Flame Magazine May 2013

dorothy checks out

pain and gain + iron man 3 soundcheck

bex: whaT you are cocktail chatter

The Caiprinha

Billy Dixon

MOJO IN THE MORNING’S “GAY BILLY”

michigan’s Premier LGBT Lifestyle & Entertainment magazine

PUBLISHER peter rayes

peter@flame-mag.com

ART DIRECTOR Kyle Johnson

kyle@flame-mag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN KreSJ graphics pr Solutions

COPY EDITOR dana haddrill

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kyle Johnson peter rayes

advertising@flame-mag.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS ricardo duperron murray grondin Klider hakim emil harpe Carly hernandez Steven Kaye Tony Lowe mike ruiz al Shimmary

CONTRIBUTORS

robert bruno alysha Calamia Jai Ferrick Kelly garcia richard Klaiss Jr. Jim o’Connoll Steven palmer ed Sikov Jai Sky dorothy “Joan” Stevenson Zack Zakar

WEB DEVELOPMENT pr Solutions

facebook.com/prsolutions

429 Livernois Street Second Floor Ferndale, mi 48220 (313) 757-2624 editor@flame-mag.com

Copyright © 2013. Flame, LLC. all rights reserved. printed in the u.S.a.

OpiniOns expressed are nOt necessarily thOse Of the publisher Or staff. nO part Of flame f magazine, including m st ries, artwOrk, advertising, Or phOtO stO t s may be reprOduced tO in any fOrm by any means withOut priOr written cOnsent frOm flame, f llc flame llc. f magazine is published mOnthly by m f flame, llc flame llc. f magazine willl nOt accept advertising m which is fOund und ttO viOlate lOcal, state Or federal law. the t presence Of the name, likeness, phOtO t graph, Or Other tO representatiOn Of an OrganizatiOn, business, Or persOn(s) in flame f magazine is nOt an indicatiOn Of sexual OrientatiOn. m

4

may 2013

contents

may 2013

12

BILLY dIxON MoJo in the MorninG’s “GAY BiLLY” Let’s start with basics, Where are you from? And how many years young are you? i’m born and raised in royal oak. A true Lady never tells her age, but if you really wanna know, i’m a fabulous 29, as of March 2. Pisces are the best! …

8

16

18

20

BEx: wHAT YOu ARE

pAIN & GAIN

IRON MAN 3

THE CAIpRINHA

tony stark (robert downey Jr.) is unlike superman or the dark knight; for those heroes the suit is their true person. so you know how Bruce Wayne is caught up inside his own alter ego Batman - the dark knight is Bruce Wayne, not vice-versa. the same is the case for superman, who hides and blends in among us as …

“Portuguese is easy,” chipper explained.

“All you do is speak spanish through your nose.” hilarity ensued. “that’s so bogus,” craig managed to get out through heaves of laughter. the other boys – dan, Paolo and me – were too convulsed to say anything. “no, really!” chipper insisted, and he proceeded to …

Who would have known that Michael Bay, director of “Pain and Gain”, actually had a Bex wrote “What You Are” while battling sense of humor? For the better part of the a personal struggle with confidence. she past twenty years, his high-budget producwas trying to produce the follow-up to her tions like “Armageddon,” “Pearl harbor,” debut club track, “Life of the Party”; a song and the “transformers” films have always that climbed the Billboard club charts and … rocked gay dance floors across the nation last summer …

At the Movies With dorothY

cocktAiL chAtter

may 2013

phoToS by Tony Lowe

soundcheck

At the Movies With dorothY

5

Pocono Mountains, PA

07.26.2013 07.28.2013 Events: www.redemptionparty.com Tickets: redemptionparty.eventbrite.com

FLAME // sound check

bex what you are written by Jim O’Connoll

B

8

ex wrote “What You Are” while battling a personal struggle with confidence. She was trying to produce the follow-up to her debut club track, “Life of the Party”; a song that climbed the Billboard club charts and rocked gay dance floors across the nation last summer. It did so well, Bex became a victim of her own success. She wanted her next track to be even better than the first, yet wasn’t sure she could accomplish it. She focused so much on the end result; she became crippled on how to begin.

While writing your new track, did you discover who you are, Bex?

Then a friend, noticing Bex’s conflict, off-handedly mentioned how striving for perfection is “just so boring”.

