this gives me ample opportunity to tell you all about the concert on Friday night...
i'm gonna skip over the nightmare of getting down to AC (and the 1 hour detour i took us on) and get right to the acts (in order of appearance):
1. Margaret Cho: looked amazing. she must've lost about 40 lbs and just radiated gorgeousness. she was funny and lewd and incendiary. she was everything i was hoping she'd be. i can't think of a better host.
2. the Gossip: typical "opening band". they weren't great, but they were really really good. they were hard rock but still had some great songs and fantastic energy. the lead singer was a girl with a fantastic voice; loud and strong. i'd definitely see them again or, at the very least, pick up their CD if i saw it on sale.
3. the Dresden Dolls: the biggest surprise of the evening. i had never heard them (but had heard of them). just a pianist and a drummer. their sound? think early Tori; back when she used to go nuts on the piano and scream out meaningful and dark lyrics. every song was amazing. they were so fucking hot and had such an awesome sound, that i ran out on saturday and bought their 1st CD.
4: Debbie Harry: she played a mostly new set; stuff from her upcoming album. i think she sounded good, it was very hard to tell, because her band was so loud. she was a little disappointing. stephen thinks it was a mixing issue, i'm thinking she did it on purpose. either way she looked great; about 20 years younger than she is. it can't be from "clean living". maybe she sold her soul to the rock gods. who knows.
5. Erasure: words fail me. i was so astounded and in awe of Andy Bell that i almost passed out. they had me screaming like a ten year old girl. they played all of their greatest songs: Oh L'Amour, Always, I Love to Hate You, Chains of Love, etc plus a couple of tunes off the new CD (which i bought on Saturday, too). Andy sounds better in person than on any CD and his stage presence is intoxicating. John told me that they're playing in Brooklyn, in July; we are so there.
6. Cyndi Lauper: beyond fabulous. beyond great. beyond anything i could've expected, despite having seen her twice when she opened for Cher during the Farewell Tour that Never Ended when i was moved to tears by her real-ness and stage presence. those small shows didn't prepare me for the energy and chutzpah she possesses as a headliner. she performed most of her hits, but with entirely new and fresh arrangements. her voice hasn't changed in 20 years: it's as clear and brilliant as a golden gong and i just love her.over all, the concert was the best i've seen since Cher. all the performers really turned it out and put on the best possible show. i almost didn't notice that it was a 5 hour show, or that i was standing the entire time. by far and above it was the best $75 i've ever spent on a concert ticket.
the bonus was definitely being there with Stephen and MS, who got the most amazing pictures of everyone including Cyndi Lauper (who eventually stood still long enough to get the most gorgeous candid shots). i'm glad we went to the AC show instead of the NYC show; it was a great road trip and the Borgata theater was small and intimate. the crowd was really great and receptive and i've gotta say, really made me feel that sense of the Gay Community. it really was a big Gay Love-fest, and i was moved to tears (more than once) by the continual wave of Pride emenated by the performers. Margaret and Cyndi are two of our greatest and most vocal allies and it's inspiring to them speak to us, about us and for us.
if they have this tour again, next year, i'll be there.
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