Building the Queer Country Canon in Real Time
Editor Rachel Cholst examines Ashleigh Flynn's new album Good Morning, Sunshine and the ways Lavender Country becomes enshrined in queer country canon
Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters don't compromise on their vision. The band itself is a political statement: a revolving cast of women support Flynn with her self-described twangy rock'n'roll. That's no small feat in a music industry that is disinterested in stories of women and queer folks, yet Flynn and her Riveters take a stand. Their latest album Good Morning, Sunshine encapsulates how Flynn weaves politics, joy, and living life – with a healthy dose of twang.
Produced by the band's guitarist and co-founder, Nancy Luca, Good Morning, Sunshine is imbued with warmth and optimism, a sense that all of life's ups and downs make it worth living. While the songs center love and heartbreak like any respectable country band, Flynn's commitment to nature is notable. "Tilly Jane Ridge" begins as a rollicking paean to the land's resilience in the aftermath of a forest fire – and the ignorance of those who would deny climate change for political and financial gain. These themes continue in "Good Morning, Sunshine," a literal title if there ever was one. Even "Much Too Proud," a song about that moment when you know it's time to leave, evokes the natural world.
But what struck me most is the Riveters' cover of Lavender Country's "I Can't Shake the Stranger Out of You." In the Riveters' hands, the song takes on a sardonic cast, shedding light on this would-be lover's hypocrisy. The band sprinkles the song with flourishes and a rambling groove, transforming it into a swaggering sing-along. (If you are unaware, Lavender Country was the first known queer country band, led by Patrick Haggerty.)
Meanwhile, Willi Carlisle's upcoming album Winged Victory promises to cover "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears." (You can get a preview of what that'll sound like from this 2023 TikTok.)
It made me wonder how many covers of Patrick's music are floating around there. It's not just a question of Lavender Country's legacy – though that is one that should never be forgotten, and one we proudly carry on today. I'm more interested on how the queer country canon gets built, and examining how Lavender Country's music spreads allows us to see how a musical canon gets built in real-time.
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