America's favorite dragapella group, Kinsey Sicks, is hitting the road with a stop in Chicago this October. This time it's part of a campaign trail called "Electile Dysfunction."
Kinsey Sicks was originally formed at a Bette Midler show in San Francisco when the members were the only ones to show up in drag. Their name played off the Kinsey scale. They sang at a birthday party afterwards, forming a strong bond that has lasted for almost 20 years.
The group's Irwin Keller—also known as Winnie—started off as a lawyer and even helped pass Chicago's gay-rights ordinance in his early years. He returns to his roots for a very special show at Mayne Stage.
Windy City Times: Hello, Irwin. When did you first start singing and what were you doing before the group formed?
Irwin Irwin Keller: The Kinsey Sicks formed in San Francisco 19 years ago. I came from a musical family: My dad was a bandleader in Chicago; his mother played piano for the silent movies; my sister is a professional bass player; and I grew up playing clarinet and piano.
But I didn't start singing until I was in my 30s. I was in a couple operas in Sacramento and Berkeley—just singing in the chorus, but enough to figure out that singing was possible, fun and really, really portable. Back then I was a lawyer. I directed San Francisco's AIDS Legal Referral Panel until the Kinsey Sicks went full time in 2001.
WCT: Can you go over the history of Kinsey for people that aren't familiar?
Irwin Keller: A little gang of us went to see a Bette Midler concert and thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to go as the Andrews Sisters?"—you know, as an homage to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." We were a bit of a spectacle. A promoter approached us, presuming, I guess, that if you dress like the Andrews Sisters you must be able to sing like the Andrews Sisters. She offered us a gig at a USO-themed event she was planning. Until that moment, it had never dawned on the four of us to sing together, although all of us had musical backgrounds. It was a night that will live in infamy. In fact, it lives there already.
WCT: Describe a live performance. Everything is a cappella?
Irwin Keller: A Kinsey Sicks performance is full of politics, raunch, highbrow, lowbrow, clever jokes, terrible jokes—all delivered in four-part harmony by four self-absorbed but deeply lovable characters. And yes, it is all a cappella, although people often forget that as they get wrapped up in the show.
WCT: Is there a Q&A at the end?
Irwin Keller: We love doing Q&A, and often do when we perform in college settings, but not as often at theaters. At Mayne Stage we will be out chatting in the lobby after the show, but we will flatly refuse to answer any of your questions.
WCT: What is your character, Winnie, like?
Irwin Keller: I confess she's an exaggerated—or, I hope, exaggerated—version of me. She's frumpy, awkward, a little controlling and a bit of a know-it-all. She's also the lesbian in the group. When I began creating this character, it was important to me to leave the faux "girly" stuff behind—it would have been as artificial for me as it is for many or most women. I didn't want her to be a caricature. So how she holds herself, how she speaks, is an outgrowth of who she is, rather than an imitation of some stereotype of women.
WCT: Have you been in the group since the beginning?
Irwin Keller: Oy, yes.
WCT: What has been your favorite place to travel to so far on tour?
Irwin Keller: We've played at lots of great venues we've played at. We did an Off-Broadway show at Studio 54 in New York, which was very exciting. We always love doing the Montreal Comedy Festival. We've performed in 41 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. There are lots of cities where we make regular visits. But I think it's the small towns and conservative environments that are the most memorable experiences: South Carolina, Alabama, Utah, Idaho...
WCT: Is Kinsey still doing Lady Gaga parodies? Maybe something about vomiting…
Irwin Keller: Many of our songs make one want to vomit, so you won't be disappointed, Jerry. But no, we did our one Lady Gaga parody, and we're probably shoving the stopper in right there.
WCT: This show will be tackling politics?
Irwin Keller: Tackling, dropkicking and possibly fumbling. This show, "Electile Dysfunction: The Kinsey Sicks for President," is a last gasp rally for our campaign to be the first corporation to serve as President of the United States and Leader of the Free World. We present our carelessly thought-out views on immigration, economics, education, scandal and legitimate rape, all in delightful four-part harmony.
WCT: Are you updating the song "I Wanna Be a Republican?"
Irwin Keller: Funny you should ask—no.
WCT: There is election merchandise on the website?
Irwin Keller: Why, yes, thank you for mentioning that. In fact, it's not too late to order your Kinsey Sicks Election Super-Pack: Two patriotic CDs and a DVD discounted by a very American 17.76 percent, in honor of the wealthy white male landowners in your life. Just go to www.kinseysicks.com .
WCT: You are returning to your Chicago roots. I heard you were very involved with gay rights locally in the past. Can you talk about that?
Irwin Keller: Well, news sure travels slowly. It's been a long time since those days! But yes, I was a pretty busy Chicago activist in the 1980s. Did anti-discrimination work at University of Chicago. Did AIDS activism—even had a guerrilla clinic operating in my Hyde Park apartment. I was primary author of Chicago's Human Rights Ordinance (still the law last time I checked).
I was also among those targeted for harassment and death threats by a group calling itself the Great White Brotherhood of the Iron Fist. Turned out to be a couple University of Chicago students terrorizing people; they were ultimately suspended for two years. Anyway, I moved to San Francisco to take a break from the battle, and got stuck. Anyway, now I do most of my activism in song (and pumps).
WCT: I read about your mother in the Moms book, which is about mothers of LGBT children. Sounds like she has had quite a journey.
Irwin Keller: Ain't she something? She's become quite the doyenne of the Chicago-area PFLAG. She's also a pretty scary Kinsey Sicks fan. She knows too many of our punchlines. We have to put her under a strict gag order when she's at our shows. Of course, many people gag at our shows. Anyway, I'm very proud of her. It's hard being so far across the country.
WCT: Is the group coming back next year for the 20th-anniversary tour? What are your special plans for that tour?
Irwin Keller: We certainly hope to. We're in the process of writing that show. I guess we're the longest running, full-time openly queer ensemble ever. That's something either to crow about or eat crow about. Still deciding.
WCT: Welcome back to Chicago!
Irwin Keller: Thank you, Jerry. It's still my favorite city in the world. "Each time I roam"—well, it's true, you know.
Catch Keller and the gang at Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse Ave., for a 7:30 p.m. and 1o p.m.show Friday, Oct. 19. For ticket information, visit www.maynestage.com or call 773-381-4551.
