by Joseph Edwards
Admittedly, when I received word that we were given staff tickets for TUFF, I had a hearty guffaw and squeal, wondering why something so salacious came our way. So of course, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to attend this event and give my review.
Now, this is the best way I can write this review while keeping it FCC friendly:
It was a fun night! The end.<3
I’m just kidding! Here’s the real:
Coming from the perspective of a baptized Christian boy, I feel like I can say that TUFF was my version of a gay man’s heaven. As soon as I walked in, my eyes were greeted by a sea of sweaty men all dressed in the fetish gear of their liking. While there was an emphasis on leather, you also had guys in latex, singlets, pup masks, and so on. To show my participation in the theme, I arrived in sports gear and danced my little heart away.
For this event, every upstairs section was roped off, leaving all the activity to the ground floor. I very much enjoyed this concept, since it basically forced us all to congregate on the dance floor. I arrived early, and I watched in glee as the room progressively became filled with lively individuals who just wanted to release some energy. Especially for it being a Thursday night, I felt it was a nice turnout.
Something I enjoy about these types of queer spaces is that naturally, people just aren’t glued to their phones. Of course, it’s not a completely unplugged space either, but the overwhelming majority of people there are truly there to just enjoy the music and camaraderie. It’s a beautiful feeling to exist in, and also a wonderful sight to see. I feel a direct result of phones being (mostly) away is people being less anxious to exist as themselves and being unafraid to put themselves out there, as the thought of haphazardly going viral due to being posted unknowingly by someone is practically nonexistent. I’ll never not be inspired by watching people who take the initiative to be the first person to start dancing in the center of the room as a gesture to invite the rest of the crowd to join.
As far as the ambiance goes, it was kind of what you’d expect of a typical club atmosphere: dim lights, an even dimmer dancing area, gogo dancers, and visualizers apropos to the event theme. No complaints there!
Other quick highlights to mention:
- Nick Bertossi and Luis M. served as the night’s DJs, playing captivating house music. At some point in the night, I heard a Deee-Lite song that was NOT “Groove Is In The Heart”, which made me a happy boy. I also heard a track from Madonna’s new album being played, which if you know me in real life, you’d know about the current contempt I have for (an unnamed place I recently patronized that) advertised a Madonna Night, but played no Madonna.
- Being from San Jose, the convenience of BART and walking to 1015 from the Powell St. station
- The kind bartender who remembered my drink order after my first beverage
- People actually dressed for the event! When a situation calls for a specific type of garb, either comply or stay home. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine when people don’t follow a theme!!!
Now, while coming in fetish gear is part of the highly-stressed dress code, TUFF is not necessarily a “sex-driven” event. TUFF is more of a celebration of self-expression.
From the outside perspective, the fetish subcultures, particularly ones that are enjoyed by queer folks, often get a lot of flack sourced from the dissemination of disinformation and the ignorance of those who keep us on their minds for some reason. As an actual participant in these spaces, it’s nothing but a beautiful celebration of this silly thing called life we all live, and to live it in an unapologetic way. These spaces were crafted in response to the greater powers out there who have historically sought to suppress queer existence, when really all we want to do is exist and revel in entrancing music while celebrating each other’s essence of individual spirit. TUFF, and other events of a similar nature, are always a place where the unspoken rule is to just come as you are. It’s the type of space where you can truly shed all your insecurities and exist without inhibition.
Given the outward nature of this type of event, it proved to be a challenge when I tried to find someone to attend the event with me. So I went alone! I’ve made it a point to mention this because I often hear about people missing out on life experiences just based on them not having anyone to go with. I’m a big proponent of attending events alone. Life is too fickle to live in FOMO. Seize the moments you can seize! Especially at a concert or dance party, I’d say it’s a high chance that you’re around people who are also there to enjoy the effervescence of life.
TUFF touts itself as “North America’s premier leather party”, and it certainly fits that billing. Beginning in 2023 in LA (Los Angeles, not Louisiana), they continue to have monthly parties in LA, but they also take their events to select spots throughout North America and across the pond. TUFF was hosted at 1015 Folsom on 7/23/26. An unsuspecting Thursday for city dwellers, but the start of a beautiful weekend for a unique subculture of gay men and other queer folks alike. If you know, you know 😉
Before I go, did you know that KSJS often has tickets to give away for events at venues local to the Bay Area, including 1015 Folsom? Make sure to keep the dial on 90.5 FM, stream us online at ksjs.org or on our official KSJS app, and follow us on our social media channels @ksjsfm if you’d also like to join in on all the fun.
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