SCENE + HEARD: Bar D'O Reunion Standing Room Only At Indochine

Sherry Vine & Joey Arias

Last night’s Bar d’O Reunion played to a packed house of standing room only patrons at Indochine. Raven O, Joey Arias, Sherry Vine, Sade Pendavis and her sister Elsie had the crowd in the palm of their hands as they belted gospel, jazz standards and parodies. In the crowd for the four-set evening spread over three hours were Amanda LePore, “Size Sexy” author Stella Ellis, Pandora, comedian Judy Gold, designer Austin Scarlett and Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk vocalist and head vocal coach Laur Fugere. At the door was Michael Formika Jones.

Raven and Joey, having performed in Cirque’s 18+ Vegas extravaganza Zumanity were to be coached by Laur who was also a replacement vocalist in the spectacle. Said Laur, “My job in the show was to do vocal coaching. How do you coach Joey Arias and Raven O? They’re perfection so my job was easy.” Indeed, all were in fine voice last night. Raven O introduced each set with the warning that “if you’re going to take photos, please use flash. The brightest possible. We’re trying the wipe away the years here. We’re not Germans, we don’t want art. We’re Americans, we want beauty and illusion.” He went on to perform an ode to all those who’ve ever not felt totally right in their skin:

As well as a song to Bar d’O “sister” and founding performer Edwidge:

Joey brought his A game with an introduction by Raven as “lady night to Billie Holliday’s lady day.”

Sade Pendavis, who has more recently been taking a break from performing, sang some signature gospel then invited sister Elsie to the stage who’s belting brought the crowd to their feet:

Joked Sherry Vine, “You see, Joey and Raven have moved on from doing the clubs and small bar but I have… still had the pleasure to work at classy establishments like Barracuda… and the Cock. I work with these young bitches like Epiphany the whole year which is why I love tonight. Once a year, I get to be the youngest!” Sherry went on to perform an ode to those nights where you end up face down in a club after promising yourself to go home early to the tune of Madonna’s “Jump:”

“Sherry does get invited to do the larger venues,” said Raven O, “she just chooses to work at the bars… because she likes them—-and the help” quipped Joey Arias.

Here's hoping this reunion will spring into a more regular than annual event sequestered solely to that time of year when fruitcake becomes fashionable.

Sherry will be host and DJ at Indochine for New Year’s Eve. —Christopher Dilley