Bex found it funny and painfully true. She wrote her friend’s thoughts down and then began drafting lyrics about how being put on a pedestal from her debut track felt phony. From there, “What You Are” was born. It releases to radio and dance floors this month.

As a club artist, are you expected to fit a certain mold?

may 2013

I learned I’m just a New York girl with a mind that won’t quiet and a body that spontaneously dances.

What do you love most about being Bex? I love that question. We spend so much time criticizing each other and dwelling on the negative; it’s good to consider what you actually like about yourself. So, let’s see… I love that I’m creative and imaginative.

Definitely. There are times I wish I were taller. Those tall girls get to wear really chic, fashionable clothes that look dumb on me. Sadly, though, I’m not gonna grow anymore, so it is what it is. At the end of the day, my looks shouldn’t matter. What matters is that my music makes people dance.

How do you deal with the pressures my friends and fans to surround yourself with people who of the spotlight?

I live for it! Truthfully, it is totally what feeds me. As much as I rehearse on my own time, once in front of an audience, something changes. I do things instinctively that I never would have come up with otherwise.

I also find it important to appreciate life outside of the spotlight. I make sure I have time to do normal things like grocery shopping, watching trashy reality TV, spending time with family and friends.

Living my life outside of my music makes me feel a part of a bigger picture.

respect you for you.

Because being different is cool today, wouldn’t you agree?

Yes, if being different is “what you are”, then you are one of the lucky ones. The world is craving uniqueness today, so bring it!

.

What’s the meanest thing that has Visit BexMusic.com been written about you? facebook.com/bex (Laughing) There’s been a lot! Believe it or @TweetBex not, someone posted on my video for “Life of the Party” that they hope everyone in @BexMusic the video dies! Clearly, they were not a fan. (instagram) youtube.com/ How did you react to that?

BexWorldVideos I was really shocked because it was completely out of left field! So psychotic.

Do you read all of your comments?

I do end up seeing a lot of comments people write, and it is what it is. Not everyone’s gonna like you. Some people don’t like you and they haven’t even heard your music or watched a video. They are just out to hate. The initial shock of some of the more vicious comments does actually hurt, but eventually I’m able to find a way to laugh it off and come back to reality. All part of the fun of having a job where you put yourself out there!

Still, being a celebrity shouldn’t mean you have to be subjected to bullying.

The web can be mean but it can also be a platform for so much good, such as bringing major issues to the forefront and supporting charities.

What’s your message to gay fans struggling with their own idea of ‘what they are’?

phoToS by miKe ruiZ

I cannot begin to pretend to know what it’s like to struggle with sexuality. I do know what it’s like to feel different, and to feel like you don’t fit in. Truth is, I like feeling that way. I think we should all take pride in our own identities, and enjoy not being like the majority or not being what others expect us to be. Sticking with like-minded people is the way to go for us. I tell all

may 2013

9

m a e Cr s y a d r Satattheu er t l e h S

431 E. Congress • Detroit $5 Cover • 18+ • 10PM

;)

DJ Jace DJ Tom T

The FLAME Awards

TM

VOTING NOW OPEN Vote for your favorite bar, restaurant, nightclub, bartenders, drag queens + kings, stores, malls, and more!

www.Flame-Mag.com/flameawards

Billy Dixon

“GAY BILLY” MOJO IN THE MORNING’Swrit ten by: Zach Zakar

Let’s start with basics, Where through Producer Rachel, and are you from? And how many I can’t wait to come into studio when they give me another years young are you?

I’m born and raised in Royal Oak. A true Lady never tells her age, but if you really wanna know, I’m a fabulous 29, as of March 2. Pisces are the best!

What’s your home life like?

My Home life is awesome. Coming out was never a problem for my parents. They knew I was gonna be fabulous and gay since I was born and support me no matter what!

Are you dating? What’s your type?

phoToS by Tony Lowe

I’m always open to dating a cool laidback guy. I really don’t have a “type” per se, but I do like a guy that’s as cute as me and can make me laugh.

12

Funny, I’m currently a “twintern” on Mojo in the Morning, which you’re on... Now how did they nickname you “Gay Billy?”

First off, I love that you’re a “twintern.”

I heard about you and your brother

may 2013

segment to do, so I can meet the both of you. “Gay Billy” started when I got nominated last year to be in the segment “Find Producer Rachel’s Next Gay Hairdresser.”

To be honest, I almost didn’t do it but I came in and slayed the other competitors. Then after I won, They loved me so much that they continued using me for opening day of the Tigers, reading passages of “Fifty Shades of Grey” on air, they also let me be apart of the Misfit Olympics, Halloween Show and many other fun on air round-table topics to be a part of the discussions. They opened so many doors for me and made me a fun character and name on the show. I really thought I was gonna get bashed for being coined “Gay Billy,” but listeners have really liked me and write the nicest things on social media!

It was such a blessing.

Besides me, who’s your idol?

My Idol will always be the late Steven Anthony, who was one the greatest hairdressers around Detroit. He trained me and I assisted him for 2 years at the salon until he passed.

There was a point where no one wanted to hire me but he did and never gave up on me! He became a 2nd dad and I miss him everyday!

Is there anything the readers don’t know about you?

My Bark is a lot harder than my bite. People tend to say their first impression of me is a little standoffish or bitchy, which is so ridiculous because I’m just a funny jackass! I’m always down for great surroundings and great people to be around me!

I’m really not the Phi Phi O’hara (villian of “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Season 4) What do you do with your free that people make me out to be!

time?

Who are the biggest celebrities

Drink Jack Daniels…Travel, and I you’ve met? Do you have a just love art! I have also worked on dream celebrity you’d like to Community theater shows around meet? the area, which is pretty fun!

I met Perez Hilton in LA. He actually What do you do for a living? is really quiet and more “show” What’s that like? when he’s in the light. Really subdue and not what you would think at all I currently work at 6 Salon in when you meet him. I also met Sean Downtown Royal Oak. It’s a great Kingston, when I was in studio one atmosphere and my bosses George, day at Mojo in the Morning and he Jonny, and Tommy treat me great and was really cool. I would love to meet I’m learning something new everyday Russell Brand one day because I think there. My co-workers keep such a he is just brilliant! friendly surrounding and clients that come into 6 are the best!

What’s your philosophy?

What was your best moment on “Intimidation is my motivation.” the job?

Don’t let anyone make you feel less than who you are. Be yourself and I used to do Miss Michigan, Lindsey that will take you far!

Tycholiz’s, hair in 2009. When she came in people would go crazy. I also Thank you Billy! was a part of the hairdressing team for the Pistons Dancers for 5 seasons.

I loved those girls, so that was pretty neat. I pretty much feel like I go to art class every day and that in its own is always a great feeling!

.

may 2013

13

4 / 5 stars

IN THEATERS ApRIL 26, 2013 written by Richard Klaiss Jr.

W

ho would have known that Michael Bay, director of “Pain and Gain”, actually had a sense of humor? For the better part of the past twenty years, his high-budget productions like “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor,” and the “Transformers” films have always strained to give audiences an excess of bang for their buck, but you never got the sense that he could tell a joke. This smart, scaled-down new direction feels fresher than his usual cocktail of fireballs and bombast. With “Pain & Gain”, this surprising true-crime comedy, Michael Bay has finally decided to lighten up a bit. “Pain and Gain” is Michael Bay’s lowest-budgeted film since “Bad Boys” (2005). He, Mark Wahlberg, and Dwayne Johnson all took pay cuts to keep the budget down, but you could not tell in the least bit.

Based on the stranger-thanfiction true story of the Sun Gym Gang of Miami, Pain & Gain is the surreal story of three Florida gym rats that hatch a scheme to kidnap and shake down one of their wealthy personal-training clients, Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub).

The ringleader of this scheme is Mark Wahlberg’s Daniel Lugo, an ambitious bodybuilder who sees his ripped physique as his own personal expression of the American dream made flesh. It’s the kind of character that’s right in Mark Wahlberg’s wheelhouse. He had bulked up to 212 pounds for the filming of this film.

16

may 2013

You would have to be a moron to buy anything that the delusional dreamer has to sell, but this is Miami in the 1990’s. Anything sounds plausible if you have got enough cocaine in your system, running through your bulging veins. Daniel finds a couple of willing thick-necked co-conspirators in his fellow trainer Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie, who actually manages to make shriveled-testicle and erectiledysfunction jokes funny) and the Jesus-freak ex-con Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson). Together they plot this scheme, which quickly backfires thanks to a string of idiotically bad decisions. The three body builders eventually realize their dream for a moment in time, then in a surprising turn of events things go from bad to worse.

