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Austin theater invites friends to pregame comedy festival shows on Big Gay Nights Out
The Paramount Theater and Little Gay Shop are hosting Big Gay Nights Out for comedy lovers to meet up before shows.
So you broke out your fastest gay stride and you’re still late to the venue for the comedy show — no time to chat with your friends, and you’ve rendered them more escorts than show companions. Whether you’ve squandered your pre-planned social efforts or you don’t know anyone to bring to the show in the first place, Big Gay Nights Out are here to shift the focus to the pre-show routine.
The Paramount Theatre, founder and host of Moontower Just For Laughs Austin comedy fest, is teaming up with the Little Gay Shop to host a series of outings before the festival shows, as well as some other independent sets. Before each happy hour, there will be a chance to win tickets to each show from The Little Gay Shop and Paramount Theatre on Instagram.
Different spaces — the Paramount Theatre’s mezzanine Houdini Lounge, Stateside at the Paramount, and Moontower Comedy club spaces around town — will host hangs with music, specialty cocktails, and merch from the Little Gay Shop to serve as conversation starters for arts lovers before the show.
“We want you to get rowdy, we want you to feel comfortable, we want you to feel just how much this space is for you,” said Paramount marketing communications and partnerships manager Ryan Thompson. “It’s for the girls, the gays, the allies, the queers, and everyone in between.”
The Moontower Nights Out so far will precede six specific shows: “Cheers, Queers!” showcases at Creek & The Cave and Higbies, Guy Branum, Ashley Gavin, Y’all Gay Podcast Live, and Punkie Johnson. Paramount location Nights Out include Cameron Esposito, Billy Porter, Emily King. More will be announced soon.
“The Little Gay Shop exists to support and uplift queer identifying creatives in all mediums, so we are so excited to be partnering with the Paramount to continue this mission,” says Little Gay Shop co-founder and co-owner Justin Galicz. “For too long, queer artists, comics, musicians, performers, and creators have been overlooked, and underrepresented, so we are so excited to help break down these barriers to give them the recognition and platform they deserve.”
Anyone with a ticket to the corresponding show or a Moontower badge during the festival can arrive early to the pre-show space with no RSVP. Single tickets to the shows are available at austintheatre.org, through the Paramount Theatre box office, and via phone at (512) 474-1221.
DIIV's set was moody, but propulsive thanks to strong bass lines.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Zachary Cole Smith can always be counted on for a nostalgic 'fit.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Starcleaner Reunion singer Jo Roman keeps the beat.Photo by Brianna Caleri
From the looks of it, no one had a better time onstage than Wayne Coyne, frontman of the Flaming Lips.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The tinsel whip was one of many props.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Flaming Lips are known for touring with huge inflatables.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A joyful crowd reacts to being blasted with confetti during the Flaming Lips' set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Ty Segall was king of the guitar jams.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Segall's painted jeans were probably the most unique fashion statement all weekend.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Psych Fest uniform: Earthy shorts and calf tattoos.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thomas Attar Bellier of Al-Qasar plays a beautifully adorned electric saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The more mics, the better for Al-Qasar.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A closer look at the saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Lyrics in Arabic brought extra gravitas to the set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
How's that for a desert hallucination?Photo by Brianna Caleri
New Candys guitarist Emanuele Zanardo puts a physical flourish in his playing.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Black Angels interrupted the technicolor parade for a largely black-and-white set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Black Angels bassist Misti Hamrick-French basks in the cold glow of a strobe light.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Dumbo Gets Mad reminds us that Italians just get fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Luca Bergomi gets in on bassist Ivan Torelli's shot.Photo by Brianna Caleri
LA LOM bassist Jake Faulkner captures the sun.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Zac Sokolow danced for the whole set, which happened to be on his birthday.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's grandstanding added flavor to the show, which ultimately didn't need psychedelic visuals.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's howls cut through the air, hardly amplified.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Trish Toledo paid homage to mothers and couples in her romantic set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Not a practical shoe for a rainy weekend. We salute her sacrifice for fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thee Sacred Souls closed out the festival with a brass section.Photo by Brianna Caleri
This backup singer was exquisitely styled in blue.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Singer Josh Lane snapped a photo of an adoring audience. See you next time, Josh.Photo by Brianna Caleri