Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance

Transgender and gender-variant performers from across the pop music spectrum discuss their life and art in director Madsen Minax's Riot Acts, which features North American musicians in various configurations, from solo acts to groups (Toronto's Cliks are the sole Canadian combo). Washington, D.C.'s Jessica Xavier, one of the older participants, talks about previous trans groups, like All the Pretty Horses with guitarist Venus DeMars, who now performs on her own (surprisingly, there's no mention of pioneers like Wendy Carlos, who originally recorded as Walter). Sarafina Maraschino from San Francisco's Lipstick Conspiracy says her trio doesn't go out of their way to write political material but feels that their trans identity makes them inherently political. Elijah Oberman from Brooklyn's Shondes agrees that their politics come out naturally through their music. Because hormones can affect the voice, several of the male-identified performers avoid testosterone for fear they'll lose their upper range. Others, like Joe Stevens from Coyote Grace and Geo “Novice Theory” Wyeth, have learned to make adjustments (Ryka Aoki points out that the situation is different for trans women, as their voices don't automatically become more feminine). Other topics include the benefits of humor, dealing with the press, the disclosure of gender identity in publicity materials, and performing in live shows—the latter amply illustrated through concert footage. DVD extras include deleted scenes, extended performances, and “Stories from the Road.” Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)