A sea of crimson red surrounds the College Street Music Hall marquee on the night April 3rd. Although it’s a Wednesday night, the lively crowd is dressed for the occasion with red dresses, drag makeup and devil horns. No need to fear, although the crowd I’m describing sounds like a cult, in actuality they are the dedicated fans of queer singer/songwriter Chappell Roan.
The 26-year-old from Missouri’s music is heavily influenced by drag queens and 80s synth pop. The tour of her most recent album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” hit the popular New Haven concert venue on April 3.
After making it into the venue, it was abundantly clear that Chappell had built a tight-knit community of supporters, and her commitment to social justice causes is strong. Concertgoers were encouraged to check their voter registration status, donate to Palenstine support groups and local Drag artists.
In a matter of 30 minutes, College Street was packed to the brim with exuberance, elation and unity. The stuffed venue seethed with anticipation as the house lights finally dimmed. The first performer to take the stage was Lulu Levity, New England’s self-proclaimed “bodacious bombshell”. She welcomed us to the show and ran us through The Official Rules of Drag, for all us “drag virgins” in the audience. They were noted as follows:
- Consent is the key to making sure everyone is comfortable and has a good time.
- Tip your queens by throwing dollars or digital payments
- Make lots of noise and take lots of videos!
With the rulebook now fresh in our minds, we embarked on performances from Rozzz Aura, Maxx Pleasure and Lulu Levity. The high-energy lip-sync sets were filled with splits, cartwheels and flashy costumes.
After a brief intermission and more anticipation, Chappell rushed the stage in a black sequined bodysuit and started her set with fan favorites “Femininomenon,” “Naked In Manhattan” and “After Midnight.”
Next came a dramatic blackout so Chappell can take a moment to welcome us to the Midwest Princess Tour and introduce us to her band members. The crowd cheers and beckons for Chappell to continue singing, and the stage lights fade to a deep blue.
Chappell’s vocals pierce the air, traveling to the very back of the room during “Picture You” and “Casual”, both of which end in standing ovations of applause.
Upbeat 2000s pop songs like “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” and “HOT TO GO!” had the whole room dancing together as one. Chappell’s favorite song, “Guilty Pleasure” shows off the lower register of her voice while simultaneously keeping the energy high.
The night slowed down for the first time when Chappell ditched her handheld microphone for an electric keyboard on center stage. A spotlight illuminated her face and she reminded the audience that “I want you all to know that you are celebrated here, and that you are never too much”. It’s clear that Chappell knows her audience well and “Kaleidoscope,” a ballad about queer love, brings tears to the eyes of everyone around me, myself included.
To end on a higher note, Chappell mixed things up with a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and an exclusive sneak peek of her new single “Good Luck, Babe!” Finishing off her set with more fan favorites “Red Wine Supernova,” “My Kink Is Karma” and ‘Pink Pony Club,” the night ended just how it started; with flashes of pink and red, a cheering crowd and a devoted community. Oh, and lots of cowboy hats too.
