INTERVIEW: Rodeo Boys Seek Masc Representation and Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Rodeo Boys' Tiff Hannay likes to kick ass and eat peanut butter sandwiches at Graceland...and they're all out of peanut butter.
The Lansing, MI-based band––fronted by guitarist/vocalist Tiff Hannay (they/them), guitarist Caleb Shook (he/him), bassist Taylor “Doty”(he/him) and drummer Christian Urabazzo (he/him)––blends a dirt-under-the-nails grit with campy, sardonic humor in a way that only a group of small-town misfits could pull off. Rodeo Boys' new album, Junior (out today) grapples with masculinity in all its forms using a furious pop punk and twangy approach that'll feel familiar to fans of the Menzingers and Laura Jane Grace.
Tiff checked in with us about their favorite music and what they'd like to see more of in the music industry.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
It's so 80's but also very timeless. It's fun but heavily emotional with a few lines that actually make me cry. "Daddy dear you know you're still number one" touches on father/daughter relationships, and "some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world" reminds me of all of the free spirited women who settle into relationships with insecure men. I think it's a beautiful song and the opening melody could bring me out of a coma.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
Figure out what works for you. Some people like collaborative writing, but I personally like to get songs mostly written on my own before sharing with the rest of the band. Also, you should never miss an opportunity to write an idea down. My best songs poured out of me at pretty inconvenient times. I've been in bed, half asleep, and got up to write something down that I was thinking, and there have been times that I've thought I would remember something and regret not writing it down or recording it because it's gone forever.
How do you kill the long hours in the van?
I'm usually driving, unless we have an off day so I spend a lot of time talking to whoever is in the passenger seat. Sometimes I'll pop in some earbuds and listen to a podcast or album. A lot of times I just kinda drive in silence and reflect. We don't listen to a ton of music in the van so people can sleep if they need to. The van is pretty loud, especially on the highway, so music has to be cranked and it doesn't sound good.
How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
That's something I'm still trying to figure out. When I'm at home, I have a completely different routine. I eat healthy, wake up early, and exercise. On tour, you usually have to eat whatever is free, you're at a bar every night, and getting good sleep is tough. When we're lucky enough to score a hotel room, I take advantage of the free breakfast and gyms. It's something I'm hoping to get better at balancing the more we are on the road. Mental health can be tricky as well. I think the most important thing is getting good at communication with your band mates and working on conflict resolution skills.
What is your vision for a more just music industry?
I would love to see masc queers get the same representation as femme queers. That is something I think is very much lacking in culture right now. I am so thrilled that we have Chappell Roan, but I would like to see more people that look like me writing sapphic love songs, even if it doesn't appeal to the male gaze.
Do you try to make the most of being in a city, or do you prefer to just rest up?
We fully believe in making the most out of touring. Sometimes tours are routed in a way that has you driving all day long, and then the only part of the city that you get to experience is the venue parking lot, which is no way to do it. If you don't try to find fun stuff to do, you end up doom scrolling or sitting around at a venue waiting until you can order a beer. I wouldn't feel good if I did that at home, so I definitely don't feel good if I do that on the road. When we are on smaller tours and aren't chasing the headliner's tour bus, we have a lot more time. We make sure to do as much fun stuff as possible, and eat regional foods. We like to go walk around in the woods, toss a football around, go find an arcade or disc golf course, and I've even brought fishing poles on tour.
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
We want to do the real tour of Graceland (with the peanut butter sandwich) but it is insanely expensive.
Junior is out today, and the band has just a few more dates with Laura Jane Grace.
Sun Apr 27 - Billings, MT - Pub Station
Tue Apr 29 - Sioux Falls, SD - Icon Lounge
Wed Apr 30 - Saint Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar & Hall
