Photography by Matías Alvial
Hi girlies,
This is The Deviant Dispatch. I’m Mo, your guide to the underground. I write about NYC-based events, gay shit, and cool kid gossip. There will be snark, typos, and lots of Charli XCX updates. If you like what you see, become a paying subscriber, share this with someone, or hit the heart button at the top of the post.
Yes, this is another free newsletter coming into your inbox, when normally it would be behind a paywall this week. After being gone for half of August it’s time to really feed the children. I’m such a good person.
First of all, we have to acknowledge the serve of the new Charli XCX video for “Good Ones.” Yes the song sounds like it could be by Dua Lipa or The Weekend, but it’s hard to imagine any of them coming up with something as darkly cinematic as this. Plus, it’s her choreographed dancing debut! She really put that biscuit heel on and went to work. Charli also appeared on Lady Gaga’s Chromatica remix album with a superb take on “911” with AG Cook, but for my full thoughts on that alum on that subscribe to the paid tier.
Hurricane Ida managed to wreak havoc on the Brooklyn scene. Drag performers Essa Noche and Juniper Juicy had much of their drag and belongings to waterlogged basements. Mthr Trsa’s show Hole Pics: Fashion Weak was cancelled preemptively. Booked By Grandma had to move the Water From Your Eyes record release show from the now flooded Purgatory to upstairs at the Broadway.
All of this mayhem can’t stop the excitement of Bushwig coming. This weekend is the drag festival’s 10th anniversary, and performer and party-goers alike are busy planning their looks. Like always, the naysayers are complaining in group chats about the lack of organization among the festival organizers. Even they were momentarily joyful at the news that rapper Azalea Banks would be performing Saturday, fresh from her run of sold-out shows at Webster Hall. That’s the kind of gag a legacy is built on.
Now at this point Bushwig is full of big names you know and love, even if you’ve only just subscribed to my newsletter. Serena Tea is going to have to top her iconic number last year. Christeene will scream and yell. Charlene, West Dakota, Chiquitita, Magenta, God Complex, Baby Love: these drag performers give the gags at Bushwig year after year. I’m here to tell you about the people on the lineup who might get overlooked, put you’ll want to make time for. Let’s begin shall we:
The Hidden Gems of Bushwig You Shouldn't Miss
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Performing 7:45pm on Saturday, this internet personality is probably going to perform her surprisingly good music, but I wouldn’t be mad if she narrates a Kylie Jenner office tour again.
Zavaleta
Performing at 9:45pm Saturday, Zavaleta just got announced as a cast member on Season 4 of Dragula. You’ll want to catch her here before she becomes properly famous.
Qhrist Almighty, Sherry Poppin, Ten Yards
Performing at 9:10pm on Saturday, the ghouls of the drag show St8 to DVD are planning a full-out 80s fantasy complete with custom jewel-toned suits and projection footage.
Crackhead Barney
Performing at 10:50pm on Sunday, the real joy will be if Crackhead Barney runs through the crowd doing her leftist dada reporter shtick.
Jennifer Vanilla
Performing at 4:30pm outside on Sunday, this indie star and performance artist might go over the heads of the circuit gays, but the true heads will know what’s up.
Junior Mint
Performing sometime between 5-6pm on Sunday while they host a block of queens from their show In Living Color, Junior Mint’s performances are funny, fabulous, and impactful. I can’t wait to see what she decides to do with a stage as large as Bushwig.
Come On Strong
Selling wares at his booth all weekend, you don’t wanna miss this Philly punk’s proactive tote bags (pictured above), pins (“I douched for this?”), and shirts (“I’m with her” over a picture of Aileen Wuornos).
Ok so now that you’re up to speed on the left-of-center acts to see this weekend, make sure you grab your tickets from Bushwig’s website. If you have any sense, it’s what you’ll be doing this weekend. For the readers without sense (love you!) I included some other events to check out this weekend.
Xoxo
Mo
Cowgirl Clue live at Elsewhere
When: 6:00-9:30 pm
Where: Zone 1, Elsewhere
What: If you want a little taste of nightlife before Bushwig but want a reasonable amount of rest, this show is for you. The LA singer/producer Cowgirl Clue is back in NYC for one night only. If you need a taste of her style she just put out the uber glossy “B2B Heartbeat” with Donatachi, but she has the potential to get punky too. You can see that in her choice of opener: rave fixture and aggressive rapper Lu$tsickpuppy, who sonically is the next coming of Death Grips. This show is 16+ so you’ll get a good look at the youth bopping around to 150 beats per min.
How much:$15
SKSKSKS
When: Saturday, 10pm-late
Where: H0L0
What: David Chan AKA DJ thelimitdoesnotexist booked a lineup that I’ll have to drag myself to even after pounding the pavement at Bushwig all day. His party sksksks is a hyperpop party with an explicitly inclusive spirit that Chan picked up from his time working with BUBBLE_T. The DJs include longtime fixture Dicap, but what I’m gagging on is the live performance from aspiring pop starlet Miss Madeline. The singer behind ditzy bops like “Life Could Be Sweet” and “Platinum” seems like she has the capacity for live vocals, and def some choreo. If you don’t like her set just hang with the v cute crowd. Below are pictures of the cute partygoers at the last sksksks.
How much: $25 at the door
That’s it for this dispatch. If you liked it please consider hitting the heart button on this post or forwarding this email to a pal! If you’re the pal please subscribe. I write once a week about upcoming worthy events underground, news & gossip, and gay shit. You can send me tips about those things by emailing thedeviantdispatch@gmail.com. If you care about drag queens, illegal parties, independent music/art/film/fashion, Charli XCX, and rebellion, you need to support The Deviant Dispatch.