While the dancer is an integral part of many artists’ shows, they are not the focus of the show. When Madonna, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, or any number of artists take the stage the focus is on them. In contrast, Canada’s Pinup Saints put the dancers front and centre for a spectacular, in your face, boundary-breaking show.
The Pinup Saints was created by Mabel Palomino and consists of So You Think You Can Dance Canada winner Nico Archambault, singer/songwriter Raul JR, choreographer and singer Wynn Holmes, dancers Laurin Padolina and Anne-Rose Cupidon and Calgary’s own Amy Gardner and Joey Matt. The group was in Calgary on May 7th for a show at Cowboys as part of a promotional tour for their album Golden. We sat down with the group the day before.
“It is really hard to define us, especially with this album. I’ve been given a brief description of how we should be described – a sexier co-ed underground version of the Pussycat Dolls who can actually dance,” Holmes said when asked to introduce the group. “We don’t use a pop formula. We have dancers with us, you’ve rarely seen an artist with the dancers up front with them they are usually an accessory that happens in the background.”
The group is taking full advantage of Nico’s SYTYCDC win, which allows a spotlight to be focused on the entity itself.
“It did help in that it brought some attention to the group. People were curious about what I was doing, where I came from. While I was on the show everyone was working like crazy on the album. When it came out, I just wanted everything that I had, all of the attention I had coming out of the show I wanted directed to this project. There is so much talent here and the music industry needs that. Really these days everything that comes out is a copy of what came out before. I am really proud to be part of something original and unique, and is produced independently and making it on its own,” he said. “There are already more and more ‘Nico Fans’ that have heard of the project because I used Halo on the show and I talk about it everywhere I go. There were people listening to the clip of the song on the website over and over. The plan is to use the attention I got from So You Think You Can Dance and turn them into Pinup Saints fans. …The dancers jump everywhere, it is so physical and amazing to watch. Give each dancer a show of their own and they will hold the crowd.”
Palomino said that the group was cheering Nico on. One of the highlights was when he did a solo number to the hauntingly beautiful Halo on the TV show.
“We always knew about Nico’s talent. We have watched him grow and knew he was that freakin’ good. He has so much to offer this world and it will take years for us to see what it is, he is absolutely sick in the head. We were very proud. Plus he did one of his solo’s to our song Halo, with Wynn singing it, Raul producing it, I was in the audience watching. I lost my mind. It was really cool and so sincere.”
The Pinup Saints have already gained a large gay following in their home base of Montreal. It’s not surprising. Their show at Cowboys was an energetic, sexually charged, visual treat. The three guys spend most of the show shirtless, much to the joy of the girls and gay boys who attended the show, and throughout the performance guys danced and grinded with girls and boys, and girls with girls. A big focus of The Pinup Saints boils down to “who cares what you do as long as it is good for you.” Palomino went into detail on the influence and support of their growing GLBT fan base.
“The gay influence for us, we are very open with sexuality. Orientation, experiences, fantasies, we have no fears in regards to that. The dancers are very comfortable with their bodies and touching each other. We have that mentality of being open minded, and that is an influence similar to the LGBT community. Whatever turns you on, go for it. The gay community is huge in Montreal and is very artistically driven. Therefore it is an audience that is very receptive to what we are trying to bring out and is very open sexually as well. We haven’t performed specifically for the gay community but we are dying to do events like Black and Blue and Pride. We are working on that. We have been introduced and people really like what we are doing. We want people in that community to come check us out.”
“We don’t do anything or create anything out of what people expect from us. I think the LGBT community will really be able to relate to that. Just because I am a straight woman doesn’t mean I don’t identify with the struggles that people go through in identifying themselves. …We do what we want how we want it and it is represented in our choreography,” added Lauren Padolina.
So what can we expect from The Pinup Saints? Well having seen the show, I can tell you these folks are going somewhere. Despite a sub-optimal sound system and lighting issues at Cowboys, the show itself was a tightly choreographed, thoroughly enjoyable one that blends music and dance. The album Golden on its own is excellent and you should grab a copy off of their website. Combine that with the visual aspect of their live show and you really do have something special. Hopefully the Saints will return to Calgary soon, at a better venue, so that those just learning about them now can take advantage of the opportunity to see them. You won’t be disappointed. Wynn Holmes summed things up perfectly.
“There is something everyone will like in our show, whether a straight edge conservative or the wildest person there is something you can find in our show. Even if you didn’t make it out to the show, the album has something for everyone.”
For more on The Pinup Saints read the online article in the May Edition. Watch a video of our interview at www.gaycalgary.com!
