Cocktail Confessions

Ladies and gentlemen, summer is here, and that means, sex, drugs and rock and roll are in the air again. I want in on some of it, for once!

Strike a pose. There ain’t nothing to it. I guess you could say “vogue,” except for the fact that, from where I’m standing, most of the models are average hot. But they’ll soon be hotter, after they meet Mr PhotoShop. Love you! Nothing like airbrushing. The search is on for the next cover model for the NY state abOUT magazine. It’s actually a TV show. They started the hunt with an open call in May; 40 contestants were picked. Every Thursday night at 8pm for the next month or so, Lüb Lounge on Church St turns into a bitch fest. Judges of notable notoriety weed out the mishaps. Only one winner on Jun 23 will receive a thousand dollars cash, a photo shoot, gift certificates, a contract with a modelling agency and the front cover of abOUT. The show, Cover Guy, is hosted by the Mathieu Chantelois, who some may remember from the best season of U8TV’s The Lofters, the Canadian take on reality television. Chantelois brings charm and just the right amount of sex appeal to the new series currently airing on OUTtv on Tuesdays at 8:30pm. It’s certainty abOUT time that we stop using predictable, same-old, used-and-abused models. I hope the winner will have a little edge to him as the pretty boy thing is wearing thin on all of us.

NXNE is back – North By Northeast, that is, Canada’s largest music festival and conference, taking place Thu, Jun 9 to 11. This year has a larger-than-life queer content. Festival gigs take place in various clubs throughout the city, while the music conference happens during the day at the Holiday Inn on King St W with daily seminars, demo listening, entertainment, schmoozing and of course the keynote speakers – this year it’s David Johansen who fronted the influential New York Dolls. The surviving band members will be playing a concert on Sat, Jun 11 at the Phoenix Concert Hall.

The festival is the nightly portion of NXNE, where you’ll get to see up to 300 bands. On Jun 10, Cougar Party plays Sneaky Dee’s (431 College St), Magneta Lane and Fembots play the Gladstone (1214 Queen St W) and Kids On TV plays Club 279 (279 Yonge St). On Jun 11, The Cliks play the Bovine (542 Queen St W) and Kelly And The Kellygirls play Clinton’s (693 Bloor St W). For $24, you get a wristband that will get you into any festival gig. For more information and ticket info go to Nxne.com.

Robin Black, without his band The Intergalactic Rock Stars, hosts In The Raw, at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Burlesque on Fri, May 27 at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre at 10:30pm, alongside burlesque troupe Skin Tight Outta Sight and Miss Bar 501 Donnarama.

Speak of the devil, Miss Donna pulled a full-on impersonation of Courtney Love recently when she did not show up for her scheduled appearance at the last-ever RAG event at Queen West’s Vatikan thrown by one of the nicest promoter boys in the city, Forest. Donna, you bitch! Leaving Felicia to fend off the entire army of straight, hardcore boys by herself. Maybe you was too busy ragging on some guy’s face, or getting caught shoplifting Garbage CDs. Either way, infamous is and has always been the new famous. Keep up the good work, Donna! Much love.

She’s back yet again, exposing herself… oh wait. I mean Canadian content. Flavour Hall with Ariel Garten and other artists present Art For The Senses on Sat, May 28. Big-ticket indie bands, performance artists, photography, art-to-wear and more.

At night, the party shifts into a unique art, fashion and music event on a stage at 500 College St, on top of the Flavour Hall vegetable garden. Music is by Republic Of Safety (10pm), Maggie MacDonald of The Hidden Cameras (6:30pm) and DJ Will Munro, who’ll close it all down (11:30pm to 1:30am). Music and shopping runs from 1pm to 6pm. The Lawn Party starts at 6:30pm.

Sleater-Kinney will performs on Sat, Jun 18 at the Phoenix Concert Hall. The all-ages gig starts at 6pm; tix are $20. Go to Hob.ca for more information.

And Will Munro’s annual Pride version of Vazaleen, Shame, is on Fri, Jun 24. It will feature none other than the legendary New York group, ESG. Tickets are $25 in advance, and available at Rotate This.

The Shine beer garden has been cancelled. The first-ever event at Dundas Square to greet the end of the Pride parade was scrapped citing insurance costs. Perhaps the fact that the parade doesn’t make it all the way down to Dundas this year may have had something to do with the decision.

It’s 11pm – do you know what your children are up to? No good.