WEDNESDAY (6.16.2021) Your daily guide to New York and New Jersey nightlife programming, plus online nightlife-based programming (EST).
**Venues may require patrons to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination via vaccination card or Excelsior Pass app for admittance, or for full use of the venue. Patrons without proof of vaccination can be denied entry, or instructed to wear a mask indoors per policy of the specific venue.**
From high-flying cheerleader to ass-shaking gogo boy to life-giving drag queen, young Jerseyite Millennia knows how to get a crowd’s attention. And this summer, she’s got a weekly platform in a new venue to do just that!
Thotyssey: Hello. Millennia! Thanks for chatting with us today and Happy Pride! How is June treating you so far?
Millennia: Hi Jim, First off thank you so much for having me! Happy Pride! June has been amazing so far… I actually just celebrated my 25th birthday, and the start of my new weekly show with The Countess Mascara at Identity bar in the Bronx. So I am very excited about that!
Yes things are looking good! And just today, all protocol restrictions in NY have officially been lifted.
I know, I am so excited to safely be back to normality. And I’m excited to see all the gorgeous faces in the crowds again!
Are you in Jersey or New York these days?
I’m actually living in Jersey now… I am originally from New York, though.
What were your drag experiences like this past year? Were you doing socially distanced drag shows or digital shows at all?
I did both… so if I had to sum the experience up, I’d call it “crazy yet blessed.” I actually took some time away from drag during the pandemic to really focus on myself, and revisit what it truly was that I was looking to do in life. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss performing. So luckily, I have some amazing friends in the industry who gave me opportunities here and there to get back in drag… and dance around my living room, lol!
Oh wow… straight from the archives! Yes, So Gay College Tuesdays was notorious for their hot body contest that happened every week. I used to get dragged into doing it all the time, and one day it just turned into me being on a box dancing there on Tuesday nights. But the real focus was to start hosting and performing at Gay College Tuesdays, so I saw gogo dancing as an opportunity to open the door for me as a face in nightlife.
And how did drag come in to play for you?
I’ve been a performer for about 12 years now, I started off in the world of All-Star Cheerleading; for those of you at home, this is the elite level you see on ESPN. But I remember being 14 years-old and sitting at one of my friend’s house where they introduced me to Drag Race; I believe it was Season 3, and I was obsessed with Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera. It was there where I said, “when I’m older, I’m gonna do that.”
Do you incorporate cheerleading into your drag a lot?
Yes, I’ve been described as the pint-sized stunt queen. I try to incorporate everything my cheerleading background has taught me into how I perform.
I honestly have to say–and I’m going to laugh at myself later in life–but the famous Shangela mix. It has the perfect amount of highs and lows that just work for me, and it’s a crowd pleaser.
And what’s a new thing you want to attempt now, in this new age?
I really want to try to do a back flip into a split–I’ve been working towards that as a new trick.
Awesome! What’s the craziest physician stunt you’ve done so far as Millennia?
I’d have to say jumping off a bar about 8 feet into the air, into a split, at Feathers.
Yaz, showgirl! What a the best thing about drag, in your opinion?
The freedom to express yourself and get lost in the music.
You’ll have some chances for that this week! First off, on Wednesday you’ll be at Jacqueline’s Wine out in Rockland County serving shows.
Yes that is correct! So I have a friend who is a bartender at Jacqueline’s, and I went in one night to visit her and have a glass of wine and I just really thought to myself how the opportunity was really just presenting itself. Wine, Rockland county, a drag show… I said this could be a gold mine. An early show starting at 9pm: I can appeal to the women that love wine and sit at home and watch Drag Race, I can appeal to the LGBTQIA+ community in Rockland county that maybe don’t have as much accessibility to seeing shows, and to my friends and family that aren’t able to make it to most of my gigs.
I’m really excited to be working in collaboration with this venue, as Rockland county does not have a huge selection of LGBTQIA+ spaces, or spaces that would even allow the local queens there to really have a place to perform. With that being said, Rockland county has a great LGBTQIA+ community that I hope gets to have some local fun this Pride month!
Thursday will be the first official “Throwback Thursday” at Identity Bar! Well, technically it started last week, but your regularly scheduled co-host The Countess Mascara fell ill and the lovely Rhoda Rollins Stone filled in. But now you and The Countess will finally be in the gig together! Tell us a bit about the venue, and the show.
We are so beyond ecstatic to share what we have been working on! Countess actually came to me with this idea of a throwback-themed show, where we literally kick it old school! You can find us twirling to songs through the decades from the 70’s divas like Diana, Donna, and Sylvester, to the current divas like Ariana, Megan, Brittany, and more!
We are fortunate enough to have an amazing new queer space in the Bronx like Identity that actually just opened two weeks ago. The owner Aidan Loughran came to us and said that we should do a show together on Thursdays! Which actually worked out perfectly, because Countess was a queen that I had not worked with yet, but had been really close acquaintances with. I am really looking forward to seeing what Aidan does with this amazing space! He is one of the most kindhearted people I have worked with so far!
