Rainbow Ruckus 2/17: Amelia Riggs, The Kentucky Gentlemen, JB Somers, and More!
This week's Rainbow Ruckus features a tribute to a vital mentor, joyous resistance, a refutation of toxic masculinity, grudging hearts on sleeves, and an all-too-apt political metaphor.
Every week, Rainbow Rodeo brings you the best new queer country music! Listen to this playlist on Tidal! Thanks to Elliott for making a parallel list on Apple Music! Missed a week? TA Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.
Please note: we are no longer updating our Spotify playlist.
Support Rainbow Rodeo when you purchase our zine, a t-shirt, or make a donation!
- Amelia Riggs casually destroys us all with "Vibrating Plastic Cup for Reese McHenry." While Riggs uses this song to celebrate and mourn the passing of her mentor (an artists whose blistering Southern rock is required listening), this one is for those of us who wish we could say everything we felt about someone before it was too late.
- The Kentucky Gentlemen and Estelle shake off all the bad stuff on "To Kill Me (Collinksi Remix)." Here, the trio's live performance is transformed into an ass-kicking and boot-scotting dance number that celebrates joyful resistance to the struggle.
- JB Somers' church-trained voice rings true on "Real Man." The ballad interrogates toxic masculinity, and the incisive lyrics by Somers, Fran Litterski (cuts with Wyatt Flores and Reyna Roberts), and Nell Maynard (cuts with Adam Mac and Chris Housman) bring some serious truths home with that serving of helping of empathy that can only come out of a Nashville writer's room.
- Angie K tries to keep it cool on "Low Key Love Song." Thing is, Angie's voice is way too big to do that – instead, this country rock slow-burner shows that the lady doth protest too much with a slinky groove and simmering heat that can't be contained for much longer.
- Speaking of heat, Paula Boggs Band brings it with "Airline Boogie." True to its word, it's a little too easy to get lost in the song's self-assured swagger, even as Boggs takes us through the chaos of the early Trump administration. Unfortunately, the metaphor of an out-of-control airplane has only become more apt.
Find our Tidal playlist here:
