Photos: Masquerade 2013

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Lucent Dossier right before the doors open to Masquerade 2013 by Jeremiah Garcia
Angel City All Star Brass Band by Gary Leonard
Angel City All Star Brass Band by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
KCRW DJ group photo by Jeremiah Garcia
KCRW DJ group photo by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Revelers who walked into the legendary Park Plaza for KCRW’s 5th Annual Masquerade, a costume ball and dance party to benefit the station, were greeted by the 16-piece Angel City All-Star Brass Band, the outrageous, otherworldly characters of circus troupe Lucent Dossier, as well as the lovely ladies of burlesque crew the Bella Donnas, in all their feathered glory, lining the grand staircase leading from the lobby to two upstairs rooms where dance parties immediately began and kept going until curfew was called.

As I was leaving the event, I was chatting with a fantastically costumed attendee who said a stranger had approached and handed him a envelope addressed to “You”. The signed letter inside simply said “Nice Costume, Bro”.

That captures the spirit of Masquerade in many ways. While there is an actual costume contest, it doesn’t feel like a competition. It’s a joyous gathering of creative types who have taken the occasion to flaunt their skills in front of a crowd that will truly appreciate it.

The story is, obviously, better told in photos, but a few things of note at this year’s event:

The Grizfolk guys play catchy pop songs that are easy on the ears but went a little off-center with a Clockwork Orange theme for their costumes.

Grizfolk by Jeremiah Garcia
Grizfolk by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Meanwhile, Guest DJ Dave Sitek made a  spectacular Clark Kent playing a wide mix of tracks and the masked duo Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr led a capacity crowd on a musical journey.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr by Jeremiah Garcia
Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Macauley Culkin, in a dress and red lipstick, was a special guest joining Har Mar Superstar on stage for a song. (Har Mar, of course, was shirtless, as is his way), while Tom Chasteen and The Lions kept the reggae dub vibes rolling downstairs in the Haunted Dancehall.

Har mar breakdance GL2013-10-2700-23-25D4A_6386
Har Mar by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
KCRW's Masquerade 2013 at the Legendary Park Plaza - October 26,
Macauley Culkin and Har Mar Superstar by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
The Lions by Brenda Janairo
The Lions by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Glasser’s music is already dramatic but, seeing it live, the intensity was elevated a few levels. She moves across the stage deliberately for maximum impact and had the crowd captivated before Jason Bentley took the stage for a full throttle dance set, which Rob Garza (of Thievery Corporation) carried on into the early morning hours.

Glasser by Gary Leonard
Glasser by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Rob Garza and Jason Bentley by Jeremiah Garcia
Rob Garza and Jason Bentley by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Extra credit to DJ Chris Douridas who straight up scared me when he first walked into the venue. And Travis Holcombe who shocked me in a different way — by dressing like a Juggalo.

See more photos on KCRW’s Facebook page — including Costume Contest shots – and Flickr feed in the coming days.

RR

Chris Douridas by Brenda Janairo
DJ Chris Douridas by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Travis Holcombe by Brenda Janairo
DJ Travis Holcombe by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
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DJ Mathieu Schreyer by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Harlow Gold dancer by Gary Leonard
Harlow Gold dancer by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Cool couples by Jeremiah Garcia
Cool couples by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
DJ Eric J Lawrence by Brenda Janairo
DJ Eric J Lawrence by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
DJ Valida by Gary Leonard
DJ Valida by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Vampire ladies by Jeremiah Garcia
Vampire ladies by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
DJ Dan Wilcox by Gary Leonard
DJ Dan Wilcox by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
RR Liza Richardson and KCRW Presents coordinator Mary Chellamy by Jeremiah Garcia
RR Liza Richardson and KCRW Presents coordinator Mary Chellamy by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Dj Raul Campos by Jeremiah Garcia
Dj Raul Campos by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
*write your own caption* by Jeremiah Garcia
*write your own caption* by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Outside by the food trucks By Brenda Janairo
Outside by the food trucks By Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
DJ Mario Cotto by Gary Leonard
DJ Mario Cotto by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
DJ Marion Hodges by Gary Leonard
DJ Marion Hodges by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Quite a trio. by Brenda Janairo
Quite a trio. by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Lucent Dossier swinging above the outside patio by Brenda Janairo
Lucent Dossier swinging above the outside patio by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Jeremy Sole by Brenda Janairo
DJ Jeremy Sole by Brenda Janairo (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
View of the Grand Ballroom from on stage with Grizfolk by Jeremiah Garcia
View of the Grand Ballroom from on stage with Grizfolk by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)