Critical Madness was an idea I had two years ago while I was studying my NC in Media at City of Glasgow College and came to fruition this Spring as part of my HNC Media with Journalism. I'm really proud of this article as my first proper non-metal feature piece. I've been enjoying being a part of the local drag scene for the past couple of years alongside my partner Kim Reaper and I love the opportunity to promote the scene like I promote heavy metal, and give the local artists a platform to share their stories. This piece contributed towards me getting an "A" for my Graded Unit which I'm really proud of. I hope you enjoy it!
Drag is more popular than ever. With drag exploding into the cultural mainstream due to the success of RuPaul's Drag Race and Dragula, there's an appetite for drag shows everywhere. The spotlight is now on the UK drag scene with the recent launch of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Enter Hellbent, Glasgow's biggest alternative drag show. Hellbent is still young, with a year's worth of shows at the Cathouse - the heart of the Glasgow alternative scene - under its studded belt, but it's quickly grown to a massive monthly event.
“Hellbent initially started as an offshoot of a Pride special,” explains founder and host CarrieAnn Crow, “We got talking to the Cathouse around February last year about bringing an alternative drag show for Pride season, and it was a massive success. Everybody loved it. The Cathouse loved it – staff and punters – and they wanted us back after it.”
So what is alternative drag? The world of drag can seem like just a place of glitzy, glamourous and camp dames to some, but there's a freakier side. This dark side to drag draws influence from the depths of alternative subcultures – from goth and horror, to sci-fi and the avant-garde, and everything in between.
“I think there's so many sides – you can't really put alternative drag into boxes,” says local drag artist, and recent Hellbent performer SXSZ, “It can be anything that's different whether it's a performance or an aesthetic that isn't traditional, that some crowds might not get – anything that's a bit more niche.”
Hellbent isn't like your typical drag show, where camp classics and chart-topping hits rule the speakers. Screaming metal, spooky goth and emo throwback tracks feature as part of the Hellbent soundtrack, and that's only just scratching the surface.
“The variety of music at Hellbent you absolutely wouldn't hear at any other drag show – we get to go darker and heavier,” says CarrieAnn Crow, “At other drag shows you might get something a bit edgier but Hellbent is one of the only places we can go as dark and heavy.”
“You see people who would never set foot in a gay bar or near a drag queen, and they come to Hellbent for the first time and they're exposed to something that they never thought they would enjoy,” elaborates Sean Gallogley, Hellbent co-founder and Crow's partner, “People find that element that they can get into – one minute it's Fall Out Boy, the next it's Rammstein – and it's like your own playlist but watching drag queens perform it in ways you didn't think you'd see.”
The Cathouse stage is well-known for being a stomping ground of rock royalty in Glasgow, and Hellbent allows for drag performers to slay in ways they might not be able to in the queer scene. The venue's reputation for catering well to bands extends to the Hellbent family, allowing them freedom onstage and looking after them offstage.
“The stage is a lot bigger than most venues we get to perform at, and there's more leeway in terms of what you can do,” explains SXSZ, “The venue doesn't mind if you want to use props or make a mess on stage so there's a lot more ideas that you might have planned that you're not able to do elsewhere.”
Regular Hellbent performer Frans Gender continues: “Cathouse as a venue is more accustomed to having bands and performers regularly, so their facilities are built for what we expect. There's a backstage area that's big enough for everyone, they treat you in a way that performers would expect to be treated.”
They elaborate: “The staff ask if we need anything...even things like we can tell them how we want our lights done. Things like the setup is all planned out. It's definitely a collaboration, more like a production.”
Hellbent has showcased the talents of many local drag artists including regular appearances from Ann Phetamine, Marla Sinner, Frans Gender and of course CarrieAnn Crow. Fierce guest performers appearing across the shows so far have included Raven Redstars, Pixel Glitch, Kiko, Kim Reaper, Diana Morphine, SXSZ, Shame Lizz and many more. For some, performing at the Cathouse has meant more than just slaying the stage.
“There's a lot of people whose journeys as queer people didn't start on the gay scene – we discovered our queer identity at the Cathouse,” CarrieAnn Crow explains, “It's a venue that's really close to my heart. Our slogan for Cathouse Pride was 'it's not just a phase'. The alternative and queer communities are the only people who are marginalised when they're younger and told ʻit's just a phaseʼ.”
For everyone at the Cathouse whether they're queer, alternative or both, Hellbent has fast became a welcoming community. It's a safe space where you're free to be yourself, rock out and have fun without fear of being marginalised in any way.
Kim Reaper says: “In Cathouse you lose every label as soon as you walk in the door because they're so welcoming to everyone. Hellbent brings drag into an environment where people who wouldn't usually have the confidence to go and see a drag show in a gay bar have that opportunity in such a welcoming environment.”
Gallogley continues: “You can be gay and alternative – you don't have to compromise one for the other. That's what the Cathouse and us like about Hellbent because it's that chance for us to show we're diverse.”
With Hellbent celebrating their first birthday tonight, what does the future have in store for the event? The performers have plenty of ideas of what they'd like to see, but the general concensus is to bring more fierce alternative artists.
“I'd like to see special guests from Dragula and other places in the UK,” says SXSZ.
Frans Gender adds: “I'd love to do more group numbers. Also, to collaborate with more drag artists and bring in artists who might not consider themselves as a drag performer but still alternative.”
Gallogley continues: “More queens. It's an alternative show and we're always looking for that fresh face, or that queen you've forgotten about that could kill it. We don't ever want it to get stale.”
In just over a year Hellbent has grown from a one-off Pride special to a popular and successful monthly event. There's no sign of it slowing down with a packed Cathouse when the first Sunday of the month comes around. Hellbent truly is a safe space with an open-minded community that welcomes everyone with open arms. Whether you're queer, alternative, or anything else, come and party at Hellbent.- and remember, it's not just a phase.
A huge thanks to all those who took part in the interviews for Drag Me to Hellbent, and also to Simon Crawford for allowing the use of his photography. Check out more from both Hellbent and Simon in the links below!
Hellbent: facebook/twitter
Simon Crawford: facebook/instagram
Cathouse: website/facebook/twitter/instagram
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