Congrats and have great shows! Anything else coming up for you?
I do have some exciting projects in the works, so stay tuned!
Excellent… okay here’s my final question I have for all my gurlz… All Stars 6! Whose team are you on?
Oh damn, that’s a tough one! I’m a toss up between Team Jan and Team Sonique!
Thank you, Millennia!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Millennia’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
TUESDAY (6.15.2021) Your daily guide to online nightlife-based programming and socially distanced live events during the coronavirus quarantine. (EST)
**Venues may require patrons to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination via vaccination card or Excelsior Pass app for admittance, or for full use of the venue. Patrons without proof of vaccination can be denied entry, or instructed to wear a mask indoors per policy of the specific venue.**
Despite his, well, boyish appearance, Texas-born Sebastian Villa has been haunting parties since the glory days of New York dance venues. And now with a potentially exciting new age of nightlife in our grasp, the newly-renamed DJ Boyyyish will be leading the way to all tomorrow’s parties from the DJ booth.
Thotyssey: Hello Boyyyish, thanks for talking to us today! I believe you were DJing Ty Sunderland’s kiki at 3 Dollar Bill last night… how did it go?
Boyyyish: It was an incredible day! We had our first special surprise guest [recording artist] Slayyyter perform, which was epic. Her and I talked about how the party feels like a rock concert and festival dance party all rolled into one.
You and Erik Izquirdo were often in the booth with Ty’s initial monthly party “Love Prism” at 3DB pre-pandemic, which has now evolved into this weekly “Ty’s Tea.” How did you all first come together for these?
It all started in 2019, when Ty kind of forced me out of DJ retirement and told me I should start playing again. He wanted to start this trio called Love Prism with myself and Erik.
Ooh, an attempted retirement! We’ll get to that in a bit!
So where are you from originally… and was music always a part of your life?
I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas–home and final resting place for Selena is what we’re known for. My parents owned a dance studio, so music and dancing was pretty much my life from day one. I played piano as a kid, and eventually fell into singing in high school.
Did you dance, too?
I did! Didn’t have much of a choice, lol! I was also an only child, so the dance studio was pretty much my daycare. There was even a time in between houses when we actually lived there.
Wow, so you were literally surrounded by music!
Haha, yeah… my path was set pretty early!
Tell us about how you began as a DJ, and as a New Yorker.
It had always been my dream to move to NYC and become a film director, because I’m a huge movie nerd. But I ended up going to school in Ithaca in Central New York, which is about five hours away. I had some friends from home who lived here then, so first chance I had I would take the bus down and honestly spent almost every weekend of my freshman year here, leaving Thursday night and coming back Monday morning. It only cost $55 round trip back then!
I think the first party I ever went to was Avalon Sundays at Limelight, which blew me away. I was also only out to my friends in New York, and they were all straight–so I’m very thankful they let me drag them out with me. At that time, what we call blog house was really taking off… and even though I wasn’t in NYC as much after freshman year, I felt like I was still connected to it through music and nascent Facebook.
By my senior year though, I was a full-on dance music junkie–going to dance parties like Annex in LES, or Don Hills, or Studio B in Williamsburg. I had a friend in college who was a DJ, so I think that inspired me to teach myself; I would start little DJ pop-ups my senior year. After I graduated, I made another DJ friend at Cornell, and he really got me into it more. I would play with him at the one club by the school, as well as his frat house which was basically like a giant club. There’s not much of a dance music scene in Ithaca, so I was pretty much just throwing house parties for hipsters and frat boys basically.
You mentioned, though, that you had retired from DJing at one point.
Ah, yes! So after college, I stayed in Ithaca and was DJing the frat scene while working in a restaurant… and then I ended up opening my own restaurants, which I had for five years. Once I closed them, I moved to NYC where I continued working in food. It wasn’t until a bad breakup five years ago that I started going out to clubs, and fully dived into being a club kid again. That’s how I met Ty four years ago, and we’ve always been friends first. He knew about my past and my love for nightlife and music, which thankfully led to him nudging me.
For about five minutes there, it looked like maybe the Limelight was going to reopen recently!What were you thinking at that point?
I was so excited. But I always say, memories taste better… so I’m cautiously optimistic about reviving the past.
I concur! Much about club music and the nightlife scene has changed since you got here, but it looks like there’s a chance that big dance floors might find there way back to NYC. That’s exciting!
Yes! I’m also happy for any and all Manhattan moments as well!
During the pandemic you were regularly spinning sets via your weekly Newton Radio show “Breakfast with Boyyyish,” which is still going strong (Fridays, 9am-11am). How did you like doing that, compared to serving live crowds on the dance floor?
