I Blame Trump for FKA Twigs Missing Coachella
plus reports of cops tackling a DJ at a NJ rave
Hi Divas,
It’s Mo aka DJ Gay Panic, and this(!) is The Deviant Dispatch. I’m blogging from my corner of the NYC underground to bring you subcultural musings, scene updates, and queer shit. There will be typos.
Some of you saw the Oklou essay I teased out this week. Consider jumping behind the paywall for cheaper than a dirty chai. I’m also going to start sharing a reading list of shit that’s inspiring me for my paying piggies, so look out for that!
These days instead of artists getting touring visas, DJs are getting tackled by police.
In the past few months multiple DJs have to cancel NYC shows because of visa issues, including Bushbaby and Cesco1. It’s all thanks to Trump, who signed an executive order Jan 20th ordering agencies to “vet and screen to the maximum degree possible all aliens who intend to be admitted, enter, or are already inside the United States.” We know the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have paused processing green cards, and they seem to be doing the same for touring visas.
Even pop star FKA Twigs had to delay her NYC shows and cancel on Coachella due to her visa getting delayed. The singer tactfully blamed “production” who “did not fill out the correct paperwork in a timely manner for us to have our visas to come to the U.S.A. and perform.”
If you’ll allow me to speculate, I wouldn’t put it past the MAGA-run border people to deny her visa on the sole basis of her skullet. They certainly are afraid of anything that remotely signals what they call a far-left ideology.
While Twigs is witnessing her plans to tour America foiled by the government, other artists are just not trying. Four Tet cancelled his DJ tour citing concerns that he would be detained at the border for speaking out against Trump. Tourists are being told to delete their social media as border agents scan profiles for anti-government sentiments.
I worry that many other artists will stop trying to tour here as well. What would be more of a drag than a country isolated, NYC longer a global cosmopolitain capital? Seems we can forget about the huddled masses Emma Lazarus mentioned in her poem written on the Statue of Liberty.
Trump and co will undoubtedly ruin more things. More things are worth saving than up-and-coming artists being able to tour America. Still, this is my beat, so I will be hitting that drum.
In local news, a New Jersey rave got raided by cops so aggro they tackled legendary DJ Frankie Bones to the ground mid-set. The cops claim they were investigating trespassing but were not swayed by the organizers showing them a rental agreement with the venue. You can check out details / footage of them tackling the DJ via the organizer’s IG post. Grim news all around!
With this in mind I won’t mention the upcoming party on everyone’s lips (also because the promoter chewed me out for mentioning them last time).
Here are some parties that I WILL put into print:
Gimmick
When: Wednesday 10-4am
Where: Bossa Nova Civic Club
What: The ATL-based Gimmick Sounds collective is gearing up for a fierce Bossa debut. For the main event, local bass diva DJ Deadname is going B2B with DJ and writer DILUVIA. I’m excited for my friend Dev Delete to also tear the function.
How much: FREE
HEAVEN OR HELL EP RELEASE PARTY
When: Thursday, from 8pm til we all get tired
Where: Purgatory
What: DJ Accident Report (who taught me how to DJ) is releasing an EP with WNNR and we’re having a party. “Inspired by ballroom, baile funk, and deconstructed club music, HEAVEN OR HELL contrasts blown out bass and dark, grinding beats with saccharine hyperpop synths and sounds.”
I’ll be DJing alongside Heaven Ender, TK, and some other surprise guests! The Mx. Nobody finalist Blusa Sucia will be gogo-ing (I hope in her cunty Roger look).
How much: $10 suggested donation
Sightlines V
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Dixon Place
What: Technically not a party, but “an evening of provocative short films celebrating a range of gender and sexual expression” curated by Natasha Gornik. I’m especially looking forward to Jake Brush’s film “This Unremarkable Life” as well as an offering from drag king Wang Nueton. Sure to be a riot!
How much: $22.60
Diva’s Delight
When: Friday 10-4am
Where: Happyfun Hideaway
What: A group of local friends and oomfs conspiring to have a fun night for all divas at the local Bushwick watering hole. I will be there drinking a tequila guava juice and hoping aggro cops don’t try and storm happyfun
How much: FREE
unlike FKA Twigs they’ve been able to eventually get things worked out and tour the US