NEW YORK CITY: Roseland Ballroom To Close With Four Lady Gaga Concerts

As I noted last month, the legendary Roseland Ballroom will close in the spring.  Here are the details for the final days:

Lady Gaga plans to play four shows at the 3,500-capacity venue: Mar. 28, 30, 31 and Apr. 2. Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 25, at 10 a.m. Prices range from $50 for general admission floor access to $200 for the mezzanine. Roseland has operated at various times in the city since it opened in 1919, in a space located right around the corner from its current location on 52nd St., west of Broadway. The ballroom ascended with the upswing of jazz in the ‘20s and ‘30s, hosting shows by Louis Armstrong, Count Basie (who had a song called “Roseland Shuffle”), Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

The Saint-At-Large has thus far remained silent as to the future of the Black Party, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday after the vernal equinox. That would be March 22nd.

Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom To Close

The legendary Roseland Ballroom, home to the Saint-At-Large Black Party for more than two decades, will reportedly close in April. Via Billboard Magazine:

Evolving from ballroom dancing in the ‘20s to popular music, Roseland has for years been a favored New York play for a wide range of bands from the early days of rock, through disco, grunge, modern rock, jam, pop, urban and EDM. The venue found a new gear with a $1 million production/rigging renovation in the early ‘90s, funded by Ginsberg, which led to more high profile bookings of multiple dates on bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and other hot acts when competition in that cap range was not as fierce. The room sits its in a sweet spot in terms of capacity at about 3,500, just right for developing bands climbing up the venue ladder as well as bigger bands, including the likes of the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Radiohead, that want to create buzz with an underplay. But its capacity is also a highly competitive space in the market, with AEG’s Best Buy Theater at about 2,500, Live Nation’s 3,500-cap Hammerstein Ballroom, Bowery Presents Terminal 5 at 3,000 cap, and the 2,800-cap Beacon Theatre, operated by Madison Square Garden. Still, Roseland remains a busy room, and one artists and agents prefer in many cases, so the move to close is likely related more to property values than the venue’s bottom line.

As Billboard notes, there are several similarly sized venues in Manhattan, including one not far from the Roseland in Times Square, but it will be interesting to see if any are willing to take on as colorful an event as the Black Party. Next year's event may be safe, as the Black Party takes place in late March. Broadway Cares' wildly popular Broadway Bares AIDS fundraiser, however, takes place in late June. (Tipped by JMG reader Rod)

RELATED: Here's a very short clip I took at the Black Party in 2006. Audio is lousy as I was right over a speaker.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, this week's Swag Tuesday prize is a ticket to this Saturday's 33rd annual Black Party, the longest-running and most famous leather dance party in the world, which this year stars DJ Satashi Tomie and DJs Chus + Ceballos, and which once again takes place at the legendary Roseland Ballroom in Times Square.

We also have two tickets to giveaway for the special $50 early morning after-hours set by DJ Hector Romero, which begins admitting new Roseland patrons at 9am on Sunday. Advance tickets are on sale here. Also on sale are tickets for the two Saint events that bookend the Black Party, Friday and Saturday's Black Party Expo and Sunday night's closing event at Santos Party House.

Enter to win tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite leather man or gal. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to this year's Black Party Expo, the two-day run up to the most famed gay dance party in the world. Advance tickets to the Black Party Expo and Black Party XXXIII are available here. Enter to win Expo tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to include your email address in your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

TRAILER: Black Party XXXIII

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint-At-Large (NSFW) this week's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to the 32nd annual Black Party (NSFW), the longest-running and most famous leather dance party in the world, which this year stars DJ Boris of Berlin, DJ Manny Lehman, and legendary house music pioneer DJ Danny Tenaglia. Advance tickets are on sale here. Also on sale are tickets for the two Saint events that bookend the Black Party, Friday and Saturday's Black Party Expo and Sunday night's closing party, After Black: Asylum.

Enter to win tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite leather man or gal. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large (NSFW) this week's Swag Tuesday prizes are two tickets each to the major events that bookend next week's Black Party Weekend (NSFW), Friday and Saturday's Black Party Expo and Sunday night's closing party, After Black: Asylum.

