Dallas drag diva Erica Andrews dies

Erica ANdrews

Erica Andrews, a nationally known trans woman and drag diva who headlined the Dallas-filmed indie flick Ticked Off Trannies with Knives, died last night in Chicago from a lung infection, according to reports.

Andrews, who was in her 40s, was the “drag mother” of RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Roxxxy Andrews. She appeared with former Drag Racer and Ticked Off co-star Willam Belli at his show at the Rose Room in December. “A Goddess just met God,” Belli tweeted last night when word broke of her passing last night — ironically, as the latest episode of Drag Race aired on Logo. “I love you Erica Andrews,” Belli added.

“I’m sad. It came as such a shock,” said Ronald Radwanski, a local painter and director of the ilume Gallerie on Cedar Springs. “I didn’t even know she was sick. The last time we talked was when my nephew moved to Chicago. She was loving living in Chicago with her boyfriend, Juan.”

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

GayBingo returns Saturday, with changes

On Saturday, Resource Center Dallas returns with another year of GayBingo, but it won’t be the same old game.

For tomorrow’s Fifty Shades of Gay theme, RCD will debut a new bingo machine, offering both a new look and making it easier to follow the game. And there will be new games, bigger pay-outs and more surprise guests.

Also on-deck this year: Two new offshoots of GayBingo. “GayBingo Presents” will be a series featuring music, fashion, dance and more; and Paul J. Williams has signed on (on behalf of his alter ego, Sister Helen Holy, pictured) to host “GayBingo North Dallas.”

It all starts tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Rose Room inside Station 4. Get reservations and learn more here.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

TBRU 17: Big D BearDance tonight at S4

Beef on the dancefloor

Former Soup Dragons leader Sean Dickson went from hipster waif to muscle bear DJ and brings his psychedelic house style tonight to the Big D BearDance. Taking on a more club ready moniker, HiFi Sean is used to a Dallas crowd, but more so when he was with his 90s alt-rocker band playing with the likes of The Flaming Lips and INXS. Now he plays to a far different crowd, but he’s ready to “give the bears a new experience.” The dance party is a fundraiser for area charities, but also the highlight club event of the weekend. DJ Rob opens the evening.

On a random note, Perez Hilton will make an appearance tonight signing autographs in the Granite Bar and shifting over later to the Rose Room.

DEETS: Station 4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road. 8 p.m. BearDance.org.

—  Rich Lopez

GayBingo tonight at the Rose Room

GayBingo 2.0

Before heading out to 2012’s first GayBingo, check out our online interview with new director Johnny Humphrey. He tells us some of the changes that are going down with this new version and they all sound good. Then, bust out that bingo marker and take no prisoners when your number comes up.

DEETS: The Rose Room (inside S4) 3911 Cedar Springs Road. 6 p.m. $25. RCDallas.org.

—  Rich Lopez

Prince Poppycock at Station 4 on June 30

Photos by Chuck Dube/Dallas Voice (MarceloMedia)

 

 

 

—  John Wright

WATCH: Lolene at the Rose Room Friday night

In case you missed new artist Lolene perform Friday night at the Rose Room, we caught some video for you. You can read colleague Chance Browning’s take on the show after the jump.

—  Rich Lopez

Ray Boltz at the Rose Room Saturday night

I have to admit, I was a bit excited to see this show. I’m not a huge Christian music fan but after speaking with Ray Boltz for my article, I was curious how the show would play out. And the stuff I heard online wasn’t bad. Plus, when we spoke, his music was taking on a different tone lyrically. He came out exactly a year ago on Saturday night to the Washington Blade. He told me his music had changed from religious or “Christianese” (his word) to more spiritual. For sure, his new stuff was geared toward his newfound LGBT audience.

—  Rich Lopez