A few weeks ago, I wrote about Your Heart Breaks‘ memorable concert, a multimedia presentation steeped in queer history and radical politics. But clyde wasn’t the only one who took my breath away. Kym Register was a part of the tour, and their untiring dedication to creating and sharing radical Southern culture has paid off in Meltdown Rodeo, their first album with their new band of the same name. (Register is a co-founder of Country Soul Songbook along with Kamara Thomas.)
Many of the songs are full-band reworkings of songs from Register’s haunting and powerful solo album, Lez Dance. With a band alongside, the songs have been transformed into rollicking Southern rock that asks penetrating questions about learning your roots, discovering pride — and what that really means.
It helps that Meltdown Rodeo rips, too. “Blue” and “How Do You See Me” find Register channeling their inner Robert Plant. Songs from Lez Dance, like “Wild Ones” and “Water Into Wine” get punched up, emphasizing the song’s messages of resisting the status quo. On Meltdown Rodeo, Register interrogates our country’s legacy of white supremacy and repression, while finding a way to walk away with your head held high.
Meltdown Rodeo is populated with characters who exemplify the grit and resilience that mainstream country music seeks to smooth over. From the tattoo artist in “Traveler’s Cross” to the titular “Maureen” and Dykes and Bikes co-founder “Soni Wolf.” All those individuals add up to something. “Loamlands” helps us find as much inspiration from the past as there are unearthed secrets to decry.
Kym Register + Meltdown Rodeo — Official, Bandcamp, Instagram, Twitter