words and images by Lige Menard
As our seasons began to change, we gathered under a harvest moon. Black was the night of September 10, 2022; we dressed accordingly. Long had been our social summer, lasting better than a decade, and we held midnight mass to usher forth the fall of the House Victoria. The final Goth Night was before us, more so the final VHaus “open to the masses” event was being held, and I chose to bring my daughter to the slaughter.
I met her and her cool kid crew in the streets. She applied my eyeliner masterfully. Like pilgrims we walked to the house through a long gauntlet of cars. We approached the front steps, locking gaze with the many eyes painted under them. We collected under the red lights of the porch and held engaging conversation with the like-minded spirits clustered in the stoop. The energy and beat within the house could only be subdued momentarily. We entered through the prismatic front door. Sinuendo was in the corner spinning the daarkest vinyl! I knew he was legit when I seen the Drab Majesty Away Team patch on his vest
We made moves past the growing dance floor and I toured the house for me daughtee. To know that the house was in flux, the carefully placed collage that was its decor would scatter out into the world, the murderesque stains on the ceiling would be painted over. Our beloved dilapidated mansion has healthy renovations on its horizon, and it felt important that my daughter and the many fresh young faces in attendance were there in this time of ending… and beginning. No torch can be properly passed without the sharing of how and why it burns.
We made our way to the gallery area. There like a Queen on her throne we found the lady of the house, the one I call Captain, Olivia Busceme. She welcomed us and spoke with my daughter briefly. Sparking her with that special Olivia kind of motivational fire. The moment felt so heavy, I have no doubt its weight will be remembered by my darling Julia for some time to come. It felt so heavy I had to move and shake. I had to hit that dance floor, but with a subtleness. I didn’t move with the music. I let it move me. I swam through the sea of friends in a Sinuendo induced trance. For many of us this was the daark heart of the Goth Night experience. The dancing. It really came to full swing when the drag performances lead by our cherished Olivia Gardner rolled out. Afterwards the crowd siding dance on each other, but we danced… together. Sometimes slow, sometimes with a fervor. I lost a chunk of time then and there. I blaacked out as it were.
When midnight struck the lights came on and the music faded. Embraces were shared amongst old acquaintances and new ones. Instas and Snaps were followed. Packing out we were bestowed with a gift. Olivia gifted us the party throne of old. It sits proudly in Julia’s room of living.
The truest strength of VHaus is the people it collected under its flag. We shared countless killer good times going to VHaus shows and events. I remember fondly going as the Dude to one of their Muu Muu parties. In the camaraderie of our VHaus community we found peers, friends, lovers, muses, collaborators, and needed acceptance. A celebration of the weird and straange. A social home where not fitting in is the best way to fit in.
To Olivia Busceme and Olivia Gardner, thank you for everything! My shield is yours should you need it.
To Olivia Cobb and Olivia Won’t Sing, I’m so so stoked for what’s next! My sword is yours should you need it.
To my Julia, I’m proud of you darling and so much potential sits in your capable hands. What will you make of it? Whatever you choose I know you will make me proud. My heart is yours alwaays.
To you reader, fight the FOMO and I hope to catch you out there in October. *stab stab* My hope is yours. I hope you don’t miss out on the next one and that you don’t just read about it after the fact. I look forward to seeing you in them good time trenches.
Our scene is changing. We marry. We have families. We settle down. We scatter and migrate. We repurpose.