The 999 Eyes Freak Show will blow your mind without making a mess.
It's the first vaudevillian freak show to tour in more than 45 years.
Samantha X and accordionist Dylan Blackthorn created 999 Eyes four years ago. Based out of Austin, Texas, their first tour featured more than 30 acts and included a zombie rock opera, a puppet show and people hanging from hooks pierced through their flesh. They've since scrapped the gory stuff and evolved to focus on the "freaks" and their amazing abilities.
They will do two shows at Stove at 114 Morningside Drive N.E. on Thursday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. as part of their "I Heart Freaks" tour. It's $13 at the door.
This tour includes Lowrent the Clown, Lil' Miss Firefly, Jackie the Human Tripod, Ken Pegleg, John T-Rex and the Black Scorpion.
The Black Scorpion is new to the group and has spent the past year working as a comedian/musician in a Coney Island freak show.
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"Now, I can't reveal to you exactly what the crux of his act is," Blackthorn said. "It's part of our agreement with him. He wants to build the suspense."
The show is backed by That Damned Band, an Eastern European hobo-circus band.
The group travels with a sample of its authentic oddities museum, such as Patches the two-headed cow, a real Texas jackalope and other preserved, ancient relics.
When surroundings permit, Lowrent blasts a fifty-foot fireball outside the venue (which you can view at his Web site, Lowrenttheclown.com). Lil' Miss Firefly - the shortest woman in the world at 27 inches, breathes fire and walks barefoot on broken glass. Jackie the Human Tripod gallops around the stage on her two arms and a single short foot. Among her many talents are chopping boards in half and her old-world singing voice. Lady Diabla, a special addition to this tour, is one of seven female sword-swallowers in the world.
Blackthorn said the world is experiencing a renaissance of the freak show, a resurgence of the vaudevillian-style performance and art.
"We like to consider the genetic variation that the human race is capable of as nature's artwork in its finest form," he said.
Genetically different people, Blackthorn said, have exhibited themselves in public for thousands of years. 999 Eyes adds a twist to the story. However, this jam-packed show is anything but traditional.
Jackie the Human Tripod has been with 999 eyes for three and a half years. She became involved in the project when she heard a radio commercial calling for "genetically diverse" performers and artists.
"It's really nice to have something new and fresh for people to go out and actually experience something that they haven't experienced before," Jackie said.
Many people turn out having no idea what to expect from a freak show, she said. Most people are taught to ignore those who are born different and that it's impolite to stare, she said, but the show helps to break down this barrier by encouraging people to stare.
"I just really want to put on an entertaining show," she said.
Since Barnum & Bailey's era to modern day, Blackthorn said there has never been a show of this kind.
"What our show is good at is actually breaking people's preconceptions," he said. "Though I would say, on some level, after seeing our show, expect your mind to be blown."
999 Eyes Freak Show
Stove at 114 Morningside Drive N.E.
Thursday, 8 and 10 p.m.
$13
