"Shows in most cities usually feel like a first date, but I love San Francisco. It’s always like a good fuck!”
-- Lady GaGa

By Pollo Del Mar
Queen of San Francisco Media

You've got to love Lady GaGa for loving the gays. Time and time again she's has told anyone who will listen it was the LGBT community who supported her career long before debut single "Just Dance" recently spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. As she embarks on the "Fame Ball Tour," her first as a headlining act, it seems the New York-born diva is drawing further inspiration from gays or, more specifically, drag queens.

When GaGa played Mezzanine Saturday, March 14, she wisely borrowed a page from the drag queen playbook and incorporated shiny dancers’ tights under fishnets into her oh-so-fabulous, self-designed wardrobe. It's not a moment too soon either. During two of the first four Lady GaGa shows I attended, which included twice hosting her at venues around town (as seen above, taken at The Crib), the budding Pop Princess’ bikiniline was hidden by more bush than Dick Cheney!

Continue reading "Lady GaGa Joins the Obama-Nation: No More Bush!" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 06:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“Did you expect me?” Michelle Williams asks precociously to introduce her new Columbia Records release Unexpected. The answer, of course, is absolutely not. Content until now with Grammy-winning solo success in the gospel market, many wrote Williams off as little more than window dressing for Beyonce and Kelly Rowland in the world’s best-selling girl group, Destiny’s Child.

All that changed with chart-topping first single “We Break the Dawn,” a staple on San Francisco’s KNGY Energy 92.7 and dance radio around the world, and Williams’ new, shockingly good full-length collection of dance/pop tracks. Not only has the Chicago-born singer found her voice, she seems to poke fun at stepping from her famous bandmates’ massive shadows with the album’s title.

Now Williams is preparing a one-two punch of follow-up singles – ballad “The Greatest,” which has already landed on Billboard club charts in remix form, and instantly familiar up-beat confection “Hello Heartbreak.” Just before the multi-hyphenated (singer-actress-HIV-activist--Broadway star) performer returned to San Francisco for an Oct. 31 performance at the Adonis circuit party -- hosted by yours truly -- she called in for a delicious phone chat.

The first time we connected several months ago, the diva and I gabbed as if we were old girlfriends. The second time around, exhausted by a 4 a.m. wake up call and series of interviews promoting the stellar new collection of solo work, things got off to a slow start. Luckily, she was her playful, peppy, absolutely flawless self by Halloween night. Here we chat about the album's success, the gay men she has met throughout her career and the best part of performing in the club scene.

Continue reading "Michelle Williams Is Unexpected Treat for Dance Music Fans" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Pollo Del Mar

According to Jim Croce, there are a few things in this world you just don’t do. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t take the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger. And you definitely do not fuck with a drag queen’s wig. Actually, I added that last one myself, but one pathetic creature almost learned this fact of life the hard way last night at The Crib’s Pussycat Dolls CD release party!

Waiting to make my hostessing debut at the Gus Presents 18-and-over Thursday night club at 715 Harrison at 3rd Street, one minute I was looking gorgeous, dancing and enjoying the company of a couple very sweet lesbians. The next thing I know, I was bald, furious and on the verge of assault-and-battery, honey!

What made that wafer-thin, bleach blond bitch decide to snatch my wig off, I’ll never know, but I damn sure bet he’ll think twice before pulling that shit again! I pounced on that nasty Chris Crocker knock-off faster than you can say “super-tranny-beatdown.”

Continue reading "I Flipped My Wig at The Crib" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Looking back on the last several evenings of entertainment I’ve written about, I’ve nodded off during most. As a girl on the go, uptempo seems to work best. For me, relaxing in a warm, dimly-lit space with mood music, no matter how beautifully performed, leads to unexpected cat-naps.

Wouldn’t you know, I fell out at least three times during the star-studded Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Help Is on the Way benefit last night, August 3, at the Palace of Fine Arts. How embarrassing! Thank goodness the darkened theatre allowed me to doze unnoticed.

