Party like it's 1995

[quislibet]

We went to a party last night meant to recall the splendor of the mid-nineties Boston goth scene, which is when many of us in this circle of friends first became aware of one another through a netgoth mailing list. The hosts had forbidden strappy pants and demanded velvet and lace. Make-up was more or less mandatory; there was a table set up where one woman was providing a spooky elegance to those who had forgotten how to work the eyeliner pencil, or whose lipstick had gone off since they last used it five or more years ago, or who had never really done the make-up thing but thought they should for the party. (Patrons could choose from a menu: "The Siouxsie," "The Robert," etc.)

The party itself was splendid. "The Crow" and "Lost Boys" played soundlessly on the television, visible through a black veil. Nostalgia was in the air, even, it seemed, among groups of friends who still see each other all the time. There was something of the atmosphere of the school reunion. People complained about how their old finery didn't fit. (J. noticed the snacks weren't going as quickly as one might expect; maybe there's a connection.) Sometimes conversation was halting; I don't get out much anymore, and I think my social skills have eroded. (Or perhaps they regressed to the drunken flightiness of my clubbing days.) But it was a good time. And it has been a while since I was at a party demanding police intervention.

I had forgotten how annoying it can be to wear fishnets. And who the hell came up with wearing fishnets on one's arms? I think last night was the first time I was conscious of just how silly and kind of uncomfortable that can be. Also, my pointy shoes kept getting caught in my lace skirt.

A bonus: For the first time ever I got to see a particular close friend "I love you, man" drunk, which was quite a spectacle. Oh, and mishak made bacon. I like bacon.

We got home just before sunrise, and slept until lunchtime.

Consuela will be angry, but it can't be helped.

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Earlier in the night, to inspire our goth-dressing-related program activities J. and I listened to a mix I recently created for a friend, which I mixed specifically with the knowledge that this party was coming up, and it includes the following tunes that remind me of the days when I went to goth clubs two or more times a week, sometimes rolling pennies to afford admission:
1. "Overground" Siouxsie and the Banshees
2. "Venus in Furs" The Velvet Underground & Nico
3. "Cantus" Faith and the Muse
4. "Clown" Switchblade Symphony
5. "Lilies" Cranes
6. "Red Right Hand" Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
7. "Nemesis" Shriekback
8. "Peep Show" Miranda Sex Garden
9. "Alegría" Cirque Du Soleil
10. "Hex" Specimen
11. "Safe Little World" Die Laughing
12. "Swamp Thing" Chameleons UK
13. "Pagan Love Song" Virgin Prunes
14. "Lullaby" The Cure
15. "Temple of Love (ext.)" Sisters of Mercy
16. "I Walk the Line" Alien Sex Fiend

(Incidentally, shnells, that's the playlist for the CD I brought last night.)


As J. pointed out, though, some of the nostalgia factor is muted when you've only been out a handful of times since the days when everyone dressed like this all the time. That's true. But there are changes. My fingernails are black; time was not too long ago I'd let 'em stay that way until well after the polish had begun to chip off. But today I'll probably break out the remover before we go to the Y.