#sick & dangerous tour 2022

[rbf451]

At Backstage By The Mill, Paris 21.9.2022

by Chloé Bunel for Above-TheNoise.com

[mithriel-of-mithlond]

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My fav moments from Blind Channel concert, part 1: Joonas & Joel

Sound on!

[covid-safer-hotties]

These Are the Drag Artists and Organizers Fighting to Make Queer Spaces More COVID Safe - Published Aug 21, 2024

This article was produced in partnership with The Sick Times.

After becoming disabled by a COVID-19 infection they caught on tour in 2022, Themme Fatale went from being a high-flying trapeze artist to being homebound. Before developing Long COVID, much of the popular circus performer’s career had involved risk — setting themself on fire, flipping through the air, lying on beds of nails — but the danger of these stunts began to shrink in their mind compared to the risk of the airborne virus.

From home in Melbourne, Australia, Fatale began to closely follow Long COVID research, connecting the concerning findings about the disease, which affects every organ system, to their numerous symptoms. What they didn’t understand was why their local queer community — and society at large — continued to put themselves at risk of COVID-19, especially because Long COVID is more prevalent in queer and trans people.

It led Fatale to take action. In February 2024, Fatale launched Clean Air Narm, one of over 30 volunteer-led initiatives around the world modeled after Chicago’s Clean Air Club. These organizations lend out high-quality air purifiers to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by reducing virus in the air at indoor venues.

“I started [Clean Air Narm] because I don't want to see all my friends disabled in the same way that I have been,” they say. “If you lead with a solution, people are sometimes more open to hearing about what the problem is in the first place.”

Guided by a strong commitment to community care, a diverse group of queer performers, drag kings, and other event organizers are filling the gaps of global government failure during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through clean air organizations, mask requirements at shows, and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts, they are making public spaces more accessible and safer for everyone, all while selling out shows.

Here’s how many clean air clubs work: Organizers fundraise in their communities for a fleet of air purifiers and/or far-UVC devices, lamps that emit a type of ultraviolet light that can reduce indoor airborne microbes by 98%. Because these technologies are expensive — lights and purifiers can each cost thousands of dollars —, clean air organizers offer them to event organizers in their community through a “lending library.”

Volunteers of the clean air initiatives then distribute the purifiers to event organizers who install them at venues, often coupled with other COVID-19 mitigation tools like masks and rapid tests. Mutual-aid groups called mask blocs, which distribute respirators and other items to their communities for free, sometimes help with events, too.

While these precautions make events safer, they don’t fully eliminate the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19 at an event. Clean air initiatives are often careful to advertise events as “COVID-safer,” not “COVID-safe.” Some advocates have also criticized these clean air clubs for prioritizing entertainment events, arguing that resources like air purifiers and high-quality masks should be used for the most vulnerable communities that can’t afford masks, including hospitals, prisons, or public schools.

Still, with COVID-19 at very high levels multiple times a year and many people still going out to concerts and shows, these multiple layers of precaution do reduce spread of the disease in important venues. The fight for cleaner air in public places is broad: Public health experts and others have also proposed clean air mandates in public buildings, including Harvard University’s Healthy Buildings Program, Long COVID Kids, and Congressman Don Beyer’s Airborne Act 2024.

After founding Clean Air Club in 2023, Chicago resident Emily Dupree was met with an overwhelming demand for her club’s HEPA air purifiers. The success led her to write a guide to creating a clean-air organization. More than 30 autonomous initiatives around the world have been implemented and improved on the guide — and they’re popping up quickly.

“What we all have in common is a deep commitment to free access to life-saving technology in the midst of an ongoing pandemic,” says Dupree.

While Clean Air Club purifiers are for any organizers who request them, Dupree has noticed the resource has been more popular with members of the queer community.

“It is not surprising to me that so many of us creating these clean air clubs and putting in so much work for our community are queer,” Dupree says. “This idea of care as a radical and very powerful foundational value for mutual aid organizations is closely aligned with queer politics.”

The queer community is no stranger to mutual aid. During the peak of the AIDS crisis in the ’80s and ’90s, lesbians and other queer people started food banks, devoted their time to caretaking, donated as “blood sisters”, treated people with the disease, and provided other life-saving volunteer services while mainstream society stigmatized and abandoned people with AIDS.

