34 jUSt OUt • july 1. 2005
MUSIC
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Mandonna pays tribute to the goddess of pop
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i
t first, Victor Cruz (aka Victor Couture)
thought he was going to he auditioning
as a backup dancer for Madonna. As it
turns out, he ended up strutting the stage
>ith Mandonna.
Yes, Mandonna. The all-male Madonna
tribute hand is becoming a not-so-underground
sensation in its hometown of San Francisco
and beyond. It even starred on the
leading float in this year’s San
Francisco Pride parade.
Both reviews and word-of-
mouth buzz suggest Mandonna
shows are far removed from the
usual cover hand hack jobs. Sure,
they’re silly, hut the band members
are also experienced stage per­
formers, dancers and musicians.
For instance, lead singer Mark
Edwards has been performing all
his life, from a cappella jazz to
Black Sabbath covers. And before
Cmz answered that fateful audi­
tion call, he danced as a showgirl
in an all-male Las Vegas-style gig.
A
^/Kagnifig ue
\i
R ebecca R again
/
explains Cmz, the groups other gay backup
singer/dancer.
“Being up on stage performing Madonna’s
music and conveying the spirit of her energy is
so much fun,’’ adds Groman.
You get the idea.
So when Mandonna brings Dress You Up to
the stage at the Crystal Ballroom, expect the
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My
gifts for Romance in an “Elegant Setting
Gay backup singer/dancer Hugh Groman
has been with Mandonna for three years. In
fact, he joined the group just three months
after the project started. His best friend was
the guitarist for the hand, and they were hulk­
ing to add a more theatrical aspect to the
performance.
“It started out as a lark, hut...it’s such a
great idea, the group has taken off,” says Gro­
man. “We appeal to women of all kinds, and
gay men, and then the straight men who prey
on the women who come to the shows.”
Groman was not the only member who
originally joined Mandonna with a healthy
dose of skepticism, hut now the performers are
devoted to the project. In fact, they enjoy it so
much that they seem unable to describe the
group without the use of the word “fun,” even
when interviewed separately.
“This is absolutely the best project I’ve
been in, in my life. It’s wild, sensational, so
much fun. We just have a blast,” says Edwards.
“They’re all really great musicians, really
professional...they just have so much fun,”
suspended floor to he bouncing all night to the
tunes of the Material Girl, with a twist. The
evening will also include ’80s hits from the
collection of DJ Gregarious, and Poison Waters
will act as mistress of ceremonies.
Most of the 20 or so songs in Mandonna’s
repertoire are from The Immaculate Collection,
with a few possible surprises. One of Cruz’s
favorites to perform is “Vogue,” which he calls
“ultra-chic.” Groman, on the other hand, is
particularly fond of “Holiday,” because he gets
to play the cowhell.
“When the keyboard starts the opening
measures, it always makes me happy,” says
Groman.
Meanwhile, Edwards sings, dances and rips
through more than a dozen costume changes.
Wedding gowns, feather boas and priest’s garb
have all made appearances in previous shows.
New costumes have been concocted recently,
though, so who knows what’s in store next?
Edwards’ first concert ever was a Madonna
show. He noticed she was skilled at making the
crowd feel like part of the performance, and he
strives to follow in her footsteps in that aspect.
“I love it all: the hand, the crowd. I love
being silly, singing and dancing. I love rock­
ing...out,” says Edwards.
“It’s all about being free, having a gocxJ
time and having fun,” says Groman.
And did they mention it’s fun? jM
M andonna performs 9 p.m. July 9 at Crystal
Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St. Tickets are $25
at the door or $20 in advance from Ticketmaster
or 503'241'3336.
R ebecca R again was thoroughly introduced to
The Immaculate Collection when her younger
sister brought the album home on tape.