may
Rays of gender
Amy Ray tackles the tough stuff
by
K athy B elge
ndigo Girl Amy Ray’s second solo
album, Prom, is a listening journey back
to high school. The 41-year-old spoke
with Just Out in advance of her three
upcoming Oregon appearances.
Kathy Beige: Why is this album so
much more gay than any of your Indigo
Girls stuff?
Good’’], I’m speaking from a generation of
people younger than myself, because they
have been the ones to articulate it the
most. It’s that idea that we’re not con
tained into one gender anymore. We
understand gender fluidity. We’re looking
at it in a new way, and we’re going to chal
lenge you at every turn. When 1 talk about
male and female, I’m speaking to sexism
and misogyny. It’s all over the map.
But I think that’s the way gender is.
KB: Were you trying to reach
out more to a gay male audience
with your song “Rural Faggot”?
AR: Not on purpose. It came
from a relationship that 1 had over
the years with a few of the hoys in
my neighborhood, some of whom
turned out to be gay. And 1 watched
them grow up in the last 12 years.
I watched them go though puberty
and go through their different levels
of gay-bashing with me.
KB: Were they bashing you?
AR: They would tell me off
color gay jokes to see how I would
respond. Or this one kid...would be
telling me how him and his friends
Amy Ray sings about gender expression on her second
would go down to Atlanta and
solo album, Prom.
make fun of gay people. And I was
like: “Why are you telling me these
Amy Ray: 1 don’t know. [Laughs]
stories? I’m gay!” And he said: “Yeah, but
I think because in the context of punk and
you’re different. I know you.” The song
rock, the lyrics seem to get a little edgier,
came out of that. jH
more graphic and political. When I have
the singular focus I think it’s easier to talk
Catch A my R ay with punk rock band Family
about something really intimate, like your
Outing 8 p.m. May 8 at Crystal Ballroom,
own sexual identity, your own gender and
1332 W. Bumside St. Tickets are $15 at the
how you relate to that. It’s harder to do as
door or $12 in advance from the box office or
a duo.
Ticketmaster.
The I ndigo G irls will perform 6 p.m.
KB: There’s a lot of reference to gen
July 15 at the Secret House Vineyard,
der on Prom. What are you trying to get
88324 Vineyard Lane in Veneta ($33 from
across about gender?
Ticketmaster), and 7 p.m. July 17 at the
AR: When 1 say gender, like “We’re a
Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road ($26
from TicketsWest).
new gender nation” [“Put It Out for
“It should be a really amazing show. The
talent is up there; no one’s weak in any
thing,” he says. “It’ll be a unique experience
for the audience.”
Pendulum will perform Crimson Cabaret
8 p.m. May 1 3, 5 and 8:30 p.m. May 14 and
5 p.m. May 15 at the French American
International Sch<x)l, 8500 N.W. Johnson St.
Tickets are $12-$75 from TicketsWest.
---- Rebecca Ragain
after a show and says 1 have inspired them,
that is worth everything to me.”
Tamaras is a native of Hollywtxtd. She
grew up on legendary classic rock and funk
artists of the ’60s and ’70s and taught herself
to play guitar by age 11.
“It’s hard for people to label my sound
because it encompasses many different gen
res,” she says. “1 have been compared to Ani
DiFranco because of my socially aware lyrics
and aggressive guitar style. My vocal style
has been compared to everyone from Jeff
Buckley to Janis Joplin. Some say 1 am a
cross between Ani DiFranco and
Radiohead.”
Tamaras says others who have influenced
her music are Fiona Apple, Curtis Mayfield,
Nirvana, Erykah Badu, The Funk Brothers,
Jeff Buckley and Etta James, to name just a
few.
Political issues—primarily environmental
ism, the war in Iraq and corporate greed—
find themselves on the forefront of Tamaras’
consciousness and seep into her lyrics.
“Life is political. My gender, my sexual
orientation, what 1 purchase...every action
affects something or someone, and therefore
all is connected. Writing about the world
around me is my responsibility and is neces
sary for my sanity,” she says.
Tamaras has kept a nonstop touring
2005
» jUBt OMt|41
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Tamaras performs May 16 to 18 in Portland.
schedule for the past five years, most recently
returning from Japan.
“This was my third journey over to that
great country. Each place is its own unique
experience. Every city adds new color to my
touring landscape,” she says.
Tamaras encourages her fans to intnxluce
themselves at her shows. She will perform
6 p.m. May 16 at Music Millennium,
801 N.W. 23rd Ave.; 9:30 p.m. May 17 at
Ash Street Saloon, 225 S.W. Ash St.; and
7:30 p.m. May 18 at Suena, 3930 N.E.
Hancock St.
— jrg jn
a egon Camera
Genre jumper
If you hear any of Tamaras’ funky grooves
or cutting lyrics spinning in your CD player,
odds are she’s on stage somewhere at that
very moment, smothering audiences with her
smoky v<x:als and charging words. Her songs
translate just as well from festival stages to
cozy jazz clubs to packed rock shows.
Tamaras wrote, sung, strummed guitar
and produced all music on Ordinary Supergirl,
her sixth album on her own label, Universal
Love Music. However, she is largely
influenced by the interactive touring
experience.
. “I love connecting with people all over
the world,” says Tamaras. “Don’t get me
wrong—touring is a backbreaking labor of
love—but when someone approaches me
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