Bacon Strip: January 2024

It was the first Bacon Strip of 2024, and there was a vibe. But more on that at the end. The official theme was “Punk VS New Wave Bacon Strip,” although it took me writing this up to learn that it wasn’t just “80s Bacon Strip.” Even in the immediate aftermath of New Year’s, there was a good sized crow. DJ and I had not gotten tickets in the pre-sale, and there was an appreciable line at the door when I got there at 18:55. Nevertheless, I still got good seats; they could have even been a row or two further back.

Today, I was shooting with the Canon 5Dm3, with the Canon EF 135 f2.0 L, a relatively new acquisition. It’s about 30% longer than my next longest lens (not counting some soft and blurry superzoom I have basically never used), and three times longer than the typical lens I use on the 5D for drag (the TS-E 45 f/2.8). As I said, I could have gone several rows back and gotten better pictures.

The show opened with Sylvia and Honey doing a bit of banter, and teasing the performers we would be seeing. As is the custom, the first performance was by Sylvia.

Run of Show:

  • Sylvia O’Stayformore - “They Don’t Know About Us” (Tracey Ullman1)
  • Affine Muff2 - “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” (Joan Jett)
Affine Muff
  • Shantavia3 - “Gloria” (Patti Smith) mashed up with an unknown song.
    • Note: This gave me strong, strong London Drag vibes. It was really nice reminder.
  • Jayla T. Fox - “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” (Eurythmics)
  • Cookie Coutre - “Take Me to the Backseat” (The Donnas)
  • Bobbie Jo Blessings - Sung piece, based on a Lionel Ritchie song
  • Honey Bucket - Sung piece, based on Violent Femme’s “Add It Up”

Interval

  • Sylvia O’Stayformore - “Picture This” (Blondie)
    • This incorporated a slide show with images of Bacon Strip beefcake past and present.
  • Affine Muff - “So Emotional” (Whitney Houston)
  • Shantavia - “Gloria” (Patti Smith) mashed up with an unknown song.
    • I am making a guess here, but Shantavia may be AFAB
  • Jayla T. Fox - “Strangelove” (Depeche Mode)
    • Jayla is Honey’s drag mom.
  • Cookie Coutre - “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” (Dead or Alive)
  • Bobbie Jo Blessings - Sung piece, based on “It’s a Sin” (Pet Shop Boys) and “Relax” (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
    • This is why I go to Bacon Strip.
  • Honey Bucket - Sung, based on “You Know What I am Talking About” (The Royal Flash)

[RefLink][1] [1]: https://….

  1. Who, despite astounding personal talen, will probably be most remembered for the animated shorts between sketches on “The Tracey Ullman Show.” These went on to become the long-running series, “The Simpsons” ↩

  2. Sylvia, would it kill you to give us their Instagram name? “Affine Muff” is particularly brillant for the mathematical implications of the name, but I’m not sure if that’s right name. ↩

  3. Again, this is my best effort. ↩

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