By Laura Medina
Stuck in the middle of Bootsy Bellows, the now elusive Carmen Electra. On the right, party host Perez Hilton.
What the general public doesn't know is that gossip monger-done-good Perez Hilton shows the love and pays it forward when he discovers a musical artist he that likes.
He's a music patron who helps rise emerging talent up onto the mainstream stage. Perez launched Lady Gaga into pop culture's consciousness when he hired her to perform at one of his parties in Las Vegas...and look at her now.
Now a days, Perez is passing on his patronage to a new stage of emerging musical performers among a exclusive, close-knit set of friends, who ranged from the everyday folks to a rare attendance by Carmen Electra.
Contradictory to his image, Perez opened his party with an intimate acoustic set by a reflective Wynter Gordon.
Then, he finishes the toast by a set from the proudly quirky, energetic, satirical retro-'80's electro-pop/dance duo, Hi Fashion.
Recent Los Angeleno transplants from New York, they can't help but gush in how quickly they risen in the LA electro-pop/dance scene.
Rick Gradone, not too long ago, was gushing by how much he and pop buddy-in-crime,
Jen DM, have now in rehearsal space in their Far-East LA apartment, something they could never do or afford in New York. They finally have a true dance troupe.
Jen DM, have now in rehearsal space in their Far-East LA apartment, something they could never do or afford in New York. They finally have a true dance troupe.
But for them to all of a sudden perform in the court of Perez Hilton, the ultimate Hollywood insider, at the ultimate Hollywood insider burlesque/supper/night club, David Arquette's Bootsy Bellows (lovingly named after David's mother's stripper days), their rise is meteoric for Rick, a professional makeup/hairstylist by day then "Hi Fashion" at night.
As ex-Manhattanites and fashion industry-insiders for years, Jen and Rick have enough working knowledge and gossip to satirize reigning queens of dance pop. Perez was grooving when Hi Fashion satirize sub-culture copping Madonna in Hi Fashion's routines.
Even their love and working knowledge of the fashion industry decided their moniker, "Hi Fashion." They found the ironic humor in the name of a low-budget, value-oriented clothing chain selling rock-bottom basics calling itself “Hi-Fashion $5.99”when they landed in eastern Hollywood/Downtown/LA.
Their satirization of dance pop comes from their nostalgic affection for
C+C Music Factory, clubland/dance pop divas, and early Nineties MTV videos. Them performing as Hi Fashion is nothing more than showing their love, carrying on the tradition of intimate club performance, and basically having light-hearted fun.
C+C Music Factory, clubland/dance pop divas, and early Nineties MTV videos. Them performing as Hi Fashion is nothing more than showing their love, carrying on the tradition of intimate club performance, and basically having light-hearted fun.
They never imagine their night-time, sideline gig would morph into a real music duo, much have them land in the court of Perez Hilton.
But, there they were on a Thursday night, a true insider's night, paying homage to early Nineties dance-pop with Perez paying homage back to them.
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