Ed Harris shows up about halfway into the movie as Ed Du Bois, a retired private detective, who is the only person who believes Victor Kershaw’s insane story, and he lends a nice addition to the picture.

With the outrageous nature of the story it almost seems impossible, so we are reminded a few times that this really is the true story. By sticking so true to facts, the film ends up feeling a bit unbalanced, a little too long and eventually wearing the audience out.

The film, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, is cleverly told from shifting points of view, so that we get voice-overs from each of the characters recounting what crazy and absurd turn of events are happening next. Even they cannot seem to believe their own stupidity, at times. For the first half of the film; this has a fizzy, kicky, caffeinated energy, this works beautifully. But as with the steroids and blow that fuel the film, the high eventually subsides. “Pain & Gain” proves that once again, Michael Bay can deliver

.

Mark Wahlberg aS danieL Lugo dWayne ayne Johnson aS pauL doyLe anthony nthony Mackie aS adrian doorbaL oorbaL oorba rebel ebel Wilson aS ramona eL eLdridge ken en Jeong aS Johnny wu wu

phoToS CourTeSy oF paramounT piCTureS

FLAME // at the movies with dorothy

pain and gain

5 / 5 stars

IN THEATERS MAY 3, 2013 written by Richard Klaiss Jr.

“I

ron Man 3” is exactly what the “Iron what he is, even when he is stripped of Man” franchise needed; this film his hardware and his home. gave the franchise a badly needed kick.

The spectacular start of the film is when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is unlike Starks’ cliff-top mansion is destroyed, Superman or The Dark Knight; for those forcing Stark to go solo on what is a heroes the suit is their true person. So very personal quest: to avenge the you know how Bruce Wayne is caught near-death of his top security chief up inside his own alter ego Batman - The (Jon Favreau), hospitalized in an Dark Knight is Bruce Wayne, not vice- explosion caused by non other than versa. The same is the case for Superman, The Mandarin. who hides and blends in among us as Letting the world believe he is dead, Clark Kent, but being mankind’s savior Stark heads to snowy Tennessee to is actually his true destiny. On the other follow a lead, with being deprived hand, Tony Stark has a different story; of any support, both physical and the suit does not define him, but we all emotional; this could be due to a fight know who he is. During “Iron Man 3,” he had with now live-in girlfriend Pepper Stark is faced with a few personal issues Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) that took of his own. Basically, whenever he hears place moments before his mansion was the words New York (referring to last destroyed. summers box office hit “The Avengers”) it puts him into With all of his characters protective layers a nervous panic attack. He shown – literally since he has lost his suit thoroughly relies on his Iron – he starts to face up to his vulnerabilities, Man suit to save him during finding help from unexpected quarters, these situations. But when the mainly in the form of a lonely eight-yearsuit is stripped away by The old boy and Iron Man fan, Harley (Ty Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), he Simpkins). is forced to face things both This strong cast also includes Rebecca physically and mentally, and Hall as a scientist with back history with is set out to fix himself. He Stark and just like almost everyone in then once again becomes this film she has an ongoing fight with exactly what he truly is – a an identity issue, a theme that gives an mechanic. intelligence and coherence to the movie It is hard to tell what the bad that was entirely lacking from “Iron Man guy, The Mandarin (Ben 2.”

Kingsley), and his sidekick As a spectacle, the picture delivers the Aldrich Killian (Guy goods with some very well choreographed Pearce), are really trying action, although wisely it does not try to achieve, but it involves and top the mayhem as seen in the a DNA “upgrade” for “Avengers.” Needless to say Iron Man the human race, creating saves the day, although it is not exactly in advance human beings, the way you might have expected. although to what exact end I’m not sure. There “Tony Stark will return,” but how and in is talk about “owning what possible way is all left up to my and the war on terror” but your imagination. However, it is unlikely how and why is not to be as breathtakingly original as “Iron explained. Iron Man Man 3,” which leaves it being defined as goes on a journey the perfect superhero movie that is a very that forces him to entertaining addition to the “Iron Man” confront who and franchise

.

