Photo: Kareem McJagger
PHOTOS: Cradled on a decrepit corner of Midtown next to industrial parks and a hideous Best Western, HeadQuarters Gentleman’s Club plays host semi-monthly to Go-Go Harder’s HarderWood Revue. The all male evening of strip-teases and burlesque, curated by boylesque star Go-Go Harder, provides a night of upper-class sleaze and seduction.
Hostess Sherry Vine sang parodies of Rihanna and Scissor Sisters songs in between sets of steamy and outrageous burlesque. Go-Go Harder’s fire eating number and Mr. Gorgeous’ candy coated strip-tease entered Tim Burton erotic fantasy territory, while Levi Karter and Rowan’s routines were down-and-dirty hip-hop. Rowan’s dance, to a remix of Tyga’s “Faded”, had the punky dancer twerking for the dollars.
Later, both Rowan and Levi were spotted dancing on stage or working the pole doing splits and backflips for the crowd, who politely shoved singles in their jock straps. Musclemen strippers Francisco and Benn Mendoza did handstands and upside-down-push ups to thunderous applause as Cocky Boys porn played on the TV screens. The more seedy action — private lap dances and the even-more private back room sessions — happened off to the sides.
Even after the burlesque acts ended and all the sex toy raffle prizes were given out, the night twirled round the pole into the wee hours of the morning. The HarderWood Revue will return to HeadQuarters on September 15, but be sure to catch the “shorter (but equally thick)” shows on Thursdays at Therapy Lounge in Hell’s Kitchen (11pm, hosted by Bianca Del Rio).
Photos by Christopher Gagliardi
Photo: Magnus Beuys
