Angela Gossopolopolis
"The Big
City Society Scene"
Dateline: April
23, 1999
Regular readers of my column (and I LOVE EVERY ONE OF YOU!) know that
I, Angela Gossopolopolis, a big city society columnist rarely strays far
from the safety of the ivory towers in the mansions of the city's well
dressed elite. Let's face it, why bother getting dirty on the other side
of the tracks unless there is a chance to score?
Oh, but what to do when across my desk I spy an invitation from those masters of a swinging good time, the Liftoff! Spacecapades and Tiki News boys, putting on a "Surfin' Senorita" show at The HiBall Lounge in San Francisco. Now, the HiBall Lounge is known as a Swing club, but the word up on everyone's lipstick is that Swing Is Dead. Imagine that! And what to replace a fad that dies, but with a fad that has never gone away. I'm talking about F-U-N baby! And everyone once in a while this white stockinged society matron likes to eat a burrito and head south of the border for some lights out, no holds barred, Tijuana style donkey and peyote fiestas! I hijacked my limo to the HiBall, where I found that, of course, I, a big city scenemaker, was on the guest list, and strode into the dark, but as festively appointed as a Mexican brothel, club.
Greeted with a kiss on each cheek from my hosts, the California Kid and Otto Von Stroheim, and handed a glass of champagne and a double shot of Tequilla, I soon felt right at home. First up, Pollo Del Mar, rumored to be finishing up their second CD, and nattily dressed in black vests and tuxedo shirts. A rollicking set that featured many new numbers (Who is this Consuela and why is she so angry??), and their contribution to the Surfin Senorita cd, "South Of The Border."
In between sets, the California Kid and Otto, in his convincing disguise as the "Cerveza Bandito" (oh Otto, when will you do serious theatre???) took the stage to announce the night festivities.... a pinata, photos in the Mexican Jail, the cantina specials and Otto's tamale parlor.
Herb came on stage, and I have to tell you how I was immediately swept
back to my carefree youth. As a young girl on my first trip to Mexico for
a tuck and roll (and I don't mean for the upholstery in my Chevy) because
that kind of operation wasn't legal in America yet. To the days when handsome
Herb Alpert was but a boy blowing his horn on the beach. Before the record
company, before the billions of dollars, before turning down the Beatles,
but later signing STYX and then selling A&M to Seagram. Yes, the innocent
trumpet of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, here expertly mimiced by
Jab and HERB. They played all of the favorites, and yes, their cut on the
Surfin' Senorita CD, "The Work Song". Highlights were everywhere,
but for me, the roof raising shout of "TEQUILLA" woke me from
my somnambule as I found myself on the dancefloor dos-y-doing my way round
and round as the California Kid brought out a Pinata filled with candies
and condoms, to be slaughtered at the hands of a festive mob. And Jab's
version of a song from my homeland:,"Zorba the Greek", which
alternately brought the crowd to euphoric, lysergic highs and then to the
depths of depression known only in the days before prozac and viagra, and
then made us happy again... "Zorba" is an Agean emotional roller
coaster, safe to ride only for the severly medicated.
Thank you Jab, and thank you Paul Borelli, mastermind of the Surfin Senorita CD. Paul travelled all the way from Austin (Quaint!) Texas with his lovely wife Julie to spend a weekend in the big city. And double kisses to California Kid and Otto for a wonderful time. Boys, keep me on your list!!!
XOXOXO
Angela
Editor's Note: I hope that by the time you have finished reading Angela's report, all of the images below will have loaded. Pollo Del Mar is proud to welcome Angela Gossopoloplis back to service as our resident columnist. Look for Angela's scene reports whenever good times are had! Contact Angela at: Gossopolopolis@pollodelmar.com
