Etcetera Magazine – Safe Sex: Latex, Plastic and Cellophane at the Rat – Review

Etcetera Magazine

Safe Sex: Latex, Plastic and Cellophane at The Rat
by Amelia Copeland
Sextiles photo by unknown

Etcetera Magazine, Elisabeth Parker’s latest endeavor (following on the heels of The Fine Print, a local ‘zine which folded in 1993) hosted an Enticing Evening at the Rat on October 20th, replete with all the necessities: Sex, alcohol, and rock ‘n roll. The sex, ostensibly “safe,” was definitely what distinguished the event; the alcohol was – well, it’s the Rat, wha’dya expect? It’s alcohol rock ‘n roll style – but the band lineup was pretty impressive as well.

Race Hearse were energetic and loud; Elevator Drops lived up to their buzzzzzzzz with a shining, fun set; Sextiles are one of the more interesting, quirky bands around (everyone seems to agree that Carla is an incredibly talented singer with an eccentric, reaching style but from time to time – ouch!), and Opium Den was reliably intricate, ethereal and hypnotic.

But to get back to the focus of the evening (unfortunately at the beginning – too bad if you missed it), the Etcetera fashion show was billed as “Safe Sex: Latex, Plastic and Cellophane – a Fashion Show to Promote AIDS Awareness.” Part of the proceeds of the show went to the AIDS Action Committee, and that provided a good excuse for people to dress up in cellophane, PVC, and bubble plastic, but there really was nothing safe about it, unless you consider a woman in a skimpy leather harness, thong, and nothing else to be safe.

As can always be counted upon, Hubba Hubba lent high quality styles of the sort embraced by the mainstream of the B&D crowd. But more innovative designs were showcased by local designers Susie Bookbinder and Mari Scherer, and some of the impromptu creations by the models also caught the spotlight. Choreography by Lesley Bannatyne had Amy Jeglinski and Margaret “Madge” Weigel doing a stylized shootout, and T. Max losing the two women on his arms to each other. But the show stealer was definitely Kim Airs, fashion show MC and owner of Grand Opening! (a women’s sex toy boutique in Coolidge Corner), who demonstrated putting a condom on a dildo with her mouth, then had the strapped-on dildo get a blow job and a brutal fucking by her hand-held Lambchop puppet. Stop by Kim’s store and let her do an encore performance for you personally some afternoon.