Austin Drag Gets wILD

Hive Mind Hair Co. opened less than two months ago, but it's wasting no time flexing its proverbial muscle with a full slate of drag and comedy shows scheduled for after hours.

Next up, on Thursday, Sept. 13, Hive will play host to Mary Jane Styles and a show chock-full of Austin drag superstars, including Chique Fil-Atio, Hentaii, Cister Wife, and more at wILD 2.0.

San Marcos' Luke Skywanker (l) and Johnny Boy are ready to play for Austin audiences (Photos provided by Luke Skywanker)

It’s no surprise that Hive Mind is giving a stage to Texas’ best and brightest of drag: the salon-gallery-venue fusion is co-owned by Austin drag darling Chique Fil-Atio herself. And true to any good beauty salon, it seems that everyone knows everyone, or certainly will soon.

Such is the case with Luke Skywanker and Johnny Boy, wILD 2.0’s only kings and newcomers to the Austin scene. Like many performers on the lineup, Luke and Johnny went through the rounds at Stonewall Warehouse in San Marcos before they could break into the city next door. But that breakthrough came through another Stonewall vet – wILD’s own host Mary Jane Styles.

“Stonewall is school for baby drag,” Luke tells Qmmunity. “We started there with Get Schooled Tuesdays, and [Mary Jane] was always there.” Johnny added: “We like her, she likes us.”

Mary Jane and the boys aren’t the only ones in the wILD 2.0 lineup who’ve graced the Stonewall stage. They’re joined by Hentaii and Tatiana Cholula in having a history there. Maybe unbeknownst to Austinites, but it’s common knowledge in San Marcos: performers that start there have a leg up when it comes to getting into the bigger city scenes. As Luke explains, “A lot of people start at Stonewall and then move to Austin, but Stonewall is not a place you want to perform if you want money.”

However, wILD 2.0 won’t just be a Stonewall reunion – it’ll also be a who’s-who of Austin’s Next Drag Superstar, Drag Survivor, and a slew of pageants because Mary Jane isn’t pulling any punches. This is a show of top-notch performers with a memo to bring their A-game. Luke let’s it slip: “[Mary Jane] wants you to do the best ‘you’ you can do.” He’s dropping a few hints that his long-time fans might catch the return of his signature “Lean Like a Cholo” performance. And the party’s not stopping there. From Hentaii’s high concept performance art to Sister Anita’s cheeky comedy, Mary Jane has truly put together a highlight reel of Austin’s loudest, shiniest, silliest drag.

Be sure to swing by Hive Mind Hair Co. (3011 N. I-35 Frontage Rd.) Thursday to get extra wild. wILD 2.0 is open to everyone 18 and up, and it’s BYOB for everyone over 21; 10:30pm-12:30am, $5.