A couple of years back, at a charity show at The Cobalt to raise funds for a youth centre, Sad Mag writer Shannon Waters met a sparkly dynamo named LeRoy. Performing solo that evening, LeRoy’s energy and charisma lit up the stage. Since that night, LeRoy and the Lovebots have continued to take to stages around Vancouver, spreading sparkles and acceptance wherever they go. LeRoy answered some of Sad Mag’s questions about the Lovebots ‘ performance style, progress and their upcoming performance at the Ignite! Youth Festival.
Who are LeRoy and the Lovebots?
“Leroy + The Lovebots” [didn’t exist] before I experienced pain, and hurt. It was an idea that was born from years and years of being in school, being at work, being at a bar and just realizing how big of a part my sexuality will come into play for everything I do, like it or not.
It felt like, Leroy, this is who you were born as. You were kind of born with this “gay” molecule infused into your image. Employers, strangers, will take a first look at you and instantly they know. And I found out that it really hurts you, truly hurts you, if you hide who you are, be it a gay man or a rebellious burlesque dancer.
So, I decided to create something that—no matter how the outside world was, no matter how work or school was—I could throw myself into what I love doing and focus on that for the rest of the night.
And maybe, if I could create this show and rehearse my balls off and people could see the work and passion I have for the stage, maybe [they’ll see that] a man in a bra isn’t too scary.
Maybe Martha was right. It’s a gay thing.
You’ve been performing together for a while now—do you feel like your style or your goals have changed and grown during that time? If so, how?
Yes. Well, the thing I think we find the hardest is that sometimes when you grow up and you think life is going to give you a little off time to fuck around in your twenties, it reminds you time waits for no one.
We have had our share of difficulties over the past two years, from family being severely sick to now, never having time because we all work so much.
But it made “The Lovebots” more precious to us—almost a shelter from reality. Because when you are on stage, only the show is real. I can be whoever I want to be. And for us, that is soooo worth staying up till 2 in the morning and waking up at 7 to go to work. I am now a connoisseur of coffee.
How did you become involved with Ignite!?
All the “Lovebots” hail from East Vancouver and one of the opportunities for us to hone our art for free was at The Cultch. We got opportunities performing, working behind the scenes, even organizing the Ignite! Week with Youth Panel.
The Cultch popped my performance cherry when I belly-danced for a night called “GenderBent”.
I got to meet famous artists in the LGBTQ community [who] took me under their wing[s] to help me with my performances.
The Cultch I might say, was my first real boyfriend.
What are you most excited about in terms of participating in the Ignite! Youth Festival?
I’m excited to show the people that have supported us for four years how we have GROWN. We are more serious than ever. And it really does feel like a homecoming.
What are you hoping to convey to your audience with this performance? What feelings and thoughts do you hope to leave them with?
I want them to feel free. Free to ask out the girl you’ve been eyeing the whole night, or free to feel sexy. If I can, I want to inspire confidence and love in my favourite little “Historic Theatre.” I want to give them a GOOD show.
I want to leaving thinking “Leroy + The Lovebots” are the best band of the night, based solely on their own merit.
Performing, while rewarding, can be time consuming and draining as well. You are a particularly energetic performer – what inspires you to perform and what keeps you coming back?
I have to perform. I need to.
If this is getting a bit too BARE ALL, here: I actually get really depressed if I don’t make art. I have to.
When I’m drinking with my friends, if I have an idea, I’ll just start draping their tipsy bodies with fabric. If I hear a song idea I like, I have to run into the mall bathroom and record it in a stall.
I have to be on stage and feel the love of the audience to keep my alive. Some say it’s me being an “unlicked cub” and insecure. But because all the best artists are crazy, I like to think it’s because I’m crazy.
Do you feel like you have a signature performance style?
I think we definitely have a performance style. I try to make it more specifically unforgettably us, everyday.
One of my queer mentors, Rachel Devin.Bot, one of my inspirations, told me “Never try to be anyone else. Never try to recreate a show, be it yours or anyone else’s”.
And that STUCK with me and forced me to be the most original whip cracking relentless motherfucker with my show. So every show would be authentically “Leroy + The Lovebots”.
What comes next?
Well, I do have a book coming out that I am a part of—[I, along with Dan Savage and many other writers, have contributed to] The Radical Youth Handbook.
We have some really great music that we are going to perform and release soon as well as with music videos. We are working with a styling team called “HAUS OF EAST VAN” who have worked with the likes of Vancouver Fashion Week, Natalie Talson of Canada’s Next Top Model and many more. So I’m very excited for our future!
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LeRoy and the Lovebots will be performing at Fruit Basket (A variety show about gender, sex and sexuality) on May 10th, as part of Ignite! Youth-Drive Arts Festival, taking place at The Cultch. For tickets, visit The Cultch.
