Cuntyham, the winner of round 2 of the Mx. Nobody pageant, poses with fans.
Hello fellow #Pride advertisements skeptics!
It’s Mo AKA DJ Gay Panic and this(!) is The Deviant Dispatch. I keep a faggoty ear to the ground, delivering you the latest news on NYC’s greatest underground parties, rock shows, and ACTUAL raves- every fuckin’ week. Plus you’ll get it-girl gossip, cultural speculation, snark, typos, and lots of Charli XCX updates. To throw me some much-needed support, become a paying subscriber, share this with someone, or hit the heart button at the top of the post!
First off, in the words of PinkPantheress, “I must apologize”1 for missing a newsletter last week. Things with a job application2 and general life bullshit took precedent and so you were left wanting. Meeeep. Thankfully you stuck around, and my paying subscribers are getting a bonus newsletter this Monday to make up for being gone last week. For that paywall exclusive I’ll be doing a recap of the first three rounds of Mx Nobody. I may be biased as an organizer, but I think the alt-drag pageant is one of the most unhinged things around. For the peeps willing to pony up $5 a month, you’ll be getting a blow by blow account along with professional photos by a real photographer.
But enough about that, I have allllll the shit from last week piling up that I’ve been WAITING to share, plus the draMA of this week! Let’s dive in.
This tweet caught my attention this week for obvious reasons. For those who need a little more context, a twink is a skinny hairless gay man. A doll is slang for a trans woman who strives for traditional beauty standards. Lube wrestling… is self-explanatory. After some digging I can confirm that the bar does in fact exist, and at least one doll I know has applied. I’ll be sure to keep you abreast.
RIP Bobbie Hondo
The drag performer who broke onto many drag fan’s radar via the HBO documentary Wig is dead. Known for her love and knowledge of NYC drag royalty, Bobbie Hondo also had her eye on the next wave. She was a muse and collaborator for hip downtown post-punk bands like Cumgirl8 and Girl Dick. The former band posted a touching tribute to Hondo on Instagram alongside Linda Simpson and Charlene Incarnate. While none of these posts mentioned the cause of death, the nightlife photographer Santiago Felipe spoke generally about a recent a wave of young nightlife figures dying due to cocaine at an appearance at Books Are Magic.
Speaking of Books are Magic, I went there this past Tuesday for a book signing. The book in question is called How To Be Famous. It’s a 10 year look at a few generations of Brooklyn drag queens attempting to take a fringe art form to the masses, with all the pitfalls involved. The book is so detailed in it’s study that there were stories that even me, a longtime fixture of this very scene, didn’t know. Highly recommend checking it out wherever books are available.
Even though the tiny nightclub Rash burned down, don’t count them out. The venue has announced they will be reopening in the fall (!!!), dropped a line of merch, and will be curating a lineup of staff DJS playing in Time Square every Tuesday of the summer. We love to see a girlboss nightclub winning.
Charli XCX UPDATES
I haven’t done this in a while and our queens has been busy
She has a new banger with the EDM DJ Tiesto that she’s been teasing on TikTok, possbily called “Hot Innit”.
She gave a tearful speech at a show in Colonge about how complicated it can be to hear fan yell “Taxi! Taxi” at shows. Taxi is the name of an unreleased song she made with Sophie, and was one of the many songs that got leaked in 2017. Because of the leak, Charli had to shelve the songs she made with her now-deceased friend. Understandably, all that unfinished business can make for a painful reminder.
She lost her voice, took two days off tour, and got it back!
She brought Rina Sawayama out at one of her tour dates and they sang their song “Beg For You.”
She appeared as a surprise guest at AG Cook’s set at the Primavera Sound
Okay that’s it for this week! Here are the worthy events happening this weekend.
XOXO
Mo
Off Kilter Royal T
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: The Brick
What: This all trans drag show happening at longtime Williamsburg theatre The Brick has performers with high scores in the charisma/artistry department and little respect for convention. Plus, it starts early enough that you’re free for other evening plans at 11.
How much: $15 dollars in advance, $20 the day of show.
Debbie Dopamine Music Video Release Show
When: Saturday, 8pm
Where: The Windjammer
What: Debbie Dopamine is the solo-ish project of my longtime pal Katie Ortiz, and out of the many many many different musical projects she’s explored, this one is by far my fave. It’s pop-leaning indie rock in the vein of Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail, and this show is celebrating the band’s debut music video and single “Eat Cake.” Local band A Very Special Episode will also be playing, and everyone who’s heard of them (small number) has nothing but nice things to say about their energetic sets.
How much: $12
Mx Nobody Pageant Round 3
When: Sunday, 7pm
Where: Purgatory
What: No shade to the other weeks but this round is the one I’m most anticipating. TJ Maxxx from Atlanta and has the buzz of that scene behind him. MissMa’amShe is building quite the cult of personality thanks to her internet-friendly brand of kooky. On the opposite end of the intellectual spectrum, Ester has been teasing her appearance with bizarre TikToks about the troubled history of Disneyworld.
How much: $17 in advance, $20 at the door
That’s it for this dispatch. If you liked it please consider forwarding this email post to a pal! If you’re the pal please subscribe. You can send me tips about worthy events, news & gossip, and shit about anything I mentioned by emailing thedeviantdispatch@gmail.com or responding to this email. Even just hitting the like button does tons to help this project!
If you couldn’t hear her sing that, please educate yourself.
Hi Mika! ;)
the song famously has the lyric: “make it hot barcelona”