By Daniel Batalla

Daily Titan Columnist

All day I was anxious. I decided to start getting ready and the concert was still hours away.

I had to look my best if Mika was going to spot me from the audience and ask me to come backstage.

OK, so I had delusions of grandeur, but I still wanted to look nice for the concert. Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars and logged hundreds of miles driving to see my favorite bands perform.

There isn’t a venue in all of L.A. that I haven’t been to. Well, maybe one or two. But you get the idea.

Souvenir shirts, VIP passes and, of course, gasoline has given my credit card a healthy balance.

But it’s all been worth it.

The excitement of singing along to my favorite songs, meeting people with similar musical interests and burning up calories dancing in a crowd, trump having a savings account anyway.

We’ve all been there, whether you’ve crowd-surfed at a Matt & Kim show or shadow-danced with Miss Kittin, we’ve all had that show that has restored our faith in the music industry.

It just so happens that the most thrilling and entertaining shows I have attended have been those of LGBT Alliance performers.

There’s something to be said about a musician who trots out on stage in hot pants and straddles a ten foot inflatable penis, like Peaches, or when a band performs in matching gold jumpsuits like the Scissor Sisters.

The sparkle, pizazz and energy that come from “gay music” is an experience no one should miss.

Mika is no exception. As he took the stage wearing an astronaut’s suit, goosebumps began to form on my arms.

I rarely get excited for shows anymore but having seen Mika years before, I knew I was in for an amazing performance. The band began to play and the audience erupted.

Everyone, from the 5-year-old on her mother’s shoulders to the paraplegic riding around with his boyfriend on his lap was prepared for a night of fantasy and animation in a world that only Mika could provide.

Slowly, Mika undressed with the light of a dozen plastic foam moons behind him.

As he stood on stage in a pair of white boxers, his paint-spattered band provided electronic beats and guitar riffs that would help keep the pace for some rhythmically-challenged fans. As I scanned the crowd it was very apparent that the evening belonged to couples.

It seems as though everyone had their hand in someone else’s back pockets, shoulders were being leaned on and kisses were being given.

My date for the evening was a long time fruit fly whose appreciation of Mika rivaled my own.

As I danced next to my friend I thought to myself that until I find that special someone, music will be my boyfriend.

I’d rather spend my time with great company and a danceable set list than an awkward first date.

I’ve had longer relationships with Kathleen Hannah, Dick Valentine and David Bowie anyhow.

When I came out of the closet my close friends introduced me to bands like Tegan and Sara, Le Tigre and Dressy Bessy.

At first it was strange for me to hear artists singing so openly about their love for their same sex partners. But once the initial shock wore off, the lyrics began to empower me.

Until that point I was used to listening to songs about boys who liked girls. From then on I set my sights on searching for not only gay musicians, but allies in the music industry. I could relate more to the lyrics of Rufus Wainwright than I could to those of 50 Cent.

To this day my music catalog still consists of mostly straight musicians, but every now and then I’ll discover yet another artist to add to my list of sparkly performers.

As I left the Mika show Friday night, drenched in sweat, I couldn’t help but think, music may be my boyfriend but maybe having a boyfriend who could lean on my shoulder wouldn’t be so bad either.

“That’s So Gay” Mix

1. Scissor Sisters – Filthy Gorgeous

2. Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl

3. Mika – Love Today

4. Blur – Girls and Boys

5. Dressy Bessy – Come on Jenny

6. Electric Six – Gay Bar

7. Peaches – Boys Wanna be Her

8. Patrick Wolf – Magic Position

9. Antony and the Johnsons – For Today I am a Bouy

10. The Magnetic Fields – Long Forgotten Fairytale

11. Le Tigre – Keep on Livin’