What a time to be a queer kid in Lawrence! If you’re part of the LGBT+ community here, the world (or music scene, rather) is your oyster. Aside from PRIDE back in June, this was likely the most exciting weekend for our queer peers, and The Bottleneck was ground zero. After a sold-out Chappell Roan themed drag show at the Bottleneck on Saturday, many attendees returned on Sunday for their lord and savior Dorian Electra.
Listen, we may never see a Chappel Roan show in Lawrence, but you will see Dorian Electra and that’s just as good in our opinion. This is where gender non-conforming friends can feel like their true authentic selves. It was a packed show for the performer, and it was definitely positive vibes only. In lieu of a band playing instruments onstage, Dorian Electra brought dancers and theatrics and sang to a mix. There was a giant puppet, a glowing ring, and all sorts of shenanigans. Several times throughout the night, the floor was just shaking due to the highly stimulated crowd. These fans knew all the words, screaming them back at the stage while trading bracelets made just for the night (a late-90’s trend we’ve been thrilled to see make its way back into live music). Believe us when we tell you it was all smiles and glitter (and fishnets).
Though Dorian Electra has been visiting Lawrence since 2014, this was their first time playing here. Some of the fans in the audience have been going to their shows since pre-pandemic times, so they were thrilled to finally see a Lawrence stop on the tour. At the end of the night, after a quick crowd surfing sesh, they gave a bit of a pep talk and raved of Lawrence’s LGBT-friendly scene. This prompted a little emotional moment from their father, who was watching from the crowd.
Julia Wildstar opened the show, and they may as well be Kansas City’s own version of Dorian Electra. They were also fans of theatrics, props, and backup dancers. We saw glowing hoops, butterfly wings, a couple of huge fans… it was like going to the circus and being a kid again! Minus all the animal torture…
Some of the drag performers from the sold out drag show the night before (KyKy Modean, Lambyyy Boots, and Johnny Diablo) also opened the night with a few numbers, while DJ Chance Romance (who you may have seen DJing at PRIDE) kept the dance party up between sets.
Photos from the night below: