Monday, June 24, 2013

Yacht Rock 2013 Sets New Standard For Tucson Parties

Posted By on Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 10:05 AM

Clif Taylor's keening guitar solos stood in for the ubiquitous '70s saxophone parts as David Slutes crooned the era's hits and the waxing moon out-romanced any lava-lamp-lit waterbed for the second Yacht Rock party at La Cocina. As the Platinum Foxes played, hilariously vamped and occasionally dogpaddled through under-rehearsed material and requests, some partiers, including co-organizer Kenny Stewart, joined the performance by bringing their period-sleaze costumes and funky dance moves to the front of the stage. It was a vision of '70s porn stars, but the clothes, by and large, stayed on.

Party co-organizers Kenny Stewart and Kitty Kat McKinley are photo-bombed by lovely yachtresses.
  • Noelle Haro-Gomez
  • Party co-organizers Kenny Stewart and Kitty Kat McKinley are photo-bombed by lovely yachtresses.

The cantina floor was packed with dancers for DJ sets of 70s favorites and what might have been a curated i-tunes search for 70s songs mentioning oceans, islands and sails. Starbuck's "Moonlight Feels Right"; Player's "Baby Come Back"; the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes"; The Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle"; Ace's "How Long Has This Been Goin' On"; Walter Egan's "Magnet and Steel"; and tracks by Bozz Scaggs and Gerry Rafferty were representative, but the tunes got louder and faster as the night progressed.

Co-organizer Kitty Kat McKinley was everywhere, keeping conversation groups and dancers going like plates spinning on broomsticks. Inside and out, La Cocina was full of happy, chattering and drinking party-goers, most posing cute at some point for a theme photo — kinda like prom.

Two photographers covered everyone who wanted to be seen, but the greatest photo ops involved a boat with an "island sunset" backdrop painted by muralist and co-organizer Joe Pagac. In case you want to try it at home, Pagac has helpfully created a YouTube video: How to Paint a Tropical Island Sunset.

A slideshow of some of the shenanigans follows.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,