Fashion: The Punk Fashion of Rupaul’s Drag Race

You’re probably reading this thinking what do drag queens have to do with punk rock? Absolutely everything! Throughout the years the show Rupaul’s Drag Race has been one of the top rated shows on tv and has a die-hard following. I am definitely a huge fan and never miss an episode. That aside, I noticed somethings amongst all the glamour. These drag queens do not shy away from punk fashion and they do it justice. Within the spectrum of glam to goth, there are various ways these queens represent different versions of punk fashion. Here are my 3 top picks ( in no particular order) of the most punk rock drag queens of Rupaul’s Drag Race and where to find their punk looks:

Sharon Needle: Sharon was the winner of season 4 and is one of my first favorite queens since I related to her style the most. From the spooky to Aaron’s casual punk look, his stylings of drag are spectacular. I have never seen blood pour out of a models mouth on a runway or have tentacles for fingers. Both were amazing moments on the show. Sharon Needles is also a musician which also helps the punk persona.

Adore Delano: What don’t I love about Adore? The self-proclaimed punk rock mermaid herself is a great expression of modern punk fashion. I would wear anything she styles. But what makes Adore stand above the rest is the story behind this drag queen. Originally Danny was a contestant on American Idol in 2008 and has an amazing voice. He eventually got into a career in drag and went on to be in the top 3 finalists in season 6. I can’t get enough of Adore’s spirit, fashion, wit, and style. Check out the endless punk looks from blue hair, leather, and band tees on her Instagram. I think this gif sums up Adore perfectly.

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Let’s start with the word “fuck” in her drag name. Alaska is a great mix of glamour and punk. Whether she is looking couture in a gown while cussing like a sailor, Alaska is on top of her game. Alaska was part of the top three finalists of Season 5 and will be on the upcoming All-Stars season too. Alaska is also known for her creative fashion designs made of duct tape and trash bag couture. I can’t wait to see what is next from this queen.

Honorable Mentions:Raja and Violet Chachki

Violet basically is Betty Page on steroids and knows her craft so well.
Raja was the winner of season 3. She is very talented and can pull anything off, especially a mohawk. Plus it doesn’t hurt that Raja was the makeup artist on American’s Next Top Model.

Regardless of any knowledge around the world of Rupaul’s Drag Race, the correlation is undeniable. I recently stumbled upon this gem where Alice Bag and Henry Rollins discuss this phenomenon. Enjoy:

Podcasting and Punk: Top Recomendations

I am a podcast addict. There are endless possibilities when it comes to podcasts. It can be artsy and deep or straight out crass. It keeps me sane in Austin traffic and on long flights. I feel like I have learned a little more about the world just listening to a 30 minute-hour long episode. I have done a ton of searching online and on the iTunes app. Here are my top recommendations on punk podcasts in no particular order or rank. Share the love:

Turned out a Punk: Damian Abraham is the beast at everything he does. I love his band Fucked Up and the energy of his live performances. Who knew he brought that kind of ambition to podcasting? Well, he does. He has a vast knowledge of vinyl and music that is very impressive. He puts up episodes weekly, sometimes even sooner with the footnotes podcasts he adds too. He has interesting guests from musicians to industry people. He also gives an interesting take on the Canadian punk scene.

MMR Radio: I have been reading this zine forever. I am glad they have never changed because they do what they do so well. It is a mix of garage rock, punk, hardcore and indie. It seems to work really well together. They upload episodes weekly from bands that submit to their podcast and/or zine. Mostly just a music playlist and some talk. I have definitely found some gems within these playlists.

copy-MRR_Radio_banner_1260x240_4 — MMR Radio

Rebel Songs Radio: This is my personal favorite out there. I had spent months looking for another female that discusses and plays punk music. It varies from hardcore, rockabilly, thrash, metal, oi, and punk. Which pretty much lists all my favorite genres. Support this awesome podcast!

Punk News: I am obviously a fan of Punk News. What is so great about this podcast is that if you don’t have the time to sit down and read your newsfeed, then this will catch you up immediately. They have awesome interviews with bands and talk current punk news. They also play tracks from new releases. They also have sub-podcast called The Wizard’s Beard and Space Punks. These podcasts are exactly what you think they are.

podcast-1344611750 — PunkNews.org Podcast

Rocket Fuel: I REALLY enjoy Jeff’s podcast. The spectrum of genres is punk, ska, and indie. Even though this podcast is not 100% punk all the time, all the songs that he plays are music we still love as music fans. Also, his guests are spot on. This podcast has truly interesting conversations from bands such as Face to Face, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, to Fest coverage. I think the reason I like this podcast the most is that you can tell it is very influenced by the 120 minutes era. Which I am totally that person too. I HIGHLY recommend this podcast to any music lover.

rocketfuellogosmall — Rocket Fuel Podcast

Honorable Mentions

WTF with Marc Maron: Marc Maron’s podcast is one of the best out there. Yes, not all of them are punk. BUT occasionally there will be gems on there such as Iggy Pop, Flea, Mike Watt and many more. So it’s worth checking out even for those specific interviews.

Mostly Harmless with Dammit Damian: I really dig this podcast out the Denver area. I also love the fact that Damian comes from the zine scene. His interviews consist of bands, comics, and nerd pop culture. He also has some awesome live footages and old interviews to dive into. Definitely worth a tune in.

All Songs Considered: I get that NPR is a super adult station. It can be hard to sit through and listen. But this podcast is pure music nerd haven. Obviously not the most punk podcast out there but very surprising. In the past couple of months, they have played great bands such as Greys, The Dirty Nil, and PUP. If you like a roulette of music that includes punk and all genres, then this is a great podcast choice.

My favorite punk podcast of this past year has to go to Rupual’s What’s the Tee with Michelle Visage. I only mention this episode because it was with Henry Rollins. It is a superb episode. Little did you know that Rupaul and Henry Rollins collaborated musically? Exactly. Amazing episode. I personally listened to this episode twice!

**I am also excepting any recommendations for other punk podcasts not listed. I know there are probably more out there. Feel free to comment or leave a link below.**

The Dicks from Texas Documentary Release

This documentary was a long time coming. After 16 years, the documentary film project is finally done and is going to be shown this weekend at the Dick’s hometown. The documentary is called “The Dicks From Texas” directed by Cindy Marabito. The reason this film is getting so much regard is due to what the Dicks really meant to the Austin punk scene in the 1980s. The Dicks were a larger than life punk-hardcore band that pushed the envelope of sexuality, politics, and music. They are best known for their songs such as “Hate the Police” and “Kills from the Heart”.

The reason this documentary is important to watch is that it is a piece of Austin’s music history and a pivotal moment in the punk scene. They rocked against Reagan. They played alongside MDC and the Big Boys. Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, and Mike Watt all want to talk about how great this band was. I don’t think I really have to sell much more here.

They are also releasing a tribute album with such bands as The Bulimics, Black Irish Texas, The Fuckemos, and much more. It is currently streaming here: The Dicks From Texas and Friends

Also here is the link to the event April 1st at the North Door: https://www.facebook.com/events/1042028645817597/

Pre-orders and additional information on the documentary can be found here:http://www.thedicksfromtexas.com/dicks.html