It’s time to take IN the trash, with Astoria’s (and Connecticut’s) power punk drag activist entertainer Trash Ketchum! [Cover photo: Vivienne Maricevic]
Thotyssey: Hi Trash! Happy July! How did Pride and the 4th treat you?
Trash Ketchum: Happy Melting Trash Month, haha! Pride was wonderful; I considered this to be my first official Pride as a queen, since I chose my persona and name in March of 2020… so this was my first real Pride performing. July 4th was great–it’s my favorite person / drag mom Gina Tonic’s birthday, so we had a lil’ BBQ over the weekend and watched the Macy’s fireworks from my rooftop!
Tell us a bit about the Trash Experience, for those who haven’t experienced it yet! What are your looks and numbers like?
Oh, well, first I’m stealing “Trash Experience”–I’m going to start calling shows that! But I’m definitely very rock and roll, and punk-looking, a lot of the time. I was raised on 50s-70s music and in a rock band for years, so that aesthetic has always been my favorite. Though if you catch me doing my most popular mix (so far), you might catch me in a bald cap as Danny DeVito; I’m not afraid to look ugly for whatever I’m doing. My numbers right now are either highly inappropriate mixes or singing live, mostly rock and showtunes; I like to surprise people and do both in one show when possible!
What did you play in the punk band you were in?
I was lead vocals! I’m not coordinated enough to play anything… which you’ll notice if you ever see me perform!
Where’s your original hometown… and were you born to do punk drag, lol?
Torrington, CT–it’s the birthplace of John Brown, and I think he’s pretty punk! I’m not sure I’m born to do any particular type of drag; I definitely gravitate towards that aesthetic and I love singing rock, but I think there are so many things I like to do, I could never just be the punk rock queen, ya know? I wanna be the Jackie-of-All-Trades queen, to be a surprise every time in regards to what you’re gonna get.
How did you ultimately discover and begin drag, and what brought you onto Mother Gina’s radar?
I found drag through Drag Race! I wanted to find something on TV to listen to while I did some Christmas baking, and Logo had a marathon of every season because they were getting ready to premiere Season 7. I was immediately hooked: over the top looks, performing, sassy reads, all my favorite things in one art form.
I met Gina through a CT queen I had done a lot of theater with, when we were taking the Metro North back from performing together in a show up in Connecticut and got to talking. We realized we only live a few blocks away from each other… and we started hanging out, watching Drag Race every week, and going to support our local drag friends. Now we’re besties and drag family. She really is the best mom I could ask for; she’s so supportive, even on days when I’m down on myself. I love her to pieces!
I see you still do Connecticut shows, specifically in Trevi Lounge!
I live in Astoria, but I love “Wacky Wednesdays” at Trevi. And I just love performing anywhere I can, so I go there a lot. It’s an awesome vibe–a lot of amazing drag artists, and the monthly theme nights are always extra crazy. Frankie Cyanide puts on a fantastic show, and I really love him as a performer. Gina and I recently had him in our Super Smash Bros themed show along with Erika Klash; Frankie’s Waluigi is so damn funny! Also, I just realized I still have his tearaway pants from that number; they ended up on my side of the stage that night, ha!
Have you ever performed with Astoria’s Avant Garbage? That would be a whole literal heap of epic!
I have! I’ve done her brunch at The Highwater in Astoria a couple times, plus we were in TX2’s music video “Randy McNally” together–it called out politicians by name banning drag and passing anti-trans laws–that was a fun day. Avant is awesome, and I’ll perform with her anytime!
These are crazy times, with the drag bans and all the recent terrible Supreme Court decisions. You and Gina have been posting lots of social media that is righteously condemning this stuff. Should all drag performers be as political as they can be these days?
I think that this is a big moment to use drag to help fight for our rights, absolutely. I would never fault anyone for not being able to just because it is so mentally and emotionally exhausting to deal with the ignorance and hatred every day. But if any drag performer can bring themselves to do so, I think it’s so important. Art has always been a platform that can help bring change and move people to action, so if we can move people to our cause with our performances, we absolutely should. The powers that be need to know that we’re not going anywhere.
“A Celebration of International Drag Day,” which is a large showcase you and Gina will be hosting an outdoor showcase at W 103 Open Street (between Broadway and West End Ave) near sponsoring venue Suite on Sunday, looks to be both a political and entertaining night! What can you tell us about what this show is, and how it came about?
Oh yes, I’m so excited for this show! Bella Gallo got in touch with Gina and I because we hosted a fundraiser during Astoria’s “Open Street” on 31st Street this past October on my birthday; we raised money for Lambda Legal because it was the big year of “Don’t Say Gay,” and we wanted to raise money in defense of the families that would be affected by these kinds of laws. Bella helps organize the Astoria Open Street, and saw us organize that and co-host (alongside the fabulous Thee Suburbia), so she asked if we’d want to co-host for this show. It’s just a perfect after-Pride reminder that drag is here and celebrated all year long–and having a day just for that, especially after all drag performers are going through these days, is really reaffirming. I think the message of the day is really, “drag is here, drag is for everyone, and drag is self-expression for anyone!”
What else is coming up for you?
This month I’m doing “Stand Up For Drag” at Soho Playhouse on July 23rd, a night of stand up comedians and drag artists raising money for Drag Story Hour and the Trans Formations Project. Then the theme of this month’s “Wacky Wednesday” theme night is “historical figures,” so I think I’m going to bring out Gay Drag Jesus for that, and other than that, I’m just working on more nerd-themed shows with Gina. I know we have a date saved at Caveat for October 6th which is my birthday weekend, so that’ll be a really fun one–we haven’t picked a theme yet, but it’s always a good time!
Besides that, I’m still kind of a baby–this is my first full year of drag. I’m just excited to perform anywhere and everywhere. So if anyone feels like they could use my particular set of weird skills, let me know–’cause I wanna be anywhere someone wants to see me!
Have great shows! Lastly: there are two All-Stars left, yet probably 17 more episodes at this rate! Are you Team Kandy or Team Jimbo?
This truly feels like a forever season! That’s so hard, but I gotta say Jimbo just because her weird drag is so my thing–and as a weird queen myself, I wanna see more of it. A Jimbo win could open doors for more silly, unique, funky performers, and I always love to see the scene’s arms open wider for something different!
Thanks, Trash!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Trash Ketchum’s upcoming appearances, and follow her Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Thotyssey 