The Turnback Boyz Take Over Gay City This Weekend & They Will Turn You . . . .

The Turnback Boyz. L-R: Oliver Gold, Tommy Tugguns, Peter Pansy

The Turnback Boyz hit Seattle with a bang for their first performance of a 3-day stint at Gay City’s Calamus Auditorium last night. The gender-bending, time-traveling boy band entered the stage with the help of their time machine and a burst of confetti and glitter never to be forgotten. Tommy Tugguns, Peter Pansy and Oliver Gold brought their Origins tour full force exploring pivotal moments in queer history and empowering queers everywhere.

Tommy Tugguns, born in 1940, misses the year 1957 and has a crush on Peggy Winters. Peter Pansy is from the future year of 2051, looks forward to capitalism being a thing of the past and has a way with the fiddle. Last but not least, Olive Gold hails from the 1820s, loves the Gold Rush era, and flags mustard yellow. Be still my heart.

Oliver Gold crooning

L-R: Tommy Tugguns, Annie Michaelson, Oliver Gold, Peter Pansy

We time traveled with the boys to Pusstown where they covered the Backstreet Boys’ I Want it That Way and we were able to experience the influence of the local language as the lyrics gradually turned cat-like. We also went to the time of Joan of Arc and learned that she was the captain of her own life and that dressing in men’s clothing was her armor. Audience member Annie Michaelson (aka “Chicken”) did the boys a solid by standing in as Joan during one of their numbers. I think she did Joan proud. Oliver Gold quoted Joan of Arc saying, “When you were born into a world you don’t belong in, you were meant to change it.” Preach Oliver, preach!

The chap-wearing hotties demonstrate a little flogging action. L-Peter Pansy, R-Oliver Gold

Two audience members were inducted into The Church of Holy Glitterus by Oliver Gold (with prayers to Dolly . . . Dolly Parton, that is) right on stage and we learned that the whole purpose of this unique religious movement is empowering and loving yourself.

Oliver Gold & Peter Pansy help Tommy Tugguns get kinky.

Then we were quickly swept into a Metopian post-capitalist future, after which we learned about being Wholesome on Folsom (poor Tommy Tugguns never had a chance at keeping that squeaky-clean 1950s image) with the help of the ubiquitous and much missed former Seattleite Amber Flame.

And, we were reminded that Consent is Sexy, a fitting way to round out a show. The boys turned this queer . . . into a die-hard fan. You know you want to be turned with the Turnback Boyz, so you have two more opportunities to catch their show at Gay City’s Calamus Auditorium: Saturday, May 30th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 31st at 2:00 pm. $18 general admission/$12 students & seniors.

Back, L-R: Peter Pansy, Kate West, Tommy Tugguns. Front: Oliver Gold. Photo: Beau King