This was a super exciting event for me to shoot. I’ve tuned into the live stream in previous years, but this was my first time at the star-studded event in person. If you’re not familiar with the KT’s Kids, it’s an annual fundraiser held at Liar’s Club, running for its 19th year this installment. Christmas may have passed this year, but KT’s Kids is a 501c3 Non-Profit, so it’s never a bad time to make a tax deductible donation. Also, as of this writing, the livestream is still available to stream on Zuma Live.
Herb Rosen and Mike O’Connell were the lovely hosts for the evening. They arrived in style to kick everything off, wearing matching red blazers fully bedazzled with sequins. Once they finished telling us what to expect for the evening, Sweet Figurines got things rocking. The whole band also looked quite fashionable, but I have to give a call out to the bass player. His shiny blue blazer, combined with his gold bowtie and matching gold bass guitar drew attention in a very good way. Keeping with the festive theme, the band came out of the gate with an excellent rendition of “Father Christmas” by the Kinks. The rest of the set, bursting with a great old-school rock sound, did not disappoint. This was my first time seeing Sweet Figurines and hopefully not the last.
Angela Eve’s Parlor Burlesque was up next, but before the risque review started, KT herself came on stage to give a brief history of the event. 19 years ago KT was pulling double duty, working at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and bartending at Liar’s. When Herb and Mike heard how little the kids at the hospital had, and how their basic needs were not being met, they wanted to help. That started everything, and every year for 19 years they have been able to raise more and more, and reach more kids every year.
Mike announced it was indeed time for sexy time now, and the fabulous Angela Eve hyped up the crowd and introduced the dancers. Last year Angela was sadly absent from the show thanks to Covid, as well as being 5 months pregnant. This year she was back in full force with little baby Nonda joining her on stage. Adorable. Kevlar B Lightning started the show right, tastefully removing her festive red garbs to the Peppermint Twist to reveal some tasty peppermint pasties. Jezzibel was up to perform next, who Angela described as a “pincushion of sorts.” She did not fail to live up to that description. Upping the ante of a traditional burlesque act, various sharp instruments went into and through her face! After a quick break for Angela to give one lucky attendee the gift of spankings, Queerella Fistalot graced the stage. Queerella wasted no time disrobing to make sparks fly. I’m being quite literal, the ol’ angle grinder came out to play and Queerella showered the stage in tiny glowing embers of hot metal.
The stage got quite crowded for the next act, The Bama Lamas! Self-described as down and dirty, hip-shakin’ old school rock and roll / R&B. Performing good and greasy the way it was meant to be played. With everyone adoring Friar’s hats, The Bamas managed to fit a drummer, a bass player, a sax player, a singer, not one but two guitarists, and a full 88-key digital piano with the accompanying keyboardist on to Liar’s Club’s tiny, tiny stage. Everyone in the band was having a great time and clearly the audience was too, reinforced by some very happy patrons getting their dance on. All in all a great throwback to an exceptionally fun era of music. Definitely recommend.
More burlesque was up next and who doesn’t like that? The first performer of round two was Miss Spitfire. Angela described her as bendy and she wasn’t kidding. Dawning a red onesie for the occasion, Spitfire’s Acroartist background was evident in some truly impressive contorted choreography, yeow. After a quick changeover, out came Miss Millie May! She may have been dressed like an ice queen but that didn’t stop her act from heating up the room. There was a brief intermission for more spankings before Lady India came out and owned the stage. India was oozing confidence as she danced her clothes off, and then the angle grinder came back out. Once more the stage was showered in an incandescent rain of shrapnel. Finally, Angela Eve herself closed out the burlesque portion of the evening. After many twirls and kicks, and littering the stage with articles of clothing, the house lights dimmed. Angela then showed off the most electric tassel spinning of the night. That’s right, fully illuminated Christmas light tassels. I can’t figure out where she could have hid a battery for them, so I’m going to assume they were charged by the pure power of sexiness.
And then it was time for The Nefarious Fat Cats to close out the music for the evening. Scott Lucas and Ryan Harding of Local H made up the initial lineup along with Herb Rosen. If you only know Herb as the owner of Liar’s Club, he is also known for playing in the Beer Nuts. Scott Lucas’s goatee made me wonder if we were seeing our Scott, or an evil doppelganger. If it was Evil Scott, all I can say is he was just as talented as the real deal. The Fat Cats came out of the gate strong with a cover of “TV Eye” by The Stooges. They continued on with that lineup for the first 4 songs, finishing up with “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. At first lineup change, Herb switched to lead vocals and turned bass duty over to Joe Principe of Rise Against. This lineup wasted no time before serenading us with “The Kids are United” by Sham 69. Next Joe Haggerty of Pegboy relieved Ryan on drum duty, allowing Ryan to pick up his Telecaster for a few songs. Herb took the bass back and the group proceeded to rock my ass off with their cover of “Bloodstains” by Agent Orange. For the next song another legend came on stage. To play “Suspect Device” by Stiff Little Fingers they brought out none other than Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers, taking over vocals and replacing Ryan on guitar. Mike O’Connell came back on stage to sing “New Rose” by the Damned. Sean Hulet of Masonic Wave, took over bass guitar next, for the band to play “Tush” by ZZ Top. Joe Principe picked up the bass again to play “Tin Soldiers” and “Alternative Ulster,” also by Stiff Little Fingers. The show was coming to an end, but there was still one more lineup change. Ryan rejoined on drums, Sean on Bass, Scott still on guitar, and for the first time that evening, Herbert Plant! Herb definitely didn’t have a beer bottle in his pants (I’m lying, he absolutely did) while the 4 piece played a couple Zepplin tunes for the evening’s finale. With that, live music was over for the night and it was time for me to drink.
Check out more pictures from the evening’s exciting festivities below!
