Mx Vivian Justin Bond stays Aggressively Neutral in ‘Silver Wells’

Miss, Mr, oh well, Mx or V works just fine for the talented Bond whose career spanned the award winning years as Kiki (Kiki & Herb) and can also be seen as Jukebox Jackie at LaMama. Bond is a transgender singer-songwriter who keeps moving on, surely not waiting for anyone to light up her life and is currently performing at the new 54 Below cabaret venue on West 54th Street on Monday evenings through July 9th.Celebrating her new CD “Silver Wells,” she has chosen this imaginary title and place based on Joan Didian’s 1970 novel Play It as It Lays, to express  raw emotions that resound loud and clear about loss, hurt and identity as it exists in the depths of memory and soul.The show seems to be divided into three sections that unveil the secrets as in “Dues” (Ronee Blakely) from the movie Nashville - hurt, disrespect yet softly plaintive. The revealing “Sinnerman” is filled with dramatic whispered intensity in a sexually-driven appeal . . . where you gonna run to . . . and Bond breaks the spell saying he thinks about it as a toe tapper!
And that’s what makes Bond so likeable: – that ability to not only dig down deep and deeper but then to pop up with stream of consciousness that brings laughs-a-plenty.

His songs are sung in first person narrative and he’s “Talkin’ About a Revolution” in Tracy Chapman’s pertinent and poignant Occupy mantra and the current state of the day (welfare, unemployment, waiting for a promotion) as the tables start to turn.

There are no rules in this show as the extraordinarily talented Thomas Bartlett on piano gets up and goes to the bathroom, or tweets or texts as needed. Bond relates his recent guest appearance on that stage with Broadway legend Patti Lupone, currently ensconced at the venue, and then launches into his love/hate of Joni Mitchell, as he proceeds to sing “Lesson in Survival” and “Let the Wind Carry Me.”

The next section of the show is labeled the Prostitute section including Brecht/Weill’s “Alabama Song,” followed by another hooker song, “Patriot’sHeart” (Mark Eitzel) each a sad debasement of the soul and passion for the damned.

Finally, he was in my territory with a swingin’ “Until the Real Thing Comes Along,” including a semblance of a soft shoe, quickly leaving that for the next section about AIDS – the horror, the sadness, the raw emotion and cries of death – “Clean White Bed” (Benjamin Smoke) and “Leftover Wine” (Melanie Safka).

Encoring with Billy Barnes’ “Something Cool,” Bond’s raspy vocals left me feeling somewhat relieved and ready to go on.

Bond can switch on a dime from soulful, serious and insightful entertainer knowing just when to break that spell and reach for the lighter side. His heart is always beautifully displayed.

Mx Justin Vivian Bond continues at 54 Below on June 18, 25, July 2, 9.
www.54Below.com 212 764-7900. Aside from the many Broadway celebs slated to play the room, Andrea Martin with Seth Rudetsky and Brian d’Arcy James, is the New Mondays series celebrating Broadway’s up and coming songwriters and after-theatre music including Sean Harkness, John Miller and Barry Levitt