I actually kind of loved it; it gave me the freedom to play whatever I want without the confines of adhering to genre or party vibes, or even any of all the other drama that comes from working the party that can be distracting sometimes. It was kind of serendipitous that I started my radio show in February, and had all the equipment and know-how for livestreaming, so that when March hit I suddenly became in-demand for everyone’s digital events.
Of course now that everything is back, there’s nothing like feeding off the energy of the crowd. It’s funny, because Sundays I play to a thousand people And then only 100 feet away [from 3 Dollar Bill], on Fridays [at the station] I play to just myself.
What are you living for right now, music-wise?
I started playing with a new DJ during the pandemic, and we both shared a love for UKG, so I’m super into what’s going on in the UK scene right now with funky, hard drum and jungle. ‘m obsessed with Denham Audio, Breaka, Bailey Ibbs, the entire Trick label output.
Did you only recently start calling yourself Boyyyish?
Yeah! I’ve always been into monikers, or creating a separate personality when doing art. When I started, I played mostly French house… so I called myself bastien. “Boyyyish” was something I wrote down once as an imaginary song title, kind of playing on both gender standards and the fact I look very young for my actual age, lol!
Have you had an all-time favorite gig, or DJ moment?
This is easy! There’s two. I got play “Birdcage” for my birthday July 2019, which meant so much to me because Le Bain is like my home and Christina Visca only books legit New York DJ legends for that party; I was one of the youngest people to ever play it. Her support meant the world to me.
That, and this last New Year’s Eve I played Susanne Bartsch’s apartment at the Hotel Chelsea where she had a private party with all the usual Bartsch Babes… which was pretty fucking iconic. I’m pretty much beyond honored to have played for the two legends I adore, knowing they’ve seen every DJ in the world… and here is little old me.
You collaborate a lot with Queen Bartsch! I believe you were a DJ for a recent showcase she did at Sony Hall, featuring a cadre Bartsch Babes performing onstage.
Yes! I DJ for her, but also do a lot of behind the scenes work for her as well.
Do you have plans to collaborate with Bartschland again in the near future?
I’ll be playing this Friday for her first real, in-person, full dance party in lieu of the usual cabaret show, which is on hold this week. But, we’ll be back next week and future Fridays. Then once [her weekly party at Le Bain] “On Top” comes back, I’ll likely be a part of that as well. She is a real treasure to work for, and beyond hard working.
Truth! And there’s another exiting thing happening Pride Weekend that you’re gonna be a part of: the grand opening weekend of The Q, care of Frankie Sharp and a fab foursome of celebrity investors. There hasn’t been this much buzz and excitement regarding the nightlife beat in ages! You’ll be DJing there on one of the four floors on Friday, June 27th.
I am so excited to be playing opening night! I took a tour earlier this month, and it’s going to be so incredible… I don’t want to give too much away. One cool thing is, it’s a showroom for the latest Pioneer equipment… so as a gear head, I can’t wait to play with all the shiny toys. On top of that it’s just four blocks away from my apartment, so I can walk home—which I can’t even put into words how happy that makes me feel.
Anything coming up for you that the children need to know about?
Oh man, there’s so much in the works right now–feeding off all the amazing energy everyone has right now–but I can’t say too much yet! Big things coming from Ty… and something special for my birthday at the end of July!
Exciting! Okay, lastly… who do you want to see in concert, as soon as you are able to?
Oh 1000% New Order and Pet Shop Boys at MSG! But also I need a Bright Light Bright Light concert in my life, STAT, since he dropped an album during the pandemic didn’t get to perform it live!
The hyper-gorgeous Palestinian-American hair designer, makeup artist and drag queen Eva Laurent is working with a growing number of stars in the scene… all while becoming a rising star herself![Cover photo: Bryan Clavel]
Thotyssey: Hello Eva! Thanks so much for chatting with us today! How is Pride Month treating you so far?
Eva Laurent: You know, Pride month is one of my favorite times of the year. I love seeing people being their authentic LGBTQ+ self . And I especially love seeing the ones that might not be so comfortable with themselves throughout the year at least have a moment to feel themselves, with hopes of that comfort growing more and more.
Besides being a queen, you’re also a makeup artist and hair / wig stylist. Do people book you for Pride looks?
Yes! People are looking more and more to embrace Pride and live it up. After the tough year we just had, people are ready to have a great time. Rainbows everywhere, and I’m here for it!
Both the entertainment and beauty industries suffered during 2020, but you’ve had at least one high profile hair client during that time: Kandy Muse, who of course is enjoying her Drag Race S13 fame! How did you like working with her?
I look at every body that I work with as a client that wants to feel beautiful, whether they’ve been on Drag Race, work at the bodega, or have millions of followers. I actually just did a unit for another “13” queen, Denali, for a Beyonce mashup she did with Lala Ri. Such a sweetheart, and so appreciative. Honestly, I’ll always make sure the experience will be great… as long as that check clears!
Heard! Speaking of Drag Race… whose team are you gonna be on for All-Stars 6?
Oh, that’s a tough one! They are all so good! As of now, I think I’m team Trinity K. Bonet and Team Ginger; I found them both very entertaining on there respective seasons. Oh, and of course The New York queen Jan! I feel like she’s gonna give it.
You are a Palestinian American. Where were you born?
I was actually the first in my entire family to be born in the States; my parents and my older siblings were all born and raised there. So I definitely grew up with the culture very much in our day-to-day home lives.
As we’re talking, it’s just being announced that Benjamin Netanyahu has been voted out as Israeli Prime Minister! That’s a very significant development in regards to the conflict that’s happening there right now.
He was definitely a strong force in the bombard of Gaza in recent times that killed, injured, and left thousands of the Palestinian people homeless… along with a plethora of other to continued events to suffocate, silence and destroy the Palestinian people, which is so beyond sad. Even sadder that it’s not being addressed as the genocide that it is. But I can tell you, as someone standing here with Palestinian-blood running through my veins: no adversity can keep us down. We some strong people, and can’t be kept silent!
So how did you ultimately get into both beauty and drag?
The whole package, along with hair, makeup and wardrobe, has always drawn me in. So after getting into hair, I did drag for Halloween for the first time… and was able to create the illusion on myself instead of a client. And Honey, the queen inside me was living! So I continued to do drag on Halloween or different events, until in 2019 when I decided to really create my character… that’s when Eva Laurent was born.
Did you face any adversity about that path, and generally living a queer lifestyle?
I don’t think I’ve come across [a lot of that], to be honest. I surround myself with forward-thinking, positive people. And I’m extremely fortunate to live in a city like New York, where everything goes. If I ever come across someone who clearly just doesn’t understand drag, I take that as a time to educate them. It’s 2021… you should be educated! If I come across someone that’s uneducated, it’s because they maybe have never met a drag queen. If I leave a good impression and teach them, they will walk away educated and having a positive experience with someone they may have once judged [negatively].
What is the Eva Laurent Experience like now, for anyone who maybe hasn’t seen you perform yet?
We love an experience! Eva is a rich beauty queen: she’s sultry, she’s strong, and she’s always gonna give you body. Well… at least in my head I’m all these things! Depends on who you ask!
“All Cap” is our new lil’ show! Me and Syrenn are both Capricorns, hence All Cap. But also, us in drag is fully a lie because we’re just two giant men in wigs, lol! After doing a weekly Instagram Live during quarantine, we decided to just have a fun dinner show.
Crystal Lake is a restaurant and bar with amazing food and drinks. So you come hang out, have dinner and get drunk with your friends, as Syrenn and I just give you a fun show. We have a segment in between numbers where we have a sit down and just talk about different topics and are our super silly, dumb selves, lol! I hope the show takes off, but if not we have had a great time putting it together.
Anything else coming up for you, or any closing words?
You never know what’s around the corner for Eva… I’m always up to something. Drag for me is my art; I put no pressures on it. I want to always enjoy drag, and never feel It being a chore.
Also: Free Palestine. It’s not just a hashtag… it’s an oppression that needs help from the world.
And the whole world is watching now. Which brings us to the theme of the season, lastly… what does Pride mean to you, and how will you celebrate?
Wow… Pride means everything. Pride is way more than a month or season or parade– Pride to me is the actual word “pride.” LGBTQ+ people were are taught shame from a young age, where we live in the shadows and hide who we really are. That makes us stronger than anyone will ever know. And as we progress into our true selves, we create a sense of pride… that’s why we shine so bright. So I say, we are Pride, and live that every day.
But during Pride season, I will definitely be swishing my gay self through the parties, and just celebrating our community a lil’ more–supporting gay businesses, and gay spaces.
Happy Pride, Eva!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Eva Laurent’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
What are my shifts: I work 5 days, mainly all weekend.
What makes this bar great: Its outdoor area; we have a large number of tables outside that is perfect for this summer, in addition to the work staff and obviously the prices we offer.
Best drink I make: green tea shot
I love it when customers: [are] friendly, happy that they ask you how you are and that they understand you when we are busy
I hate it when customers: ask for water every 5 minutes, lol
Craziest thing I’ve seen here: oh, difficult question… every day funny or strange things happen
Other stuff you need to know about me: I really like going out for a run or cycling, I love the Thai dresser, I am a muy socibale, I love it in summer to be able to do a thousand outdoor activities.
SATURDAY (6.12.2021) Your daily guide to New York and New Jersey nightlife programming, plus online nightlife-based programming (EST).