Today, clean air organizations, mask blocs, and other COVID-19 mutual aid groups exist as a temporary solution for the widespread institutional failures of local, city, state, and federal governments that have an obligation to safeguard public health from COVID-19 and have instead completely failed to live up to that obligation, as Dupree says. “[These initiatives] give us a glimpse of what life could be like if only these principles were adopted at a larger scale.”

Dupree would like to see institutions that have the power to make large-scale, permanent changes in the interest of public health — including schools, public transportation departments, and prisons — improve their indoor air quality through the use of air purification and far-UVC technology. She’d also like to see mask requirements reimplemented in high-risk environments like hospitals, where many people have died after being exposed to COVID-19 while seeking life-saving care.

It's pretty straightforward, Dupree says. “What we need from the government is what they did at the turn of the century to eradicate cholera from our public water. We need them to clean our indoor air.”

In the absence of these measures and few to no mitigation efforts today, the public is at continued risk of COVID-19 infections and Long COVID, which affects more than 23 million Americans of all age groups. More than 400 million have the disease around the globe, according to a recent review in Nature Medicine. The ever-present threat of the virus also makes it unsafe for disabled and other high-risk people to participate in everyday life, seek safe medical care, and do essential errands.

While many mutual aid groups are run by queer people, numerous LGBTQ+ organizations and advocacy groups are failing to make their spaces and events safe and accessible. Education about the risk of Long COVID in the community is sorely lacking.

But there are exceptions: In Los Angeles, two drag king-led shows, Disabled Cable and Them Fatale (not associated with Themme Fatale) have made their shows more COVID-safe thanks to the help of testing, mask requirements, and their local clean air organization, Airgasmic.

Founded in 2024 by popular drag king Dick Swagger, Airgasmic runs a lending library of crowd-sourced purifiers specifically for drag shows and other queer events. And while the volunteer service has been successful, it has also exposed how difficult it can be to get venues and some patrons on board with COVID-19 mitigation methods, particularly masking.

“A lot of people aren't keeping up with the science,” Swagger says, explaining that he spends most of his free time volunteering for Airgasmic and educating his community online about COVID-19 and Long COVID. “More people tend to listen to me when I’m in drag.”

Swagger stopped performing live in 2022 after seeing the toll Long COVID has taken on the drag and queer community in Los Angeles. He knows 14 people in his local drag and queer communities with Long COVID, he says, adding that “it is like watching a slow-motion car crash” as more continue to get infected with COVID-19.

“I had to stop performing. I became increasingly frustrated,” he says. “I was trying to protect [my local drag community] and protect myself because I can't afford to become disabled.”

Leona Love, a drag king and queen who co-created Disabled Cable, says one of the most difficult aspects in organizing their show was finding a venue that would help enforce a mask requirement, a challenge other performers and organizers who spoke with Them and The Sick Times also faced.

As an ambulatory wheelchair user, Love says that a lack of accessible venues has kept them from performing at venues in Los Angeles in the past. The underlying ableism in the drag and queer community led them to co-found the show, which highlights disabled performers.

“The way I like to tell it honestly is that it is a project that was born out of rage and channeled into love,” they say.

But after finding a venue called Cantiq in Echo Park that fully supported their mitigation efforts, Love’s first show drew such a large crowd that they had to set a capacity limit for their sophomore performance so it would be less cramped and therefore safer. Now, the event regularly sells out.

“Getting to see the response to our show has been so affirming that our community still does care about COVID-19,” Love says. “We want to keep each other safe. Sometimes it’s about providing the right spaces and the right information to inform people how they can do that.”

“I do wish, however, that there were spaces outside of what we are building that were taking us into consideration as much as we are taking everyone in the community into consideration.”

[briskythesovietspy]

Joel // Sick & Dangerous Tour 2022 [Part 1/4]

Photos taken by me in Krakow 30/09 & Warsaw 01/10

[darkerthanblack-666]

blindchannel Sick & Dangerous Tour 2022 - 6 more to go ❤️‍🔥

[tranquilitybasehotelcasino]

literally criminal that the only song off danger days that they never played on the 2022 tour was party poison. that one’s my favorite you sick freaks

[catboyolli]

Che Lu, I'm pretty sure that last year, someone posted about the coincidence of Olli posting extra insanely hot, chest showing stories IN ITALY and I think on the same date but one year apart. What if today is that anniversary? Maybe you want to research that, and if you don't, I just wanted to scream with someone about inexpressible emotions

hola Sofi!!!! you might be thinking of this post, but yeah all of the extra hot Olli stories are from Italy only, it seems like that's the only content we get from him when he's there

so i did some quick little research and i found that they played in Italy 3 times so far (pls correct me if i am wrong):