18

may 2013

robert doWney ney Jr. aS Tony STarK /iron man gWyneth yneth PaltroW W aS pepper poTTS TTS rebecca hall all aS maya hanSen Sen en guy Pearce aS aLdriCh h KiLL Ki KiLLian LLian ben bettany ettany aS JarviS (voiCe) voi oiCe) oi

phoToS CourTeSy oF paramounT piCTureS

FLAME // at the movies with dorothy

iron man 3

FLAME // cocktail chatter

The Caiprinha written by Ed Sikov

“P

ortuguese is easy,” Chipper explained. “All you do is speak Spanish through your nose.”

Hilarity ensued. “That’s so bogus,” Craig managed to get out through heaves of laughter. The other boys – Dan, Paolo and me – were too convulsed to say anything.

“No, really!” Chipper insisted, and he proceeded to demonstrate: “¡Buenos dias!” he cried while holding his nostrils shut. It was certainly adenoidal, but Portuguese it wasn’t.

“I happen to know a bit of Portuguese,” Paolo announced, “and that’s not the way you say ‘good day’ in Portuguese. It’s ‘bom dia.’”

“That’s what I said!” Chipper protested to no success. “Comeme!” he snarled, once again pinching his nostrils and sending the rest of us into spastic fits of amusement.

We were enjoying this especially inane

discussion on the Saturday evening of a lovely spring weekend at Fire Island Pines; we’d all gotten together to open the beach house and launch another glorious season of hot sand, hot men, and – as far as Chipper was concerned – hot air.

The particular topic suggested itself because I’d stopped at the amazingly well-stocked Pines Liquor Store and picked up a bottle of cachaça, the Brazilian firewater distilled from sugar cane. In Rio they practically give it away, it’s so cheap. The Pines Liquor Store charged a bit more, but it was worth it.

Cachaça is very, very strong. Drinking it neat would be asking for trouble – big-time trouble. It really must be mixed with something else to be palatable. Thus the Brazilian national cocktail, the caiprinha. (It’s pronounced KYE-pa-REEN-ya.)

To make a round of great caiprinhas, you need a lot of very juicy limes.

This can be a problem in most of the United States and Canada, because in all but the warmest locations, limes are shipped to stores on the basis of their appearance, not their taste. How many times have you grabbed what looks like a perfectly ripe lime and sliced it open only to find desiccated, lifeless pulp?

For this reason, I recommend that you augment your fresh limes with bottled lime juice. You’ll get whatever fresh flavor your limes will yield – and the rind is actually full of flavor and aroma – but you won’t be dependent on the probably low quality of the fruit inside.

Another peculiarity of the caiprinha is the fact that it’s better when the sugar you add doesn’t dissolve entirely, thereby giving the cocktail a slight

20

may 2013

crunch. Usually I recommend using superfine sugar when mixing drinks.

(And to really milk the experience for all it’s worth, you have to say “superfine” the way the guy says “Super Fly” in the theme song from that great blaxploitation film from 1972.) But superfine sugar dissolves completely, and you don’t want that in your classic caiprinha. There should be a granular quality in each sip, if for no other reason than to remind you that you’re drinking sugar can liquor.

Here’s the classic caiprinha recipe, modified to increase the lime juice by way of a bottle:

the Caiprinha 1 whole 1 1/2 tsp 1 tsp 3 tbsp

Lime Sugar Lime Juice cachaça

slice the lime into quarters, and place the quarters pulp side up in a wide glass. add the sugar and lime juice, the mash the lime quarters down with a pestle or other similar muddler. add the cachaça and crushed ice and stir. do not remove the lime pieces from the drink; this cocktail should have a rustic quality.

Ed Sikov is the author of the e-book, The Boys’ and Girls’ Little Book of Alcohol, a novel with recipes based on his Cocktail Chatter column.

scene

phoToS

nEcTo

ThE shELTEr

22

may 2013

GiGis

soho

may 2013

23

Michigan’s Premier LGBT Lifestyle & Entertainment Magazine

SUBSCRIBE NOW pay only $5 to receive Michigan’s Premier LGBT Lifestyle & Entertainment Magazine in the mail for the first 3 months!

www.Flame-Mag.com/subscribe Flame is delivered to your home or office in discreet packaging for your privacy. All prices include shipping and handling within the Continental United States and Canada. You may unsubscribe at any time. Offer valid for new subscriptions only.