**Venues may require patrons to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination via vaccination card or Excelsior Pass app for admittance, or for full use of the venue. Patrons without proof of vaccination can be denied entry, or instructed to wear a mask indoors per policy of the specific venue.**
A newer addition to the New York nightlife scene with vintage inspirations and one of the classiest drag moms in the City, Phoebe Jeebies is about to get up close and VERY personal with her audience.[Cover photo: Dillon Blake Wright]
Thotyssey: Happy Pride Month, Phoebe! How’s it all treating you so far?
Phoebe Jeebies: Pride Month has been so exciting! It’s my first official Pride as a drag queen, since last year we weren’t really able to celebrate. The energy is absolutely incredible. There’s this abundance of joy and excitement in all of the queer spaces I’ve been in. It’s like we are about to have two pride months in one. And I’m so thrilled to be performing this month!
Yes, Double Pride is a good way of looking at it! You were able to do some digital drag this past year, notably a virtual cooking show. How did you like those experiences?
It was a double edged sword. On the one hand, I loved the way I could finish a gig in my living room and walk to the bathroom to immediately get out of drag! On the other hand, I got very tired of the sound of silent applause after I finished performing.
I learned a lot from digital drag, including becoming skilled enough with video editing to freelance. And I had the opportunity to refine my makeup and my aesthetic. But I was craving audience interaction the whole time, because that’s what I love most about performing in drag.
Where are you from originally? And did you have a background on the stage prior to drag?
I’m from a city in Westchester called Peekskill; I actually grew up about an hour north of New York City. Just a train ride away from my folks!
I was a musical theater kid. I did a lot of theater in college, and I continued it as a hobby after I graduated. When I moved to New York City, I explored the possibility of doing the audition scene and pursuing it professionally, but I didn’t enjoy it.
How did Phoebe get born?
It’s a fun story, actually. A friend of mine wrote a short play that he was producing at the PIT. He wrote a role with me in mind. The role was a drag queen named Sera Tonin. It sounded like fun, so I agreed to do it.
As the show grew nearer and nearer, I realized I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. No idea how to do makeup, no wigs, nothing to wear, no shoes… nothing! So another friend of mine introduced me to my drag mother, Gloria Swansong. She was so kind. She taught me how to do my makeup, let me borrow a dress, a wig, a corset, and shoes. Truly my guardian angel. A few months later I made my official drag debut at “Drag Wars,” and I haven’t looked back since!
What kind of a queen is Phoebe now, as far as her looks and stage presence go?
I’m definitely a comedy queen. My favorite thing to do is to make people laugh. I’m heavily inspired by people like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, and Julie Andrews. I think I definitely channel Lucille Ball in a lot of what I wear. But I’m definitely still exploring what fashion means to Phoebe.
I am also really passionate about talking about mental health. I believe the more we talk about it, the more we can eliminate the stigma that prevents people from seeking treatment. My own journey with my mental health heavily influences my art.
That’s brave and inspiring! Mental health is a hard thing to protect in the entertainment business, I can imagine.
Thank you. Yes, it definitely is. It’s certainly challenging to prioritize self-care when you are an entertainer, and it’s something I’m still learning.
As for Lucille Ball… do you like Nicole Kidman in the role for the movie biopic? She’s getting a lot of crap from the gays for it!
Well, you have a few cool things coming up. First of all, you and Mother Gloria will be entertaining Sunday brunch diners at Oscar Wilde in Chelsea on June 13th and 20th! Tell us what we can expect from those shows!
Yes, I’m really looking forward to brunch. Gloria is a seasoned pro, and I’m new to drag brunch… so the brunch is going to be familiar, but very unique! We have very different, but very complimentary, performance styles. So it’s going to be a lot of fun. And you know if Gloria Swansong is involved, that we will be bringing you perfectly coordinated lewks! And maybe more than just one per show!
Then on Wednesday, June 23, you’ll be on Don’t Tell Mama’s cabaret stage for a show called “Drag Therapy.”
“Drag Therapy” is a really raw and personal one-woman show that I have been working on for over a year now. In the show, I recount my own journey with mental illness, and the many diagnoses that I got along the way. It’s a mixture of storytelling and lip syncing, featuring some of my most personal mixes. It’s probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever been on stage, and it both frightens and excites me to perform it live.
I was supposed to produce it last spring, but that obviously didn’t happen because of Covid. I did a digital version of the show back in September, and it really resonated with people.
I think it’s especially important for us to talk openly about mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. We deal with a lot of trauma just in being who we are. So I hope this piece can let people know they’re not alone, and bring some catharsis. It certainly has for me.
Anything else on the horizon for you?
I’ve been doing some pop up shows at the Toolbox, so hopefully those will be continuing every week. And I’m working on some exciting video editing projects right now that I can’t wait to share. Other than that, I’m just enjoying the ride. We’ll see what’s to come!
Okay werq! And lastly: Who are you gonna root for on All Stars 6?
Building up to the toughest question! I’ve been wanting to see Trinity K Bonet and Sonique return to the show for a long while, so they are probably my top picks.
Stonewall’s resident DJ darling Kim Dazy is ready to be back in the booth… just in time for some major Pride partying!
Thotyssey: Hello Kim, Happy Pride Month! How is June treating you so far?
Kim Dazy: Hi Jim! Yes, Happy Pride! So farJune has been hot,lol… but high energy! People are getting out, finally dancing… making this Pride month exhilarating.
We are making up for lost times! How did you spend your long, dreary year of lockdown?
Yikes, it was longgggg. I spent a lot of time visiting my mom, and I did work from home remotely teaching. I cooked a lot, and binged The Handmaid’s Tale, which was my quarantine binge to catch up to this season–crazy show, so good! And I rocked out to Spotify’s New Music Fridays and Gaga’s Chromatica, which I feel got robbed by the quarantine.
It did! And now the record’s a year old already.
Facts! It is, but I’m looking forward to playing lots of thumpy remixes from that album for Pride.
That’ll be something at least, now that Gaga’s cancelled her tour again!
So sad! We had tix, too. So far, postponed… so we shall see.
Where are you from originally, and was music always a Thing for you while growing up?
I’m a Jersey girl, born n’ raised… proudly! Yes I said it, lol! House and dance music has always been my jam. I loved making cassettes for friends (yep, aging myself) and ran around to Michael Jackson’s Thriller album every evening after dinner on my blue-n-white plastic record player as my mom played her favorite Atari game called Burger Time. Also, the neighborhood kids and I would make paper guitars on the weekends–with paper straps–and rock out to Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister playing in a boom box. The original guitar heroes! It all started then!
Aw, I need me some Burger Time now!
Yasss, classic video games never die… like The Goonies!
Now on HBO Max! How did you ultimately get into DJing in the bar scene?
I originally started as an 80s music DJ, believe it or not. I have a soft spot for 80s music… big time. My very first regular gig was at a gay club in Sayreville, NJ called The Colosseum, which sadly is closed now. That began in 2001. From there I got started doing a weekly 80s night at [historic NYC lesbian bar] Henrietta Hudson in 2002. That led to a weekly Friday night residency there, where I showcased mainly dance and hip hop for the next 11 years and grew a name for myself. Then I did many guest spots and residencies including Paradise in Asbury Park, the Boatslip in Provincetown, and Gay Days in Orlando to name a few. Now I’ve been at the famous Stonewall Inn as a resident DJ the past four years.
Henrietta is apparently rebranding as a wine and cheese lounge. Much has been written about the decline of the lesbian bar in recent years, but monthly lesbian parties like those thrown by girlNATIONnyc (which you spin for) are still pretty popular. What do you think might be the future for lesbian bars and gay women’s nightlife?
Great question! I think our community is so on the way to being recognized in such a positive manner–with each Pride becoming more and more mainstream each year, if you will–and the need to segregate the community by having girl bars versus boy bars will eventually become a thing of the past, in my opinion. I love, love, love being a part of the Stonewall family, because everyone is accepted and treated equally–no matter what gender, race or orientation. I’d prefer a mixed place over a strict girl bar any day.
Speaking of the Stonewall family, I always got that vibe that all the staff and entertainers are very close. Is that true?
Totally true! Y’ know, I felt that vibe from the staff the moment I became part of them. The love and appreciation flows around that building each night, and we have mad love for the people that want to be there, let loose and be themselves!
I love asking bar DJs this question: what are your thoughts on song requests? Annoying, no problem, or depends?
DEAD! So, depends… it’s all about the approach. If someone is nice, patient, asks once… then I’m apt to play it, if it fits into the set and night. Rude, drunk or obnoxious people who ask every two minutes with a whack song will not get their request. It’s all about the approach to me.
That is fair! I think everyone would ultimately be happier if they just trusted the journey the DJ takes them on and stop treating them like Spotify.
Yes, you said journey! So true. I’m the DJ that’s all about the journey… but a recognizable one, where guests can dance and know the music and most songs with a crazy, amazing track mixed in here and there that he or she may have never heard, and they’ll be like, holy sh*#…what the F is this? I gotta get this!
That sounds like the perfect night! So, Stonewall has slowly been bringing back its branded nights and adapting to all the changing protocols. Have you been there doing your thing these past few months?
No unfortunately, I haven’t yet. I will be, though. They have been doing a lot of amazing drag on the weekends since about March, and now things should resume as far as the dancing element.
On Pride Friday (June 25th), you’ll be spinning the “VaXXXed Pride” dance party!
Yes! The Friday “Vaxxxed” party is upstairs at Stonewall, presented by girlNATIONnyc and Danielle Presents! We are expecting an enormous, safe crowd, which will be made up of party people previously vaccinated, or who have tested negative prior to the party with a rapid test. This will be the first real dance event for me in a year and a half, so I’m over the moon and ready to bringggg it.