Black Party Expo
Friday, March 18th - 5pm - 1am
Saturday, March 19th - 12pm - 7pm

Billed as "Behind The Scenes At The World's Sexiest Party," this 2 day- exposition at Roseland Ballroom is the ultimate gay adult play and entertainment shopping experience. A rare opportunity for visitors to pull back the leather curtain and step into the netherworld behind the biggest and most notorious gay dance party in the world.. Over 50 fetish and fashion vendors, dozens of adult film stars, strange live acts and more. On Friday night, RENTBOY.COM in association with BPX: THE BLACK PARTY EXPO presents The Hookies: The 5th Annual International Escort Awards hosted by Leslie Jordon. Red Carpet 10:00pm. Show 11:00pm.

After Black: Asylum
Amnesia: 609 West 29th Street
Sunday March 20 - 7pm until 2am

Music by 80R15 of Berlin & Paulo. Lights by Darren Kawa. THE SAINT AT LARGE in association with NO EXIT productions present international superstar DJs 80R15 of Berlin & Paulo at the official BPX after party. $30 through day of event; $40 at door if available.

Advance tickets to both events are now available (NSFW). Enter to win tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the days of the events, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite leather man or gal. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

TRAILER: Black Party 2011

The 32nd annual Black Party (NSFW) rolls into Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom on March 19th. Here's the trailer (NSFW) for this year's party, where the theme appears to be human cloning. Sexy human cloning.

The Saint Opened 30 Years Ago Today

Thirty years ago today the most legendary gay nightclub in the history of the world opened in New York City. In recognition of the anniversary, the Saint-At-Large is releasing a series of videos about the club, starting with this accounting of opening night from Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie.

Black Party 2010 @ 8:00am

Here's 30 seconds of Black Party 2010, as viewed from the balcony of the Roseland Ballrooom just after 8am this morning. (Warning, the audio is VERY bad. It didn't seem that loud where I was standing, but my little digicam just freaks out over heavy bass. So turn this DOWN.) I'll probably post a fuller review later in the week, but the keywords for this year's event are: insanely crowded, unbearably hot, damn fun. Interestingly, an unadvertised sort-of satellite Black Party simultaneously took place across the street at Studio 54. It wasn't clear to us whether that was a stand-alone event or one created to relieve overcrowding at the Roseland. Overall, I had a much better time than in the last two years, especially once the crowd thinned somewhat and the temperature returned from the triple-digits. Not unrelated to my good time, it was also the least messy crowd I've ever seen at the Black Party, a trend I first noticed last year. There were a few guys who had very obviously flown too close to the sun, but I didn't personally witness any need for emergency services, for once.

UPDATE: Here's a much better clip with good audio, shot from behind opening DJ Hector Fonseca.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, today's Swag Tuesday prizes are tickets to this Saturday's 31st annual legendary Black Party, the most famous/infamous gay dance party in the history of the world. The party takes place at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, just off Times Square.

This year's Black Party DJs are Hector Fonseca, Paulo, and Ana Paula. Popular NYC DJs Gustavo and Rich King will spin the morning set. Doors open at 10PM Saturday and the party runs "until Sunday afternoon." Advance tickets are $110 until the day of the event, then $125 at the door. Purchase advance tickets online here. Tickets are also available at five Manhattan retailers.

Enter to win a ticket to Black Party XXXI by commenting on this post. We have two individual tickets to give away. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, tickets are transferable to your favorite local leatherman/boy/bear/cub. Entries close at midnight Wednesday, west coast time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to BPX: The Black Party Expo & Bazaar (NSFW), a porn star-infused event that precedes this year's annual legendary Black Party at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan.

Billed as "Behind The Scenes At The World's Sexiest Party" and benefitting The LGBT Center, The Black Party Expo & Bazaar, pulls back the leather curtain, granting anyone with $20 access a peek into the exclusive The Black Party® netherworld--and a chance to properly "gear up" for the night's big event.

Attendees will be free to drink, dance, ogle and gawk as they meet favorite adult film stars and power-shop for the very best in leather and fetish fashions, adult films, books, toys and erotic art, all while mingling under the stunning theatrical installations erected for the night’s big event.

Entertainment throughout the afternoon will be hosted by the outrageous Acid Betty and include scores of the hottest gay porn stars, a 30 years of fetish fashion show, music by Spank Zine's DJ Will & Sean B and a non-stop parade of street performers, dancers and infamous “strange live acts."

