Back in 2006, Eleventh Avenue South’s Andy Birkey sizzled on drama and rumors regarding a fallout between Karma nightclub and KRAVE, a gay themed night at the club.

After a two year hiatus from Karma, KRAVE has resurrected there, though organizer Scott Feldman has held several events at other venues. The drama likely didn’t resolve until Karma publicly supported LGBT charities and began posting employment notices in Lavender magazine for them to adequately retract the whole debacle.

Oy!

For those uninitiated, the Krave name originates from the only queer club on the Las Vegas Strip. Eventually, the circuit scene took hold of it and the name became synonymous with hard house techno — and men. A Google search is not going to give you much more. Apparently a Krave magazine didn’t do their research when they launched two years ago. Oops!

Last Friday’s “KRAVE: ROCK STAR” night was aptly themed and appropriately sponsored. Burnsville based salon chain Rocco Altobelli brought stylists from across their stores as far as Rochester to be onstage, giving people rock star glam makeovers. After stylist Tony Schaller dollied one boy in eyeshadow and purple blush, he sprinkled somewhat sticky gold stars atop his head — fairy dust, he said.

The night didn’t really pick up until about 11:30pm when the club packed to the brims. The crowd somewhat took advantage of the theme night with a few amazing outfits that screamed rockstar pop (Prince?). Drinks remained a cheap deal all night.

DJ David Knapp from Atlanta had such an intense set in the main room that it seemed everyone was dazed into a trance state. Ah, the perfect circuit party! For the predominantly male atmosphere, two dancers stripped to nearly nothing and kept the stage… lively — after the Rocco stylists departed.

There was also “entertainment” by the drag diva Wanda Wisdom and her two slave boys. This constituted mostly standing in the porch and towering over everyone. Miss Wanda must be at least six foot five. She seemed at a loss as to her exact role other than to simply tell me to shut it and enjoy her presence.

Feldman, who is also Festival Director of Twin Cities Pride and a supervisor at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is playing it safe this year by scheduling a few independent Krave events with distinct themes at different clubs. And no, the Scott Feldman “party promoter” reported in the New York Post Lionel Ritchie bru-ha-ha is not the same man.

The next confirmed event is at Epic nightclub (former Quest) on Friday June 26 to launch Pride Weekend 2009. Titled “THE BIG GAY PRIDE PARTY: Under the Big Top,” there’s certainly no mistake what kind of party it will be. Featuring act is ex-New Orleans to New York City’s DJ Joe Gauthreaux who is something of heart-throb and legend. (@djjoeg / myspace / wiki)

Our photojournalist friend kindly offered several event photos — those scintillating (and mildly NSFW) photos are here.