Still spinning in Cambridge, “a community-driven club where all genres bring people to come together.”
As “Temptation” by New Order circulates the room, it’s clear that dance has become your loudest communicator. It’s Automatique night at ManRay, and the synths and bass are helping keep the subtle but ever-so-present indie sleaze, alternative, and burlesque communities in Cambridge and Boston alive.
Making its debut in 1985, ManRay became a sanctuary and safe haven for the LGBTQIA+ community amidst the AIDs epidemic. When it has been open, management has consistently maintained the space to uplift these groups, a mission that’s continued since reopening in 2023 after an 18-year hiatus.
To check the current pulse of ManRay, we spoke with the nightclub’s hostess, former go-go dancer Xtine Santackas, and DJ James 808, who specializes in dark disco, new wave, disco goth, and indie. The former said that by celebrating the music and dance that other places omit, those embracing culture and tradition there find freedom through parties like ManRay’s fourth Fridays, known as Automatique nights.
Santackas, who has been in the ManRay community for 23 years, noted that she’s taken on the task of making it a more female-forward spot. “The aim for building ManRay and for creating this space,” she said, “was to give a space for those who felt they didn’t have one.”
How has ManRay bridged the gap between the greater Boston area and its underground subcultures?
Xtine: A lot of our events are geared towards subcultures. As an example, every Thursday night is an LGBTQIA+-specific night. We try to bridge the gap by having themed events that work well with those who come to the club. We also hire from these communities, the security department, the people that you see working behind the bars, are all from the communities that we service. We try to bridge the gap by making people feel comfortable by having the staff in the room from the same communities.
Have you faced any backlash for holding events which focus on underground communities within Boston and Cambridge?
Xtine: We have not received any backlash, though we also know there are probably eyes on us making sure we’re not doing anything that would be considered against the law. We’re specifically making sure that we don’t, as we have a no-tolerance policy for underage drinking and consent is very big here.
Where or from who do you think this comes from?
Xtine: There are still conservative people in Cambridge. You have people on the licensing commission or perhaps even on the city council which would love to see us go away because they don’t agree with our way of making sure that everybody feels welcome, especially in crowds that are not exactly mainstream.
How do the workers aim to serve the community and its patrons?
Xtine: We are discussing having more community fundraisers. On June 8th, we are doing a fashion show to benefit the trans-political coalition for Massachusetts. We’re trying to bring to light the issues people are facing and help them raise money for their causes.
How does the club try to maintain a spirit of all the various subcultures your efforts are geared towards within one specific night?
Xtine: We don’t just focus on one subculture, which is why I think we’re able to diversify it. We have ’80s nights, karaoke, we have nights like this which are just our indie sleaze night, which brings in more the indie than the goth and industrial crowd. We have lots of fun events, like on Thursdays nights we have [the] Daddy O [underwear party] and we have Drag-Me-Out Thursdays, which brings in a lot of the local drag queens. We try to make the community part of the event.
As one of the DJs behind the party, what is your experience with music and how did that draw you to ManRay?
James: I come from a goth and new wave background, which formed my love for people from different backgrounds. I like to bridge the gaps between a lot of different things, everyone here is very receptive to the meshing of music.
How is this unique to Automatique nights?
James: It’s the kind of night that’s not stripped down. It’s not just music, things remain timeless here. We have a community-driven club where all genres bring people to come together.