Don’t blame the talent or the event. Featuring a V.I.P. pre-performance reception, silent auction fundraiser and posh after-show dessert meet-and-greet with most of the celebrities involved, REAF truly presents one of the most elegant nights of entertainment and fundraising in town. Now in its 14th year, this was my third or fourth Help Is on the Way benefit. (I seem to have lost count.)

Drawing the pinnacle of San Francisco society to witness a spectacular line-up of performers, the 2008 edition revisited the popular “Blame It on the Movies” theme from last year. While the performances are generally pretty fabulous, I’ll be honest. “Hob-nobbing” with the upper crust bores me to tears. The part I love best is accosting the stars in the lobby after-the-fact to snap photos!

Continue reading "'Help Is on the Way' Brings Out the Stars" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Boy, am I glad I made it to last night’s San Francisco stop on Jay Brannan’s “Fat Is a Feeling…Not a Shape” concert tour!

Having never seen Shortbus, the John Cameron Mitchell movie which brought the openly-gay performer to national recognition last year, I wasn’t familiar with his film or musical contributions. After catching his show, obviously, I’m much more in the know. Yet, as amusing as I found the New York actor/singer/songwriter, he’s not even the reason I’m glad I made it to Bottom of the Hill.

Call me crazy, but I believe things happen for a reason and, in turn, can kick off a whole series of unforeseen events. When you are able to sit back and enjoy the domino affect, life makes for an interesting adventure. At least that’s consistently been my experience, and last night supports the theory.

Yesterday when I bought that brand new bottle of Spirit Gum – the sticky substance which allows me to make my eyebrows just perfect -- I had no idea it would inspire me to get in drag for a concert I wasn’t even that inclined to attend. Being painted like I was straight from the trailer park opened me to conversations with people I might never have otherwise met.

In an interesting turn of events, that landed my drag daughter Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n’t and me at Orphan Andy’s for 2 a.m. cheesecake and a chat with Tomas, the new friend we rescued from a potentially tragic hook-up. But really, that’s getting ahead of the story. After all, for the 100, maybe even 150 – probably more – crowding Bottom of the Hill last night, Jay Brannan was the highlight of the evening.

Continue reading "Soundtrack to My Night By Jay Brannan" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Given its hype, I initially refused to watch American Idol. Something about me always resists societal pressures, at least temporarily. In this case, it was just long enough to miss the crowning of a superstar -- Season I winner Kelly Clarkson.

Later, I became an Idol junkie. Between Simon’s scathing (frequently dead-on) commentary, Paula’s obvious lapses in sanity, sobriety and, quite often, consciousness, and let’s not forget the actual talent, the show unquestionably combines must-see TV moments and must-hear performances. I was glued to my TV in shock and dismay when spastic, silver-haired Joe Cocker knock-off Taylor Hicks claimed Season IV. Season V winner, today’s undisputed country queen Carrie Underwood, brought sweet vindication.

And don't overlook the ‘upsets.’ Every time Chris Daughtry racks up another gold record, I want to say, “Told ya so!” Remember Season III, when amazing LaToya London was sent home to Oakland in favor of sweet-but-forgettable Jasmine Trias? How can anyone forget eventual Dreamgirls Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, eliminated seventh that same year? (No, seriously, how can we forget? It’s mentioned every time she is!)

I’m still appalled by Idol blatantly screwing Season VI finalist Blake Lewis, whose reworking of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” remains the franchise’s most original and brilliant piece of music yet. While I was fairly certain Lewis would not win, his fate was sealed when forced to perform “This Is My Now,” that stink-bomb ballad obviously written with Jordin Sparks in mind. For shame!

While I couldn't tell you a thing about Season VII, because I didn't watch, the Idol moments I remember least are from Season II. In fact, I barely remember the season at all! Do me a favor, will you, and not tell my new friends, Season II finalists Trenyce and Rickey Smith?

Continue reading "'Idol' Musings & In Concert" »

Posted by Pollo Del Mar at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)