New York is connected

EARL DAX
By Ben Walters

Since arriving in New York in 2005, promoter, producer and curator Earl Dax has had a pivotal role in the downtown queer creative scene, connecting drag royalty, major performance artists and up-and-coming talent.

THE DECADENTLY DISILLUSIONED
The likes of Justin Bond, Penny Arcade and Ana Matronic walk a teasy, sleazy line at Dax’s regular cabaret night, Weimar New York, which finds parallels between 1930s Germany and the USA today. Last week’s special shows focused on the election. For upcoming-show info, go to weimarnewyork.com.

THOSE SEEKING TOGETHERNESS THROUGH SONG
In addition to showcasing downtown vocalists like Bridget Everett and Novice Theory, Dax has produced songbook nights at Joe’s Pub for Nick Hallett and Passing Strange’s Stew. Dax’s next muse is songstress Jennifer O’Connor, whom he’s known “since her days as a bartender at Metropolitan.” O’Connor is at the Bowery Ballroom Wed 12.

BOYLESQUE DANCE FREAKS
Dax’s Tingel Tangel Club event, held at various Brooklyn and Queens locations, is a magnet for tricked-out trannies in handmade finery, courtesy of neodrag troupe the Pixie Harlots and a rotating cast of gendernauts and performers like Narcissister. It’s also bicoastal; SF’s DJ Peeplay made his NYC debut at October’s Tingel Tangel. /myspace.com/tingeltangelclub

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
A thread of activism runs through many of Dax’s projects. He’s collaborated with Penny Arcade’s Globesity Festival and culture jammers the Yes Men and performance artist Karen Finley, and he contributed profits from last week’s Weimar New York election shows (featuring Tigger! and other Dax pals) to Democracy Now! He’s also recently discovered the Change You Want to See Gallery, run by art-activist group Not an Alternative (). “Turns out that I’ve lived within walking distance of the gallery ever since I moved to the city,” he says.

ART FAGS
Dax is a familiar face at primo art-world venues, having curated “HOT!,” a monthlong celebration of queer culture held at Dixon Place every summer (dixonplace.org), and masterminded an Art Jam salon at BAMcafé and occasional Tingel Tangel nights at Deitch Studios (deitch.com). Meanwhile, Dax vouches for Ginger Brooks Takahashi’s Full Moon PowerStitch craftfest at the New Museum Nov 13(newmuseum.org). Her old band used to rehearse in his basement.

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