Chappell Roan’s Nov. 1 concert at Emo’s in Austin, Texas, created a sense of community for its attendees. With an emphasis on advocacy, Roan’s show centered LGBTQ+ joy.
Over a month before her tour kicked off, Roan posted an Instagram reel for drag performers to apply to be an opening act for her show. She said that she was looking for “three local queens per city.” This move is unique but in character for Roan, the drag persona of queer singer and songwriter Kayleigh Rose Amstutz.
Moxie, a transgender drag queen and a regular performer at Oilcan Harry’s and Cheer Up Charlie’s, hosted the pre-concert festivities of lip synching and flashy dancing to warm up the crowd. She then introduced the two other queens before closing for the opening acts. After the concert, she thanked those who tipped her via Instagram as she had earned enough to pay her rent for the month.
Roan also hosted Amber Nicole Davenport, also known as the “Legs of Texas,” as one of her three chosen acts. Davenport won the Miss Austin Sweetheart Pageantry last year and brought that beauty to the Emo’s stage in a leopard print bodysuit and miniskirt. Eileen Dover followed Davenport with a hyper-pop set of Charli XCX songs. Dover has been in the drag scene for seven years, despite beginning her career under a different stage name.
Roan’s advocacy didn’t stop there. The artist partnered with a charity called For the Gworls, and donated $1 of each ticket sale to the group. The organization helps Black and transgender people of color receive gender-affirming care and pay day-to-day expenses.
During her performance, Roan spoke about how important support from the community is to her and how it’s grown since her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” She said that the songs were no longer hers and that after sharing them with her fans, they had taken on a life of their own. She’s emulated that in her tour with audience engagement through social media, on-stage call outs and cheer-like dances during the show. She also stoked engagement with pre-planned themes for each stop.
For Austin, it was a slumber party theme to honor her song “Naked in Manhattan,” specifically the line, “The rush of slumber party kissing.” It was a chillier night in Texas, so many concert-goers wore jackets and coats over matching pajama sets and onesies. Some attendees were unaware of the suggested theme and simply went off Roan’s overall vibe by dressing in warm tones and hyper-feminine outfits.
Towards the end of the show, she acknowledged her concert as a place of creative liberation for some of her fans. Her girly persona and eclectic style encouraged people to experiment with the way that they present themselves.
Roan also referenced the anti-drag movement that’s been in the news recently. She reminded the audience of over 1,500 people that drag queens needed their support “now more than ever.” Though a federal judge ruled Texas’ Senate Bill 12 unconstitutional in September, the bill– which would have restricted certain drag performers from presenting themselves in front of children– had repercussions for the queer community. Backlash spread to queens who lost gigs and made drag performances a hot topic of debate.
Roan will be back in Austin at Moody Center in February to spread her message when she opens for Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” tour.