Kiki and Herb Return, part II
Over the last year Kiki and Herb have touched on a few current events as they always have in the act including the Columbine Shootings, or as Kiki referred to it, "The Concubine Tragedy," performing the song "I Don't Like Mondays," in a tribute to all the beautiful little victims, especially the one girl who for her senior class talent show did a Contemporary Christian-themed Mime routine and the irony was not lost on Kiki, who said, "Everyone who chooses a career as a contemporary Christian Mime Artist has chosen a high risk profession to begin with."
Taking stock of other tragedies in the recent past they recalled doing a JFK Jr. tribute with the Shona Laing song "I'm Glad I'm Not A Kennedy." Both Justin and Kenny bemoaned the fact that there hasn't been a really good tragedy to play off of in awhile. Kiki didn't get too worked up over "ethnic cleaning" and refugees in Bosnia, "because lets face it ladies and gentlemen, they're not going to be a part of our audience." Justin also pointed out that they no longer take mushrooms before every show like they used to ritualistically, but contend that their show is definitely powered by alcohol. They still have an occasional person walk out of a show offended by the material, but in the longrun Kiki throws more people out of the show than walk out offended. They recalled a night when an unruly person in the crowd was finally told by Kiki, "Everyone here hates you."
When the word dating came up I asked them if they, in lieu of their growing popularity, were doing much of that. Kenny said, " I'm single," while Justin responded with, "I'm marriedâ¤|or I'm at least involved in a primary relationship." Take note. They gave me a few hints about what to expect from their new show but didn't let me in on everything. One thing was certain though, the show was the thing-the fruit of their efforts and something they were proud of-what they were anxious to show the fans who nurtured this monster called Kiki and Herb. It must be said that the entire Ammiano fundraiser produced by The Tom Tom Club at the transmission Theater and Paradise Lounge was not only an endless array of diverse and solid entertainers paced smoothly all night long, but it also produced a feeling of belonging, a sense of focus, a clear and direct goal to work towards. I hadn't felt this way since I lay down in the street and let my friend spray paint my outline on Castro and Market while others lined the streets watching for cops with our warning word being "Mary" if one was spotted. Remember? Well, it was so good to feel something besides bitter and pushed around and backhanded by the city we love yet seem to be losing. I saw hope for the first time in awhile-but hope doesn't visit a voting booth and punch a hole, YOU do and will come December 14, or you are a bed wetter. Your sheets will be hanging out the window for all to see.
When it was time for Kiki and Herb to go on-emcee Ggreg Taylor suggested that all of us sitting on the floor stand to make room for all the people filling
up the back. This crowd was huge and excited. I was right up front where I wanted to be and Herb came out and started playing and singing an intro and there was something just a bit more intense about him-pounding the keys harder singing louder starting out at manic as opposed to mellow. Thirty seconds had passed and herb was already on fire! Then Kiki shot out on stage drink in hand, arms in the air and wearing a new dress! This was the first time I'd seen her in anything but that trademark snagged silver and black Foxy Lady Boutique dress-ever. They tore into a rousing version of "(hit me baby) One More Time" by just-turned-old-enough-to-vote Britney Spears. The rendition was brutal-complete with from-the-video dance moves, Herb screaming back up vocals like a man on fire. The crowd so loves and so misses Kiki and Herb, who in turn slip right into the medley they used to open with years ago of "Flamingo/When Doves Cry." The house was ecstatic.
Once the crowd had calmed a bit Kiki led into her first real story of the night, one they had alluded to when we spoke the day before. She explained their history, meeting in an "Institutional" where they were each other's only friends, how they were there because they were, in those days what they called retards. "Some people don't like that word these days, and would prefer specially-abled or mentally handicapped but that word is ours. We reclaim it, kinda like black people do with the word nigger." She went on to explain as they grew older it was apparent that herb was gay and other kids would tease him. Kids can be so cruel. The story continues dipping into a treacherous juvenile schoolyard nightmare of fag bashing via the song "You're Ugly" by the group Butt Trumpet. Then it goes even further and as Kiki takes you there to the tragedy of Herbs multiple rape, the pain and anguish and shame and horror comes forth on Herbs face as he plays the piano with the force of his attackers penetration from behind, thrusting the pain forward, hips smashing against the piano, pain rushing through keys and into the notes, twisting and pounding his body in a way Jerry Lee Lewis never did and Little Richard wanted to. And Kiki takes it right into that verse in "Horses" by Patti Smith where Johnny gets raped in the locker room, of course changing the name to Herbie. This was the rape of Herb, a tragedy which she of course saves him from, but he is hospitalized and unclear if she was really there for him-he cant remember, but she was and the whole ordeal comes to a emotional epic conclusion with a song called 'I'll Keep on Loving You" by either Meatloaf or Journey, I can't remember. My God! I've never hated the smoking ordinance in this state more than I did at the conclusion of this medley! I noted that Herb had become far more of an expressive character than merely an accompanist in New York. In fact-the bond between Kiki and Herb seems to be the area where the most change and development has taken place. This was impressive, and like just about every queer male in the house, it turned me way the fuck on. Is that sick? Their set continued on with a stunning powerful version of "This Is Hardcore" by Pulp, a brilliant song made even more fantastic by Kiki's rendition, a trick she's often been able to do with a contemporary pop rock hit. Sometimes an artist will do a cover song in such a way that it changes forever your memory of it, you'll never hear it again without hearing it as you heard it performed that certain time. Kiki and Herb have done that to a number of songs for me like Radiohead's "Creep." Perhaps they have a knack for doing this to smug and popular brit-pop. They may have made their mark here for certain, and the title "This Is Hardcore" just kept running through my mind after their set as just a general description of their show.
One perky number that was actually a sing-a-long called "Banging in The Nails" originally done by a group called The Tiger Lillies who come highly recommended from both Kenny and Justin, is one of the most blasphemous filthy naughty you-are-definitely -going-to-hell-for-liking-this-song kind of ditty. It makes a fun little audience participation number singing as fast as you can, "I'm crucifying Jesus/I'm banging in the nails/I'm bang bang bang bangbang/ bang bang bang banging in the nails." You got it!
Kiki and Herb's set wound down to a close with a song that I've always hated but their version completely changed my mind and sounded beautiful. It was Kate Bush's "Running up the Hill." Its arrangement was slightly slowed down and askew, but in a gentle way. It made for a poignant closing song to a set that I thought a lot about and it just boggles the mind. I ran into an old friend afterwards and he said, "She's got more teeth and they're much sharper." I ran into another who said "Running up The Hill" made him cry. I remembered how many times I laughed uncontrollably during the set, and I thought, all of this success is coming their way and yet their show seemed if anything, harder, stranger, scarier, and more dangerous than ever. And you were thinking perhaps that all the media attention was possibly due to a toned down and nicer Kiki and Herb? It's so hard to say why one of my favorite acts is becoming so popular but I knew they would. Because Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman are genius.
