Justin Bond in Pink Slip"

No, he wasn't dressed in a pink slip when he performed at the beautiful Highline Ballroom in a special night to benefit the Ai Fornay Center. But he was wearing some pretty fabulous frocks. As the former Kiki, of Kiki and Herb fame, we expected no less.

Above all, Justin Bond is a first-class raconteur. His stream-of-consciousness spiel is an utter delight. He'd definitely be on my list of people to be stranded on a desert island with: With his combination of aw-shucks hominess and Downtown performance-art knowingness, he's Ginger and Mary Ann.

Bond told stories about growing up absurd in a religious household in Baltimore; how his sister prays over him; how he fought off the nuttiness via the Radical Faeries; and how he finally has forgiven his parents, after apparently raked them over the coals (again!) in an extensive interview on local news TV station, NY1. And all this, just to introduce a song.

As for the songs themselves, they are mostly firmly planted in the singer-songwriter vein, rocker subcategory. I found it interesting that, for his last (and best) song of the evening, Bond said it was an homage to the late Peggy Lee (in her "Is That All There Is" mode?), when in fact, it was a devoted tribute, nearly bar-for-bar, to Van Morrison's "Moondance."

No, there's certainly no shame in channeling Van Morrison, one of the greatest singer-songwriters around. So why the Lee reference? I suspect it may be that Bond would like to associate himself more closely with sultry dames like Lee.

Toward the beginning of his set, Bond raps about how he doesn't want to be another Joni Mitchell, because, after all, Joni Mitchell is Joni Mitchell. Nor, he says, with a wink to his keyboardist, Downtown staple Our Lady B, does he see the need to channel Dolly Parton (Ms. B is famous for her devotion to the D-cupped One).

That's all well and good, but Bond is still looking for his own voice. In the meantime, we get some delightful songs, such as tribute to one of those depressingly ubiquitous mood-altering prescription drugs everyone's popping these days. I'm still waiting, however, for Bond to find his own musical voice.

In an interview with EDGE, Bond talked about his queer roots and the way it inflects his music. Certainly, as he matures as a musician, Bond will take his place as a gay fave.

His singing style is, well, pretty masculine, with a limited contralto range, but a lot of personality. He was backed by a terrific band that was spot on in tempo and cues. Special mention must be made to the sexy guitarist.

Bond made a savvy decision by having a really terrible duo precede him. A man and woman sang in a near-monotone songs about living in Brooklyn and taking showers. My friend told me that after that, Bond would seem like Liza Minelli. "Jesus Christ," I corrected him. Seriously, I hope that they aren't a permanent part of Bond's posse.

Finally, someone has to say it: Out of his Kiki drag, Bond bears a scary-close resemblance to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.