Sunday Gaybox

[dotinthesky]

Grace Jones
Originally uploaded by virgorama

If a bomb had been dropped on Victoria Park yesterday, it would have wiped out 99.99% of London's lesbians, gays and trannies. Are steroids flamable? Because there was enough there yesterday (covered by fine trimmed hair and tattoos) to set the EastEnd ablaze after the explosion.

I never saw so many gayers in one space. Gaydar and Gaymers banners floated everywhere, drag queens danced and sang on top of a makeshift 1970s New York club (NYC Down Low) while punters with real and fake moustaches lined to get in, Stonewall volunteers paraded with their banners and handed out stickers, and every corner seemed to have a beat going for a happy group of semi-clad hands-in-the-air types. It was all very enjoyable and sunny.

I've got some photos to upload tonight. In the meantime, here's my brief review:

Best Gig
Hercules and Love Affair, hands down. They were fan-tas-tic - like gods from the height of 70s disco coming down to throw a party for us mere mortals. They showcased a lot of new music and it all sounds bri-lli-ant. Possibly better than the first album! I hope they play London again soon, and I hope I can get tickets. Second album is scheduled for a September release, apparently.

Nearly Best Gig
Grace Jones, who changed headware for every song and finished the set by hoola-hooping through a whole track. She was funny, she had legs that went for miles, she wore a thong that showed off her toned butt, and she sounded like Dionne Warwick in the mood for all-night-sex. She closed the festival with a golden key she normally keeps in her 80s dub pop box.

Sadly Missed Gig
Hurts. So very disappointed I missed them! And New Young Pony Club, who we caught towards the end of their set and sounded a-ma-zing and good fun. Must listen to them on Spotify when I get home.

Slightly Disappointing Gig
Cut Copy. Their old material had the crowd jumping in happiness but the three new songs they showcased just didn't do anything for me or most of the crowd. It's a departure from their old material - one of them sounded like Dire Straits - but hopefully it's better on record.

Honourable Mentions
- Amusement park in the middle of festival! Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, slides - all right beside the gig stages. Genius idea.
- Hot lesbians who dirty danced and got everyone in the mood to jump around.
- Gay boys everywhere, in all states of (un)dress. Muscles and fat, smooth and furry, deaf or with just one arm, tall and short, in groups or alone and off their tits. So so so many boys - the lover of people-watching in me was thrilled.
- Lots of great food stalls to choose from. We had Greek wraps and a lot of bottled water.

Dishonourable Mentions
Cigarette smoking. Everywhere. All the time. One after the other. Smoke blown in your face. Over and over. I feel today like I had half a pack of smokes just from all the secondhanding. I had a very dark thought on the way home: if everyone who smoked suddenly dropped dead at the same time, a lot of the world's problems would be solved... the only cranky thought from an otherwise extremely happy, satiated, TIRED mind.

Comments

[amypops.livejournal.com]

PMSL at all smokers dropping dead!! Which particular problems are we tackling here...?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

NHS relieved of dealing with people with smoke-related diseases! World's overpopulation no longer a problem! Corrupt tobacco industry bankrupt! The list goes on... ;-)

[amypops.livejournal.com]

I'd only got as far as overpopulation! I obviously need to work more on my mass extermination fantasies, bad Amypops.

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

I do hope the man in the first photo had put on some SPF 30.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

If he had a boyfriend, he probably had it spread all over his body while a bunch of gawkers looked on. If he didn't have a boyfriend, he looked like an overcooked prawn by the end of the day.

[dilvsy.livejournal.com]

*blows smoke in your face*

where else are we smokers supposed to go?
i always say to those that bitch about smokers, go run after cars and yell at them too...cause even if we stop smoking, there will still be pollution and nastyness in the air.
and, i would rather smell second hand smoke, than people's gross nasty body odour.

so, could be worse!

love ya, Ollie!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I knew that comment would get some attention. ;-)

Speaking as an ex-smoker, I totally understand that allowances have to be made for people who smoke. But it still is something hard for a non-smoker to deal with, especially when so many people are doing it non-stop! It's slightly worse than nasty body odour since B.O. doesn't affect your health the way it does.

There are now some very cool smoking tools that can give you the nicotine hit without polluting the air. king_prawn uses it - it has a green glow and a little electrical machine that goes with it. The smoke that comes out smells like perfume. It's perfect! I wish every smoker would use that - everyone would be happy (will find out what it's called and send you a link.)

[dilvsy.livejournal.com]

that might be interesting to try!
and i am not really mad at YOU, Ollie, just how we smokers are the lepers of society.but i actually do get physically ill from people with horrible b.o, so to me, both are equally bad. (cause i admit, although i am a smoker, second hand smoke bugs me at times too.but shhhh)

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

I sympathise with the passive smoking thing - I usually go away from everyone else and skulk in a corner somewhere, returning shamefully later, reeking of cigarettes. The perfumed smell from that electric cigarette you're talking about really bugs me though!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I think the electric cigarette is a step in the right direction - but it would definitely be ideal to have everybody be a non-smoker one day.

K and I did move away from smokers as much as we could, but it was one hell of a tough job to find a smoke free pocket in the crowd.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'm already wondering when next year's line up will be announced! ;-)

[meemeedarling.livejournal.com]

What a thrill to be able to see Grace Jones in person. I think of her as a being from another planet.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

If you ever have the chance go go go go see her. You won't regret it.