Rainbow Ruckus 7/25: Chris Housman, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lydia Loveless, and More!

You go away on your honeymoon for two weeks and the queer cowpokes keep cranking out amazing music! What the hell!!!

That’s only a good thing, and our Rainbow Ruckus column will be a little bit longer for the next few weeks to make sure we’re all caught up. Some of the songs you see today are a few weeks old, and others are piping hot. Scroll down for links to our playlists on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music!

Chris Housman — “Laid Back”

Chris Housman is a lyrical genius, from sneakily political pop-country to overt condemnation of Evangelicism, Housman should be a household name. But on “Laid Back,” Housman does just that. This is a sweet pop country song about kicking it for the summer — because queers have fun, too.

My Sister, My Brother — “Another Life”

My Sister, My Brother is comprised of Garrison Starr and Sean McConnell, veterans of the singer-songwriter scene. The pair released their first EP in the spring of 2020 and, well, you know what happened next. “Another Life” is joyous and loose, a celebration of their spiritual connection that goes beyond music.

Alex Lahey — “Permanent”

Australian indie rocker Alex Lahey tries to avoid attachment on “Permanent.” The song takes a number of sinewy turns, reflecting the feelings of anyone who has lived in a place: disdain, fear of change, and passionate love — warts and all.

Lydia Loveless — “Runaway”

Nobody does heartbreak better than Lydia Loveless. “Runaway” plays to their strengths, a tormented self-examination of unhealthy attachments and a chorus that nobody else can belt. Loveless is a mighty force and their upcoming return to Bloodshot Records looks to be a triumphant one.

Flamy Grant — “I Think I See The Island”

Flamy Grant has been poking at Evangelicals til they bleed, her drag persona larger than life. Things get personal in a different way on “I Think I See The Island,” a birthday gift to her husband. It’s a celebration of queer love and defiance and is perfect for your next road trip or beach day.

Jenny Owen Youngs — “Knife Went In”

Jenny Owen Youngs’ upcoming album Avalanche chronicles all the chaos that can happen in a decade: divorce, new relationships, and remarriage. “Knife Went In,” the second single, is a crisp celebration of recovering from wounds — and finding someone who has had similar experiences. The song is a unique blend of organic and electronic, calling to mind Youngs’ hipster days in Brooklyn while fleshing out the genre’s initial aestheics. Avalanche will be out on September 22nd, from Yep Roc Records.

Nora Kelly Band — “Horse Girl”

On “Horse Girl,” Nora Kelly celebrates anyone who’s come to country music from outside of the country. With the never-ending obsession of authenticity in country music, the band chose to celebrate urban cowboys in this rollicking romp. The band’s debut album, Rodeo Clown, will be out on August 25th.

Listen to this playlist 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.