Donna Personna at Tubesteak Connection
Charlie’s, where you can find skinny jeans and thrift store threads mingling with plain tees and pornstaches to match the posterized porn imagery, and often clubgoers who actually were at clubs in the 1970s, like Donna Personna, who was around during the Cockettes era, and even performed in their wacky 1972 film Elevator Girls in Bondage. DJ Bus Station John says all are welcome. “I think the warmth of the music gives people permission to drop their facades, relax, let their hair down and commune together,” says John. “My favorite nights have been a mix of heavy cruising, sweaty dancing and on select occasions, twenty-somethings through 80-somethings finding intergenerational camaraderie under the same roof – not a common sight anywhere, and a vibe I’m very proud to have created.” There is a very real, honest quality to DJ Bus Station John, a quality that seeps into his clubs. He pays homage to the history of queer places and culture. He is not afraid to state his opinions, yet remains very humble, even after receiving a 2010 Bay Guardian Goldie Award and being named “Most Original DJ” by SF Weekly. He transforms spaces that were never intended to be dance clubs into vibrant miniature discos. All this from a man who didn’t even start DJing until around age 40, which he says is proof that “Life can surprise you at any stage!” ✸ DJ Bus Station John’s current clubs are TubeSteak Connection, every Thursday at Aunt Charlies, 133 Turk and Taylor; and Le Perle Degli Squallor, first Saturdays at Hot Spot, 1414 Market and Polk. For booking and info, contact djbusstationjohn@gmail.com