Rainbow Ruckus: 5/2
If you’ve been following our playlist on Spotify, then you already know we love rounding up the best new queer country of the week! Now that we can stretch our legs out on a nice blog, we’re excited to tell you why we love the songs we love. Without further ado, here are 5 of the best new queer country songs from the past week!
Nora Kelly Band — “Lay Down Girl”
Nora Kelly Band formed by the Montreal train tracks during illicit lockdown jam nights. Kelly, a veteran of Canada’s punk scene, fell back in love with country music and her new band is declaring it to the world. You can read our interview with Nora Kelly here. In the meantime, enjoy this gothic rockabilly-slanted kick in the pants.
Mya Byrne — “Devil In My Ear”
Mya Byrne released her celebrated album Rhinestone Tomboy on Friday. (You can hear our chat on the Rainbow Rodeo podcast!) This video captures the spooky quality of Byrne’s bluesy romp — and stars Rainbow Rodeo favorite Paisley Fields. In the song, Byrne builds on the long tradition of blues music and Faustian contracts with aplomb and a cheeky sense of fun — along with ominous warnings to stick to the straight and true, of course.
Joel Brogon — “Manicured Gentrified Lawn”
Texas songwriter Joel Brogon takes aim (with pesticide) at suburban conformity on his Earth Day single. With Prine-esque observation and humor, Brogon wonders aloud at what is lost in the name of an overly prescriptive idea of beauty. Brogon’s been writing up a storm these past few months, and he’s only continuing to grow as a songwriter.
Kit Malone — “Dear John Mellencamp”
If you haven’t been following my (Rachel’s) music writing, one thing you need to know is my unabashed love of John Mellencamp. So when I came across Kit’s music, I had to listen to this song first. Malone approaches this song with a heartland rock swagger and a punk rock ethos. Delivered in a Hold Steady-like talk-sing narrative, Malone’s storytelling is her strength here, as she grapples with life’s pains and finds the drive to move forward.
Joe Stevens — “Daughterson”
Coyote Grace was one of the earliest queer country artists of the modern era — much less one of the few out touring trans bands in the 2000s. (To learn more about Coyote Grace, listen to our interview with Shana Goldin-Perschbacher about her book Queer Country.) This folk song celebrating transmasculinity is sweet, funny, and a little bitter — all the things that make country music a genre we love.
Listen on Spotify!
Thanks to Elliott for making a parallel list on Apple Music!
Listen to the parallel list on Tidal.
Missed a week? Thomas Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.
