January is sometimes referred to as a quiet month, with guilt-ridden gays resolving to blah blah blah… Not at The Black Cap though. They plan to start 2014 as they mean to go on. In style! Resident host Meth, who has found her feet at the venue with several successful sell out shows in the short time she’s been there, raises the bar even higher this month with her Meth Lab night playing host to American drag supergroup, DWV (Detox Icunt, William Belli, Vicky Vox) who shot to online and chart fame with their hugely popular ‘Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)’ and ‘Boy Is a Bottom’ parody videos, amongst others. This week Jason spoke to Meth, here in London, and Detox, direct from the states. How international, hunty!
METH
How have your Meth Lab nights been going? And what can virgins to the night expect?
The show is a bizarre and beautiful, unsettling, raucous and filthy concoction of drag, neo-burlesque and queer cabaret; definitely different but highly addictive. Virgins should probably steer clear as Miss Cairo is a frequent fixture at the Lab and we all know what she gets like around virgins.
Your aesthetic is very similar to that of the American/RuPaul Drag Race performers. Is this something you’re inspired by?
I love the aesthetic and performative potential of American Drag, polished make up, conceptual costuming and the prominence of lip-synching and dance as tools of performance. Although we Brits would never get away with spending half of our numbers retrieving tips from the audience. I will hands down admit to being a product of the Drag Race generation, it’s what got me into Drag but I’m interested in the entire scene over there.
There is also a resemblance to Drag Race winner Sharon Needles…
Yes, Sharon and the American scene have been a huge influence on me. Porcelain, James St. James and Peaches Christ are also particular faves of mine.
Do you think a UK version of the show would work?
Between the entire collection of Drag Race on Netflix, Drag Race Germany happening and the Drag Stars at Sea European Cruise next year I’m fairly sure RuPaul’s flawlessly made up eyes are fixed on us. I predict a UK or global series is less than 3 years away.
Would you enter?
Yes, I will be entering. And winning.
I’ve always been intrigued by your name. How did it come about?
I was high at the time. Drugs are bad kids. Don’t do drugs. Do Meth.
The response to the upcoming DWV shows has been amazing. You must be very pleased?
I am freakin’ excited out of my twisted little mind for DWV! It’s utterly insane the response I’m getting for these shows. Any expectation will undoubtedly be exceeded so I’m trying not to think about it too much or I may have to be committed to an asylum and I promised myself in the winter of 1882 that I’d never go back there again.
Finally, in just a sentence, tell us how you want audiences to feel after one of your shows?
Confused and amused, aroused and unsettled, like their world will never be the same and they can’t wait to get more and more and more… And more.
DETOX ICUNT
DWV have made a huge impact online in the last two years with their parody videos; none more so than with ‘Boy Is a Bottom’, which to date has been viewed over 12.5millionr times. How did the idea for the song come about?
This one was all William’s idea, so I guess that’s a question for him. I mean…He is the hungriest bottom I know.
What do you think was the thing that made that particular video so successful? Is it because, as gay men, we can relate to it so well, no matter where we are in the world, and it’s also kind of an unspoken subject?
I would have to totally agree, plus it was done really well and the timing was perfect. There were a lot of factors involved.
What’s your personal favourite DWV song to perform?
I still love ‘Chow Down’ and ‘Blurred Bynes’ because we get so stupid.
What one word would you say best describes you?
Cunt.
I have to ask you about RuPaul’s Drag Race briefly; what were the best and worst things about being on the show?
The best: Reconnecting and meeting new friends. The worst: Shit drinks.
What can we expect from the shows at The Black Cap? And will you be taking in any other shows/catching up with people while you’re here?
Our time is very constrained but I plan on meeting several new foreskins. As far as what to expect? A sh!t show.
