Gottmik at Flip Phone XXL: Pride 2021
Friday, July 16, 2021
Classic dance party bangers by the talented DJ Izzie P. Stunning performances by local drag excellence. A headlining showstopper from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 finalist Gottmik. This is Flip Phone XXL: Pride at the iconic Minneapolis venue First Avenue.
In drag, Gottmik uses female pronouns. When not in drag, Gottmik is the transgender man and trailblazer Kade Gottlieb, the first trans man to ever compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race. His professional work as a world class performer and makeup artist was what everyone came to see Friday night.
Host of the evening Tygra opened the drag show with impressive choreography, lifting their legs up to do high kicks and doing tricks on the ground. All while still managing to collect the cash tips from the crowd.
The next performer, Luna Muse, impressed with a witchy dance in multicolor robes to the tune of “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry. There was creative choreography and they performed Juicy J’s iconic rap, too. When they stripped to a leotard, the crowd went wild.
Sunny Kiriyama came out in a long, trans flag-colored wig and thigh-high white boots with a puffy, furry jacket. They did a medley of “The Night is Still Young” and “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj in a later unveiled, shorter outfit.
Dick Von Dyke came out to chaos from the crowd and lip-synced Village People’s classic “Macho Man.” Five roller skater backup dancers rolled around the stage wutg Von Dyke, and as a finale, they all performed Village People’s “YMCA.”
Julia Starr strutted on stage to Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia hit “Don’t Start Now.” Starr’s skilled choreography and death drops on the catwalk simply slayed. Vogueing while taking tips really is something to clap for.
Tygra said, “Give it up for Gottmik” to a thunderous roar from the crowd, as Gottmik lips-synced, “[Three taps on a microphone] Hey, is this thing on?” from the more modern and celebrated Britney Spears version of “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.” I had seen Gottmik perform this number at a previous, unrelated event, but this had more spice; more sex appeal. Gottmik launched into a lip-sync of Miley Cyrus’ “Night Crawling (feat. Billy Idol).”
Flanked by two male-presenting dancers in Tom of Holland-style costumes with open jackets, Gottmik was wearing her signature, duo-tone drag makeup face. There was a real rock element to her presentation that thrilled. Appropriately, she performed a rock remix of “Donatella” by Lady Gaga. Bright spotlights behind and above her pulsed to the beat of the performance.
When Gottmik got the mic to say a little something to the crowd, it was so loud in First Avenue you couldn’t understand what Gottmik was saying. This was from the thunderous crowd that loved her so much. Gottmik then convinced Tygra to crowd surf before letting the crowd know this was Gottmik’s second time in Minneapolis, and we haven’t disappointed yet; “Let’s go in tonight, bitches.”
