This Is For You, Kings
On February 11, 2023, The GhostLight held its first “King Show”. The talent included Jayden Licious, Xander Havoc, Aiden Cox, and Calvin Brooks, as well as a special quest performance by Champagne Killer all the way from the Lone Star state, Texas. The always lovely India Divine was our divine host.
A line formed outside the doors well before open, and as the bar filled up with excited patrons, the staff waited with bated breath for what else was to come.
If you’re a local, then you might have an idea what I’m referring to, and if you’re just up-to-date on the current political climate, then you probably have a pretty good guess. Although we’ve been hosting drag shows for over a year now, recently we’ve received backlash about our “moral compass” as a bar. While we’re not the only venues to accrue such criticism, it has changed the atmosphere of these nights. Our drag nights showcase some of the best performances our area has to offer, and yet, there is a level of urgency attached to the art form. Despite the years of dedication drag performers have put into their work, these performances are constantly scrutinized and criticized based on the surface-level judgment of the content. A heavily politized critique (and if you live in Kentucky you should know that this is political, see Senate Bill 115), that threatens to erase the artistic merit of nights such as this.
Regardless of this, our venue, which is a bar, is strictly 21+. That means that upon entry, everyone is required to show proof of age, and that anyone below the legal age of drinking isn’t allowed inside the doors. We’re also a bar, which is a recreational venue, as in no one is forced to step inside our premises, and can leave anytime if they so chose. Why am I overexplaining this? Because, as it turns out, not everyone is familiar with going out to a bar, and there seems to be confusion about what exactly happens inside. From the GhostLight Lounge standpoint, we run a 21+ venue for entertainment. If neither of those requirements is met, then this probably isn’t the place for you. The 21+ thing is a constant, the entertainment part is determined by the night. We host a multitude of events here, and based on personal preferences, it may not always suit someone’s patronage. We know this, and do our best to advertise what’s going on each night, both on social media, our website, and at the door the night of. As much as we love having people inside our bar, we don’t anyone here that doesn’t want to be here, as that’s no fun for anyone.
Thankfully, after the initial rush settled in for our King Show, this wasn’t a worry. We had one of the best audiences our venue has ever seen, and as our performers ran through each number, the enthusiasm and support only grew. I don’t have an exact number on how many one dollar bills the bar blew through, but it was enough to know that we had the right crowd for a night like this.
Our first performer in the line-up served as the host. India Divine is a well-known face in the GLL drag scene, and well-beloved by the staff. India is incredibly friendly, personable, and a joy to be around outside of the performance, but when the time comes, her talent and humor shine each time she takes the stage, and on February 11, she held her glory as the host, a perfect introduction to a spectacular night.
Aiden Cox followed, the first King to take the stage. Aiden is local to Owensboro, and first made his introduction to the GhostLight Lounge at an open-stage drag show. He set the expectations for the night with his suave performances and confidence.
Jayden Licious took the stage next, another return performer to the GhostLight Lounge, and another knock-out performer. Jayden oozes charisma, and with each set, his presence only grew. Jayden plays his cards right every set, wowing the crowd with his energy and athleticism as he dances from each side of the stage. Crowd interaction is Mr. Licious’s game as he isn’t afraid to pull an audience member out of the crowd and dance all over them.
While this was a King Show, we couldn’t refuse the opportunity to host Champagne Killer on our stage. Champagne, who once was local, now performs shows in Texas. For us, she brought out all the stops, including a horror-inspired rendition of “Party in The USA”, and ribbon dancing to the iconic “Never Been to Me” by Charlene. There’s nothing better than a horror drag performance, as it requires a dramatic shift in tone that can only be pulled off by the best. The shift that Champagne Killer brought was completely unexpected. During her zombie version of “Party in The USA,” Champagne Killer slowly ripped her hair off, taking the scalp and every gooey, fleshy bit with it as it exposed her brain. The artistic aspects of drag really come on display during these sets, and it’s always amazing to see.
Following Champagne, Xander Havoc reminded us why this was a king show. For anyone confused, Drag Kings are the masculine equivalent of Drag Queens. Kings perform a heightened version of masculinity, and traits associated. These performances are full of charm and magnetism, as these performances hone in on the confidence of healthy masculinity. Xander brought all that and more to his set, with such smoothness one might wonder if the floor was greased (it wasn’t).
Nashville performer, Calvin Brooks, closed out the show- both literally and metaphorically. His star quality was evident from the moment he stepped onto the floor, and even more apparent with each step he took. His attitude and attire perfectly coordinated with each number. Calvin took the “King” in King Show quite literally, exuding a royal presence with a graceful gait. His highness commanded an attention that nothing else could as he waltzed onto our stage, only to dramatically shift the paradigm into a an infectious, high energy dance party that would draw anyone in.
It is within our humble professional opinion to deem this night a success. Between our numbers of patronage and the level of performances, we couldn’t be happier with the turnout for the King Show.
Our next drag show will be on March 3rd. It’s another open stage, bringing drag newcomers from the area to the stage, hosted by the ever-lovely Sinna K. VonTrapp. There will be no cover for entry, but as always, you will have to be over 21 to enter.
