Remember high school, when the jocks were on top of the world? They were all part of a team and threw the best keggers. Well New York City can be kind of like high school, except the weirdos run the show.
This past Friday, the varsity freaks put on their heels for Brochella 2012 at the Highline Ballroom. Featuring half a dozen acts of gender-bending, mic-dominating madness, the concert rocked on for hours with acts like House of LaDosha, Mykki Blanco, and Alexis Penney. Anticipation built until late in the early morning when Kansan freak-pop legends SSION finally took the stage. Accompanied by angelic vocalists and beefy dancers, frontman Cody Critcheloe took the audience on a choreographed trip to punk heaven. There's a special positivity that only good pop can create, and it was unmistakably in the air as the dance floor went wild and Cody's friends and fellow performers paraded the stage in a spirit of comradery. There was no shortage of talent earlier in the night, but SSION's performance was flawlessly executed and showed that they've perfected their wonderful aesthetic of gay-club-on-a-whole-lotta-acid. VIVA SSION! I caught up with Cody right after the show.
John Tuite: Fill in the blanks:
My name is Cody Critcheloe and I am a very talented donkey with anarchist tendencies, when the lighting is right. My band SSION is the best thing ever, and our music is like melted butter with sugar at the bottom.
JT: What was the best moment of Brochella 2012?
CC: Kicking everyone out of the dressing room for smoking and then lighting up a big fat joint. I didn't actually smoke it, but I lit it up then passed it around to all my sisters in crime. There were some really good chips backstage and my friend brought me a cookie for after the show. But let’s not forget how incredible the audience was! They stuck it out till like 4am. AND someone in the front started crying during the song "Weird Years"—maybe it was a comedown? There were just too many good times. All my favorite performers on one stage.
JT: DISmagazine recently said that “SSION is 2012”—who else is set to rule "your" year? Do you have any predictions?
CC: Actually, I am sort of psychic. But I can't really say anything 'cuz I don't know. I think God is really chilling in 2012... can you feel it?
JT: You’ve been working with tons of really talented people lately. If you could collaborate with any historical figures, who would you pick and what would you do together?
CC: I still really want Tanya Harding to be in one of my music videos. Kim Gordon as well… I'm really not much of a collaborator. I want very specific things.
JT: What food are you?
CC: Something very sweet.
JT: Who were your role models growing up?
CC: Very loud women.
JT: Any advice for your fans?
CC: Meditate.![]()
This past Friday, the varsity freaks put on their heels for Brochella 2012 at the Highline Ballroom. Featuring half a dozen acts of gender-bending, mic-dominating madness, the concert rocked on for hours with acts like House of LaDosha, Mykki Blanco, and Alexis Penney. Anticipation built until late in the early morning when Kansan freak-pop legends SSION finally took the stage. Accompanied by angelic vocalists and beefy dancers, frontman Cody Critcheloe took the audience on a choreographed trip to punk heaven. There's a special positivity that only good pop can create, and it was unmistakably in the air as the dance floor went wild and Cody's friends and fellow performers paraded the stage in a spirit of comradery. There was no shortage of talent earlier in the night, but SSION's performance was flawlessly executed and showed that they've perfected their wonderful aesthetic of gay-club-on-a-whole-lotta-acid. VIVA SSION! I caught up with Cody right after the show.
John Tuite: Fill in the blanks:
My name is Cody Critcheloe and I am a very talented donkey with anarchist tendencies, when the lighting is right. My band SSION is the best thing ever, and our music is like melted butter with sugar at the bottom.
JT: What was the best moment of Brochella 2012?
CC: Kicking everyone out of the dressing room for smoking and then lighting up a big fat joint. I didn't actually smoke it, but I lit it up then passed it around to all my sisters in crime. There were some really good chips backstage and my friend brought me a cookie for after the show. But let’s not forget how incredible the audience was! They stuck it out till like 4am. AND someone in the front started crying during the song "Weird Years"—maybe it was a comedown? There were just too many good times. All my favorite performers on one stage.
JT: DISmagazine recently said that “SSION is 2012”—who else is set to rule "your" year? Do you have any predictions?
CC: Actually, I am sort of psychic. But I can't really say anything 'cuz I don't know. I think God is really chilling in 2012... can you feel it?
JT: You’ve been working with tons of really talented people lately. If you could collaborate with any historical figures, who would you pick and what would you do together?
CC: I still really want Tanya Harding to be in one of my music videos. Kim Gordon as well… I'm really not much of a collaborator. I want very specific things.
JT: What food are you?
CC: Something very sweet.
JT: Who were your role models growing up?
CC: Very loud women.
JT: Any advice for your fans?
CC: Meditate.
.jpg)