the btk band, 11/19/09, stonewall inn, nyc

the btk band, 11/19/09, the stonewall inn, nyc, ny"The BTK Band: they'll break your heart & melt your fucking face..."The day started out like any other. A typical commute, slightly hindered by some dude who led the police on the shortest chase ever- from Ft. Lee, NJ to 2/3 of the way across the GWB, where he stopped his car, ran across the Southbound lanes, and hurled himself off the bridge to the chilly Hudson below & his presumed death (I learned this all later). Odd. Had I not stopped to change my socks that morning (sometimes my socks bother me), I might have seen it all happen! Instead, I passed by the mysterious scene a few minutes later and took a few spooky photos.



the abandoned car.



But onward and upward, yes? After work, I met a small running crew at the Corner Bistro in the West Village where I scavenged some fries (I don't dig on red meat, yo.) off of Hern's plate before we headed over to the Historical Stonewall Inn, in hopes that the BTK Band would melt our faces. There was a waffle truck across the street that smelled REALLY good but I did not try (but, note to self: try W. Village waffle truck, damnit!).



Pete the Enforcer leads the face-fucking improv & anthem spectacle that is the BTK Band with massive amounts of charm, charisma, & Jim Beam. It also happened to be his 33rd birthday and his mom was in attendance. There were a few guest storytellers during the night. Juliet Wayne (also her bday!) told a story about employment in the lucrative world of phone sex operating and how she herself (cleverly dressed as a Puritan) fucked Satan. Kate Tellers spoke of a sailor named Igor who emigrated from Macedonia to her apartment in Queens. And Sara Peters (Pete's wife) shared a story about bailing Pete out of jail at 3am- the first time his mother had ever heard that one (that's tear-jerky). Sometime during that story the Japanese media showed up and filmed for a while*. Huh?





Pete brought a few people up onstage throughout the show for inspiration. One of those people was Tal who had The BTK Blues sung about his mama**. Another one of these people was El Herno, who got to blindly select bible verses for interpretation by the Demon Pope during So Says the Lord & then sang some mean backup vocals, taboot.






A big highlight was BTK's rendition of They Might Be Giants, "Dead", which Pete dedicated to his mother. She had apparently heard him sing it when he was a wee lad & subsequently put him in therapy. I also enjoyed Your Favorite Song which included a lounge style cover of It's Raining Men via audience suggestion as the Drag Show cast/audience started showing up.

The last song was their hit single (they are huge in Japan), "(the Ballad of) Fatty & Skinny" a heart breaking tale about Pete's parents with an infectious hook ("Fatty & Skinny should have never gotten married in the first place!"). This particular night's rendition was about the time Pete's father (Fatty) walked out on his entire family (forever) in the middle of the silent portion of a Midnight Mass ceremony in their church. Stunned. Good times! The show ended with Pete asking his mom how she could have ever fucked his dad cuz, "he is such a dick".




We were told to stay put for the Drag Show that was about to start (it looked promising!). However, I had developed a migraine from sleep deprivation*** and decided to take off (while simultaneously taking a migraine pill). It took a while to get to the door because downstairs was packed like sardines for what was apparently also Lesbian Jello Wrastling Night. Keep it classy, Stonewall.

This show was outstanding and I certainly got my $5 worth. The storytelling (by both band & guests) was top notch, the BTK Band held it together, and Pete the Enforcer is every bit the lead ham you'd expect. I will definitely be seeing them again. The BTK Band: they broke my heart & melted my face. 8.5 HUZZAHS!!! Happy Birthday, Pete the Enforcer. Life is more enjoyable by knowing you.



**SEE SOME BTK BAND HERE!**
SETLIST:
I Don't Wanna Grow Up
BTK Blues^
Juliet Wayne (Sex With Satan)
NY
Sara Peters (Thank You Wife)
So Says the Lord^^
Dead
Kate Tellers (Igor)
Name Yer Poison
When Will I Be Loved?
Your Favorite Song (Raining Men)
(The Ballad of) Fatty & Skinny^^^

^ w/ Tal
^^ w/ El Herno
^^^ feat. Pete's mama

SLIDESHOW & HI-RES GALLERY




* Really.
** The band specifically requested someone from the audience who's mom was NOT dead. This has been a problem in the past.
*** I blame 2 days of searching for the Leonids.