After a storied collaboration with Pittsburgh’s Honcho for Movement in 2014, the R&R briefly closed, reopened, and then officially shut its doors when Jeffrey was to play his inaugural set as a resident that same year. Macho City has survived a number of venue closings over its eight-year run. To have a party like ours is still liberating and exciting for people.” Imagine a straight girl going to a party and seeing 10 shirtless gay dudes dancing together and making out - you don’t see that in Detroit ever. People feel comfortable to just relax a little and dance to good music, and I think that’s a big thing. Compared to a straight party, there isn’t all that hetero energy. Jeffrey Sfire, who’s been an official resident since November 2014, says the party has “such a rotating audience, but they all bring the same vibe.” He adds, “It’s a place where people can let go of life stress. “The party is just the right mix, and all we have to do is keep it going,” Scott commented.
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“To this day we have not had a bad turnout,” says Mike. “I was hoping to transfer that momentum.” With a stunning flyer from Philadelphia artist Jeffrey Bouchard, who continues to nail them all with little guidance, the first party featured Ron Morelli as its guest. Taking three months to promote the first Macho City in Detroit, the event happened in March 2009 at the legendary R&R Saloon on Michigan Avenue. It was a total melting pot.” The party happened once more in October before Mike prepared to move back to Detroit. “ It was successful right off the bat, and it was good to see such a diverse crowd in terms of age, gender, sexuality. I wanted to create that option in Philadelphia as well.” The very first Macho City was in September 2008, which he also threw with Ron. “It was an option for that segment of the community that was tired of hearing Britney, Madonna, and Rihanna. “I’d gone to queer parties in LA that attracted a really diverse crowd,” says Mike. It was at this time that Macho City came into fruition. “I don’t even think I played records that night,” recalls Scott, “I think I just played with the lights!” The Thursday night event went strong for two years until the club closed in 2008. With an old rotary mixer, mirrored dancefloor, and a suspended DJ booth, it looked like it hadn’t been updated since 1986. They started a party in Philly called Paradise, a tribute to the Paradise Garage, at “this amazing time capsule of a gay bar called Key West.” Both Scott Zacharias and Jeffrey Sfire were invited to play. Meanwhile, Mike had moved to Philadelphia in 2005, where he and Ron Morelli – who was five years out from starting his career-defining record label L.I.E.S. The rave scene in the 90s was very gay-friendly, and that’s where the good music was, but the city started taking a hard line on unlicensed venues.”ĭisco/Secret continued on until the Eagle closed in 2009.
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Unfortunately it was closed down in the late 90s. “You had house music in its proper element: a black gay after-hours club. “Ken Collier was absolutely killer at that club,” says Chuck. Then there was Todd’s, and the Nectarine Ballroom in Ann Arbor that played more alternative stuff.” The early 90s was a high point for gay nightlife in Detroit, all thanks to Heaven. “In the 80s you had places like Menjo’s and Backstreet that played Hi-NRG and top 40 remixes. “If you were into the leather scene that meant going to the Eagle and having to hear total crap on a bad sound system,” recalls Chuck Hampton, a frequent Macho City guest who is revered for his Gay Marvine disco edits. It brought three devoted DJs together during a period that many describe as a vacuum for good music in the Detroit gay underground. He particularly cites Carlos Souffront’s Monday night, EXAT, as well as Adriel Thornton’s Family parties as breeding grounds for many lifelong friendships.Īfter five years in Los Angeles, Mike moved back to Detroit in 2004 and started the Disco/Secret parties at the Detroit Eagle, which happened on Sunday afternoon with Scott and Mike Kerns as fellow residents. “Everyone met there and started bands,” Mike says of Zoot’s. Having celebrated its eighth anniversary featuring FIT Siegel, the recurring Detroit party has gone through a number of venue changes while meshing distinct tastes from some of the city’s best modern selectors.Īt the center of the party’s history is Mike Trombley, who came up in the 90s at the Packard Plant and Zoot’s, where he met long-time Macho City resident Scott Zacharias around 1995. America’s underground gay dance scene has been coming up in a big way over the last several years, and Macho City is an integral part of its success. “At this point now it’s become an institution,” says resident Jeffrey Sfire.