The Saturday night before Halloween State Street was lined with a colorful variety of characters ranging from demure to deranged. Many dressed up for Azure Ray’s performance at the State Room, but the real freak show was going on next door at Bar Deluxe. Heathen Ass Worship both literally and metaphorically speaking rocked out with their cocks out.---

The stark contrast between the two shows going on nearly a stone’s throw from each other was wickedly entertaining. The set performed by Azure Ray front-women Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor was almost angelic. Their voices are very true to the sound engineered on their releases. They played songs off of all their albums,  including their newest,  Drawing Down the Moon,  and because of the holidays, they added a seasonal favorite “The Monster Mash.”

As they sweetly sang about heartbreak, next door Heathen Ass Worship was vulgarly singing about things that are best left unmentioned. (One of their songs is called "Vomit Cock"—your imagination can take it from there.) They performed all of their suggestive but original material in full drag. A giant blow-up male organ filled the stage and often drifted out among the audience.

As the show wore on, members of the band seemed to lose more and more articles of clothing. By the last song fans were screaming for the remaining piece of the lead singer Princess Sasha’s ensemble (a bright pink and blue polka dotted mini) to be removed. The lead singer relented and thus the very last song was played in the nude (Well, almost— a pair of pink fishnets endured).

While Heathen Ass Worship exhibited many tricks on stage, it was Azure Ray that was the real treat. Regardless of preferences attendees got the best of worlds. ( And maybe a little bit more if they were at HAW.)