Jake Levy
Jean Genie: Jason Dottley performs in Jacksonville on Feb. 19.
JASON DOTTLEY’S ONE MAN SHOW
then ran backstage to perform. My grandmother showed up with her gay pride wristband on and watched me. Then I thought she’d want to go home because it was hot, but she wanted to stay and watch a few of the drag queens perform.
“XXX: My First 30 Years (Get Your Mind Outta the Gutter)” at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 The Takeover at 10 p.m. Metro Entertainment Complex, 859 Willowbranch Ave., Jacksonville Tickets range from $10-$30. nationofjason.com 388-7192
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hen Metro Entertainment Complex owner Jerry Rosenberg saw singer-actor Jason Dottley perform at River City Pride 2011, he knew he had to get him back to Jacksonville. Dottley, a Top 20 Billboard recording artist and star of the cult TV show “Sordid Lives: The Series,” makes his way to Metro on Sunday for a two-pronged event. First, he performs the one-man show, “XXX: My First 30 Years (Get Your Mind Outta the Gutter),” followed by a “takeover” of the club. Dottley’s role as “Ty” in “Sordid Lives,” alongside Olivia Newton-John, Rue McClanahan and Caroline Rhea, has made him something of a superstar in the LGBT community. The series was shown in 17 countries and helped secure Dottley a slot on the prestigious “Out 100” most influential gays roster by Out magazine in 2008. Dottley’s Billboard chart-toppers include dance hits like ’10’s “Party Round the World,” the follow-up “Hit Play” and his new tune, “Pop It.” Folio Weekly caught up with Dottley as he was in Panama City, making breakfast for his grandmother. The Mississippi native is back living on the Panhandle after a decade-long stint in Los Angeles.
20 | folio weekly | feBRUARy 14-20, 2012
Folio Weekly: Last year, you performed at Jacksonville’s River City Pride. How was it? Jason Dottley: I was a headlining entertainer as far as performance went. The highlight, though, was my grandmother who’s just about 90 came with me and it was her very first gay pride. So I rolled her up in her wheelchair — she can walk, but not very good on gravel — to the stage and
F.W.: Tell me a bit about the layout of your upcoming show at The Metro. J.D.: Well, I’m doing two shows. I’m doing what’s called a “club takeover” and this is the first one that I’m doing in the country. Basically, at seven o’clock, I do my one-man show, which I launched two weeks ago in San Francisco. It’s not your typical one-man show. It’s called “XXX: My First 30 Years (Get Your Mind Outta the Gutter)” and it basically talks about growing up gay in the South and the dichotomy of growing up as an adult in Hollywood — the drastic change that
F.W.: Are you taking this two-pronged show around the U.S.? J.D.: In some cities I go to, I only do my one-man show. And then there are some cities where the venue works that I can use the venue before they open, before the dance crowd or, like at Metro, they have separate rooms and I can utilize the same space for both events. And then there are times where I just go in and do club music. So it just really depends on what the city wants and what I can actually make happen. F.W.: Any special way you like to loosen up before a show? J.D.: I have a one-drink rule before and during a show. Actually, for my one-man show, I nurse one drink the entire show. I order it at the beginning of the show — mostly to get the
“My grandmother showed up with her gay pride wristband on and watched me. I thought she’d want to go home because it was hot, but she wanted to stay and watch a few of the drag queens perform.” occurs between one and another. There are some tragic stories in it, some funny stories in it and tons of celebrity stories. F.W.: What happens during Club Takeover? J.D.: The second part of the night is when I take over the actual club, and by that, I mean that I influence what the DJ is playing, I host, we have local guest entertainers and then I cap off the evening performing my new single out called “Pop It.” My first two singles were in the Top 20 on Billboard in 2010 and my third single should be charting this Thursday or next Thursday. By the time I get to Jacksonville, I’ll be on the charts with my third single.
© 2012
FolioWeekly
audience drinking because most of the venues I play, they get their money off the booze sales. But I’m too fearful. I worry that if I have more than one drink before a show, I’ll end up — I don’t know, God only knows what I’d end up doing. Get naked, rolling around the floor — something I shouldn’t do. Kara Pound themail@folioweekly.com
Tickets for “XXX” and the Club Takeover afterparty are sold separately or as an all-night pass, ranging from $10-$20. nationofjason.com Check out the video for Dottley’s new video “Pop It” at http://bit.ly/xNKigZ.