Known for her refined social media drag looks as well as her turn at being a Cosmo Queen, this stunner is also a capable performer as well. And now thanks to a new Brooklyn brunch, we’ve got more chances to see The Blair Bitch turn it out!
Thotyssey: Happy Pride Month, Blair! How is it treating you so far?
The Blair Bitch: It’s off to a good start! Definitely a different vibe than years past– partially because of the pandemic, and partially because Pride in general has progressively grown each year… in a corporate sense. But also, I see so many kids with Pride gear on, and that warms my heart to see. It means parents are preaching equality in their homes. I just hope the equality they’re teaching isn’t limited to white cisgender gays!
Yes, the times they are a changin’! And after a year and a half, it looks like Covid is mostly in our rear view now (knock on wood). What was your whole lockdown situation like? Were you able to do any drag during that time?
For the first few months of lockdown I was super isolated, and stayed in my apartment in Brooklyn. I didn’t see my family for a whole year, which was strange. I only saw my roommate for quite a while at the beginning. Since then, I have moved in with my partner and started some other jobs to pay the bills!
I did some drags here and there in 2020; it was nice to get back to doing drag for play and fun, because that’s where it all began for me. I was just playing dress up, and acting a fool! I wasn’t paid for drag for an entire year, which was… not thrilling. But I was still flexing my creative bone through my apartment: decorating, planning future drag looks from scratch, visual art, etc.
Where are you from originally, and what were you into growing up that led to your future fabulosity?
Nashville, TN! My mom did some professional theatre when I was young. I always loved going, so I started doing school and community theatre in elementary school and continued in theatre through college. I’ve been playing with clothes and such since I was itty bitty, so that combined with performing made me destined for drag! Fun fact: I once scalped a puppet–I had to have the closest thing I could manage to a wig! I would also use the fresh mop heads before ours needed to be changed, which was honestly quite the look! Maybe I’ll bring it back.
I “officially” started drag my junior year of college about four years ago, and haven’t looked back since! I was so eager to be polished and pretty when I started that I’d do my makeup almost every day, and post new looks to Insta daily. But I just don’t have the time or coin to keep that up!
I think I must’ve seen one of your earliest performances! It was for a Gay Against Guns benefit in 2017 that Thotyssey co-produced with Michael Block at Boots & Saddle (RIP). You did an anti-Trump number, if I recall.
Oh my gosh, yes! I think about that number a lot. I did “F**k You” by Lily Allen, and I had a bunch of T***p photos that I tore up, chewed and spit out. I wanted to light one on fire, but it would’ve been against fire codes for sure!
How might you describe your style of drag today for the uninitiated, as far as looks and numbers go?
I stand by what I’ve always said / considered myself, which is a chameleon of drag! While I often lean towards the “fierce glam” side of drag, I love an avant-garde look, a clown moment, etc. Part of the reason behind my drag name is that I look like a bitch, but I promise that the bitchiness is (usually) limited to my face!
I take the same chameleon approach to my numbers! I like to mix it up and give a little pop, some Broadway, some drama, sometimes a weird performance art-style Bjork song… who knows! The only expectation I want from people coming to my show(s) is that the drag will be great, and that there will be a little something for everyone!
Also regarding your name: are you Team Heather from The Blair Witch Project, or was she too annoying, lol?
Haha! Too annoying! But that scene with her all up in the camera is iconic. I credit that as the inspiration for all the terrible selfies that parents take from the wrong angle.
How did that happen? Did Cosmo contact you out of the blue, or did you “apply?”
I found out a few days before the shoot, and I owe it to my good friend who knows everyone and put my name in the right ears, and told me who to contact! Not sure if there’s a more standard procedure or not, lol!
So the future of NYC nightlife looks unusually bright in this moment, or at least the possibilities are more exciting than they’ve been in awhile. What are your hopes for the future, as far as the biz goes?
Gigs! Believe it or not, my new bi-weekly brunch at Paloma’s BK is my first show that I host and run! In the past I’ve done other peoples gigs, hosted at parties and did a bunch of guest spots, so it’s super nice to have something consistent that I have total creative control of! For the future I hope the gigs keep growing, and I’d love to lock down a solo show on a weeknight! I’d also love to produce a party. Lots of new venues popping up and new parties, so if anyone needs a gorgeous, funny, beautiful, silly, stunning bitch… look no further! And maybe I’ll try to get on that drag show one day… what’s it called? Goofballs Tag Chase?
That’s the ticket! Tell us more about “The Blair Brunch” at Palomas BK, the bi-weekly affair which returns this Sunday (1pm)! What’s it all about, and what are the joys of being a Brunch Bitch?
