Rainbow Ruckus 5/5: The Cowgays, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Creebed Carter Hogan

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.

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• So I finally figured out that The Cowgays are listed under Chris Housman on Tidal. Oops. Anyway, you've probably heard of this supergroup with Adam Mac, Brooke Eden, and Chris. "Good Hoedown" makes one of the most obvious country music puns known to man – with an easy charm and ready wit.

• On "Lost & Alone," Aaron Lee Tasjan sets one of his darkest moments to a cheery power pop groove. Tasjan has a knack for finding the humor and warmth in those stories: things might get tough, but you do get through – somehow.

• Creekbed Carter gives us a self-deprecating trip to the friend zone on "Long Con." The song is an old-timey nod to the age old trap of falling for your friends...and hoping they fall along with you. Cap it off with Carter's nod to Roger Miller's mouth trumpet and hilariously nervous rambling outro, and "Long Con" is charming as hell.

• When you've got a good wave going, ride it. Chris Housman appears on this list again with his powerful "Dirt On Me." The song is a strident pop country album that rejects small-town narrow-mindedness. Something about the gang vocals and big drums make me think of a Christian rock song – which has a certain ironic twist to it.

• Bryan Ruby has moved past his torch songs to embracing love on "Room to Breathe." His iconic voice grabs us with a bear hug as he takes us along on the adventures and anxieties that come with new love. This one is an instant barn-burner.

Find our Tidal playlist here: