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 Dark, sexy, sleazy and dirty, the phat house beats of Master & Stryker are a perfect soundtrack for gay men up to no good. Story and photo by Iain Clacher.
Picture the scene: a backyard in Byron Bay on New Year’s Eve. Mr and Mrs Average are jostling with each other to peek through the heavy duty black plastic that now suddenly surrounds their fence.
They see a band playing phat horny house beats, while a low gravelly voice growls about the arousing aroma of man-stink on leather and other subjects far too delicate to mention in polite company.
The yard is filled with naked men from the area’s Men’s Erotic Network. There are condoms and containers of lube everywhere and a sling is slung thoughtfully from the gazebo.
“To this day I wonder what the neighbours thought,” says Stryker, one half of the Dionysian duo that is Master and Stryker.
“We wanted to create music that fitted into the gay lifestyles that were around us, so we write about the gay scene in all its warty glory,” adds the mohawked singer and beatboxer, Master.
The two had known each other casually for a few years through their work in other bands – Master also plays in Dizzygotheca, while Stryker is a self-confessed “musical slut” with a background in a variety of styles. He also plays in another alt-queer act, Hot2Go.
“We thought we should collaborate together on something and see what sort of mischief two deviant boys could get up to,” Stryker explains.
Says Master: “I met Stryker through an ad in the Brisbane street press. At the time we’d only spoken on the phone, and we never got to meet up because I had a jealous lover that had trust issues. Neither Stryker nor I knew the other liked dick at the time. A few years later, he found my profile on Gaydar and contacted me, and soon after we caught up and started jamming”.
Stryker says it was a match made in Hell.
“I’ve already been to Heaven and after five minutes I was like, ‘let’s go!’”
Those looking for heavenly pop or pretty handbag are best off looking elsewhere.
“I think our musical influences are quite alternate and so far removed from the mainstream that when you add to that our cheeky attitudes you will get a sound that is quite unique,” says Stryker.
“We aren’t trying to be different, we’re just trying to have a lot of fun on stage and create phat dirty beats and catchy bass lines to keep everyone on the dance floor or those sniffing amyl in the backrooms up to no good.”
The band describes its sound as “gay biker house music”, a term coined by a group called Black Strobe.
“Black Strobe felt they didn’t fit into any kind of music category so they started creating their own genres, and ‘Gay Biker House’ was one of them,” Master explains.
“You could also describe it as dark, phat, sleazy house music. Musically, we’re heavily influenced by European electronic styles, EBM, Hard House, Dark Trance, and bands like Black Strobe, Nitzer Ebb, and also some older stuff like Man2Man and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.”
Stryker: “I have an obsession with Mike Patton [Faith No More]. He’s always got my creative juices flowing”.
Master: “I’m sure it wasn’t only creative juices that were flowing”.
Like a perverse Pink Floyd, Master and Stryker found their moniker by combining the names of a couple of the band’s heroes.
Says Stryker: “It’s simply the surnames of our favourite porn stars: Austin Masters and Jeff Stryker. There we go. The secret’s out!”
Though known for their unapologetically sexual lyrics and performances, the band decided to tone it down for their closing set at Pride Fair Day last month.
“I was told that if the Police heard anything unsavoury they would pull the plug,” says Stryker.
“We don’t want to be known for shutting down the Pride Festival. Also it is a family event and our content has an ‘R’ rating.”
Master: “It was hard to find four of our songs that didn’t have suggestive lyrics or filthy language in them, but we ended up sorting it out.”
Those interested in savouring Master & Stryker’s uncensored package can do so this month at Corium, Brisbane’s gay men’s leather festival.
“We will be performing in all our glory, along with Mark Fuller who will be doing guest vocals on a song or two. Expect dirty, sexy fun,” says Master.
Adds Stryker: “The reason they book us every year is because they get the full package of our show and we perform to a packed dance floor.”
Will it hurt?
Master: “That depends how much you struggle”.
Master & Stryker play the Mr Queensland Leather competition and dance party as part of Corium on July 12 at the Waterloo Hotel.
Queensland Pride has two VIP passes to Corium events on July 5 and July 12.
To win, go to the competitions & giveaways link on the menu after 6pm on July 1 and answer a simple question. The first two correct answerers win.
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