18.05.2022 at Legend Club, Milan (supporting Electric Callboy)

27.09.2022 at Legend Club, Milan (Sick & Dangerous Tour 2022)

15.07.2023 at Ippodromo del Galoppo di San Siro, Milan (Doomsday Summer 2023)

sadly today's not an anniversary of any of the previous videos BUT hear me out: let's celebrate on each date because he deserves it and he's hot and he makes me extra horny so i am marking my calendar for september 27th 2023 because fuck it

[rbf451]

At Backstage By The Mill, Paris 21.9.2022

by Chloé Bunel for Above-TheNoise.com

[mithriel-of-mithlond]

Happy birthday to Joel & Joonas 💙

[irresistiblesin]

Stuttgart 6.9.22

Photo taken by me

[simp-per-ethan]

BLIND CHANNEL FINALLY PUBLISHED THE NEW DATES AND MY CITY IS IN IT 😭❤

But why the got to start selling the tickets few days before my payday 😭

[briskythesovietspy]

Joel // Sick & Dangerous Tour 2022 [Part 4/4]

Photo taken by me in Krakow 30/09

[there-is-just-me-myself-and-i]

My concert report: Blind Channel – Sick & Dangerous European Tour 2022 – Nürnberg (04.09.2022)

So as I am writing this it is 02:42 in the morning, and I should probably be asleep because I will do this whole thing again in munich tonight. But I can’t sleep, I promised @another-sun this report (btw thank you so much you actually helped me so much aswell with my concert), and I think I have to do this for myself aswell to actually process this whole concert. Really wtf was that…

So I have to mention the days leading to the concert, I was more and more nervous about something happening that would have prevented me from going. Like what if the person that goes with me can’t anymore, what if I get sick, what if they get sick, …. So when the day finally came yesterday I kind of couldn’t believe it, I still can’t to be honest…

On the drive to the concert which took like one and a half hours we listened to Blind Channel songs, and I ranted about my nervousness, and we talked about Blind Channel. The person coming with me wasn’t a big BC fan, but I kind of got her into the music. The funny thing was that when I told her about Joel’s love for Germany he sent that insta post where he mentioned he wanted to move here. Perfect timing Joel...

We were there at 5 in the afternoon, two hours before the doors opened, because of my crazy concert brain. The person who went with me didn’t want to sit there for so long so I went alone to join the already waiting fans. Because I didn’t want to stand there alone I tried to talk to the people before me, which happened to be two finish girls/woman and one girl/woman from the US. We didn’t really hit of but that was okay. While i was sitting there I also noticed how tall all the people there were, and panicked a bit, I also kind of felt out of place for some reason… When it was time for the doors to open for us not VIP people, there were some people that were there after us but kind of got in line in front of us which also was a bit frustrating…

But after I went into the venue my whole night changed. I somehow saw this space right in front/next to the stage on Joonas side of the stage. But it was also kind of weird because it was also an open way to walk behind the stage. (And I saw several band members from different bands in that hall during the night, also had some BC crewmembers walked past me, and I think some of the bandmembers of the two acts before Blind Channel also used that way to go to the merch stands, but I can’t say that for sure anymore) I also had a clear view of the backstage door on the other side of the stage (and I saw several band members from different bands standing there or walking past the door aswell. For example I saw Niko when Joonas did that story of him, I saw Tommi and Joonas walk past that door several times, and I am pretty sure I also saw a shirtless Joel walking past the door but again can’t be 100% sure about that) I asked the girl standing next to me if I she thought I was even allowed there and she said yes. There had been a similar set up at the show in Dresden apparently and there were also people standing there. We also talked a bit about moshpits, and stagediving, and I got some great advice about where to stand at my Electric Callboy concert in Leipzig next year.

Then Oceans came on stage. I actually haven’t really had the time/motivation to look into their stuff beforehand. And I kind of took their performance as my time to get used to standing where I stood. I have never been front row at a concert… But they were great, and I will definitely check out some more of their stuff.

