Queer rhythm master Aaron Harris pounds the skins for Islands

Aaron Harris is the odd man out — in more ways than one. He’s the 23-year-old drummer for Islands, a rock sextet that sounds like a mini orchestra: clarinet, viola and crescendos of crashing cymbals and driving bass drums that dramatically resolve into the faintest taps on the high-hat. Those striking arrangements suit the band’s creepy-catchy “stab in the heart” songs about murder and incarceration.

Harris isn’t like the rest of the Islanders. He’s the lone gay dude. Plus, he’s from Pittsburgh while the other five members are Canadian.

“And when they shit-talk about the United States, I remind them of our English-speaking North American similarities,” Harris says while driving from a gig in San Francisco to Los Angeles as they promote the band’s new disc, “Arm’s Way” (Anti).

On Tuesday, the band visits Dallas. North Texas isn’t completely new to Harris.

“Two years ago, after a drunken gig in Denton, some of the locals took me to a Whataburger, which was actually a really fun time,” he remembers. “But I ended up with horrible heartburn.”

Such is the life the itinerant rock star. While he probably gets razzed about being gay, Harris gets to dish it back — all in the name of good fun. During our conversation, it’s obvious that his fellow bandmates are eavesdropping on Harris while he’s being interviewed by gay press.

---

What can you tell about a guy from the way he drums? The look on his face is the same expression he makes when having sex. A lot of guys do the head-bobbing thing with their eyes wide-open and looking catatonic. Now I tend to close my eyes and stick out my tongue, which is a mix of blissful frustration.

So that means you’re a bottom? [Laughs] It could mean that I’m a bottom. You know, the drums are a pretty masculine instrument.

Oh, please. What? You don’t think so?

Well, which is more masculine — the tambourine or the triangle? [Laughs] You’re right. Those are pretty fruity. But the Asian members in the band play the tambourine — because Asians are nice, gentle and fragile people.

Are drumsticks two-fisted phallic symbols? Oh, I think so — to have something long and hard in your hands that you get to move around.

And what other percussion instruments have you shoved up your ass? [Laughs] The maracas!

Islands are an up-and-coming act. On Monday, they open for Tom Waits at House of Blues. But in all of rock history, the list of openly gay drummers is a short one — almost nil. Except for Harris.

Sophie’s Choice: Tommy Lee (and his huge schlong) or Sheila E? Sheila E. all the way. She perfectly balanced out the masculine and feminine — a girl in high heels pounding out beats.

Name a hot and sexy drummer: I’d say Keith Moon — definitely not Ringo. And some jazz drummers, like the drummer Miles Davis played with, Tony Williams. He and Miles had a gay love affair.

You mean, it was a metaphorical “music affair”? I mean literally — they had a gay affair.

“No they didn’t,” yells one of Harris’ eavesdropping band mates.

They did too! There’s this book called “Queer Noises,” which is about gay jazz musicians. They talk about Miles Davis and all of his gay love affairs with Tony Williams, his drummer.

What’s a Tony-Miles duet where you can hear the love between them? Any track off the album “Miles Smiles.” The whole album is pretty gay.

---

---

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 20, 2008.