Tickets to BPX: The Black Party Expo & Bazaar are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Get tickets here. The event runs noon until 7PM at the Roseland Ballroom on Saturday, March 20st. Advance tickets to the 31st annual Black Party are $110 advance, $125 at the door. Get tickets here. Enter to win tickets to BPX: The Black Party Expo & Bazaar by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. Publicists, if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint-At-Large, this week's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to the first gay dance party at Water Taxi Beach on Governor's Island, where the world famous Freemasons DJ team will perform.

The Saint At Large is proud to christen Water Taxi Beach at Governors Island with its first major gay dance party on Sunday, September 20th. FREEMASONS, Europe’s #1 Grammy nominated DJs, will headline this outdoor bash - their New York City debut. The ultimate diva remix masters to Beyonce, Kylie and Whitney (with her soon-to-be-released MILLION DOLLAR BILL), the FREEMASONS along with opener DJ COREY CRAIG will make it a night to remember for everyone longing for a reinvented WHITE PARTY sound. Please join us as we inaugurate our 30th season of ground-breaking events with these chart-topping artists.

The party at Water Taxi Beach runs from 6PM to midnight on Sunday, September 20th. Tickets are $25 in advance, $40 at the door. Complimentary ferry transportation to Governor's Island begins at 5:30PM from the Battery Maritime Building.

Enter to win two tickets to the Saint-At-Large/Freemasons party by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comments. Entries close Wednesday at midnight, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to another party. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Here's Freemasons' brand new remix of Whitey Houston's "comeback" single, Million Dollar Bill.

UPDATE: The video has been removed by Sony's sales prevention team.

Remembering June 1969

Yesterday the cast of Hair, the chorus boys from West Side Story, and the vogueing houses slated to perform at tomorrow's Love Ball all gathered on the stairs of the new TKTS booth in Times Square to remember the night 40 years ago that sparked the Stonewall Rebellion. In the red headband behind the sailor is openly gay Hair star Gavin Creel. To the sailor's left is Mr. Broadway 2009 Anthony Hollock.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, today's Swag Tuesday booty is two tickets to the Love Ball, this Saturday's massive Pride dance at Times Square's Nokia Theatre.

THE SAINT AT LARGE in association with THE FEDERATION OF BALLROOM HOUSES present Love Ball. Gay Pride Weekend, Saturday, June 27, 2009, 10 pm until dawn, Nokia Theatre Times Square. Music by: Alyson Calagna and Chris Cox. Opening DJ Vjuan Allure Commentator: Jack Mizrahi. Lights by: Guy Smith. The Official Opening Night Party Benefiting HERITAGE OF PRIDE.

Advance tickets to the Love Ball are $70 until the day of the event. VIP tickets including open bar and backstage access are $125. Buy tickets online here. A special combo package of a Love Ball ticket plus a ticket to the Pier Dance is $130. Buy tickets here.

Enter to win two tickets to the Love Ball by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight Wednesday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to another party. Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday / New York City

Courtesy of Outmusic and the Saint At Large, this Swag Tuesday prize is two VIP tickets to Stonewall: A 40th Anniversary Commemorative Concert & Benefit, a star-studded gala of gay performers which takes place at 8pm on Saturday, June 27th at the Nokia Theater Times Square.

Featuring A Star Studded Line Up: Ari Gold, Billy Porter, Deepa Soul, Colton Ford, Lavendar Light Gospel Choir, Jason Walker, Jen Urban & The Box, DELI, Montalfish, Rachel Sage, BARON, Jasper James & She Dick, Jonny McGovern, Lori Michaels, Ron Morris, Christine Martucci, Ajoshua, KIN4LIFE, Ariel Aparicio & The Hired Guns, The Maine Attraction. With Appearances By: The Legendary Queen Mother Sabrina Flawless, Murray Hill, Kenny Kenny, and Mildred “Dred” Gerestant.

The first 400 tickets to the Stonewall Concert are $35. General admission standing: $50, general admission seated: $75. VIP premium seating, which includes open bar and backstage access is $125. The three latter ticket categories all include admission to the Love Ball featuring DJs Alyson Calagna and Chris Cox, which also takes place at the Nokia Theater (later that same night). Purchase online tickets here. Tickets are also available at these NYC outlets: Nasty Pig, 265A West 19th Street; Wear Me Out, 353 West 47th Street; Village Apothecary, 346 Bleecker Street; Screaming Mimi's, 382 Lafayette Street.