Then after a break Lost Society came on, who I checked out before and liked, but also didn’t have the time to look into deeper. And that performance was just unbelievable… I sometimes caught myself standing there with eyes closed and kind of headbanging, or just wipping my head around to the beat, idk… And I swear Samy smiled at me several times, I think I even have that on video. So Lost Society you have definitely gained a fan now…

And last but not least Blind Channel. I don’t even know what I should say, or where to start. I waited for so long for this concert, and I was so worried about it, but this was so worth it. It was the best concert of my life. Seeing them up close was so surreal. They were all exactly like I saw them on videos before. Joel was smiling so much and I think kind of emotional at the end (I can’t remember for sure anymore). Aleksi did all that crazy stuff he usually does (and hearing him talk live just hits different). Then Joonas energetic self (I heard him scream stuff to the audience so often without microphone, his whole part of thank you for the pain, and again hearing him talk to the audience just hit differently). Olli was so intense (the stares, the moves,...) but also seemed really happy. I didn’t get much from Tommi sadly since there was always someone in the way but I screamed extra loud whenever he got on stage, and he is just sooooo tall. And him and Aleksi were just great together. And last but not least Niko…He was just sooo Niko…I really love them all…

Since I stood so close I kind of filmed a bit to much I guess. But there were also many songs were I didn’t, and I didn’t do every song fully (just one or two actually). But I just had to use the opportunity to get some memorys from them, and I really wanted to capture them all individually (well as individual as you can). I didn’t really get a good angle to capture them all at once I think.

I have to say again that this was the best concert of my life. I sung/screamed my soul out, I tried this headbanging thing, I jumped (I also filmed while jumping twice, really strange videos...), and I just enjoyed every second of it. I still can’t realize this whole thing has happened, and tonight I will definitely just enjoy seeing them without filming much. Probably wont get this view again anyways…

Some random facts in the end…

…There was this box thing right in front of me, which I leaned against often. And Samy from Lost Society stood on there, Aleksi stood on there more than once, Joel also did stand there, and Joonas as well. I really just could have touched them if I wanted to, they were so close… But I don’t like touching people that I don’t know personally, and I wouldn’t want someone to do that with me, so of course I didn’t. (I also have video proof of that, maybe I will just throw some pictures together in the next days)

…The security guy was great. He came to stand by that entrance thing to walk behind the stage when Lost Society came on. And he was just so nice and funny. Said things like „at least people are having fun“ when the crowed started singing along to everybody while waiting for BC. He was also really happy that it was so peaceful. But whenever someone stood on this box thing he had his hands on there as well, I guess to do something if people got to out of line. I am just really happy that I made his day easy tbh...

… Again I can’t get over Joonas and Aleksi talking live. I mean I heared them talk before but it just was so different live.

… I was really afraid of the moshpits before going into the venue and securing my safe spot. There were several girls saying they were going to push people in, and ramble about their injuries they got in them. I think I would have immediately panicked in there.

… I was also worried I will never be able to hear again after the concert, after some girl mentioned she had to put ear plugs in her ears for concerts like that because she almost became deaf from one concert. But my ears survived, and it wasn’t bad at all.

… And how the hell did Aleksi, Olli, Joel, Joonas and the Blind Channel account on instagram (so Joel again probobly) actually check out my storys on there. I actually tried to get them individually, because I just wanted to show my appreaciation I guess.

…And last but not least, I did not faint from the heat. I didn’t at all. Really happy about that. But it was the place where I stood I guess.

...Ohhh and Joonas and Niko had a little Timebomb moment at the end of the song. But they just stood together really, with Niko having his arm over Joonas shoulder.

[tuituipupu]

🎫 1 TICKET / 2 SOLD ‼️⚠️ ONLY 1 £11.50 BLIND CHANNEL TICKET FOR LONDON THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2022 LEFT ⚠️‼️

(Price down from £17.65)

GET YOUR LAST TICKET CHEAP HERE:

https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/blind-channel-sick-and-dangerous-tour-london-15-09-2022/event/1F005B88EEC19839

[roxy206]

Disclaimer: This is pure fiction about real people.

missing you like candy

oneshot | rated T | 3,087 words

The knot of anxiety in Trixie’s stomach had tightened and he found himself reaching for the phone, the call to Katya connecting before he even realized he had tapped the screen.

let it blaze alright

oneshot | rated T | 2,846 words

It crossed his mind that this was dangerous territory, that this was exactly what he had been trying to avoid, but it was a fleeting thought. Because Trixie pressed his palm against the side of Katya’s face and nothing had ever felt so right, so natural, so good. Like he had been waiting his whole goddamn life for this, even before they had met.

searching our hearts for so long

multi chapter | rated T | 6,859 words

Chapter One: 2022 | Chapter Two: 2032 | Chapter Three: 2032

The single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Months after a break up, Trixie is determined to continue enjoying a commitment-free lifestyle. His profile has never been more popular and his social calendar has never been so full. However, while attending Katya’s 40th birthday party, Trixie finds that he has to face the feelings he has been repressing.

