By Aubrey F. Burghardt
Jetting out of town, leaving my hometown of Houston behind, and living out of a suitcase only works for about two weeks before I get homesick or run out of fabulous outfits. At that point, I’m aching for my city—for its familiar bustling ballad and food for the soul. As much as I love to pretend to be a vagabond, Houston always pulls me back in with new and exciting places to let loose and discover. Plus, the exploration of my own borough requires no passport—only a gay card.
Houston has a burgeoning underground queer scene, fueled by creatives who are making tidal waves in conjuring camaraderie within the larger LGBTQ community. These secret spaces can be fun, you just need to know how to access them. Well, look no further. Here are three queer haunts happening right under your nose.
Carol
“Carol” is a top-secret talent and variety show that, like any speakeasy, requires a portal entry. She rotates through uncanny venues and residences that change with each event and often materializes in precarious and overlooked spaces. Inspired by “Shithole” in Chicago, Carol is co-curated for our ultra-competitive Houston arts and culture scene by Traci Lavois Thiebaud, James Templeton, and Jeromy Barber—a trio known for other creative side projects including Dinolion and Beta Theater.
Our sweet Carol brings her attendees some of Houston’s best comedy, dance, acting, improv, and performance. The event is always an incubator for experimental and up-and-coming talent, permitting even the most established artists the freedom to dabble in new media.
But first, Carol’s guests have to find her. Attendees must travel through “The Portal” to gain access. The Portal opens when Carol posts a telephone number on social media. On the day of the show, call the number to unlock the event’s time and location.
Carol’s events have no boundaries, physically or spiritually. She’s even hosted a talent showcase on the moving Metro Rail. Each stop on the line served as a different stage for a different act. Artists and performers tempted riders from the train with platform yoga and ambient bar vocals from across the street.
Carol makes an appearance on the Metro Rail. Photo by Dinolion Video Production.
The odd part remains that Carol herself has never been seen. When asked about our true host’s anonymity, Thiebaud responds, “Well because she’s very old and very busy and very wealthy, of course.”
Want to get a taste of Carol? Stay up-to-date on all her super-exclusive invites (and glamour shots) by visiting her on Instagram. Don’t forget to call her day-of though! She’ll tell you where to go.
“Exhibition” by Mystic Stylez
The second slot on my queer underground tour was originally saved for “Trust Me Daddy,” but, as of now, the series is on indefinite hiatus. However, fret not, because I bring you the Daddy of Trust Me Daddy—“Exhibition” by Mystic Stylez.
This twilight electronic dance party, fog included, consists of lightly sprinkled performance art and installations. The event is fathered by Private Eye Gallery owner Nathan Kennard, also known by his musical alias, Mystic Stylez. Exhibition has conjured hundreds of folks who want to shimmy, shake, and party alongside queer-identifying performers and international DJs like legendary p1nkstar and fashion extraordinaire André Redou as they present impromptu guerilla-style fashion shows.
While Trust Me Daddy existed in warehouse spaces, Exhibition takes place in a club setting and offers an exclusive, first–class experience. “Trust Me Daddy takes up a lot of time and money, so Exhibition is sort of like a younger, more reliable version of Trust Me Daddy,” Kennard explains. The new venue has no shortage of techno-infused sets, strobe lighting, and dance moves that undoubtedly match the works and performances surrounding the event.
Exhibition rages until the early morning hours and gives a platform for night crawlers across the spectrum to flourish in a late night ambiance with a penetrating bass. The creative energy coursing through the veins of Mystic Stylez is strong.
If you’re yearning for a dance party adventure into the unknown and highly obscure, Exhibition is your ticket. Look out for Exhibition VII In September by keeping up with @mysticstylezproductions on Instagram.
Fear the Queer
Bronze goes to “Fear the Queer,” a highly–inclusive and outrageously–astute drag and stage show for all those limelight seekers. Vivian Grhey, aka Grhey Veles, and her performance posse (Post Modern Sleaze, Dayne, Barbara Coa, and Xavier Zuniga Garza) regularly entertain the public with drag acts that reject typical drag pageantry, as well as treat attendees to a post-performance queer dance party.
Vivian Grhey commands the Fear the Queer crowd. Photo by Kennedy Loftin.
When Spectrum South first covered Fear the Queer, the group was already pushing boundaries and transforming drag spaces, which can traditionally be predictable and exclusionary, into safe, inclusive spaces that destroy the beauty standards of drag and uplift the art’s inherent queer nature. Since then, Fear the Queer has taken their mission of inclusivity to the next level, actively incorporating drag princes and performers in addition to drag queens.
Grhey also aims to break down barriers and deepen the connection between performers and attendees, noting that each and every person’s narrative is important. She aims to remember the names of everyone who attends, and for their Pride event, she even invited people to come up on stage and share their coming out stories.
In mid-July, the group will partner with Spruce Goose for their collaborative Pussy Pop event with Hannah Bull. To keep up with these queers pushing the limits, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Still itching from the travel bug? I’ve given you the coordinates of these sub-terrestrial, queer-accessible events that will allow you to be the creative drifter that you are. Now, it’s your turn. Pack something fabulous and jet to your destination. You might just make it on time.
