If I was a gay boy my new love would be Cazwell, AKA the best thing to happen to the NYC party scene in the last five years.
Luckily for all you guys in Calgary that had the chance to see him play a live DJ show at Club Sapien the night of this past October 1st, it was tremendous. This was the first time he has been to Calgary, and he couldn’t have been more excited about seeing what and who Calgary had to offer.
"Canada has always been good to me," says Cazwell as he takes time to talk to me from New York City. "I plan on performing while DJing," which is definitely his style. Check out his videos on YouTube, especially Ice Cream Truck, which is also full of eye candy from what I can tell.
Speaking of eye candy, Pure Pride, co-sponsor of the event provided their own cast as "Ice Cream Truck Boys" and scouted out potential guys to join their team. Cazwell was definitely looking forward to this part of the event. "I am looking for boys that can smile and shake their ass," mused Cazwell, "I love go-go boys that smile."
Opening for the show were Calgary faves DJ JayFraid and DJ Goldstar. For Mike Gray, owner of Club Sapien the night was perfect. "We are building a positive gay culture and community with sold-out shows like Miami Heat and Cazwell. What an awesome night! Calgary has really responded to our positive high energy events."
This is the type of operation that Cazwell seeks for his performance venues.
"In New York City there are some amazing smaller parties that are replacing the ambience of big clubs that were popular years ago, such as BCBG and The Roxy," Cazwell explained. "It isn’t the drug vibe that was popular before. Now the worst I see is generally alcohol and pot. These are smaller parties in smaller locations and there is a real sexy vibe going on."
Cazwell explained his motivation behind the homoerotic nature of his music. "I like to talk about my life in my songs and in my performances. I want gay men to feel just as entitled to have sex with other men as a straight man is to have sex with women." And why not? Straight men have been singing about women since the beginning of time.
"I remember playing a show and there were about 100 bears that were singing along. They knew all of the lyrics! I felt really cool to be gay!"
He continued to elaborate on his theory of queerdom. "I am not a political person by any means, but I am very political in the way that I live my life and perform. I want the queer conversation to be just as comfortable as a heterosexual one. I want stars to come out without a worry. I believe by performing as a gay person about gay topics I am helping with that."
So, for all those who complain that Alberta lacks in gay entertainment (you know who you are), it’s time to think again. With class acts such as Cazwell making his debut in both Edmonton and Calgary this year, we have only just begun.
