Say what you will about Perez Hilton--he certainly has his haters out there--but the guy has great taste in music.
His "One Night In Austin" closing party at last year's South By Southwest featured an amazing lineup (Katy Perry, N.E.R.D., Robyn, Chester French), and his 2009 SXSW Saturday bash was another event to see and be scene, this time with an absolutely fabulous "divas" theme.
On the bill this year were all of Perez's favorite fierce ladies, including the undeniably awesome Solange, New Zealand new-waver Ladyhawke, English electro goddess Little Boots, creatively named coed party band Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, French pop chanteuse Yelle, and even potty-mouthed comedienne Margaret Cho. (Lady Sovereign was supposed to show but cancelled at the last minute, inciting an angry, unprintable onstage cursing spree from Perez.)
There was also a "surprise guest," which was rumored to be everyone from Lady GaGa to Tori Amos to Madonna but turned out to be, um, the Indigo Girls. Oh well. That was the perfect time to hit the swingset at the indoor playground or the station serving Cafe Bustelo, for a much-needed boost to keep the momentum from flagging. Some party guests were disappointed that the surprise was just the Indigos...but hey, you have to give Lilith-loving Perez credit for just booking who he liked, public opinion be damned.
Here's the Queen Of All Media himself, upstaging all of the party's divas in the world's best Aretha-ante-upping hat, discussing his big diva-licious night:
And below are some Perez party pics. Girl power!
Solange:
Little Boots:
Ladyhawke:
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head:
The Indigo Girls:
Me, being a real swinger: