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Freakazoids

Our weekly recap features podcasts galore, an interview with Jude Brothers, and album reviews for Mary Gauthier, Maddie Zahm, Lawrence Rothman, a new one from Every More Nest -- and artist resources, and queer country events around the world!

Freakazoids
Photo by Deleece Cook / Unsplash

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Brennan Wedl’s self-titled album has been years in the making. Not just the actual composition–the writing and recording–but the throughlines, which range from religion to abandonment of people-pleasing to embracing the weirdest parts of ourselves. 

From the smooth shred of album opener “Scorpio” to the silly come up of “Let’s Be Models” to squeezing out one last drop of honesty on “When The Crazy Comes Out,” Wedl’s first full length album is a triumph, and one of the most anticipated alternative albums of the year. Paste called her the “next leading lady of Southern rock.” Laura Snapes at The Guardian quipped her songwriting is so “ironclad” she had to continue checking the credits to make sure the tracks weren’t actually Lucinda Williams covers. Nope–it’s all Wedl, who's been making stellar tunes for over a decade. 

Dubbed “grungetry” by Wedl herself, this record’s signature sound has all the elements of a typical run of the mill country rock album, but executed on a far more sophisticated level: classic yet funky guitar solos, the soft, disconsolate wane of a pedal steel guitar, perfect vocal backing. 

Talking about making the album, Wedl says Katie Crutchfield (of y'allternative juggernaut Waxahatachee) played a big role in putting the final tracklist together. Wedl spent years recording and releasing songs that would eventually make their way onto this album, and Crutchfield helped pare down from a list of 20 tracks to the album’s chosen 13, bringing attention to songs Wedl hadn’t necessarily considered to be album cuts. It was Crutchfield’s first project producing: Snail Mail’s Lindsay Jordan put her on to Wedl’s work, and it was Wedl’s “different level of songwriting” that moved her and indie heavyweight Brad Cook to take on the project. The whole thing came together over the course of 10 days at Cook’s studio in Durham, NC. 

“She (Crutchfield) brought “Let’s Be Models” specifically to my attention again,” said Wedl. “That one was a little on the back burner and I was so glad she suggested we play around with it because I love playing that one live. It really inspired a really fun music video and an equally fun experience.” 

Read more of Natalie Kunce's profile of Brennan here!

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Rainbow Roundup

  • Do you wish Country Pride was a permanent channel on Sirius XM? Good news! Starting today, you can find it in Sirius XM XTRA on the app and web – and I'll be the voice of the station moving forward!
  • I spoke with Kristen Ford on her podcast Obermann Amplified about the state of the music industry and keeping hope (and passion) alive even when it feels impossible! Here's the Apple Podcasts link, or if you want to see my living room you can watch on YouTube! (Embedding for this cute picture of my dog)
  • There's a quite a bit of Rolling Stone in this week's roundup! You may have heard about Marisa R. Moss getting dragged on BlueSky for her column about the Ella Langley's song "Choosing Texas" and the fact that people claim not to have heard it. I think the column was, perhaps, a bit hastily written. My special interest combined when Garbage Day dug a little deeper into how this song could be so huge and yet not have much space in (coast elite?) cultural discourse. Andrew Unterberger also weighs in for Billboard.
  • Jude Brothers' new album Dogwood Maiden Voyage is in my editor's picks for the week. On No Depression, they wrote about names and identity.
  • Josh Crutchmer re-introduces us to Lawrence Rothman and their quest to re-humanize music for Rolling Stone
  • Josh is busy; he also interviewed Katie Pruitt about a similar theme on Rolling Stone
  • The artist formerly known as Lauren O'Connell is now Leucas
  • KS Jackson writes about BlackAmericana Fest and the intertwining of music, identity...and whether or not the music industry can ever get it. This is an important one!
  • Joy Oladkun talks identity and music with DIVA Magazine

Fundraisers

  • Robert Bock is finally recording that damn album of his and I'm so excited to have it in my hands so help me out by contributing (you'll need to hover over the images – I got a little confused at first)
  • So many of the artists we feature here rely on shows like Mountain Stage and Tiny Desk to get the word out. If, like me, you live in a major city with a large donor base, your station is probably fine. So maybe adopt a station that's had more than 70% of its budget slashed? I'm choosing Allegheny Mountain Radio just because it fits the theme.
  • Kamara Thomas, who is a co-organizer of Southern Soul Songbook, needs support as she recovers from Stage 3 breast cancer
  • Color Me Country is seeking to raise $202,000 to support BIPOC artists with travel grants and more. Donate here.

Need a Protest Song Mixed?

Artist and Rainbow Rodeo contributor Arend Lee Jessurun has this offer for artists:

I'm looking to get back into the production/mixing/mastering game since a bit of a hiatus for health. I'm starting to better manage my energy with fibromyalgia, and I'm a bit antsy to do more of the work I love. And I'd especially love to work with other queers!
Also, if you've got protest music for these times, I'd love to produce, mix, and/or master it for cheap, even for free if I can swing it. If you're unfamiliar with my work and studio, check it out here.

Events

I make this list by scrolling through Instagram and Threads (and occasionally Bluesky when you all post there.) Feel free to send me events by replying to this e-mail!

  • 9/20 - 11/8 (Pennsylvania and Connecticut) – Brittany Ann Tranbaugh takes the show on the road – but mostly sticks close to home – this fall
  • 9/25 - 9/26 (New Orleans, LA) – Black Americanafest returns for a second year in a row. Some of the queer artists featured are Joy Clark, Lili Lewis, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Denitia, Grace Givertz – and many more!
  • 10/1 (New Orleans, LA) – Joy Clark plays Music For the Mind
  • 10/3 – (Joshua Tree, CA) – Mya Byrne, Stagefree, Booee, and DJ Sensei play a trans surgery benefit show at The Firehouse. Tickets here
  • 10/10 (Chicago, IL) – Marian Runk plays Judson&Moore
  • 10/6 (Albany, NY) – Delightful power pop band 76st Street plays Empire Underground (think MUNA but more country) – check 'em out
  • 10/8 - 11/12 (Great Britain) – Queer Cxntry hits the road across the jolly old England
  • 10/9 (Chicago, IL) – Queer Country Bandwagon, Andrew Sa, and Iris Marlowe celebrate the Bandwagon's new music and National Coming Out Day at Judson & Moore (Ticket link)
  • 10/11 (Nashville, TN) – Celebrate National Coming Out Day with The Chixie Dix, Sonia Leigh, Eleni Iglesias, Lili Venus, and more at Girl Crush Social House
  • 10/15 (Asheville, NC) – Head on out to the Lavender South launch party with Brennan Page at Daytrip
  • 10/23 (Killkenny, Ireland) – Lizzie No plays Billy Byrne's
  • 10/23 (Chicago, IL) – Andrew Sa's Cosmic Country showcase returns to The Empty Bottle
  • 10/31 (Durham, NC) – Amelia Riggs and her new band play Sleepyfest
  • 11/21 (New York, NY) – Brian Falduto has a Residency Encore and EP Release Show @ The Green Room 42 (Tickets here!)

Artist Resources

  • Deadline 10/17: Arend Lee Jessurun (one of our regular writers!) is looking to collaborate on remixes of their recent album The Tower of Babel Falls in exchange for free mixing, master, or session work on a song of your own

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