Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fashion / Nightlife / Tonight Hard Times at the War Room
Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:41 AM
For the past several months, I have been blessed with an intern named Sarah Galvin, who, in addition to being an good-spirited data-enterer, is a hilarious and adventurous fun-lover. Today's proof: The following photo essay on the smashed-fashion club night Hard Times, featuring interviews and text from Sarah Galvin and photography by Kevin Kauer. Enjoy!
Advertised as a “multi poly omni art experiment,” Hard Times is the Wednesday dance night and cabaret at the War Room. Created by David Richey and L.A. Kendall (who also started Hot Mess and Kiss My Ass), Hard Times features a rotating selection of DJs, slide shows of glitter-and-fake-blood-drenched parties projected on the walls, and banners bearing messages like “Sexual mutant, get some electro-pussy!” The cabaret acts have included an EZ Cheez-and Bugles-gargling drag queen and a biblical/insect exterminator-themed strip show. A high percentage of the acts require that the stage be covered with a tarp.Hard Times attracts people with a wide variety of tastes, backgrounds, and sexual orientations, but most are united by an interest in fashion. This is not the usual melange of skinny jeans, Adidas and plaid shirts. Hard Times patrons come dressed up like five eccentric millionaires taped together. Being in the War Room on a Wednesday night is akin to being violently shaken in a bag full of holiday decorations and partial nudity, with vodka.
Eric Nathan Amoania Chilton
Occupation: "Retail slut."
Inspiration for outfit: "Everything resembling garbage, punk rock. Backwards and forwards."
Last article of clothing bought: Sparkly fishnets.
Garment he hates most in the world: Embroidered jeans from TJ Maxx.
In high school, he wore: A Rainbow Brite sweatshirt.
When he is very old, he plans to wear: "The skin of a favorite deceased pet."
Occupation: "Retail slut."
Inspiration for outfit: "Everything resembling garbage, punk rock. Backwards and forwards."
Last article of clothing bought: Sparkly fishnets.
Garment he hates most in the world: Embroidered jeans from TJ Maxx.
In high school, he wore: A Rainbow Brite sweatshirt.
When he is very old, he plans to wear: "The skin of a favorite deceased pet."
Blake Karamazov
Occupation: Therapist.
Inspiration for outfit: Carrots, fucking children, spaceships.
Last article of clothing bought: A Hello Kitty tiara.
Garment she hates most in the world: Cargo jeans.
In high school, she wore: Plaid skirts and fishnets.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: "The same things as now but with more cleavage."
Occupation: Therapist.
Inspiration for outfit: Carrots, fucking children, spaceships.
Last article of clothing bought: A Hello Kitty tiara.
Garment she hates most in the world: Cargo jeans.
In high school, she wore: Plaid skirts and fishnets.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: "The same things as now but with more cleavage."
Stella Rose St. Claire
Occupation: "I don’t know, but this tampon is really uncomfortable. Maybe I shoved it up the wrong hole. But I hear that’s fashionable these days."
Inspiration for outfit: "I hear it’s easier than surgery to get rid of your breasts by selling your blouse with the breasts still in it." (See top right.)
Last article of clothing bought: Stockings with seams.
Garment she hates most: "Jeans. They remind me of my girlfriend Jean, who was a strange color of blue, but the most durable girlfriend I ever had."
In high school, she wore: "I am high school. If you see my brick inlays, stop looking—those are for later."
When she is very old, she plans to wear: "A variety of young people. I’ll seduce fifteen-year-old boys and tell them I’m pregnant because I have a fetish for baby clothes."
Four more impressive Hard Timers photographed by Kevin Kauer and interviewed by Sarah Galvin after the jump...
Toya Harris
Occupation: Barista
Inspiration for outfit: "'80's whores."
Last article of clothing bought: "These tights."
Garment she hates most in the world: "Jeans with motherfucking dresses."
In high school, she wore: Skinny jeans, hoodies and Converse.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: Gowns.
Occupation: Barista
Inspiration for outfit: "'80's whores."
Last article of clothing bought: "These tights."
Garment she hates most in the world: "Jeans with motherfucking dresses."
