Bowie Ball

MCA, Heaven Malone & Stardust Present BOWIE BALL (http://bowieball.com) It's time yet again for Chicago's Bowie Ball, where we celebrate the legend, the chameleon, and the man... David Bowie. 2013's Bowie Ball 2013, held on Bowie's Birthday, coincided with the surprise announcement that after 10 years of silence, a brand new album titled "The Next Day" was being released. For Bowie Ball 2014, even David Bowie tweeted and posted about our incredibly extravagant and packed New Year’s Bowie Ball, which partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art to announce their David Bowie Is exhibition. Bowie Ball returns this Summer on Thursday, August 7th, 2014 to coincide with launch of ticket sales for David Bowie Is, a multimedia exhibition on one of the most influential and iconic artists of our time - David Bowie. MCA Chicago is the only US venue where you can experience Bowie's revolutionary synthesis of music, art, fashion, and performance. So get into the spirit with us – glam it up, dress like a dandy and let’s love the alien with some glitter on top. Featuring live performances by Chris Connelly & Robert Byrne as they play David Bowie. Bowiesque DJ sets by Bowie Ball Chicago founder, Heaven Malone with Greg Corner & X[P]. Wander among the androgynous Bowie fashion LQQKS by Sissy Spastik, Miss Tosh, Jojo Baby & Queerella Fistalot. And get yourself glittered & glammed up by Katy & Lorelei's glitter and glam makeover booth. Sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Featuring live musical performances by CHRIS CONNELLY & ROBERT BYRNE PLAY DAVID BOWIE ( http://chrisconnelly.com/sonsofthesilentage ) Bowiesque DJ Sets by HEAVEN MALONE ( http://heavenmalone.com ) GREG CORNER with resident DJ X[P] Androgynous Bowie LQQKS by Sissy Spastik Miss Tosh Jojo Baby Queerella Fistalot Bowie Makeovers by Katy & Lorelei Photos by ASL Sponsored by The Museum of Contemporary Art ( http://www2.mcachicago.org/david-bowie-is ) RSVP: HTTP://BOWIEBALL.COM BERLIN NIGHTCLUB 954 W.Belmont Ave. 10pm - 4am $2 PBR / $3 Berlin Bombs / $6 Stoli + + + + BIOGRAPHIES + + + + + + CHRIS CONNELLY & ROBERT BYRNE of SONS OF THE SILENT AGE + + CHRIS CONNELLY is a 30+ year veteran of the music business, having moved from his native Scotland in the 80's to pursue a career in gratuitous volume and outrage with technorednecks THE REVOLTING COCKS and MINISTRY. Matt Walker of Morrissey and Chris were working together on one of Matt's songs when the seed was sewn to start a band dedicated to the music of DAVID BOWIE, the pair always having had a strong connection and affinity with his career, his changing, challenging sound and his aesthetic. A stellar band was assembled, all veterans in their own right with excellent pedigrees, and almost immediately rehearsals were well underway with songs from Bowie's canon that were being selected, played and played with. SONS OF THE SILENT AGE was a living, vital entity. It was decided to make the inaugural gig a benefit for a charity close to their hearts: PABLOVE, an organization that provides relief for pediatric cancer patients and their families And so it came to be, on January 11th of 2013, SONS played their first show to a sold out crowd at METRO in Chicago. The benefit was so successful that it went without saying they should keep the band moving and playing, exploring Bowie's music, and exploring his aesthetic, treating it the way perhaps he would himself, evolving, changing sonically and visually, with the aim of both thoroughly entertaining an audience, and challenging it at the same time. SONS OF THE SILENT AGE boasts nine members culled from the absolute elite of Chicago musicians - diehard and dedicated souls who love the material and know it intimately, pouring their collective talents over Bowie's 40+ years and 30 albums of dazzling music, music that irrefutably changed the face of rock and an aesthetic so strong it will continue to spread ripples through our culture for ever. For more information: http://chrisconnelly.com/sonsofthesilentage + + HEAVEN MALONE + + From throwing Marilyn Manson’s absinthe fueled Mardi Gras party to having Justice spin a secret New Year’s Eve warehouse party, Heaven Malone has been influential in the Chicago underground music scene. Moving to Chicago from New Orleans in 2003, Heaven Malone quickly became immersed in Chicago’s industrial music scene, producing events with classic acts such as Ministry and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. In 2005, as the electro scene started taking over the underground, Malone joined Kill Hannah’s Mat Devine in organizing the fashion & social collective known as Chicago Suicide Club. CSC’s first event featured Peaches, followed over the years by Ladytron, Shiny Toy