> sundown salon #10 / february 2004

a very special, very superbowl sunday, very homosexual, sundown salon #10

+ unveiling of new wall painting by anna sew hoy

+ readings by authors matty lee and clint catalyst

+ film screenings in the dome curated by richard glatzer & wash west including jean genet's 'un chant d'amour'

+ artwork by amy adler, jeff burton, eve fowler, fritz haeg & dean sameshima

+ special musical performances by 'hot licks' on saxaphone and the duo alex segade & malik gaines

+ dancing to the music of dj lecia dole recio

memories:

Christopher Russell and I showed up to support our friend and collaborator Matty Lee. I remember me and Matty’s girlfriend, Lucia, sitting on either side of him with our arms wrapped around him after he read "Papercut Bob". He was really shaken up from stagefright I guess but also from telling this intense story, and our arms were kind of intertwining across the back of his shoulders to make a safe and comforting place for him. Clint Catalyst read work at that salon too, and it was such a good combination, Clint and Matty. Clint is so sure, so performative in his storytelling, and the stories are always funny and fierce and filled with pearls of wisdom. So you had him sassing you with his veteran literati stage presence and you also had Matty doing his first ever reading, seeming kind of fragile and maybe on the verge of tears right there in Fritz’s cave. I was on the verge of tears.

Eve Fowler had a gorgeous photo of a nodded-out street urchin on display (which Matty incidentally became obsessed with and may end up using on the cover of his book 35 cents, forthcoming on Suspect Thoughts Press, 2006). Anna Sew Hoy did wistful wall drawings, chalky outlines of idealized young men. Gilles Miller played a mean sax to prerecorded music for an overall mesmerizing effect. The boys from My Barbarian performed (updated parlour couplets?) in their underwear. The charming and talented porn producer Wash West provided vintage smut which shared a double bill with Jean Genet projected upstairs in the dome.

Jeff Burton’s slide show was also lurking down in the cave. And Dean Sameshima exhibited photo collages.
Have I forgotten anyone? Perhaps there was a DJ later on? - Darin Klein

I remember it being pretty chilly and dark when I rolled in, a lil' high maybe, to what was a real steamy sausage party. Dean's guest-list included the best queens, a few girls, and Giles. God bless Giles, he really kept that crowd real. I was feeling a lil' like how you feel at a fag bar -self conscious and mean. Tillmans had shot Morrissey for Index that month and I struck up a conversation with pornographer Wash West about how the Smiths were probably the real generative output of straight/queer friction. We also agreed that watching porn in a not-so-anonymous screening situation totally fucking sucked - porn just demands a more meditative viewing space. Downstairs everybody kicked their shoes off and piled onto the modular furniture all slumber-party styles, super cute. Eli was making out in front of me when Malik and Alex pulled their pants off and sung a few songs "too faggy" for their band My Barbarian. They had passed out lyric sheets to Bette's "the Rose" and you could tell this was going to be just way too much for these up-tight guys. Everybody started singing along though. Maybe it was 'cause I was a lil' wasted or maybe i was pissed for not having been asked to be a part of the show but, I started singing out really loud just taking over the song and making it my thang. It was embarrassing and awesome and what I imagine Bette would have wanted. There is a pic from that night of me and Dean and Dean never looked cutier. I'm sure I made out with someone that night but I can't for the life of me remember who. I remember walking back to my car thinking this was a real fine time to be a faggot in LA. - Tom Texas Holmes

I admit I haven’t been to all of the Sundown Salons, but that doesn’t matter as I’m certain that my favorite was one of the best Salons EVER! Though #8: “Hot Rods n’ Hot Pants” is a VERY close second. My absolute fav and memorable was #10: “Boys: A Very Gay Salon”. That was the night/morning I ended up in jail for “driving under the influence” which, funny enough, reminded me how Very Gay I am. When the “Boy Salon” came to an end, despite my friends’ objections, I stubbornly insisted I was able to drive home. After a “few” illegal lane changes and numerous failed sobriety tests I was cuffed and driven to some Pasadena jailhouse. After numerous questioning, the confiscation of my possessions, and another pat-down, an officer asked me if I wanted to be in a gay or straight cell. I replied, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!” I was insulted, as I assumed I “passed” as straight, HA! I know I was slurring, but perhaps I was lisping and slurring at the same time? Now that’s talent. The arresting officer insisted I get my own solitary cell, as I was “very cooperative” (damn! The gay cell could have been productive!).

Sorry for the slight digression. Anyhow, earlier that night as I entered “Boy Salon”, I found myself surrounded by many dear friends, past tricks, and cute possibilities. After a few glamour photo ops with my partner in crime Javier Peres, we ran straight for the booze. Several (?) drinks later I tried to catch the readings. I was too restless, perhaps tipsy to sit, concentrate and focus. I think I made out with Tom Texas Holmes? I do remember seeing my on-going crush, Beckett, in the arms of another. Then came Malik and Alex singing in their underwear and their voices were superb as usual, though the snug underwear they donned was a bit distracting, in a good way of course. I kept shouting to them to take their shirts off, but no luck. I think we did a sing-a-long to The Rose by Bette Midler right? Gosh I love that song. If there weren’t so many people around I would have cried. Then there was Gilles blowing his lungs away on the sax, unfortunately with his pants on, DARN! Next, Lecia was on the wheels of steel pounding out the jams (yeah she’s a great artist, but she’s also a master DJ). I proceeded to drink whatever I was handed while dancing all over the place. Richard and Wash screened my second favorite film ever, Un chant D’mour, somewhat fitting as my desires seem to never be fulfilled, not even in a Pasadena jail cell. - Dean Sameshima