Pride of Place: Country Risque
Country Risque embody the eclecticism of their hometown of San Francisco. The band’s vintage approach to country music is winsome and boot-kickin’ — as is their recently-released album Doe-Eyed Loverboys & Saints. (The album came out in March and we’ll review it soon!) For our very first Pride of Place column, Country Risque’s Miles Gordon walks us through all the things to love about San Francisco. We’re running this column because queer country is everywhere, and Pride is every day. Stay tuned for more reflections on pride and place throughout June!
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?
Right here in San Francisco. Which is funny because SF isn’t typically considered a ‘country city.’ But honestly what makes this place special for me to make queer country music in is that there’s so many other genres that exist here — you can cross-pollinate with everyone and make some truly beautiful things.
Do you have a favorite memory of this place?
Currently, it is standing on the edge of Land’s End and overlooking the ocean and watching the beauty clash with the melancholic silence and watching the people do their ordinary things — indeed that was the inspiration of the song “Sad Sad People,” the first I wrote for Country Risque. It’s on our debut record Doe-Eyed Loverboys & Saints.
What should visitors know about San Francisco?
There is no Doom Loop. The Doom Loop is manufactured. The techies downtown are sad because it’s not an exclusive campus but they are not the people of San Francisco. The neighborhoods are thriving, and the music scene is the best I’ve seen it.
What do you think it is about San Francisco that helps it feel so special?
Obviously the history, but what’s happened since the pandemic is the ones that wanted to live here stayed when the ones that didn’t left. They’re the ones that rebuilt after COVID and that’s resulted in something truly amazing. And SF is truly as gay as ever (can confirm from experience!).
Do you have any plans for Pride?
Yeah CountryRisque is playing a special event at Verdi Club in SF called the Queermericana Pride Fest. It’ll have Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters from Portland along with Secret Emchy Society and all-queer all-femme CCR tribute Proud Mary. Gonna be a hoot and several hollers! (Get your tickets here!)