Guns, Fischerspooner, Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars, Marilyn Manson & culminating on New Year’s Eve 2009 with French electro pioneers Justice. In 2009, Heaven Malone founded and DJed the influential weekly indie- electro party “Disappear Here” at Pete Wentz’s club, Angels & Kings. This notoriously decadent Bret Easton Ellis inspired party featured up and coming DJs & producers such as Le Castle Vania, Lucky Date, Gemini Club & Midnight Conspiracy. Following Disappear Here in 2010, Malone DJed a monthly residency at Beauty Bar called Die Tonight, which featured The xx, Kids at the Bar and The Hood Internet. In 2011, Malone managed and DJed the exclusive VIP lounge inside The House of Blues for Girls & Boys Chicago, the first spinoff of the famous party at Webster Hall in New York City. Switch of Major Lazer, Passion Pit & Chromeo were just a few to grace the stage. 2012 & 2013 saw Malone touring the country with multiple dates in LA, NYC, Philadelphia, Denver, Austin and New Orleans. 2014 started off with Malone DJing & producing Bowie Ball sponsored by Museum of Contemporary Art for the multi-media fashion exhibition of acclaimed glam rocker, David Bowie. And in Summer 2014, Malone DJed his first international dates for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France. + + MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO and "David Bowie Is" + + DAVID BOWIE IS, September 2014 - January 2015 This September, the MCA presents David Bowie is, the first international retrospective of the extraordinary career of David Bowie -- one of the most pioneering and influential performers of our time. More than 300 objects, including handwritten lyrics, original costumes, photography, set designs, album artwork, and rare performance material from the past five decades are brought together from the David Bowie Archive for the first time. The exhibition demonstrates how Bowie’s work has both influenced and been influenced by wider movements in art, design, theater, and contemporary culture and focuses on his creative processes, shifting style, and collaborative work with diverse designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre, and film. The exhibition’s multimedia design introduces advanced sound technology by Sennheiser, original animations, and video installations to create an immersive journey through Bowie’s artistic life. This exhibition was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. + + LQQKS Performers + + Sissy Spastik is one of Chicago's most wildly creative drag personas. A self-taught makeup artist, Sissy enjoys modeling in photo shoots in front of and behind the camera, creating transforming looks on herself and others. Most recently earlier this year, Sissy flew to Los Angeles and fulfilled her dream of doing one of her all-time favorite clubkids' makeup, the legendary James St. James, author of "Party Monster" on his weekly web show, "Transformations". She was also shot by notable LA photographer, Austin Young, for his upcoming pinup series. The art of transformation is what inspires Sissy at the core. She also enjoys her times collecting one of a kind vintage clothing and can spend hours in a record store. Currently, you can catch her at her monthly new drag show "Mannequin" on the first Friday each month at the all new Whiskey Trust, where she has a rotating cast of Chicago's most out-of-the-box drag and performance art you will ever see. She can also be seen as a rotating host Sundays at "Queen!" at Smart Bar, "Lqqks" at Berlin Nightclub and the fabulous ongoing monthly costume party, "Neverland" where she is a performer and host. JoJo Baby is Chicago's own favorite nightlife entertainer. JoJo is inspired by many diverse pop icons: from Leigh Bowery to Jim Henson & Clive Barker. He is an expert hair stylist, makeup artist, doll maker, and costume maker. He has made numerous tv and film appearances and was featured in the Clive Barker documentary titled JoJo Baby. Queerella Fistalot is gender-bending artist, grinder girl and professional pervert. You can see her performing regularly with Ties and Tassles Productions or catch one of her flesh-hook suspensions with 313 Suspension Team. Find her on Facebook at facebook.com/fistalot. MISS TOSH: Tosha (Tosh) Sherman grew up in Venice Beach, California in what she likes to describe as a ‘seaside sideshow atmosphere’ which nurtured her creative fantasies. With no limitations on her potential, Sherman was able to pursue her creative ambitions. Sherman received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the world renowned fashion department of the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Sherman’s collections are notorious for pushing the boundaries and limitations of what is to be expected. Her sophisticated use of technology, couture