BEARAPALOOZA: NASHVILLE: A Review!
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Bearapalooza is the creation of singer/songwriter Freddy Freeman, who grew up in Saratoga Springs but later moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. It was Freeman's vision to create a music festival which was by the bear community and for the bear community-- as well as their admirers. On his official website, Freeman states, "I wanted to celebrate the pride of being a Bear not just through celebrating our sexuality, but by showcasing and celebrating the totality of who we are, including our sexuality. Being a musician, I thought the perfect way to do that was through a concert of bear-identified musicians, giving Bears not only a look, but a voice. Bears come from all walks of life, and encompass many looks, attitudes, fetishes, relationships, gender roles, musical tastes, morals, and amounts of body fat and hair. What we all have in common is a sense of brotherhood, and a pride in our sexuality and our bodies." The first Bearapalooza was held at Finally Fred's in New York City in 2002. Fast forward to September 2004, and much a larger Bearapalooza took place at New York's Cutting Room in September 2004. Growing in both size and reputation within the bear community since its birth, the West Coast couldn't have been far behind, and Bearapalooza Seattle made its way to the stage in April 2005. The foundation of Freddy' Freeman's own music is acoustic guitar, colored by shades of R&B, folk, and rock-- but it may have been the country elements which ultimately won over his direction. Just listen to one of Freddy's most crowd-pleasing tracks, "I'm Here, I'm Queer, and I'm Country", for proof of that. In early 2005, Freddy moved to Nashville with partner Jay Freeman. (What a happy coincidence that they share the same last name!) With the cooperation of the Music City Bears, Freeman brought what would become the biggest and most successful Bearapalooza yet to the America's country music mecca, enticing bears and their admirers from all corners of the nation. The music was incredible, the setting was appropriately homey, and without a doubt, the audience loved it. The two-day long Bearapalooza Nashville was part of Ye Olde Bear Fair's Bear Jam 2005, organized by the Music City Bears. Nashville Cares was the beneficiary of the event. The host of the weekend's festivities was West Coast comedian Bobaloo, who will be playing at Outlaugh!, the first ever Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Comedy Festival, later this month. The eclectic roster of musical peformers at Bearapalooza 2005 included Dave Montana, Matthew Temple, Ron Morris, Tommy Johns, Kendall, Michael West, Yolanda, Charlie K. Brown, Jeff Altergott, Andy Northup, Max Christopher, Kerry Land, Toshio Mana, Jeff Dickinson, and Yolanda.
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Bearapalooza kicked off on Friday night, July 22nd, at the Rainbow Room of The Chute. More than just a club or bar, The Chute is a sprawling entertainment complex in Nashville, complete with six separate bars, a dancefloor, and much more... and the venue often serves as host for many of The Music City bears' events. Friday night featured two songwriter's circles, as well as sets by Bobaloo and two self-styled performers: Yolanda and Kendall. After an introduction by Freddy Freeman, it was time for some bona-fide, bear-pleasing music. In the Nashville tradition, Bearapalooza opened with the "classic songwriter's round", where four musicians appeared onstage together, and each gave the audience one song at a time. Most of the guys opted for stripped-down, mellow, highly personal numbers-- prompting one wise-ass attendee to state, "This is like Lillith Fair for gay men!" But for all the warm and fuzzy (ahem...) stuff, there were many high-energy moments thrown in, like when Andy Northup did a funked-up version of one of his more dynamic tracks, "Sometimes", and when Ron Morris gave The Chute one of his deliciously dirty favorites, "Till August" ("Hey baby, fuck me 'till August; Hey baby, That's all I need!"...) . The first songwriters' round featured Matthew Temple, Jeff Altergott, Tommy Johns, and Andy Northup. Matthew Temple was first. In his bio, Temple states that his influences include jazz, blues and country music-- but it's folk that holds a particular affinity. Matthew toured with Duke Ellington in the 70's. One of his tracks that night, "Street Musician", was "inspired by the real-life street musicians"-- and in Nashville, there were MANY! Temple later performed "Nobody Loves My Baby" and "So Many Young Men". Jeff Altergott, from Ohio, was a real crowd-pleaser: youthful, fresh, and dynamic. His threesome of songs included "Misunderstands" and two new songs: "Dandelion" ("I wrote it about politics, I sing it about flowers"), and the crowd-pleasing "Every Day is a Reason". Tommy Johns, from Seattle, was next. He's a great singer and a super sweetheart as well, with his music clearly influenced by the best of '80's-style rock. Johns started out with a new song. How new was it? He had to tape the lyrics sheet to the mic with duct tape borrowed from the drag queens' dressing room. (All I could think of was how some unfortunate diva wouldn't be able to create her cleavage that night...) Two of the songs he did, "Disappearing Day" and "Brought Together", are on his new CD "This Is Supposed To Be Fun!?", available from Woobie Bear Music. Making Bearapalooza a truly international event, one of the musical artists-- and a real rabble-rouser-- was Andy Northrup from Canada. As admirers of his music know, Northup often dabbles in some very heavy themes, like politics and the not-always-pretty side of human nature. Apparently aware of this impression, he proclaimed (tongue clearly in cheek...): "I've been accused of being dour. It's true. I'm as miserable as can be!" The first track was "All to You", which he stated was written for his partner about how hard it is to love an artist. Other songs included "Sometimes" and "It Aint Easy". Damn, his voice is powerful!
Round Two featured Ron Morris, Max Christopher, Freddy Freeman, and Charlie K. Brown. New Yorker Ron Morris is a very charismatic live performer. He knows how to move, and seems to make eye contact with absolutely everybody in the audience. The crowd really came alive with the favorite "Till August"... and then Ron showed a different side of his musical persona with the more solemn and soulful "Who Knows". Also from New York (but seemingly adapting to Southern life very well!) was Max Christopher. His distinctive vox has a gravelly, very raw quality. (Just don't ever say his voice is "Bob Dylan-esque"!) Max Christopher's long-gestating album is in the works, and it will include the songs he gave us that night: "Trap Door" and "Chill". Freddy Freeman gave the crowd of hirsute hotties two of his emblematic classics: "IÕm Here, IÕm Queer and IÕm Country" (the title says it all!), and "Steam", an intensely romantic stong inspired by his relationship with Jay Freeman. Check out some of these sample lyrics:
"Steam rising up above all our troubles,
Steam rising up in freedom and love;
Steam to bring together the best of fire and water,
Steam to rise above...
Bring to you my fire,
Bring to me your water,
And we'll make steam;
Give you my devotion,
Dive into your ocean,
We'll make steam;
Give you my devotion,
Dive into your ocean,
Make steam."
Another Nashville native, Charlie K. Brown, gave The Chute two songs: "The Vigil" and "It'll be Allright".
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For some comedy relief, the boisterous Bobaloo hit the stage like a guided missile with his no-holes barred routine, poking fun at everything from the kind of people who go to 80's bands reunion concerts (You know who you are...) all the way to the very contempo phenomenon known as Craig's List. A Bobaloo line that really hit home: "Guys say the stupidest things to me in bed: 'Oh yeah, oh yeah... You want some of daddy's fuck sauce, don't ya?!'". And just wait till you hear him re-create the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Pride Festival: "They paint the cows rainbow colors, and the drag queens dress up like Laverne and Shirley!" After Bobaloo were two intensely self-styled performers: Yolanda and Kendall. It's an understatement to say that these two know how to both shock and delight a crowd. Both artists-- at different times throughout their performances-- transcend gender, genre, and audience expectations. With Yolanda and Kendall on the bill, I pity any unsuspecting, faint-of-heart curious straights that stumbled into The Chute hat night by accident! Voted Outmusician of the Year 2004, Yolanda pays homage to his Southern roots yet with an unapologetically queer perspective-- and also incorporates a spritual side to his work. Yolanda used to do "high" drag, but recently returned to his original Radical Faerie-influenced, gender-bending (although I prefer the term "gender-fucking") image. The climax of Yolanda's act came with "Yo, Yo, Yo Yolanda", a re-working of The Kinks' 1970 "Lola" (FYI: "Lola" was the first-ever hit song about a transsexual...). Kendall-- artist, songwriter, performer... and magazine model (and I can't tell you what magazine without a note from your mother!) barreled on stage wearing army pants and blonde wig for a satirical track called "G.I. Barbie". You'll never think of Barbie as just another blonde bimbo again... and if you do, this Barbie might just kick your ass! We also got to see a video: a spoof of a commercial for an uber-butch beverage called "Rock Hard Beer"-- and then Kendall segued into "Hot Drunk Guys", a totally carnal and deliciously raunchy fantasy set to music. Kendall closed the first night of Bearapalooza with the a cappella, audience-participation track "Boom Boom Boom Clap". Kendall has a new retrospective CD called "Re-Kindled", released by Woobie Bear Music and featuring Kendall's prolific body (ahem...) of work from 1997 to the present... including many of the crowd-pleasers we heard at Bearapalooza, and featuring some eye-popping photography on the CD insert. After the event, The Chute was wall to wall with bears, bears, bears... and of course, bear lovers (of which there were many!).
The next day, it seemed like before you could say "after hours party", the action moved to the more intimate setting of DeVil's for Bearapalooza Part 2, the afternoon concert. Wisely, the festivities-- which were originally scheduled to be outdoors-- were moved indoors due to the oppressive 110 (Yes, 110!) degree heat. Bobaloo was back, with more outfit changes than Jennifer Lopez in "The Cell". On one side of DeVil's, the music played. On the other side, the crowd was treated to tarot card reading, Bearapalooza artist CD's for sale, and food (Pulled pork on a bun, potato salad, and baked beans-- what else?). Hey, it's just not fair to make a bear choose between food and great music! BearFilms also showed up with some bearaphilic DVD's, and two gender-bending drag divas, more in the style of The Cockettes than the "high" drag so common in the South, presided over the event. And, oh, yeah, there was one sole woman-- Susan Adcock from "The Nashville Scene", who later in her column praised the event and the bear community for helping to bust "mainstream" gay stereotypes. But back to the music: Matthew Temple was up first. He declared, "Let's start out with something slow, because these guys rock!" His voice was soulful, his style gentle. The first song, "After Dark", was inspired by New Orleans. Temple pointed out that lyrics can be so simple, but can speak volumes. How true. The second track, "A Child", was more uptempo. The magnetic Jeff Altergott was next. Jeff's latest CD is called "Runt"-- the name of which, he explained, is inspired at least in part by his feeling small compared to other bears. Jeff performed the title track, and then gave us "Kiss Me", which Jeff described as "a song about making out!". The song made it onto Sirius Radio's OutQ Top 100. Check out these lyrics:
"Whatcha doing way
Over there,
When you could be
Right over here;
Just imagine the two of us
Dancing cheeks to cheeks;
If you know what I mean
Validate me,
Complicate me,
Kiss me, Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me."
After two more songs, "Breakneck Speed" and "Spark", Jeff gave The Chute "Every Day is a Reason". Jeff had played this song the night before to an incredible reaction, so we got to hear it again this day. And the response this day was equally jubilant. Jeff revealed to the Bearapalooza crowd that he recently quit his job and officialy became a full-time musician. Nice!!! Ron Morris was next. With well-known New York City man-about-town Toshio Mana on bass, Ron opened with "This Morning", an upbeat crowd-pleaser that effectively conveys that excitement and joy of the first time being with a new lover... Next was "My Boyfriend's Back" (And no, it wasn't a remake of The Angels' 1963 classic!). Ron moved on to the mellow, haunting "Dark Parts", and then offered a cover of Cher's "We All Sleep Alone", a track well-suited to Ron's vocal style: "Somebody, somewhere turns off the lights, Somebody all alone faces the night; You got to be strong, When you're out on your own; 'Cause sooner or later, We all sleep alone." Upbeat as his music is, Morris is equally able to convey those oh-so-common feelings of longing and yearning. Ron followed with "Simply Amazed" (which just might well describe the audience reaction!), and he left off with "More". Following Ron was North Carolina's Dave Montana. With Toshio Mana on bass again, the striking Montana (wearing a T-shirt that said, "I'm Out of My Mind. Please leave a message". Hmmm... He might as well have stolen that out of my closet.) offered a four-song set that included "I Want Someone", an instantly addictive pop tune. If you only download one song that I mention in this review-- and I would hope that you choose to check out more than just one (!) -- make it "I Want Someone". The infectious tune is very, shall we say, sweet-- considering Montana's steely persona. In case you were wondering where his musical influences (in part) came from, Montana left off with a version of Depeche Mode's "Strangelove" which segued into New Order's "True Faith", adding a cutting-edge, retro, new wave (and did I say, "much appreciated"?) moment to day's the music mix. Lest we forgot "True Faith", the lyrics go, "I used to think that the day would never come, I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun; My morning sun is the drug that brings me near, To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear." To me, no song comes closer to capturing the rocky road from adolescent angst to adulthood for those of us who grew up in the 80's. After Dave Montana was Kerry Land, playing at his first bear event ever. The tall, lanky, clean-shaven singer from the Midwest (who calls himself a "full service entertainment provider" on his website... hmmm!) admits he doesn't get to perform original songs too often, and usually does covers: he's usually known as "a walking jukebox with a guitar." But for Bearapalooza, we did indeed get to hear some originals: "If You Go Away", "Inside", "Santa Fe", and "Hard to be My Friend". As if his presence and music weren't enough, he also had some stragically-placed rips in his jeans to compete for the crowd's attention.
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Andy Northrup took the stage next with guitar in hand-- and with Dave Montana on drums, Toshio Mana on bass, Tommy Johns on electric guitar, and Freddy Freeman on backup vocals. Given that this talented quintet are all from different parts of the country, they couldn't possibly have had much chance to practice together... but from the musical synergy these guys had, you'd never know it. Andy Northup is an impressive live performer: he's loaded with energy, and this voice and persona are very commanding. In addition to "Truth Breaks Through" and "Being the Joke", Northup gave The Chute two tracks named "Only Trying to Understand" and "Slow Burn Avenue". Andy told me later that these two songs are "essential Andy Northup". The third essential track is "The Love Your Heart Needs", a self-described "pure love song" on his second album, "Cardboard Logic". At one point, Northup played so intensely that he sliced a bit of his finger off. Damn, the price we pay for creative expression! Nashville native Michael West, member of the Music City Bears, was joined by five guys on stage, including Freddy Freeman and Jay Freeman on background vocals. West can belt!!! And everybody in the band got to shine in his own solo. After opening with "Homespun Love", The Chute was treated to the intensely crowd-pleasing "IÕll Take That as a Yes", AKA "The Hot Tub Song":
"You wink, I laugh 'cause we know
A little hug leads to a foot rub
Then a hot tub,
Then a French kiss on a bear rug
Do you like it,
Do you like it,
How about this
Wanna try it?
Oh, oh, oh
I'll take that as a yes!"
It brought down DeVil's! Michael introduced the next track with, "This next song is about true love, and how you can be dragged into it kicking and screaming!" The name of the song was, sure enough, "Kicking and Screaming". West, who also performs in the acoustic rock duo The Budds with Freddy Freeman, left off with "Until You Do Right By Me". Max Christopher was next, dressed in just the bear, uh... I mean bare, minimum to keep DeVil's from breaking Nashville's stringent public decency laws. His lineup included "Reach Out", "Make It", and "If I Could". He left off with "Stupid Happy Song", my favorite Max Christopher song and presumably a reaction to his critics who feel his music may be a bit too much on the "heavy" side...
Just how gay was Billy Squier's video for "Rock Me Tonight" back in 1984? Just ask Bobaloo! Bobaloo changed into a Billy Squier T-shirt for '81's "The Stroke". The audience knew the song, but I doubt that anyone in the audience heard it the way this no-holes barred comedian did it (Just imagine his delight in declaring, "Stroke me! Stroke me!"). It was a much-needed shot of adrenaline midway through the afternoon, where the combined intensity of the music and the unyielding Tennessee heat was starting to take its toll on the beary crowd. Next up was Tommy Johns. Johns peformed a new song which is destined to become an anthem in the annals of queer music: "Hate is not a Family Value". "Hey", you may be saying to yourself, "Isn't that slogan a bit too... 1994?" Well, yes... but in these war-minded, reactionary times, this message of this musical plea for tolerance and respect for diversity is more timely than ever. Johns left off with "Figure it Out". Backed by Dave Montana on drums, Toshio Mana on bass, Tommy Johns on electric guitar, and Freddy Freeman on acoustic guitar, Yo-Yo-Yo-Yolanda re-emerged in a new, KISS-inspired costume to give the audience what his fans know is essential Yolanda: "Alien Love Child", "Muscle Shoals" (inspired by Yolanda's real-life Alabama hometown, "the hit recording capital of the world"), "Freedom", and a disco version of "Let Me Love You". The audience was once again bewitched. Not to be outdone, the bear-alicious Kendall was back for an eclectic, multi-dimensional set which included "The Booty Song". Inspired by funky '70's-syle musical indulgences and loaded with priceless lyrics (Against a chorus of "Come on people, clap your hands, if you know your booty's in demand!", Kendall raps: "One butt, two butt, red butt, blue butt; everybody talkin' 'bout-- you know what!"), it's no mystery why this ass-worshipping song has gained such a following. Think of it as the best song that Rick James never recorded, as interpreted by a hot white rapper from Buffalo (Really!). It will make you forget that other ode to the butt by Sir Mix-a-whoever.... see, I forgot already!!! Kendall's bag of tricks also included turning an innocent phone call from Mother into a performance, and taking the persona of Orgazmatron for "Call Me"-- complete with lyp synching to Mink Stole's hilariously psycho-neurotic dialogue from "Serial Mom"!
Since he came to Nashville, Freddy Freeman has formed an Outmusic Open Mic at DeVil's, and on occasion has brought to the stage the GLBT music series Q-Nity. But showing how he's first and foremost a performer, Freeman took to the stage with his bad The Free Men, with boyfriend Jay Freeman on backup vox. Freeman has stated before that he's not the most prolific songwriter on the scene, but when he writes a song, it instantly strikes a chord with his audience: his music is well-produced, catchy, and full of heart. His playlist of tunes-- many of which became bear favorites at prior Bearapaloozas and crowd-pleasers at the New York City Outmusic Open Mic-- included "(Waiting for an) Echo", "Break the Silence", and "Free Man". Freeman also threw in "Sexiful", complete with a rap by Kendall. The big, bad, Bearapalooza finale came with "Fat Bottom Bears", with all the perfomers on stage-- which has become a Bearapalooza tradition.
The musical synergy between the artists, many of whom hadn't worked together before this weeeknd, was incredbile. Bearapalooza, with its eclectic roster of talented, willing-to-please artists; and Nashville-- with its respect for music and it's good old fashioned Southern hospitality-- seem like a match made in bear heaven. Freddy Freeman has hinted that he's taking a break from producing live shows so that he can work on his long-gestating second album. But something's telling me that we may not have to wait very long for the next Bearapalooza. As one Freeman confidante anonymously confessed to me that night, "Freddy will never stop doing this!"
See more at www.Bearapalooza.com!
See many more pictures at: www.MusicCityBears.com/BearJam
See more pictures I took-- including Bearapalooza Behind the Scenes-- at www.JedRyan.com/photos/photos25.html
MORE COOL LINKS!
www.WoobieBearMusic.com
www.Bear411.com
www.MusicCityBears.com
www.FreddyFreeman.com
www.CuteLittleBlokes.com (Look for my caricature soon!)
Bobaloo: www.BobalooRox.com
Jeff Altergott: www.JeffreyAltergott.com
Ron Morris: www.RonMorrisMusic.com
Max Christopher: www.Maxylvania.com
Andy Northup: www.ANorthup.com
Kerry Land: www.KerryLand.com
Yolanda: www.Yolanda.net
Dave Montana: www.DaveMontanaMusic.com
Michael West: www.MichaelWestMusic.com
Kendall: www.KendallsHead.com
Freddy Freeman: www.FreddyFreeman.com