Justin Bond at Joe's Pub

Now this is cabaret. Justin Bond is a drag performer whom you might know better as half of Kiki and Herb. Justin has an expressive voice, but it's a complete package with her stage presence, banter, stories, and soulful schtick. This being New York, you don't get where Justin is by just having a personality that can fill a room; there's a lot of talent there. (And a great backing band too; the guitarist was supposed to be London but was delayed by the volcano.) There was a whole scene with the volcano as part of the natural disasters that surround Justin.

The music was pure cabaret, in fact, one of the highlights of the evening was Kurt Weill's "Alabama Song." I don't think I've heard a better version and I've heard plenty. The other standout cover was a version of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down." It wasn't just covers, however. The best song of the evening was an original composition called "New Economy." (I've linked to an earlier version on YouTube. Another great song was called "The Golden Age of Hustlers. Enjoy, but go see Justin Bond next time he's in San Francisco, probably at Cafe du Nord.