construction and her whimsical style takes audiences on a journey into fantasy and spectacle. Sherman was the first student at SAIC to open the runway show the first year in her department, with a sponsorship from Swarovski Crystals. In addition, it was also the first year Chicago’s Millenium park runway experienced a sound and motion sensitive garment. She was the first student in 80 years to design a collection for a senior age group, sending “Gmama’s” dancing down the runway! The Chicago Sun Times describes Sherman’s work as “Inspired designs and dazzling garments.” In her collections you can expect Swarovski encrusted head wear, amongst digitally designed fabrics, tailored suits and bias cut gowns. Sherman’s work has been featured by Maybelline New York, Ulta, Vogue Italia, Sorbet Magazine, MTV and Swarovski Crystals. She works in an atelier setting, collaborating with clients in order to create one of a kind garments. Sherman has been featured by and created pieces for celebrated artists; Riff Raff, Far East Movement, Catherine D’Lish, Jennifer Coolidge, Why Not Smiles and The Oscar Night of 100 Stars. In addition to her career as a fashion designer, Sherman is a self styled creative performer and makeup artists. She works with private clients at MAC Cosmetics and Barney’s New York Sherman’s style has been celebrated among style blogs and fashion magazines such as Chicago Street Style, Chicago Looks, New City Chicago, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Reader, LA Weekly and Korean Style Magazine Cracker Your Wardrobe. Identifying as a lesbian woman, Sherman has found her community to be amongst the queens and queers of Chicago. Her heart is in the fight for equality and freedom of expression. Sherman has collaborated with a range of queer Chicago artists including; Gnat Glitter Kink, Nina Palomba, Katy Rameriez, Aaron Fulnecky and Sissy Spastik. Sherman also performs burlesque and special song and dance numbers at parties like Beauty Bar’s Salonathon, Double Doors Fabitat, School of the Art Institute Chicago’s Drag and Burlesque show and Berlin Nightclub’s LQQKS. Her performances challenge tropes of femininity and notions of the erotic, while always leaving the audience dazzled, dazed and wanting more. Sherman has most recently joined the weekly party Stardust (voted best party in the city 3 years running in the Chicago Reader) at the world famous Berlin Nightclub as a creative director for their LQQKS installation that happens once a month. + + STARDUST + + Stardust is a weekly gala taking place every Thursday at Berlin Nightclub. Curated by a who’s who of Chicago creatives, the night features a bevy of multimedia, music and fashion forward artists. Named Chicago Reader’s “Best LGBT Dance Party” in Best of Chicago 2012 & 2013, it caters to the community that supports it through collaboration and technique powered by art and purpose. Stardust is the home of parties such as Twirl! (2nd Thursdays) and Total Therapy (last Thursday). Stardust beckons the inner Gothic night owl, Disco Metal Couture, Indie dancing queen, Italo Raving, Crunk Queer, Emo punk-rocking freak that you are. Curator Scott Cramer named “Best Party Promoter” in Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago 2011, 2012 & 2013. Photos by ASL http://asl-media.com + + BERLIN NIGHTCLUB + + Berlin Nightclub is a historic venue founded in 1983 as a place that celebrates diversity and has maintained its reputation as one of the most unique institutions in Chicago nightlife for over 30 years. In it's early years, Berlin successfully mixed tattoos and transvestites, pinafores and platforms, dada and go-go, and everyone in-between. That spirit remains alive at today, as Berlin 2013 celebrates artistic expression and music on the fringe of club culture. Berlin was named ‘Best Nongay Gay Bar’, ‘Best Gay Bar’, ‘Best Anything Goes Club’, and ‘Runner up Best Lesbian Bar’ in the Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago 2012 & 2013. Thursday Night’s Stardust was named ‘Best LGBT Dance Party’ in Chicago Reader’s Best of 2012 & 2013, and host Scott Cramer was named ‘Best Party Promoter’ 2011, 2012 & 2013. Berlin’s dance parties are legendary and critically acclaimed - Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Metromix, & many others have given Berlin and it’s events "Best Of Chicago" or Top 10 status during the past decade. Colorful bar staff, innovative DJs, outrageous hosts, & a magnificent mix of patrons make Berlin what it is today: a historic venue with a rich history. It has a bit of whimsy with a cutting edge... and it's consistently the most exciting late-night dance destination in the Windy City. Berlin Nightclub 954 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL. 60657-4438 (773) 348-4975 www.BerlinChicago.com