Drag, Goncharov, and Spotify Wrapped
The Bitch is Back
Hello darlings, Mx Underworld has arrived!
This used to be a newsletter for my podcast Saddergay. But since I’ve taken an indefinite break on that project, I’ve decided to reframe this into my weekly newsletter. If you have any questions on that…idk email me? Check out my Substack bio?
This is my time to rant and be a bitch and I want to have fun with that, ok?
Yes, this is a weekly newsletter. No, there is no common theme.
I’m a genderqueer fag dyke with autism, ADHD, and a handful of anxiety disorders that are too difficult for me to spell. Please do not expect any coherent thoughts from me. Just read and be glad I wrote this instead of breaking into your house to steal all your wooden spoons.
Ok, I’m excited! Let’s do this!
Drag Show!
This week, I performed my first drag show at the historic Boston queer bar Jacques’ Cabaret! It’s so historical it doesn’t even have it’s own Wiki page! But check out this page on Playland Café and you’ll see two sentences about this incredible establishment: “Jacques’ Cabaret, which opened in 1938 and is still in operation, is now Boston's oldest surviving "LGBT establishment". It became a gay bar in the mid-1940s, a lesbian bar in the 1960s, and a venue for drag performers in the 1970s.”
It’s hard to track the history of my favorite Boston queer bar, because CONSERVATIVE FASCISTS WANT TO ERASE OUR HISTORY!!! But I know it has been a safe haven for queer people (particularly trans people, as most Boston spaces are dominated by transphobic sexist gay men…sorry, not sorry) for quite some time now. Drag Race legends Katya and Jujubee have even performed here! It’s home to incredible drag talent and I hope to be one of those locally known talents.
Mx Underworld’s debut performance was spectacular! I loved the crowd and the crowd seemed to tolerate me! There’s always room for improvement, but I’m taking this night as a win.
Here’s a photo of my look…
I was inspired by local drag burlesque performer Heather Rose. Since it was her birthday this past week, the event was deemed “Night of 1000 Heathers.” So, myself and a handful of other performers did our best Heather impressions: fangs, elf ears, and face jewelry galore. Check out their Instagram!
I lip synced to Marina and the Diamond’s “Bubblegum Bitch” while doing a little striptease number myself…or was it more outfit reveals? Whatever, clothes were taken off.
I tried to interact equally with all the audience members, but there was a really cute guy in the front row and I couldn’t stop flirting with him. Like, the fake boobs and cheap wig took over. Help! I’m a crossdressing maneater!
PS cute guy, if you’re reading this…I love you. Let’s get married on a cliff overlooking the dreary green abyss of the Atlantic Ocean. We can jump off the cliff together right after reciting our vows.
xoxoxoxo
Goncharov
Everybody go back on Tumblr and confuse the fuck out of neurotypical straight people! I’ve been luxuriating in my “Tumblr Renaissance” era, as the kids say.
If you’re on Tumblr, let’s be mutuals!
At this point, all us chronically online people know about Goncharov, the 1973 Martin Scorsese classic that never existed. Apparently, the lore all began in August of 2020, when a user posted a picture of a boot with a label on it that read “Martin Scorsese presents Goncharov.”
Then the Tumblrinas bootsed the house down with some intricate fan fiction and fan art.
Here’s my summary of the plot with some of my favorite fan art.
The story takes place in Naples during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Already this doesn’t make sense to me because, according to Wiki, the “internal process of disintegration” within the USSR occurred from 1988-1991 and the film takes place in the 1970s, but I digress….
Lo Straniero, AKA Goncharov (played by Scorsese starlet Robert De Niro), is a Russian hitman seemingly involved in a mafia drug ring while also entangled in a love triangle with his wife Katya (played by Cybil Shepard) and best friend (?) Andrey (Harvey Kietel). Katya, as I understand, is also romantically involved with a character named Sofia (Sophia Loren). Basically, everyone’s being gay and doing crimes. Check out this summary on the lore.
Here’s some of my favorite fan art…mainly of the Katya/Sofia ship…
Sapphic surrealism
Pop art webcomic style
French fashion sketch book?
Spotify Wrapped: UR Girly Pop <3
Sharing our Spotify Wrapped is a gay love language. We’re saying to each other: “hi homo, what gay shit did you listen to this year, fruit cake?” This is the queer chaos that musically defined me in the year of our lord, Kim Petras, 2022 (courtesy of Instafest):
Some common artists that I’ve seen shared amongst my queer mutuals are: Kim Petras, Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé (of course), and Grimes.
Taylor Swift is, as always, a top Spotify artists among lesbians, gay men, and straight (predominately white) women. I’m sorry to admit this, but I’m not a Swiftie. No tea, no shade, no pink lemonade. I’ve given her music the old college try, listening to Folklore, Red (Taylor’s Version), and Lover. I feel like if you don’t like more than one album by an artist, let alone three, then you probably aren’t a fan of the artist, yes?
I’m happy for the girls, gays, and theys who find solace in her artistry. And to those who ask “who doesn’t like Tay Tay?” I respond with lyrics from “Anti-Hero” : “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.”
My album of the year, technically an EP, is…
That’s right! Kim Petras’ whore manifesto, Slut Pop. I know it’s a basic choice…sue me, Erin Brockovich. Every single song on this EP is a queer bop: “Treat Me Like a Slut,” “XXX,” “Throat Goat.” I mean the eponymous “Slut Pop” song! I hear it and scream “Fuck ya! This is SLUT POP, BITCHESSSSS” while shaking my ass and homicidally staring down a group of cliquey gay men, Wednesday Addams style—we’ll get into Wednesday next newsletter! Don’t worry, babies.
Follow Me
Here’s the annoying part! The part where I describe my work and such…TLDR click here.
Follow me on TikTok and Instagram. Email me: mxunderworld@gmail.com
Canonification
I cohost a podcast Canonification with Matisse DuPont! We talk about queer media classics past, present, and future!
Check it out, subscribe, and review <3
Subscribe to my newsletter, if you don’t already! And encourage others to do the same!
xoxo
Love Ya <3