Anti-Fascist Puppets + Performance Art on the Beach
a week of NYC events to spark joy + revolution
Hello divas,
It’s Mo aka DJ Gay Panic, and this(!) is The Deviant Dispatch. I’m posting from my corner of the NYC “underground” to bring you subcultural musings, scene updates, and queer shit. There will be typos.
Last weekend most divas cleared out of the city for 4th of July, probably inspired the gloomy vibes afoot. Next week many key players will be at Bear Week in Provincetown, a gay destination I have yet to visit. Who wants to set me up with an writer / DJ residency? Maybe next year.
In the meantime, there’s enough popping off in NYC this week that I’m coming to you with a week-long event forecast.
Before that, here’s some miscellaneous gossip + items of joy to combat the gloom:
Apparently the right wing internet thinks all the Labubu’s are possessed, to which I say….well yes! On that note I’ve hidden my invisible Labubu’s all over this email. (Star Amerasu is not the only one who has them). They’re crawling out of the computer screen right now, ready to start canvassing for Zohran and slash the tires of ICE vehicles.
Rumors are circulating that the club Paragon is re-opening. 1 new investor has allegedly come on, and whispers of a August 1st open date abound. They certainly are still running sponsored ads on the club’s Instagram. Why would they run those ads if the club is indeed closed for good?
The impact of Nita Aviance’s Zero Chill closing set is still reverberating through Brooklyn. One of the many notable moments was the debut of her track “Addison Rave”, now available on Bandcamp. It’s a momentous Addison Rae edit (obviously) that starts with a slow groove before really letting the divas have it.
In other release news local producer umru has released an edit of “obvious” by oklou. It’s a co-pro with dj carlozs & dj lukinhas. The vibe is a spacey take on the baile funk that all the forward-thinking DJs are starting to play out. Proceeds go to NYC ICE Watch, a rapid response community organization founded on stopping deportations in New York.
If you’re looking for a longer listen, I highly recommend recent the Illustrious Blacks appearance on the Lot Radio. Taking over the second half of the Soul Clap Records show, the Illustrious Blacks bring a sense of showmanship and political urgency to their set. Plus the tunes are major. Be warned, the radio host redlines on the mic during the first hour, but makes up for it in song selection.
aaannnnd with THAT discussed, here’s the weekly weather. Remember there’s plenty of fun things to do + live for even in the grimmest of times!
XOXO
Mo
Cool Zone: The Lost Episode
When: 7/9-7/12
Where: The Brick
What: The best-selling puppet show from the mind of Vape Jr with support from Excess Materials and Sir Cum Sized. The premise? “Kids Cool Zone was a fascist brainwashing program disguised as a public access children’s TV show. It’s PeeWee Herman meets Starship Troopers- join the live studio audience for the doomed children’s show that the US Government doesn’t want you to see.”
All of the shows except for the matinee have already sold out, but you can grab tickets at the door! Just be early/ on time.
How much: $25-100
MALL DRAG
When: Thurs, 7/10, @ 10:30pm
Where: Cmon Everybody
What: This party by comedy queen Miss Ma’am She is a new Brooklyn drag institution. Featuring our host’s impeccable stage banter and affordable fashions, this month’s lineup includes newsletter subcribers Miss Woman the Woman + Sterling Tull. Bonus is one of my fave BK drag kings, Uncle Freak.
How much: 15 online / 20 at the door
JULIANA HUXTABLE PLAYS AT BASEMENT YET AGAIN
When: Fri, 7/11, 10:30pm
Where: Basement
What: Techno queen of Brooklyn and Berlin comes back to bless Basement with her sorcery on this all local lineup. You may have seen her recent tutorial on how to merge 4 tracks together for Resident Advisor. If you won’t see her at Whole Festival in Germany1 better take ur chance now before her outspoken social media gets her banned from the USA.
How much: $27.80
BOYCOTT ROOM
When: Sat, 7/12, 6:30 pm
Where: outside under the K bridge2
What: In response to Boiler Room’s the parent company KKR investing in the Palestinian genocide, ravers are speaking out and picketing. I heard rumors of a counter programmed rave after, but you have to show up to protest if you wan’t that tea.
How much: free $$
BOFFO Performance Festival
When: Sat 7/12 2pm-6am
Where: Fire Island
What: The only reason besides Doll Invasion to go to Fire Island. This arts + music festival goes for nearly 24 hours, unleashing something far freakier than normally passes for culture in Fire Island. Key names include Byrell the Great and River Moon. “Titled Dystopian Ecstasy, presents an inverted, uncanny world where performances act as portals to multiple realities, blurring the line between what is real and what is a distorted reflection...At a time when the US’s national political rhetoric insists on conservatism and obedience, the commissioned artists challenge coherence, conformity, and dogma.”
How much: $80-500 (tickets get pricier at midnight so act now)
CVNTEA
When: Sat, July 12th, 2pm-10pm
Where: 9 Bob Note + The Yard
What: The party everyone is talking about! House and chic techno for adults across the HUGE expanse of 9 Bob Note and it’s backyard. DJs include local it-girl maenad fresh off her debut at the Lot Radio, my good friend and frequent Scandalo resident SPRFRK, and Diet Zuzh founder Babes the DJ. Dress c*nty but remember the coolest thing you can be is kind.
How much: $19.48
CARMEN AND VI’s BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
When: Sun 7/13 6pm
Where: Elsewhere @ Zone 1
What: Half of the band Pop Music Fever Dream is doing a bday party with sets from a cadre of people with guitars. Come check out no-wave from some of the coolest queers in north Brooklyn.
How much: $20.87
𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓮𝔀𝓼𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓴.
I will be at Whole Festival in Berlin. Hit me up if you’re going!
The whole scenario of under the k bridge is something most ravers would scoff at anyway: a formerly renegade rave space in 2020 turned into a legit venue run by local conglomerate Bowery Presents. Some heads also blame Boiler Room for doing too good a job popularizing raving, drawing attendees who are more interested in mugging in the booth than dancing to the music.