@ Large

When Snug Harbor's Shiprocked celebrates something, I must say, it certainly is a celebration. I would imagine this seems like a no-brainer, considering that their regular fare revolves around dance parties equipped with go-go dancers and drag shows. But to truly understand the extent of which they throw down, you have to witness it for yourself.

This is exactly what I experienced Thursday, Jan. 13, for their Halo project Pinups and Pets calendar release party. When I arrived, it seemed like it was going to be a slow night. But before I could even grab my second drink, people started filing in at such a massive rate that Snug was instantaneously packed to the point that I couldn't even get around without having to push through a crowd.

I would say that this is when the dance party started but I'm not sure if that would be totally accurate. People were trying to dance to Scott Weaver's DJing, but they were so crammed (and sober) that it proved incredibly difficult. Everybody just needed more celebratory booze. If it weren't for the bartenders at Snug, Shiprocked's fun times would be virtually nonexistent. I cannot praise their skills enough. During peak hours (between midnight and 2 a.m.) they slam out drinks like they were born to pour and make sure everyone in the house that wants to get liquored up (which is pretty much everyone) gets their fair share.

Needless to say, by the time the performances started, everyone was very happy and ready to watch Drag Queen Lilith Deville and Burlesque dancer Cherry Von Bomb tease us with their uncanny ability to entertain. Paying homage to the calendar debut, the theme of the night was pin-up pets, and Lilith, dressed as a cat, performed to a song about a sore, wet, hot, free, bald pussy. As you can imagine, the performance did not take the direction of kittens. After Cherry Von Bomb teased us with her fierce jungle cat moves, everyone had loosened up enough to break it down for Lilith's last performance, which led into an all-out dance party from the stage to the end of the bar, until everyone was getting kicked out.

This Shiprocked was certainly an enjoyable one. I recommend that everyone with an open mind come out and experience it at least once.

Once upon a Saturday night (Jan. 8, to be exact) at Tremont Music Hall, magical things happened. Celebrities rose from the grave to tease us, dancing down to pasties and wrestling. Wizards who called themselves Manchovy rocked the house with sweet tunes and ate pizza with a sultry dancing lobsterman. DJ SIN spun the night away while the less adventurous zombie stars broke it down on the dance floor. And The Body Bags and Prowler brought in the rest of the night when we had all taken in too much of the magical juice that the land of Tremont has to offer.

I must say that when Gore-A-Licious Productions takes over a joint, it becomes a different world altogether. Even if you aren’t into the music on the bill there is something for everyone. Simply being a spectator of these lovely ladies’ performances is worthy of your time. Honestly, how can you go wrong with bombshells dancing in cages dressed as post-mortem Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and The Black Dahlia? Not to mention, how many opportunities does one have to dress up like it’s Halloween? Even if you didn’t know how to display the side effects of your death of choice, Gore-A-Licious took care of you with immensely talented make-up artists that in a matter of minutes could make you look screen-ready for a B-rated horror flick.

After everyone got all made up, a costume contest took the stage and “Oxyclean/Oxycotin” wielding Billy Mayes and Shaft duked it out for the grand prize while the remaining contestants were hilariously declared dead due to anal sex, thanks to the Elder Statesman’s twisted MCeeing. I can’t rave enough and it would be a futile attempt to tell you more than this sampling of the great time that I had that night. Between the atmosphere, eclectic people, rad and creative performances and Tremont bartender, Lisa Barr’s famous orange juice margaritas, I could not have asked for more.

— Jennifer Bement

See photos from the event here.

Over the years, the Milestone has earned a strong reputation for its ability to get people wasted drunk. It is often said by those of us who have frequented the place that there is regular “bar drunk” and then there’s “Milestone drunk.”As on a Monday night you could end up slipping into this booze vortex, New Year's tends to be the most vulnerable time to visit a rare form of inebriation.

Because of this, I have often been the girl who barely makes it past midnight due to a copious amount of Jameson and a DD, but for some reason this year I just didn’t feel like making a deal with Satan and allowing myself to throw down with the rest of my fellow “Milestoners.” For the first time in my adult life, I spent New Year's sober and, as a result, got to witness and remember some of the best music and social interactions of my lifetime.

I was stoked from the moment I had seen the line-up. Little Bull Lee+Weekenders+Hectagons+Emotron+Mr. Invisible=Dance party by the end of the night in my book and that is exactly what happened. As The Emotron went on at midnight, everybody took their shot of choice and began getting down to the catchy tunes and mystically bizarre performance. By the end of The Emotron’s set as he stripped down to his tumor-esque sci-fi suit, people had began the final binge and ended up giving in to the temptation of shaking their hips: the dance party had begun.

It’s kind of funny to see a bunch of metal and punk rock kids dancing their asses off, but I suppose it is a natural reaction that is often held back. I, however,  lack shame when it comes to dancing with a complete disregard of my ability to stay on beat or who is watching me — so I joined in, eating up every moment of the unity and mirth we were experiencing. The dance party continued throughout Mr. Invisible’s set with vigor and thereafter thanks to Jonathan Hughes’ famous mix. By 3 a.m., everyone was getting told to leave but we were having such a good time that it was almost impossible.

The Milestone’s New Year's celebration was a successful and fantastic way to bring in 2011. And I'm super glad that I managed to remember every moment of it.