Alex Riggs (Riggings) closes out our Pride Month column with a tour through Athens, GA. Athens is one of Riggings’ favorite queer country spots in the world, and in our interview she explains why. It’s a safe haven for artists and self-discovery — though, as Riggings explains, it could be safer. That sense of wonder and pride permeates through her new album, EGG.
I’d love to hear more about the places that artists feel their most joyous and free — especially in relation to queer country music. This could be a town, a neighborhood, or even a venue. What is that place for you?
Places are weird. I attach a tremendous amount of emotion and memory to literally anywhere I go. At this moment I’m writing from a hospital where my husband is recovering from a a torn carotid vein. I hate hospitals. A place I love that isn’t a hospital is Athens, GA. Many a meal has been made of how cool and supportive Athens is to its artists, music especially. R.E.M., Pylon, Drive By Truckers, fuckin The B-52s. If you drive around the outskirts of downtown enough you will drive by the original Weaver D’s Soul Food sign emblazoned with “Automatic For The People” many times.
Do you have a favorite memory from Athens?
First time I went there I was on tour with Ryley Walker. It ended up that we had a show and a day and a half off in Athens so we made the most of it. We went to Nuci’s Space, a sort of mental health-centered space for musicians to gather, record, drink coffee, have meetings, and generally be in a supportive and calming environment. We were taken around the back of the building to take a gander at what remained of the church where R.E.M. played their first shows. We recorded some wonderful noises, none of which I think have been released at the time of this writing. We slept in an Air Bnb, each had our own beds. Athens was where I began my transition from drip coffee to espresso as my main caffeinated vice, under the peer pressure of bassist Andrew Scott Young. Andrew and I drove around trying to find different places to get espresso and we chatted about Circuit des Yeux (who he played with also) and van life. I went to Wuxtry/Bizarro Wuxtry and loaded up on vinyl and comics. I went to a burger joint called Clocked! which, as a trans woman, makes me laugh every time I go back.
I’ve been back to Athens a handful of times since and have stayed in a house with the band Newport Transplant and spent necessary time with beautiful transsexxuals. We did howdy shots of well whiskey and ate too many pretzel bites with honey and mustard. I recommend everyone spend time with beautiful transsexxuals (haha tricked ya, they’re all beautiful) when the opportunity presents itself.
What should visitors know about Athens?
Visitors should know that Athens these days is a college town on the surface, with a dark beauty desperately trying to claw its way to the surface. Folks there are incredibly friendly in a way that puts my home state of North Carolina to shame. Get a cucumber seltzer water. Go to Nuci’s Space. Park along the side of the church on Pulaski St. and go for a long walk, stop in Love Yo Yo Stuff and then keep walking, take in the city, talk to a stranger. Keep change on you to give to folks who need it more than you do. Eat pizza and be kind.
What do you think it is about this place that helps it feel so special?
The community of artists that sort of gives Athens its energy feeds into every aspect. There is a “let’s hear it for the little guy” spin to mostly every place you visit (maybe not the Urban Outfitters) and as far as liberal bubbles go in the American Southeast it’s one of the more potent and calming ones.
Do you have any plans for Pride?
For Pride I’m asking everyone to give me money for my new album EGG. I am trying to kiss as many people as possible. I am wishing to be left alone aside from that, in my Costco loungewear and my big stupid headphones blasting Landlady or Neko Case into my brain for Ultimate Comfort.