Justin Bond is a self-described queer performer — the Kiki of the former team of Kiki and Herb — who is now doing a solo, singing mostly original songs reflecting his views of the world. Taking the stage, Bond looks a bit like David Bowie, with short hair, sports coat, dark shirt and glittery black leotards.

His voice takes on different sounds at different moments — in his lower range, as in his opening number, the Brecht-Weill “Alabama Song,” sounding very much as if he were channeling Bea Arthur; and at other times he sounds a bit like Judy Garland or, occasionally, Noël Coward. He sings primarily in a pleasant middle range, with clear diction, and gets strong support from pianist and Musical Director Thomas Bartlett.

Bond sang mostly original songs, reflecting his personal take on the economy, love, witchcraft, Christmas and other topics in descriptive and often captivating lyrics and witty, amusing patter that set each one up. In an original song called “New Depression,” Bond said the dip in the economy has not affected him — since he does not have stock investments, a 401(k) or health insurance — and he called on his listeners to “take what you need and give a little back/That’s the new economy.” He sang about the end of a love affair in “Un Chant d’amour,” noting, however, that the song’s ending “is less bitter now that we’re back together, which is the advantage of writing your own songs.” Pointing out “it’s more important to be happy than to be special,” Bond sang another original called “Stars” that indicated people are not always what they seem to be (“Stars are illusion, delusion, confusion”).

Describing himself as a “dendrophile” — a person who is sexually aroused by nature — he sang “May Queen,” which he said he wrote during a witches’ convention in Tennessee last year. Another original, “Christmas Spells,” started like a traditional holiday song but turned into a denunciation of people who treat others people unfairly, with Bond urging that, “If God is love, then let’s get along” — a forceful statement delivered in a powerful manner.

Elliot Zwiebach
Cabaret Scenes
January 30, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org