Rainbow Ruckus 9/10: Secret Emchy Society, Fancy Hagood, Laura Jane Grace, & More!
Every week, Rainbow Rodeo brings you the best new queer country music! 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? TA Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.
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- Secret Emchy Society keeps up the pace with their outlaw country ramble “Old Midwestern.” It’s a road song, and Cindy Emch’s world-weary voice matches perfectly with the lyrics — disaffection with the constant search, but also excitement to reach the person you do belong to. This is a hint at what’s to come in 2025 for the band.
- Fancy Hagood goes ’90s country on “Losing Game.” We know the guy can sing, and on “Losing Game” we hear some of Hagood’s country music influences. This is a classic love ’em and lose ’em song, and it’s getting me excited for American Spirit, which will be out on October 25th.
- Breymer is ever-closer to the release of their concept album When I Get Through (October 18th), which chronicles their transformation through top surgery. “Better Friend” examines how showing up for one’s self allows one to become a better friend.
- Jett Holden has an incredible album in store for us, and “Scarecrow” is just an illustration of his creative and inquisitive mind. Here, Holden likens his coming out story to the figures in the Wizard of Oz, wishing for a pride that is denied to him by a repressive upbringing.
- Laura Jane Grace finally released the alt-country album I was hoping she would when she signed to Bloodshot Records a few years ago. Well, we know what happened with Bloodshot, but the EP rocks, as I wrote about on our sister site Adobe & Teardrops. “Hoka Hoka — One, One” showcases Grace’s ingenious use of cowpunk to convey her anxiety and neuroses.
