Rainbow Ruckus 8/25: Rita Bliss, Maddie Zahm, The Male Pattern
This week's Rainbow Ruckus features a joyful cowpunk train song, a middle finger to a bigoted hometown, self-pitying conservative paranoia, timeless love, and contemplating endless eternity.
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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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- If we have to do a re-run of 2000s music, I'm sure happy we get thisdogllhunt single-handedly reviving alt-country. The DC-based artist gleefully mashes together punk, country, a train song, and a love ditty into something way greater than the sum of its parts – and the joy is infectious.
- Maddie Zahm is here to prove that the Sapphics can have epic pop country heratbreak ballads, too. In this case, the heartbreak comes from the folks at home, left behind when Zahm moved to the big city as her true self. The conviction and empowerment here will power you through your day.
- The Male Pattern (aka Will Schwartz) explores the darker side of straight white male consciousness in his upcoming concept album I Was Shot in the Heart! (out September 25.) Schwartz's ice-cold character sketch on "I'm a Solider" exposes the self-pitying paranoia behind the conservative mind, all while skewering country music tropes.
- True love is eternal, and Rita Bliss lifts the mood with "All My Days." Bliss's earthy performance and sprightly banjo illustrate the buoyancy of knowing you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. Bliss's gratitude, relief, joy – and, more importantly, wit – make this a timeless country song.
- Justin Hiltner and John Weisberger make magic together once again on "I Could Cry." In this lovely, lilting song, the narrator considers how to respond to heartbreak while contemplating the great beyond. The conclusion might not be satisfying, but it's certainly realistic.
Find our Tidal playlist here:
