Vancouver - so good we had to do it again. We are rockin’ the coast with what felt like round two of the main event.
Knowing that my new favorite Australian band Fruit was making one final appearance in Vancouver this past October before they headed back home, my trusty assistant T and I decide to fly out and have what may be our last opportunity to see the girls Live. Quite frankly, I also wanted to go to Vancouver and help my niece celebrate her sweet sixteen and T was long overdue for a party! What the hay, it was thanksgiving long weekend, so as they say, it’s all good!
As we land in the big smoke, Queen’s Limo Service is there to greet us. That’s when my dear friend Trigger (Girl Gig Productions, the producer of the event) informs me I am in for a treat. Opening for Fruit is Alberta’s own, the fates, who I interview in this month’s Face to Face with Huston.
Off we go to Vancouver East Cultural Center. The fates took the stage, and made Alberta proud! The highlight for me was when Jenny Allen, while changing her own broken guitar string, tells a story to a packed west-coast audience about Lethbridge - in the town Albertans refer to as “little LA”. Jenny says, people in Lethbridge refer to themselves as Lethbians! Too funny!
Then on to Fruit, Australia’s internationally acclaimed trio who have been together 12 years with 12 CDs under their belt. They jump on stage and proceed to take us on a real roller coaster ride, if you will.
When I asked Fruit’s multi-talented instrumentalist Mel Watson how they came up with the name “Fruit”, she answered with her Aussie drawl, “Wal Mart was already taken.” Their humor, their music, their vocals are undeniably incredible. To see them perform live is a journey; you find yourself hugging, swaying and feeling the love in the room when they sing “peace”. For me it was a double-orgasmic experience!
I also have to mention what an acoustic dream the Vancouver East Cultural Center is - a perfect venue that left me perfectly entertained and sated.
From there we decided to finish off our night at the Odyssey, saying “Hey!” to everyone, especially my DJ JULES. But this is where the story begins... the plot thickens!
Sure enough, the Odyssey was the bar to be in that night. So packed with movers and shakers that it gave networking a whole new meaning. I’m thinking how great it is meeting such fasinating people!
The downer was Jules and Justine Tyme had the night off but what the heck, at least Lola is there. She is Odyssey’s infamous Patio bartender goddess, who I love and adore for nigh 25 years, and we are having the time of our lives.
That’s when I met Ron, the General Manager at Odyssy, and let me say…I’m sure we’ve all told stories about people who save our asses. Without going into too much detail, and no delicate way say this, but that night Ron saved my tits! Next time you’re in Vancouver, go to Odyssy and ask Ron or Lola for an explicit play-by-play.
Friday rolls around and it is sunny and work free…or so we thought. We walk up Davie Street and feel like Bugs Bunny taking a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Seriously, everywhere I look there are people from Calgary. The first was James, then Joan E., Rodney and Melissa. Then we bump into Marty Mojo Stevens, everyone’s favorite teddy bear, who invites us to Vancouver’s Mr and Ms Gay In and Out of Town Show that night at the Dufferin. Then Kiwi says he’s at the Odyssey tonight as a finalist in their Smirnoff Ice Queen Competion. We really should be there too! Now I know how Steve and Rob feel on a busy night in Calgary. So much for family and friends for me, and so much for T getting to party! Coffee break is over.
Later on we go to the Dufferin. Ms Adrian still reigns in Vancouver much like Calgary’s double Empress and ISCCA president Natalie Santana…to quote the movie The Godfather, “every time I try to leave, the Family brings me back in”. One must admire and respect their dedication to taking care of the community.
One must also be impressed with Vancouver’s Mr and Ms Gay In and Out of Town Show, because when Ms Adrian takes a break she puts on a male stripper. Not the ordinary everyday variety of stripper though…not only did he take off his clothes but made us all fantasize as we watched a superior dance performance. When he went naked it was inconsequential…well…except the front row who had to move back about a foot.
Back to the Odyssey for the next event on our itinerary. The judges for the Smirnoff Ice Queen competition were Vancouver’s crème de la crème: Barb Snelgrove, Vancouver has Pride because of her, and the incomparable talent agent to the stars Richard Lucas, in drag to boot. Once again Calgary rocked Vancouver as Kiwi was sensational, and I’m not just saying that. I must admit overhearing the compliments, true admiration and respect from the judges that made my heart swell with pride.
We head up Davie Street to get a burger at the White Spot, but we get as far as Celebrities (two blocks) with a huge line up. My favorite cutie patootie hotty bouncer Greg stops and hugs me, and now apparently I have to go in and check out some hot DJ chick from New York/Miami, besides, Crema is on bar! Goggle her for a moment and you will see why media talks about her. To me, she is the salt of the earth, she has a heart that would make Spielberg envious. My 2nd night in Vancouver I close down Celebrities.
As I wake, I wonder what else is going on in town. In Vancouver when you want to be in the know, you go to Little Sisters to pick up all the trades and do a little shopping. Off we go up Davie Street once again. Those that have never been along Davie should go …that’s the best way to find the buddy that you lost somewhere last night, or the friends that just moved to Vancouver.
As I walk in to Little Sisters, who’s bent over with his ass in my face (well, maybe if I was taller)? I had no idea, until the long legs and gorgeous butt unfolded. It was Calgary’s most loved and superiorly talented loss, Justine Tyme personally putting up posters for a charitable fundraising event that he created to give back to the community. Us Calgarians know that anyone, rich or poor can make a difference in the quality of life for those less fortunate. Justine reminds me that it would be remiss if I didn’t at least try to hook up with the ever so busy Vance Campbell. T says, “Yeah Huston, I still haven’t been to Oasis since the new renovations.” It’s settled then.
Walking in to Oasis later that night felt like a “hat trick”…Joan E in drag greets us, And then, Drew welcomes us with open arms and personally seats us. T heads off to check out the washrooms everyone’s being talking about. Lo and behold, in his free minute Vance Campbell appears and quite frankly made my night complete.
Vancouver! In the words of Fruit, “Momma, momma, momma…you never told me it would be this good!”
But, then again, this is only a view from a broad.
