Alabama Royalty

Because everyone who tours in the Southeast plays in Atlanta Friday and Saturday night, Friday and Saturday nights in Birmingham are officially “ALT-Nights,” when the best performances are at the drag bars. The Southeast has a rich drag show history between the Funtone Network (the media network that this site is named for), Mardi Gras-related balls, and more and more balls.

Many performance artists get their start on the ball circuit, so if you are a performance artist then pay attention.

DJ TAJ and DJ NAKAIFMA were on my blog yesterday, but then I removed the post because I felt it didn’t give their work justice. I found these guys while Googling “Baltimore Club Music.” They are all over the net. They invented a genre of music to describe their dance mixes called “Bamabounce.” TAJ djs Club 21 in Birmingham sometimes. Mostly, though, from what I’ve gathered through the net, they play balls. They do traditional voguing (I am no expert on balls so feel free to correct me), but also a new style of ball dancing called J-Setting, which I assume is named after the Jackson State football game line dancers “the J-Settes” (check them out on Youtube if you like dance). J-Setting is a mostly Alabama phenom, but occasionally I have seen it on Texas and Atlanta sites. I know it is related to eight-count (how I learnt to dance as a kid).
You can download BAMABOUNCE MP3s at their site


Speaking of Baltimore Clubs, I saw this really awesome drag-performance-art show while in Baltimore. DAZZLESTORM remixes songs for you to dance to. They are pop songs with really dirty lyrics. You are supposed to wear glitter to the show and then they throw glitter on you while you dance. I am trying to get them to come to Birmingham. Post the word “Dazzleme” in the comments section of this blog if you want them to come too.
DAZZLESTORM is the Official Band of BALTIMORE CLUB STAR WARS Art Collective

TRINITY TAYLOR was recently crowned “Miss National Apollo.” For those of you aren’t familiar with Mardi Gras lore, each float is run by a “krewe” that has balls (parties) to finance the float and to make non-native New Orleanians feel like losers. Krewes are very cliquish and unless you’re super famous or connected, you can forget about ever being in one. You also have to pay a lot of money for the membership and all of the stuff, including your own beads. Usually special interest groups start them. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo is the krewe of gay men and they are actually based out of Birmingham. Every Christmas they hold a holiday tour of homes for Children’s Hospital in the Crestwood neighborhood of Birmingham (where all the cool people live). This year TRINITY TAYLOR was crowned “Miss National Apollo.” I have seen her perform at The Quest in Birmingham. She also performs at the Lakeview Yacht Club.


Also worth noting are the performances of “Mr. Quest,” KYLE GREGORY.

Tonight’s event for Saturday, Mar. 10th, 2007:
Drag Show at the Lakeview Yacht Club, 11PM
2627 7th Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35205