ACTOR SLASH MODEL
A MySpace friend request was how it happened.
In the middle of posting a bulletin, members of a trans blue grass band introduced themselves to someone who had been looking for them for years. As co-host for Think Pink Radio on WLUW 88.7 fm on Tuesdays from 6-8pm, I am always looking for the next interesting thing.
I knew right away, these guys were not kidding around.
Bluegrass done right bends traditions that are obviously well loved. The sincerity and ear for hooks was plain in Actor Slash Model’s songs from the beginning. Further spins and you hear where they are making it their own: they sing about love and kinky sex.
"Performed mainly on ukulele and upright bass by Simon Strikeback and Madsen Minax, respectively, the songs are toe tappers in the truest sense." says Gregg Shapiro of Windy City Times. "The most impressive debut in recent memory. "
Completely self taught, Simon Strikeback and Madsen Minax write genuine soundtracks for rural role playing and have framed their love songs with scars both emotional and safe-word physical. In early 2007, they self-released their first record, "Cheap Date," and it certainly delivered their distinct promise that there aren’t any other bands out there like them. (The cd is available through paypal or at Reckless Records (1532 N. Milwaukee Ave.) or Women and Children First (5233 N. Clark).
Meet Actor Slash Model and it’s clear the pair are aware of their unique position as a new brand of musical queers.
From their website: "As trans people, our bodies are non-traditional, our lifestyles are non-traditional, our ideas about culture and identity are non-traditional. Why shouldn’t our way of making art be non-traditional as well?"
Among their projects, Actor Slash Model is making a documentary about trans musicians. Madsen and Simon have made a three-year commitment to find and interview other gender-variant folks and document how music has influenced their lives.
Reading the duo’s updates on their discoveries it’s apparent how much work is involved and the lengths they are going to find others like them. So far, Katastrophe, a trans hip hop artist from San Francisco is probably the most well-known artist featured in the documentary, largely from having two songs on "The L Word."
Taken altogether, the body of work shows a collective struggle through a diversity of experience.
Actor Slash Model hosts a benefit for their upcoming film tour at the Empty Bottle on March 13th. Local queer bands including the Pussy Pirates, The Joans, Condenanda bring the heavy guitars and the show starts at 9 pm; $10.
Simon and Madsen have also been able to fund the documentary through a small selection of grants from various organizations and interested individuals. The duo encourages curious parties to invite them to speak about their work. Reach them through their website:
Finally, on Feb. 20, Actor Slash Model hosts the latest "Threat Level" --a bi-monthly screening of queer films at the Elegant Mr. Gallery, 1355 N. Milwaukee Ave, 3rd Floor, 7:30pm. This event is on going and filmmakers are often in attendance. Sliding scale donation of $5-10.
