Concert review: The Knockout Tour—Violet Chachki vs. Gottmik | 10.08.25, The Pageant (with photo gallery)

Photo of Violet Chachki and Gottmik by Jen Ruff

I wasn’t a fan of Violet Chachki during her season (7) of RuPaul’s Drag Race and I wouldn’t realize why for a few years. One day at random I checked out some Werk the World content which does features on Drag Race contestants on tour as they indeed work the world and I happened to come across Violet’s segment of the series. I’m glad I found it because I connected to her humor and her style and the human side of her that fame edited away to make for “good TV.” It changed a lot in me to consider how I let an electric box dictate what is entertainment and how much of that is produced in such a way that can reduce who a human really is. Violet is absolutely elite. Her always corseted and stunning fashion is displayed from runways to music videos (“Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras among upcomers) and live performances. 

Gottmik competed as well in Drag Race (13) and was the first trans male who competed which is absolutely huge, having been adopted by a conservative family in Scottsdale, AZ. The courageous journey it had to be to become an equal fashion and music icon while being in drag checks all of the boxes of success in my book. 

Together, Violet and Gottmik gave us high fashion, glamour, friendship, humor, and artistic theater on a Wednesday evening. Each artist has music they’ve recently released and this tour is just a sneak preview of what’s to come. Violet’s aesthetic is very goth elegance and Gottmik’s is very pop punk which somehow together made a hell of a show. 

Violet has had success with music. Her single “Mistress Violet” has been a staple in clubs across the entire world since 2021. The release of their new song “TKO” set the tone for this tour where they each performed to their original music yet to be released to today’s hottest jams using a variety of artistic props and aerial apparatus combinations giving the crowd an evening of outstanding fun. 

That would certainly have been a great enough show for sure, but in any performance I’ve seen with national drag acts, they ALWAYS spotlight local performers who are every bit as talented, unique, and deserving of our support, especially in times of such division politically. During the big show, they called up two fans who lip synched for a prize pack from the tour. OMGthatsFame and SelenaRedacted really showed out for the hometown crowd! 

Maxi Glamour is a performer who has appeared on season 3 of Dragula, which features the more glam, filth, and horror side of the community. They’re also a local representative for the LGBTQIA+ community who gives of their time selflessly to uphold the rights we do have and call for more equality in the areas we do not. They not only looked incredibly fierce but played the flute for us, giving an esoteric feel to begin the evening. 

Moxie Contin is a local queen that turns it out at many clubs locally but this evening gave us an acoustic cover of “Creep” by Radiohead that still gives me chills. Their drag was stunning with their outfit’s bottom half being made of neckties. They were truly original and I could’ve watched for hours. 

Just prior to the show’s beginning, you had to have a party to bring out two international sensations and baby did Vanessa Frost ice it up for the STL! A double tribute to Cardi B—no one was safe as she wiped the floor clean for everyone before her or after. 

Our community is fortunate to have artists that entertain right up there with national acts but there’s no editing to distract you. So PLEASE—go to local shows. Support local performers. Everyone is local somewhere. Let’s invest in keeping the talent we have in numerous genres of entertainment employed. Without the ARTS, life is just a drag. | Diane Ruff