS, JOHNNIES!! You win...uhhh....you win a lot of love, CAPITAL LETTERS and bragging rights, woo hoo!
Enjoy them together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R95IYxmHzTY
Enjoy them separately: Ray Gunn, Bazuka Joe and Jett Adore