THE NIGHT STUFF
Shirts and Harleys optional at 'Fresh' party

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Chris Harbert of Waikiki, above, and Angelo Lopresto, below, also of Waikiki, were among around 500 revelers at the Fresh "Hookers Ball" at Mist nightclub. The monthly gay-themed event moves to Tryst in Waikikifor its next outing. Changing party themes like "Sailors Night Out" and "Enter the Dragon" keep Fresh consistently, uh, fresh. Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Myke Terrado, of Pearl Harbor, gets patriotic while dancing at the Fresh party at Mist.

You're forking over your cover at a club and two guys — one in leather biker gear, the other shirtless except for leather straps attached to tight black shorts — start their boat of a Harley-Davidson in the foyer and drive in, kicking a cloud of carbon monoxide in your face.

Uh-huh, I thought so. Those crazy gay bikers!

On a crazy warm summer evening last month, BigTom Presents' Fresh party not only lived up to the promised unconventionality of its name but gave this weary night chronicler a new appreciation of the power of leather, fishnet tees and Tootsie Pops to create a definite mood. But more on those bikers.

After cruising slowly through two rooms of a wall-to-wall crowded Mist nightclub to a small stage, the bike's passenger — Derek Daniels, of the straps and shorts — hopped off to lead eight similarly attired males — "The Party Favors" — through a choreographed stage show set to some bass-heavy electronica. The already amped crowd — sporting everything from leather- and leopard-print short shorts and Banana Republic/Gap wear to almost nothing at all — screamed, danced and waved Daniels and his crew to more male bonding excess.

And me? I was in the middle of struggling up a temporarily vacated go-go dancer riser for a better view of the on-stage grinding and groping when BigTom himself, Tom Lombardo, found me.

"Thanks for coming!" he yelled. "Having fun?" So far, so good, Tom.

BigTom gives each edition of Fresh a theme. June's theme — which closed a particularly celebratory Pride Week — was dubbed "The Hookers Ball." Bondage gear and various styles of erotic dress were present, but optional. Past parties have included "Sailors Night Out," and "Enter The Dragon." Oh, the fashion possibilities!

In case you haven't quite figured it out yet, Fresh is a gay-friendly party. But more than that, it's really just an extremely entertaining party, period. And high on its list of charms is a large and refreshingly uninhibited following welcoming of just about anyone but the hopelessly uptight.

"I'll put it this way ... anyone who dances can stay," joked computer tech Gavin Heiser, 23, taking a break from the crowded floor. "I'll kick out anyone who's not dancing myself."

Said Heather, an excitable 22-year-old tour guide and Fresh regular, "Look around at all these beautiful guys! I'm surprised more straight women aren't here."

After hosting Fresh for several months at Mist, BigTom said he was moving the party to Tryst in Waikiki starting with its July 26 outing. He expected very little to change, including his event's impressive following.

"Somebody told me they'd show up even if we did this at Denny's," said BigTom, laughing.

Got a night spot, night event or club event we should check out? Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.

What: Fresh.

Where: Formerly at Mist. Now at Tryst, 407 Seaside Ave., second floor, behind Angles Nightclub. More information at www.bigtompresents.com or 955-4852.

When: 10 p.m.-4 a.m., monthly on a Saturday.

Our arrival/departure: Midnight/2 a.m.

Cover: $15 ($10 before 11 p.m.; $10 all night for ages 18 to 20)

Younger than 21 OK? Yes.

Age of crowd: 20s-50s.

What to wear: Anything or almost nothing at all. Many patrons hewed close to the evening's "Hookers Ball" theme with bondage gear, costumes or fantasy wear. Otherwise, patrons wore everything from casual-, aloha- and dress-wear to fishnet tees and leather shorts.

Peak crowd while there: Almost 500.

Queue?: No.

Dancing?: Yes.

Sample music: Trance, progressive house, classic disco beats.

Most surreal Fresh moment: Grabbing a cherry Tootsie Pop from the cleavage of a full-bodied woman who positioned the suckers into her bustier by the handful.

The next outings: Fresh's "Underworld" July 26, and "Boyz on the Bay Boat Party" Aug. 16.

Night notes ...

Studio 1 debuts a Sunday-night salsa weekly this weekend called A Touch of Class. Put together by Alma Latina Productions — the same folks who've been drawing hundreds of salsa fans every Thursday night to Salsa After Dark at Rumours — this Sunday's initial outing will feature live Latin jazz and DJ'ed salsa. Providing a live taste of next week's Hawai'i International Jazz Festival will be Abe Weinstein, Dan Del Negro, Keahi Conjugacion and Rodney Perez. 5-9 p.m., for 21 and older only; $10, which includes a glass of wine and appetizers.

Check out Page 18 for the details on two more Studio 1 debut events attempting mixes of club culture and the arts. Alien IQ hosts Freeform Experience 2003 at 9 p.m.-2 a.m. today, while Pussycat Projects, Split/Veejay Entertainment and Stone Groove Family come together for Club "1" Saturday, also from 9 p.m.

And pencil live reggae from Humble Soul and THC into your schedule for July 18, courtesy of Matty Liu and Heavy State Industries. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at The Hawaiian Hut. $10 at door.