Secretly wishing for something more, he throws himself into his performance to try to distract himself. But a tumble off of the stage could change everything.

If you got a glimpse into your future, would you alter your path?

leave the pieces

independent oneshots | rated T unless otherwise noted | 40,625 words

1. drabble: Katya sick on tour

2. prompt: slow dancing

3. prompt: “Are you wearing my shirt?”

4. prompt: Trixie reflects on his relationships

5. This Is It (Milwaukee) — rated M

6. prompt: mistaken for a couple

7. prompt: late night solo tour call

8. prompt: favorite memory — Australia

9. drabble: Katya watching Trixie sing at the Ryman

10. prompt: T & K take the arcade

11. drabble: first leg wrap party

12. prompt: Grindr in Palm Springs — rated E

13. prompt: the Boston conversation

14. prompt: Katya’s birthday (take one)

15. prompt: Katya’s birthday (take two)

16. drabble: Grace And Frankie

17. drabble: long distance discoveries — rated M

18. prompt: “reverse Boston”

19. prompt: Trixie teaching Katya guitar

20. prompt: one weekend in LA

21. prompt: jealous Trixie

22. prompt: Sydney night one

23. prompt: one night in Hobart — rated E

24. prompt: The 200th Episode (take one)

25. prompt: amusement park [+ Trixie’s birthday (take one)]

26. prompt: flowers

[violentbouncej]

For Immediate Release: Violent Bounce To Appear In “Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous” Reality Television Engagement In 2023. 

Helsinki --

Finnish Nu Metal band Violent Bounce blasted to success in 2021 when they represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest, placing 6th in the overall contest. Since then, the band has been on an upswing of success. From releasing successful singles “Balboa”, “We Are No Saints”, “Bad Idea”, “Don’t Fix Me”, all of which appear on their upcoming 4th album and major label debut Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous, out 8th July 2022 on Century Media Records, to becoming staples on national television across Finland and Europe. The band performed at The Turning Of The Year event on New Year’s Eve 2021 and since. have appeared on a number of telecasts and charity telecasts in Finland and Europe, just furthering the message of violent pop.  They get to add “reality television stars” to their illustrious resumes.  It was announced today (6th July 2022) that Violent Bounce would be prominently featured on a show, debuting in January of 2023, called “Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous” where it gives fans an inside look to the “dark side” that Violent Bounce lives. Fans became familiar with documentary styled tour videos that the band would release independently while touring but the reality show goes deeper into their personal lives and allows fans into their every day life, their relationships, and ultimately their homes, to discover the real people behind the violent pop evolution.  The show will follow real-life Finnish rock royalty couple, Jani and Jussi Valkyrie, the frontmen of Violent Bounce, as well as their partners, shining light on how their polyamorous family dynamic works. The show will also follow the lives of Kivi Kaikkonen, Ville Lahtinen, Baz Saari, and Mika Laine with their partners - Damon Kaikkonen (American fashion designer/musician/social media influencer), Gabriella Lahtinen (American professional wrestler), Jenni Saari (American online content creator/video game guru), and Willow Laine (American guitarist/band support). in their lives.  The show is slotted for its first season, starting in January 2023 and will air on Ruutu TV in Finland and will be 23 episodes, approximately an hour runtime, airing each Sunday to kick off 1st January 2023.  “It’s an interesting way for fans to get to know us, that’s for sure,” Vocalist Jani Valkyrie said. “When approached with the idea, everyone thought that I would say no but it honestly seemed really fun. Filming this process has been really fun and it’s something we can look back on in ten, fifteen years and realise, alright we did that... that’s cool. It’s like our own little time-capsule, because we’re responsible for what everyone sees. It’s us, as authentic as it comes, and that’s something I think fans will enjoy. We anticipate that the fans will feel closer to us because of this and that’s what we want. Violent Bounce is a family and we want our fans to feel like they’re part of our family, too.” The first episode slotted for the season premiere will feature the wedding of Ville and Gabriella Lahtinen. The season will feature the Kaikkonen’s wedding, J2′s wedding, and summer 2022 mayhem... and that’s just the beginning. The fans should be ready for anything because with Violent Bounce, nothing is predictable.  - RR