In high school, she wore: Skinny jeans, hoodies and Converse.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: Gowns.
Still-Drunk-Paul
Occupation: Online business owner.
Inspiration for outfit: "Surviving the apocalypse."
Last article of clothing bought: Brass knuckles from Moksha.
Garment he hates most in the world: Crocs.
In high school, he wore: Stuff from thrift stores in South Dakota.
When he is very old, he plans to wear: "Nothing, or kitties."
Occupation: Online business owner.
Inspiration for outfit: "Surviving the apocalypse."
Last article of clothing bought: Brass knuckles from Moksha.
Garment he hates most in the world: Crocs.
In high school, he wore: Stuff from thrift stores in South Dakota.
When he is very old, he plans to wear: "Nothing, or kitties."
Felicia Stapleton
Occupation: Boutique manager.
Inspiration for outfit: 90s glam and Courtney Love.
Last article of clothing bought: Black-on-black sparkle tights.
Garment she hates most in the world: Crocs.
In high school, she wore: Vintage T-shirts and Dickies.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: Lace.
Occupation: Boutique manager.
Inspiration for outfit: 90s glam and Courtney Love.
Last article of clothing bought: Black-on-black sparkle tights.
Garment she hates most in the world: Crocs.
In high school, she wore: Vintage T-shirts and Dickies.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: Lace.
Jamie Von Stratten
Occupation: Clothing designer and costumer.
Inspiration for this outfit: "A trashy Julia Roberts prostitute costume from Pretty Woman as worn by a naive housewife in 1982."
Last article of clothing she bought: Baby-blue fabric to make pants.
Garment she hates most in the world: "Wide-leg flowy capris. They make everyone’s ass look square."
In high school, she wore: Goth and wannabe punk attire.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: "A trashy Julia Roberts prostitute costume from Pretty Woman as worn by a naive housewife in 1982."
Occupation: Clothing designer and costumer.
Inspiration for this outfit: "A trashy Julia Roberts prostitute costume from Pretty Woman as worn by a naive housewife in 1982."
Last article of clothing she bought: Baby-blue fabric to make pants.
Garment she hates most in the world: "Wide-leg flowy capris. They make everyone’s ass look square."
In high school, she wore: Goth and wannabe punk attire.
When she is very old, she plans to wear: "A trashy Julia Roberts prostitute costume from Pretty Woman as worn by a naive housewife in 1982."
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2
Just so you all know: I hate each and every one of these people. Yes, its true. Im that shallow.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing!!
5
Great article! You should cover more nights like this. I love Stella Rose. My band played a show with her once where she covered Linda Scott songs and she was really great.
9
Hey dummy, if you don't like hipsters, you are reading the wrong blog. This is a paper by, for, and about them. I hate trains but don't spend my time on Model Railroader's blog posting about how stupid those people are for liking them.
If you're reading the Stranger, you are a hipster. Most likely you only think you aren't because you're: especially good looking & stylish, especially ugly & unstylish & therefore kind of bitter, or one of those hipster offshoots like guy who loves to brag about listening to Slayer in high school when the other kids were into alternative/grunge. Guess what? Still just as much a hipster.
If you're reading the Stranger, you are a hipster. Most likely you only think you aren't because you're: especially good looking & stylish, especially ugly & unstylish & therefore kind of bitter, or one of those hipster offshoots like guy who loves to brag about listening to Slayer in high school when the other kids were into alternative/grunge. Guess what? Still just as much a hipster.
12
"If you're reading the Stranger, you are a hipster."
Yes, the 80,000 readers in King and it's surrounding counties are all hipsters. Leave Capitol Hill much? I'm not a hipster hater, but come on, the Stranger's readership is way more diverse than that.
Yes, the 80,000 readers in King and it's surrounding counties are all hipsters. Leave Capitol Hill much? I'm not a hipster hater, but come on, the Stranger's readership is way more diverse than that.
14
"It doesn't matter what they say, as long as you measure in inches."
Sweeeeet. Looks like we're doing pretty well then.
Sweeeeet. Looks like we're doing pretty well then.
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