WITH SICKS YOU GET MANHOLE
Few people these days remember the gorgeous harmonies of the Andrew Sisters or the McGuire Sisters. They sang jazz, pop and traditional songs while executing elaborate dance moves. But today we have a new version of these famous girl groups. They’re a Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet called The Kinsey Sicks and they’re four guys who sing songs with titles like “I Will Swallow Him” and “Somebody’s Crotch Over Me.”
The girls are Trixie (Jeff Manabat) in sunshine yellow, Trampolina (Spencer Brown) in royal purple, Angel (J.B. McLendon) is stoplight red and blushing pink, and Winnie (Nathan Marken) in emerald green. They not only sing and dance they also tell elaborate stories filled with raunchy jokes and smutty stories.
In their new show, Deep Inside Tonight, making a stop on their tour at The Green Room 42 on Aug. 20, the reigning conceit is that we’re watching a television broadcast in which The Kinsey Sicks are celebrating thirty years of outrageous entertainment. But these are not your grandmother’s golden oldies, unless she was fond of songs about herpes and really hates Republicans (and don’t we all wish we had grandmothers like that?).
The girls begin with “The Kinsey Sicks Theme Song,” written by group founder (and now retired) Benjamin Schatz, followed by a medley of Schatz parodies. Soon they enter politics with songs like “I Wanna Be a Republican” and “We Arm the World.” But they never forget their real theme: love. Songs like “Cruise People Uglier than You” and “Let It Grow” (it’s about hair, if you must know) have The Kinsey Sicks giving useful advice for dealing with possible partners.
Each of the girls has her own personality and her own love life. They enjoy making fun of each other. Each pretends she is nobler and wiser than the others. Each is a blatant hypocrite. And we do and should root for each of them.
There are lots of reasons to love The Kinsey Sicks. They have a great sound. Their lyrics are filled with delicious puns and double entendre. And best of all, they have the kind of values we should all adopt. Live and let live. Make love (with whomever you want) not war. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
photos taken in Kansas City, August 25, by Anthony Jackowski
Deep Inside Tonight!
The Kinsey Sicks
The Green Room 42, 570 10th Ave, New York
reviewed on August 20, 2024
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Kinsey Sicks
