Tuesday, October 27, 2020

THE BOULET'S

With so many queens bringing the spook and kook factor year round, I'd be remised if a didn't mention the fabulous Boulet Brothers, for which I'm a HUGE fan of.

  For more than 15 years, the Boulet Brothers—a duo of veteran drag artists, event promoters, and media wunderqueens—have been putting a spotlight on drag’s wildest, most challenging impulses in a way the queer world too rarely sees. In Los Angeles, they’re a queer nightlife powerhouse, responsible for events like Queen Kong, a weekly lineup of often boundary-pushing drag and queer performance, and Dragula, a formerly monthly “celebration of drag, filth, leather and glamour,” where queens were known to mud wrestle and attendees once walked out “covered in blood, fish guts and confetti. An event like that was always too awesome to happen solely once a month, and the Boulet's have always been too prolific to stay under the radar forever. So it makes sense that they’ve evolved Dragula from an event to a web series, where demonic, hell-born queens compete to become “The World’s Next Drag Supermonster” weekly.  It has since gone on to enter it's third season where a drag king won. I think what the show and the Boulet's are doing is vital for the queer community for exactly that reason: Nothing they do is safe. Sometimes literally, but always figuratively. Their movement is the opposite of bland, anesthetized, complacent queer culture, the kind that’s been toned down and made safe for the consumption of straight people. It’s unabashed and raw, and in a world where our rights are imperiled and queer people are dying, one where we need loud, unashamed queer visibility more than ever, the Boulet Brothers are doing something that feels incredible and ground breaking—both to people like me, and in the audience and to the queens they champion on the show, and competitions. That ethos was baked into Dragula from the very beginning, when it was a monthly party at an LA gay bar called Faultline. It was as unfiltered as the show, and the Boulet's aimed to make it “primal and refreshing,” as Swanthlua Boulet once said. “We felt deeply outcast growing up, so being able to provide a place like this for other disenfranchised gays put a smile on our faces,” added Dracmorda. I'm here for this!!!

25 comments:

  1. What a great idea for a drag show. I love their take on glam and a little horror, space alien. The scariest picture is that second to last ... it's giving me Emma Samms 'Dynasty' jitters. Times two!

    And they look hot in that last photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know Ms. Samms will love the comparsion

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Bob! I was looking at that photo and trying to think who they reminded me of. The classic Dynasty opening credits staircase shot of Fallon. It could only be scarier if the Boulet's had done Catherine Oxenburg's Amanda!

      Delete
  2. They are absolutely fantastic. I have loved each and every season of Dragula (love Vander Von Odd) and I think they are super extra creative and amazing. They can beat a face, but the costumes are outherwordly and super conceptual. They are somehow ahead of RPDR in the sense that they really nurture the creative, performing part of drag in other ways and that they have had Drag Kings in their program. They do awesome Glam Drag but I would not say no to them in boy drag. Nope.
    Oh, and they'll have a Halloween special on Shudder, the Horror streaming service and will have eliminated queens competing to go back into the fourth season of Dragula!

    XOXO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By damned you just hit the nail on the head what bothered me about drag race. I don't feel the nurturing to be creative. It's getting to cookie cutter.

      Delete
  3. This is their time of year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Too, too fabulous! Evilly outrageous fun? I'm in!

    ReplyDelete
  5. NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a damn shame Deedles. Because i gave them your address to come entertain you on Halloween. πŸ‘»πŸ‘»πŸ‘»

      Delete
    2. I thought you loved me, Mads! *SOB!* I promise to never sneak into your attic again! I promise to never molest the houseboys again! I promise to try to fulfill these promises that I'm promising! I'm also moving, neener, neener.

      Delete
    3. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ But they sing Old Devil Moon!!!!!!!

      Delete
  6. "They're creepy and they're kooky
    Mysterious and spooky
    They're all together ooky..."


    Jx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Always count on the Mistress ..... Always .. loved the entry.. I am always learning much more..

    ReplyDelete
  8. The first photo completely creeps me out, which I suppose it's supposed to do. But I can't look at it for long. The others are amazing. Would love to have the opportunity to meet these two and see a performance.

    ReplyDelete
  9. They are quite awesome!!!! I have yet to see any of these seasons. I love that first picture.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Boilers never cease to stop impressing me with their style and looks. They are so put together.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Legendary drag team really.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think I recognize the fellows in the last photo. Baron Samedi, correct?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Can I just tell you again that I am so glad I found your site?! Your posts are amazing. I just love the artistry and glamour and fun of it all! Plus, I learn when I come visit which is always a bonus. I've only met one drag queen and it was at Joann Fabrics here in Idaho! :D We ended up walking and talking thru the whole store together looking at/for fabrics while everybody stared at us. We didn't care. That was a fun day. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mimi!!!!!! What a lovely comment. That story is priceless!!!!!

      Delete
  14. I think the BBC must be reading your blog, Mistress! They've just published a news piece on the Boulets... Jx

    ReplyDelete

Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!