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Drag Divas

  R O C K
Lyndon State

 

BY MARCIANN MAYER

battle, but on Saturday,

October 17th, the Northeast
Kingdom got a phenomenal
demonstration of the power of
acceptance and love. Divas Noel
and Yolanda rocked Lyndon State
College’s Alexander Twilight
Theatre with two great sets and
some lively duets, while the audi-
ence chipped in with some lively
aisle—dancing and a moving
protest of anti—gay violence.

“The Battle of the Divas” was

It might have been billed as a

ater to a newly planted tree. In a

tribute to slain Wyoming student
Matthew Shepard and a protest
against hate crimes, each person
tied a small rainbow ribbon onto
its branches. Short, informal and
deeply moving, the ceremony left
a bright beacon on campus and a
warm glow inside all those pre-
sent.

Once back inside, it was
Yolanda’s turn to take the stage. A
fixture on the Burlington scene, it
was her Northeast Kingdom debut
and she was out to impress.
Accompanied by her band, The

sponsored by Out . In The
Mountains and Lyndon State
Co1lege’s Gay—Straight Alliance.
With about one hundred people in
attendance, the music," dancing
and laughter lasted for nearly
three hours. The message of
peace, protests against hate and
violence and dozens of rainbow
ribbons lingered on campus long
afterward.

Local favorite Noel began the
show with songs from her new
album it’s just a phase. Perhaps
her most telling statement of the
evening was from her song “Love
Don’t Need a Reason” when she
sang ‘‘I don’t want to fight, but
know I’m gonna stay.” It summed
up the show’s theme, helping to
make people aware that violence
is never the answer, and that hate
will not destroy the existence of
homosexuals, bisexuals, transgen-
dered people, or anyone else.

Between sets, the audience and
volunteers headed outside the the-

During the concert intermission, members of the Lyndon State Gay/Straight
Alliance planted a tree in remembrance of Matthew Shepard.

Plastic Family, Yolanda brought a
unique energy to the stage in a set
dedicated to joy, fun, and freedom.
She was poignant in her dedica-
tion to Shepard: “You had a right
to surrender, but I miss you just
the same,” but strong in her mes-
sage to hate-mongers with a tune
called “Eat Me.” She stressed the
overwhelming need for violence
to end and acceptance to begin.‘

The concert began to draw to a
close when Noel and Yolanda sang
a series of duets. From the rous-
ing “I’m Every Woman” to the
haunting “The Crying Game” and
the unifying “You’ve Got A
Friend,” they had the audience
begging for more.”

More came in the form of
Noel’s familiar finale: “The Love
You’re Looking For.” The divas
walked through the audience,
shaking and grasping hands. It
was a touching end to a difficult
week and a powerful show. V

“The drag musical community
spawns its most intriguing performer

since RuPaul in the form of wildly
charismatic Vermont—based tunesmith

   
 
  
   
   
 

YOLAN DA is releasing her first CD project with her
fabulous band The Plastic Family. The CD is entitled

YOLANDA & the Plastic Family...
Welcome to YOLANDA WORLD

10 original songs written by YOLANDA and arranged
by Adam Wood. lncluded on the CD is the song “Angels” 9
that Billboard Magazine called:

“one of the strongest AC/pop
compositions in months . "

YO LAN DA needs YOU to make this projecta successlli:  5
lf you order NOW you will receive the low, low pre-productiof” " -

price of $10‘for 10 original YOLANDA songs. .,
Each pre-production order will receive an autographe
photo of YOLANDA and her now famous bumper

’ sticker “YOLANDA IS MY CO-PILOT” free of charge.  

 
     
  
  
  

name send a $10 check or money order  I .
address payable to Roger Manes to: i

YOLANDA’: on Project, Po Box 812, 
phone ‘ Burlington, UT 05402 , '
eman or contact 802-865-0385,
# of (:03 ordered ' Yolandaman@aoI.com/yolandavt

   

http:/'/members.aol.com/yolandavt