Yes! The Blair Brunch is a classic drag brunch. Bottomless mimosas / sangria, and the food is great (authentic Mexican cuisine). They have a lovely stage in the back, which is not as common as some may think for a drag show in NYC. I rotate the guest queens, so it’s a little different each week. (Also shoutout to Zavaleta, who hosts Sunday brunch on the first and third Sunday of each month… I am the second and fourth Sundays). You get a little bit of everything at The Blair Brunch: classic drag numbers, mixes, games, and even some comedy! I’m all about audience participation, so you are often more than just a viewer at my brunch.
Also, we will be doing a bigger moment for Pride on the 27th–so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that promo, and I am already taking reservations for that via my Insta DM’s or email!
Is there anything else to alert the children about?
I’ve got some exciting things coming up that I can’t quite disclose yet, but keep an eye on my socials for announcements!
We shall! Okay, lastly: All Stars 6! Whose team are you on?
Hmm… it’s hard to say. Such an interesting group of queens! My top three that I’m most excited for are Sonique, Trinity K. Bonet, and Akeria!
WEDNESDAY (6.9.2021) Your daily guide to New York and New Jersey nightlife programming, plus online nightlife-based programming (EST).
**Venues may require patrons to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination via vaccination card or Excelsior Pass app for admittance, or for full use of the venue. Patrons without proof of vaccination can be denied entry, or instructed to wear a mask indoors per policy of the specific venue.**
Summer is always this queen’s busy season… so if you haven’t seen what either Fire Island or this somewhat difficult-to-describe performer have to offer, now is the time! In fact, 2021 might have more Busted then any year before, so now’s a great time for Thotyssey to catch up with our favorite one-look-is-all-you-need comedy queen!
Thotyssey: Hello again, Busted! Happy Pride month!
Busted: Hi, Jim! Happy Pride!
So you’re already super busy this summer… even by your always-busy-in-the-summer standards! That must be a huge change of pace after a year of almost nothing, right?
It has been a welcomed change of pace. My knees are still trying to catch up, but the summer is off to a great start.
As far as the people you’re seeing out there on the Island, do you already notice a big difference then what you had to work with last year?
Last year so many people stayed away, but I think that was expected. Those that did make it were able to have fun while following the guidelines, and it seemed to work. This summer they are ready to go and make up for lost time. It’s on!
So what we all love about a Busted show is that we never an idea what to expect, but we also know exactly what to expect (that wig, that wrap, that random rice jingle). It’s a wonderful contradiction! Do you have any new numbers in your repertoire that you love?
Yes! New numbers. New mixes. Paula White has been on my mind. I mean, I think it’s some funny stuff… but we will find out.
Lol, can’t wait! You’ve traditionally been a Cherry’s girl, having performed at that venue for many consecutive seasons. But this year you are mixing it up royally! You’ve started doing Thursday nights at the Pines Pavilion, for one thing. Tell us about that night, and how it’s going!
We are off to a great start. Thursdays have the beginning of the weekend vibe, so it’s already different. I’m seeing new and familiar faces, and most of them are still saying “WTF,” but I’m used to that. It’s my usual brand of “low impact” drag. DJ Borowski keeps me together.
For some reason, I always thought that queens weren’t able to work venues in both the Pines and Cherry Grove during the same season… but you are doing it! “Mondays Are Busted” premiered recently at the Ice Palace on the Grove. How did it go?
So much fun! A lot of Cherry Grove family came out. The first time I ever performed on the island was at the Ice Palace (you can thank / blame Shequida for making it happen). The room was full and so receptive, and I really did fall in love. A lot of history and legendary queens there; it’s nice to have a spot. Excited to see it grow throughout the summer!
It’s gonna be the ticket. And you get to fall in the pool again!
I think we will have fun. I’m super excited and grateful for a 7th season of Mondays in the Grove. DJ Chuck will keep us on track.
Might you compete in Miss Fire Island this year?
It’s been years since I’ve entered as Entertainer. Such a great couple of days. Talk about history! I wouldn’t mind having a little piece.
Until then… back in Manhattan, you and Borowski have returned to your weekly “Busted Wednesday” at Pieces!
Yes! We were away for the duration of shutdown, so it’s nice to be back. I love the little nook we’ve carved out there. Always a fun time at Pieces.
Anything more updates?
Look for special guests throughout the season, and a pop-up shit show reunion with [frequent collaborators and sibling musical comedy duo] Al and Patty.
Yaz! Okay, lastly: when are we gonna see Busted on Drag Race?
Ohhhhhhhh, I think we both know the answer to that one. Maybe for a wrap dress challenge?
Shantay!Thanks, Busted!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Busted’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
TUESDAY (6.8.2021) Your daily guide to online nightlife-based programming and socially distanced live events during the coronavirus quarantine. (EST)
**Venues may require patrons to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination via vaccination card or Excelsior Pass app for admittance, or for full use of the venue. Patrons without proof of vaccination can be denied entry, or instructed to wear a mask indoors per policy of the specific venue.**
