ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Ga Ga Be Gone! Jonny McGovern Brings Back Dirty Gay Dance Music

(Jonny McGovern and the cast of The Legends Ball. Credit: Dick Mitchell)
 

While nightlife legend Jonny McGovern might have traded in his Gay Party Pimp status for a starring role on Logo’s Saturday Night Live-esque Big Gay Sketch Show, he has never forgotten his roots. That’s why Jonny teamed up with some of his old club pals for a new CD, The Legends Ball: East Village Mixtape 2. We chatted with the jack-of-all-trades to get the inside scoop on the new tracks, the upcoming season of BGSS and if he’ll ever come back to nightlife.
 

Tell us about The Legends Ball: East Village Mixtape 2?
The Legends Ball is a compilation of tracks I co-produced with Adam Joseph for some of my favorite New York nightlife characters. I wanted to take the hip-hop mixtape concept and put a faggity spin on it. It's a fun collection of underground dirty gay dance music inspired by the outrageous spirit of the old East Village and the cuntastic attitude of New York’s ball scene.

Who’s on the CD?
Kevin Aviance, Princess Xtrvaganza, Xander, Sweetie, Britney Houston, Erickatoure, soul diva Maxi J, Sophia Lamar, Linda James and myself. There were a lot of nightlife people who I am such a fan of that I had to capture their essence on a track.
 
Did you produce all the tracks?
I collaborated with each artist to create something that really represented their vibe. I sat down with Princess X and she told me stories from when she was a teen, first going to the pier in '77 and what that was like. The vogue battles between the houses and the feeling of being there became [her track] “Battlecat”.  On Xander and Sophia Lamar's tracks we took their audio directly from the hilarious things they've said on the podcast. Kevin Aviance is my favorite pop star and I fantasized about him covering my other favorite pop star Britney Spears’ “Gimme More.” [It] is the one cover on the record, but [we’re] giving it a cunty twist. 
 
So we can anticipate some club hits?
Erickatoure’s "My Pumps" is already burning up dance floors everywhere. Johnny Dynell did two super hot remixes of “Battlecat” which he has been playing since last summer. These new kids, Diva Nation, did a circuit party style mix of Maxi J's diva anthem “Bring The Rain” and  Kevin Aviance's “Gimme More” will be getting a single release on Hades Music with big room remixes from Nick Harvey and Billy Waters. Junior premiered it at the Saint at Large Halloween afterhours which was an honor.  
 
What was it like getting all these nightlife divas in the same room?
When we did the photo/video shoot for the CD with Dick Mitchell there were so many nightlife divas in one place, so early in the day, that I was afraid their would be a rip in the time-space continuum! But it turned out to be an easy breezy blast! Britney Houston even shot an impromptu video during the shoot with everyone lip-syncing “Party in the USA”!
 
How is The Big Gay Sketch Show coming?
Season Three comes out in April. It’s really hitting its stride. Logo gave us more freedom than ever which makes it funnier than ever. Plus, we have a ton of star cameos!
 
Any gossip from the set?
I saw legendary fashion icon and Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley at a screening of the Valentino documentary. When I went to tell him what a fan of him I was he said, ”Jonny McGovern from Big Gay Sketch Show? I love Big Gay Sketch!” I was floored!  When I told the producers and they arranged for him to make a cameo.  We were all set for his appearance and as I was getting dressed for the live taping the producers ran in and said, “Jonny you've got to talk to Andre. There is a problem!” He was in the wardrobe room and unhappy with what he was wearing. He said, “Jonny you know my image. I can't wear this!” And we certainly didn't have anything Vogue worthy in the BGSS wardrobe room. But luckily he came back to the next taping. He showed up in a very glamorous creation he wore to the Met Costume Ball and this outrageous couture necklace and we did a funny bit to open the show with me as Karl Lagerfeld. I just love him!   
 
What else are you working on these days?
I've been traveling a lot doing my stand up show Feelin' Really Faggity and performing with Team Pimp at prides, clubs and gay cruises (which is really fun!). I'm starting to pull together songs for my next record which is influenced by old school R&B and doo-wop but with very modern lyrics about gay life right now.
The first single “I Saw Yer Cock on Craigslist” will be out in the next few months. I will also be spending more time in LA working with my BGSS costar Julie Goldman on a bunch of fun new comedy projects.
 
So will you ever come back to New York nightlife?
I had so much fun throwing my different parties over the years that I never say never. I still perform in nightclubs around the country so I get my nightlife fix that way. But I am happier solely performing than having to run a night and organize ton of promoters and staff.  I certainly miss being surrounded by so many sexy go-go boys all the time.
 
The Legends Ball is available now on iTunes. Visit GayPimp.com for more music and comedy.
 

(Promotional video for The Legends Ball)

(Kevin Aviance's cover of "Gimme More" by Britney Spears)