Brightest Young Things

All Photos: Matthew Streib

Blowoff is one of Washington's crown jewels. The frequent (if not quite monthly) dance event regularly draws huge crowds to the 9:30 Club for its hometown event while also packing venues on the road with its frequent stops in New York and San Francisco. The BYGays ventured out this past Saturday to our favorite Blowoff party of the year - the January event which coincides with Mid Atlantic Leather (MAL) weekend. It guaranteed that the place would be packed with muscle bears, harness-loving twinks, and plenty of out-of-town trade to flirt with.

The party is the brainchild of music legends Bob Mould (of Hüsker Dü and Sugar fame...and whose "Dog on Fire" is used as the Daily Show theme song) and Rich Morel (the official remixer for everyone from Mariah Carey to The Killers). The crowd is mostly gay (with straight fans sneaking in to hear Mould and Morel's DJ sets), and typically masculine and hirsute. The party is a perfect place to hear great music without any pretense.  It's great any month, but during MAL it turns pretty magical.