HOMAGE, queer singers singing queer artists, was lining up be to a mellow affair. 300 plus very well behaved patrons seated to take in Benhur Helwend bring a slow emotional opening to the show, hitting the theme square on with Smalltown Boy. And there was mellowness to be had for sure, there was also pounding music and rock and even an unorthodox show tune! By the time the 12 artists lined up across the stage after a thumping finale, emotions had been touched, eardrums massaged and people tumbled out happy and chatty.
The brain child of Maeve Marsden who runs the Queer Stories night, HOMAGE was not just a singing affair. The artists spoke of growing up with these songs and the comfort and refuge they gave and continue to give. Marsden called the night Queer Stories on Steroids and corrected herself … on Amyl to a huge roar from the crowd of LGBTQI people and supporters. As she said, there’s lots of gay icons and we do love an ally but that wasn’t this night.
Marsden and her band, Lady Sings It Better, who were the housies for the night did a set and her pick was a Dusty Springfield number, Breakfast In Bed. Dusty being her secret passion when all about were JJJing. Other artists also spoke from the heart about the music. Jordan Raskopoulos brought the pathos of the personal to The Origin of Love from Hedwig & The Angry Inch. “ripped through the flesh” cut deep and Raskopoulos’ performance was vivid and wrought with the wail of a guitar and rock with the power to move. As was Rock and Roll Suicide from Bowie “ for the lovers who are not here”. Also speaking from the heart was one member of pulverising punk band Sports Bra who touched the crowd with “Trans people are scared and tired and can’t fight this on our own.”
Politics is in the air whenever the Queer community comes together but it was a celebratory night. Who doesn’t love Old Queen Cole via the Divine Miss M to Miss Otis Regrets into some slow, melancholy ukulele picking from Helwend and a superb falsetto. And the wonderful phrasing of Brendan Maclean’s take on Peaches’ I Don’t Want to Lose You morphed into Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk with the entreat and retreat of his evocative body language, smooth and sexy and almost mimetic and with a cracker country rock and roll to take your mumma out all night. Add in Marcus Whale‘s brilliant acapella opening to his set and chills are all around.
But get all the performers back on stage for Freedom and the spirit of George was there for everyone up on their feet. That’s what I’m talking about!
HOMAGE played one night only. Keep an eye out, though, because a sold out success like that serves to bring community together with a soundtrack in appreciation of battles won, survivals cherished and strength for the fights left to come. You can read an interview with Maeve Marsden here and follow the artists who performed at their Facebooks. Lady Sings It Better, Jordan Raskopoulos, Brendan Maclean, Marcus Whale, Benhur Helwend, SPORTS BRA and Maeve Marsden.
