In Newweekly MUSIC Transgender drumming with Mascara By Christopher John Treacy | Read the article at Innews Weekly "We're all human beings, and pretty much the same things push our buttons. In the end, we just need to be kind and understanding toward one another." So says drummer Rikki Bates of her status as a transgendered drummer in rock and roll. At 50, Bates is playing in a Boston trio called Mascara, coined from the last name of its founder, Chris Mascara. The band's overall sound might be described as punk rock-opera - simultaneously disruptive and theatrical - and it's a natural setting for Bates, who has continuously played a significant role in New England's underground music scene since the '70s. After going ape-shit watching another kid play drums on the Mickey Mouse Club, Bates' parents produced a toy drum set - which Rikki promptly pummeled to the ground in two weeks flat. The arrival of edgier garage bands in the later '60s intensified her interest and it's that very left-of-center quality that's characterized her artistic choices since. "I've always enjoyed shaking things up," she says, "and I can remember as a kid being fascinated just watching the records spinning around on the player." Bates comes with impressive scholastic credentials - as a teen, she was mentored in both classical and jazz drumming by a Boston Pops veteran. Studying Jazz Arrangement & Composition at Berklee didn't hurt, either. "The '70s were an overall confusing period of time, and also a low energy point for rock and roll. I got involved with an outfit called Travis Shook & the Club Wow, a musical-comedy group that was part of the early Boston Tea Party scene. We eventually mutated into the Incredible Casuals, who I still play with, and also splintered off into the Chandler Travis Philharmonic," yet another project Bates still has her hand in. In more recent years, she's drummed for Space Pussy, Ryan Landry's punk-pop vehicle, which blew up in P'town not too many years ago. She credits the band with bringing a greater sense of unity to the segregated P'town bar scene between locals and the seasonal GLBT crew. "I've always been into serious, driving rock and roll - and I had a good chunk of experience with live performance behind me when Space Pussy came together. But those guys were basically doing live music for the first time - they were amazed with the crazed response when we got up there and cranked our amps. And I think we opened up doors for people. We had GLBT dance-scene types come out to see us, some of whom turned around and said 'ya know, maybe I like this music after all.' But we also got the attention of rowdy straights that were able to say, 'I might not understand the gay thing, but this is one kick-ass band!' We ended up taking a residency at The Governor Bradford, which is definitely NOT a gay bar." It was through one of the above mentioned musical irons in the fire that Bates became involved in her latest project. Having run into Chris Mascara at a Chandler Travis Philharmonic gig, the two began an ongoing and enthusiastic musical conversation. "Chris was busy doing theater at that time. One of the things that makes his music so unusual is his use of open tunings, which shifts the whole harmonic spectrum. There's a lot of dissonance in the music he writes - I'd call it a meeting of intellect and primal instincts. The songs on "Spell" are all his, but I bring my own rhythmic styling to them. Chris Girard (on bass) and I also come up with some of our own ideas ¦ there's a great chemistry to the trio." Over the years, it's been her ability to focus inward that's kept up her passion for music, and perhaps that's also how she's developed such an easygoing stance about being transgendered in the rock arena. "Paying less attention to what's going on around me and focusing more specifically on what I want to be doing - that's what's helped me stay afloat with music. And my gender identity has certainly impacted my career - I kept who I was to myself for a very long time. I think it was even more confusing because it wasn't about sexual preference so much - I've always been bisexual. So to have this sexual identity issue that goes beyond mere preferences had me thinking I must be more fucked up than everyone else." In fact, Bates got married to a gal in the '80s, but the couple split after six years; there were no children. The breakup hit hard, and several years of therapy followed. In 1990 she was fired from Incredible Casuals as a result of remaining true to her gender instincts - a low blow from some longtime friends. Rather than sitting on a grudge, however, when her IC cohorts came to their senses, she rejoined. "There was an awful lot of fallout. I was out of the band for nine years and then I think they realized I'm an asset ¦ But it was a depressing period, until Space Pussy revived me. Ya know, I think rather than feeling more vulnerable as a performer in my position, I feel like I get a free pass from the public. When they get off on the music, it really turns the tables around - Bowie did it for years," she says with a laugh. "If I wasn't a performer, I bet I wouldn't even get a foot in the door." • Mascara plays their CD release party at Lizard Lounge, Friday, Jan. 20, at 1667 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge, Mass., with Reverend Glasseye, Binary System and Ramona Silver. Advance tix are available at www.virtuous.com. ***** All content on the MASCARA Music website copyright © 2005 Mascara Music. All rights reserved.
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