Going Hard for 2019: Mickey Avalon at Gallagher’s Pub

Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas

Rap star Yeshe Pearl better known around the globe as Mickey Avalon was made famous for lyrical themes about drug abuse, overdoses, glamorized bulimia, prostitution, suicide, and his dick on the notorious track “My Dick”. Mickey Avalon is half of pure Hollywood debauchery and half artistic genius. While one might try dismissing Mickey as a novelty act, his live shows are legendary, never predictable, and he always keeps it real. There is no in-between with Mickey, either you love him or you hate him, he speaks his mind with unflinching lyrical content and keeps his songs disturbingly poetic with catchy samples and beats.

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At Gallagher’s Pub on the coast of Surf City, USA, Mickey Avalon packed ’em in like sardines. Keeping with tradition, the evening’s set began with Toni Basil’s 1980’s hit “Hey Mickey” to start the show. Tapping into that deviant energy, Mickey Avalon strutted on stage with attitude, wearing tight blue jeans and a black t-shirt that read “I’m Mickey Blow Me”. His back up dancer Jillian Schmitz provided provocative and sultry moves with multiple costume changes including pom-poms for a cheerleader outfit in “Fuckin’ ‘Em All”, and a red militant hat, leather jacket, coke slut sunglasses, and prop-cigarette for “Waiting To Die”.

Mickey Avalon never once stopped the show even after forgetting the lyrics to “Sweet Surprise”. Holding the microphone with both hands and leaning into the speakers he studied the beat, found it, and got himself back on track. With his eyes in a haze he begins “I haven’t played that one for a while sorry. You guys still with me?” he asks. “I went to get my drink and it was water, alright keep it going” he motioned to his DJ and the notes to Mr. Brownstone began to kick in. Everyone was having a great time, the Holiday spirit was alive and kicking. Even Santa himself jumped onstage to wiggle and shake. Fans were dancing wildly and reciting his lyrics verbatim to “Jane Fonda”.

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I caught up with Mickey after the show and asked him for a few words. “It was awesome, a Merry Holiday show. I liked dancing with Santa,” he admitted. He begins talking about how he painted the covers of the singles he’s been releasing every couple of weeks. “Do you have Apple or iTunes?” He asked, “I just want to show you the cover.” I handed him my phone, he commented on my phone case, a cover with a photograph of the late Lux Interior of The Cramps, and shared a quick story about how he and Lux Interior were at the same record store in Hollywood buying records. Fans swarmed outside to get a glimpse of, a photograph with, or a t-shirt signed by Mickey. His security team came inside and told him that a fan outside wanted to give him a leather jacket. He tried it on and it fit perfectly. Shortly after, they posed together for a few photographs on her camera phone, another fan gave him a shirt to sign to which he happily obliged. Watch Mickey Avalon closely, he’s going to have a big year in 2019.