Enter to win two VIP tickets to the Stonewall Concert by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, Pacific time. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite gay music fan. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

In Which I Die Of Shame

About 6am at the Black Party, my buddy Nick and I noticed a young man lying on a bag of trash just off the dance floor. We watched him for a few seconds and when it appeared that nobody was looking after him, we went over and got him to his wobbly feet. "Are you OK?" Yes, yes. "You sure? You don't look OK and you were lying in the dirty garbage. Didn't you take something?" No, no, no! Yes. "Well, which is it? Where are your friends?" Shrug. Stagger. Dr. Jeff ran to the bar to get the kid something sugary while Nick and I kept him moving and talking. Colombian, 23, moved here from Bogata two weeks ago, knows no one in NYC. Sigh. A Roseland staffer came over and repeated the same questions that Nick and I had asked, the kid drank Dr. Jeff's soda, came out of his fog and decided to go home.

Crisis averted.

A few minutes later I headed to the basement to check out the DJ in the Serpent's Lounge. On the crowded stairs I noticed a guy about my age who seemed to be in a similar condition to our young Colombian, as he was gripping the center handrail with both hands and laboriously venturing each step. Emboldened by our earlier Boy Scoutery, I reached across the rail and took his elbow. "You doing OK, buddy? Looks like you're kinda out of it. Let me help you out." Oh, thank you, but I'm fine. I'm just really tired. And blind.

Joe dies of embarrassment.

Making it worse, I hadn't noticed that the man already had somebody on his other elbow helping him down the stairs. Making it extra extra extra worse, his friend turned out to be a JMG reader, meaning that I couldn't even by an anonymous asshole. They explained that the guy had lost his sight only two years ago due to some chronic condition. So here he is at the Black Party, defiantly holding on to this part of his old world, probably feeling pretty great about it, and some shithead has to come over and let him know that he looks like a fucked up mess. Yeah, yeah, best intentions and all that, but still.

As I departed the party eight hours later, I chatted with one of the EMTs hired for the event and he told me that he only knew of three patrons who had been removed for messiness, which I found quite remarkable considering the immense size of the crowd. On the way home I pondered what the number would have been had it been a straight event and remembered the 80 arrests for public messiness at tiny Hoboken, New Jersey's St. Patrick's Day parade. Since I only do the gay megaparty thing a couple of times a year anymore, I don't have a lot of first-person impressions to draw upon, but it does seem possible that gay folks have finally reined in the excesses that that played a part in ending many annual events like the Black Party.

An asshole can only hope.

VIDEO: Black Party 2009

ABOVE: One minute of the Black Party's dance floor, shot at approximately 4:15am. The clip starts out a bit dark, but an explosion of strobe light madness brightens things up immensely.
BELOW: My beloved Farmboys arrived shortly after noon, but I never found them as the crowd had scarcely lessened since my arrival around 2am. Below is Father Tony's photo montage/video. You'll note that although these two clips were taken at least nine hours apart, it appears that the same record is still playing. I can promise you that this is not an illusion. More on that issue later today after I've sorted out my thoughts.

Swag Tuesday

The Saint At Large continues their gifties to JMG readers as today's Swag Tuesday prize is two more tickets to The Christmas Party at Pacha, which takes place this Saturday, December 20th. Pacha is at 618 W. 48th Street in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. The party features DJs Michael Magnan, Eddie Elias, and Jonathan Peters and runs from 10PM to 6:30AM. Tickets are $30 advance, $40 at the door. Get tickets online here.

Enter to win two tickets to The Christmas Party by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave an email address you check frequently. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, PST. The winning entry is transferable to another party, so out-of-towners are encouraged to participate if you'd like to gift your tickets to friends in New York City. (Saint parties are legendary for a good reason.) Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Saint At Large, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to The Christmas Party at Pacha, which takes place Saturday, December 20th. Pacha is at 618 W. 48th Street in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. The party features DJs Michael Magnan, Eddie Elias, and Jonathan Peters and runs from 10PM to 6:30AM. Tickets are $30 advance, $40 at the door. Get tickets online here.

Enter to win two tickets to The Christmas Party by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave an email address you check frequently. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, PST. The winning entry is transferable to another party, so out-of-towners are encouraged to participate if you'd like to gift your tickets to friends in New York City. Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.