Manhattan Mardi Gras With M. C. Hammer The Roxy February 28, 2006 Written by Shareshten Senior Photographed by Krisztina Fazekas

M. C. Hanmmer

The Glamazons

Fat Tuesday was Phat! The Roxy hosted a fundraiser for AIDS and Hurricane Katrina victims with a line up of acts featuring dancers and singers clad in knocked-out costumes. As the partiers came in the door, they walked down a short hallway past a table where you could buy Mardi Gras beads or bag some free condoms. I bought five strings of beads and ……

Mardi Gras Dancers


The Imperial Court of New York

The Roxy, with its throne-like couches surrounding the dance floor, is a great venue for an event like Mardi Gras. I settled into one of the couches with my Grey Goose and Red Bull and started surveying the room to see who I should interview. The most obvious target was a group that looked like they really should have been at the New Orleans's Mardi Gras. They were “way-out-there,” wearing sequined capes, large head dresses and face paint. I approached them and they greeted me warmly, introducing themselves as the Empresses Trai La Trash and Robin Kradles, and the Emperor Tony Monteleone. Their group is called the Imperial Court of New York and they fundraise for gay causes by singing and performing. They proudly presented the fundraiser with a check for $2,600 that night.

Cowgirls

Madame, a lovable puppet full of double entendres and cheeky anecdotes, welcomed everyone to "Fat Tuesday," which according to her is better than "bulemic Mary-Kate." She introduced the first act, a menagerie of cowgirls, who mounted the stage dressed in thigh highs and garter belts, brandishing lassos and dancing seductively.

The Billionaires for Bush

Now, no fundraiser would be complete without a political rally. So, next up was the Billionaires for Bush, who graced us with their political wisdom, telling us that Billionaires are the largest “minority” in the U.S. They sang their hit song: "Will the real Dick Cheney please Stand up?" The Billionaire women and men danced around the stage and the crowd fell in love with their “noble bureaucracy.”

Randy Jones (The Village People) and Madame

Next, Randy Jones, the ex-Village People singer and star of Sodom The Musical, came to the stage and helped Madame work up the crowd. Jones talked about the victims of Hurricane Katrina. "We need to give all that we can. This country has not done right by the New Orleans Hurricane Katrina victims." Jones was in New Orleans in December, so he spoke from personal experience.

Jones then introduced Crystal Waters, who took over the stage with "100% Pure Love" and other songs that had the crowd dancing and singing along. Lip-sinking her way into our hearts, Crystal had some amazing dance moves.

M. C. Hammer

Then, M.C. Hammer and his crew of back-up dancers stole the show. The crowd greeted him with a familiar chant: "Hammer, Hammer, Hammer." Although the crowd was a little sparse, Hammer performed as if he had sold out Madison Square Garden. "We're going to perform like there are 20,000 people in here," Hammer says after his opening song, "because that's the only way I know how." Hammer was a great host. He kept the audience dancing, the crowd chanting and the energy level sky high. Hammer rapped up the evening with old favorites like "Too Legit to Quit" and finally, the anticipated number "Can't Touch This!" Hammer's new CD will be released in May and Hammer will continue to tour for his new album. For the grand finale Hammer jumped off stage, followed by his dancers, and they broke into a freestyle dance with the crowd.

If you would like to learn more about the Imperial Court of New York and their next big fundraiser "Night of 1,000 Gowns," you can log onto their website at www.imperialcourtny.org. For corporate events, dancing and concerts at the Roxy check out http://www.roxynyc.com/. For more on Hammer, his new music and upcoming events, you can check out his blog at http://www.mchammer.blogspot.com/.