Episode 9: February Check-In w/ Sunny War, John-Allison Weiss, Terry Blade, Jaimee Harris, Izzy Heltai, Tina and Her Pony, Tami Hart
Release Date: 02/24/2023
Episode 18 -- Jessye DeSilva
Rainbow Rodeo
This isn't Jessye DeSilva's first Rainbow Rodeo! The non-binary singer-songwriter was the very first guest on this podcast, and we're thrilled to have them back. In this episode, we talk about how DeSilva is setting intentions and seeing them through, their album Renovations as a document of coming into their own, and what's next as they tackle being an artist in a post-lockdown world. As I mention in the intro, I interviewed Jessye and others about the transphobic events at this year's Americanafest -- and how music festivals could become safer spaces for artists in the future -- in the ....
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Episode 17: Jenny Owen Youngs
Rainbow Rodeo
Howdy, cowpokes, and welcome back to Rainbow Rodeo! This month, I interview artist and podcaster extraordinaire, Jenny Owen Youngs. I think you can hear in the interview that I’m a little bit starstruck, but of course Jenny was a pro. (We’re on a first-name basis now.) We talk about her return to solo music with her new album, Avalanche, and how it’s been to work in the co-writing and music licensing space in LA for so long. We also get a little silly with fandoms, but also get down to business to discuss queer artists and the anxiety around pigeonholing, and idea that’s...
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Episode 16: Maia Sharp
Rainbow Rodeo
Hey there, cowpokes, and welcome back to Rainbow Rodeo! This month, I speak with veteran Maia Sharp about her album Reckless Thoughts, which came out in August. I also interviewed her for the Nashville Scene. In that interview, we discussed the divorce that caused her to move to Nashville and how she brought together a trusted band to create Reckless Thoughts and her previous album, Mercy Rising. The part of the conversation you'll hear is from when we were already 30 minutes in and switching gears for podcast mode. Maia had mentioned joining a softball league in Nashville, so we had to kick...
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Episode 15: Julian Talamantez Brolaski
Rainbow Rodeo
Julian Talamantez Brolaski is a poet and country crooner but, above all else, is a careful curator of traditional country music. Brolaski's album It's Okay Honey comes out today, replete with yodeling, cowboy guitar and, of course, heartbreak. Brolaski was also on the ground floor of Brooklyn's queer country scene in the 2010s. They're too modest to say it, but that makes them an integral part of the current queer country movement. Julian Talamantez Brolaski is a poet and country crooner but, above all else, is a careful curator of traditional country music. Brolaski's album It's Okay Honey...
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Episode 14: Beau Wheeler
Rainbow Rodeo
I'm excited to introduce you to Beau Wheeler. Beau's latest album, Flying Colours, reveals a huge generosity of spirit. They wrote these songs while they were undergoing cancer treatment -- and coming out as non-binary. We also discuss hacking it in the Canadian indie rock scene -- and, for Patreon subscribers, just what they would risk to go see Mavis Staples. Read my review of Flying Colours on ! Subscribe to the Rainbow Rodeo ! Never miss an update with the Rainbow Rodeo ! !
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CORRECTED Episode 13: Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer Discuss Their Musical All Wigged Out
Rainbow Rodeo
Hey there, cowpokes, and happy Pride! We are in a real treat this month with our conversation with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, old time music legends. In our interview, Cathy and Marcy said they haven't done much -- but they're just being modest. They have performed with Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Tom Paxton, Patsy Montana, Riders in the Sky, and a wide range of musical luminaries. They have entertained the Queen of Thailand, been keynote singers for the AFL-CIO, appeared on the “Today Show” and on National Public Radio. Cathy & Marcy earned GRAMMY Awards for their recordings...
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Episode 12: Mya Byrne
Rainbow Rodeo
Get to know Mya Byrne now, because she is going to become a household name. Her newest album, Rhinestone Tomboy, is out now on Kill Rock Stars Records. KRS is the legendary riot grrl record label, and Rhinestone Tomboy is the first record off its brand new Nashville imprint. As I wrote in my profile in the , that's not the only first for this project: the video for "It Don't Fade" features a kiss shared between Mya and her partner, songwriter Swan Real. When the video was broadcast on CMT, it made them the first known transfemme kiss on broadcast TV. When the pair repeated their...
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Bonus Episode: Batting Around w/ Rachel Cholst and Bryan Ruby
Rainbow Rodeo
Hey, cowpokes! This week I joined queer baseball podcast Batting Around to speak with Bryan Ruby. Bryan is the first professional baseball player to come out while actively playing. Now that he's getting ready to hang up his cleats, he's picking up his guitar and kick-starting his country music career! This episode goes more into his time in baseball and being queer in the sport, though of course we talk music, too. Bryan's career is fascinating, and a great look at the sport for the vast majority of its fans and players -- those who operate outside of the MLB and the US in general. Also, I...
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Episode 10: Zoe Boekbinder
Rainbow Rodeo
Howdy, cowpokes! This month I speak with Zoe Boekbinder about their recent songs, "Cut My Heart In Two," and "I Am Yesterday." Both of these songs were produced by Gracie and Rachel, whom I interviewed on my previous podcast, Adobe and Teardrops. Zoe Boekbinder is a veteran, singer songwriter, born in Canada and raised in a string of Buddhist communities on the West coast they have a unique outlook on life. Their latest album Shadow was self-produced and released in November of 2018, but as we'll hear, Zoe has more music on the way. From May, 2010 to December, 2014, Zoe...
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Episode 9: February Check-In w/ Sunny War, John-Allison Weiss, Terry Blade, Jaimee Harris, Izzy Heltai, Tina and Her Pony, Tami Hart
Rainbow Rodeo
Howdy, cowpokes! Thanks to an audio snafu, this month's interview did not go as planned but that means I get to LARP as an NPR DJ! This month's episode reviews the fantastic queer country releases from February, as well as a preview of what's to come this spring. Sunny War, Anarchist Gospel, “Swear to Gawd” John-Allison Weiss, The Long Way, “Different Now” Terry Blade, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper, “Won’t Be Around” Jaimee Harris, Boomerang Town, “Good Morning, My Love” Izzy Heltai, “Running Out” (Single) Tina and Her Pony “Beautiful Mess” (Marigolds) ...
info_outline- Sunny War, Anarchist Gospel, “Swear to Gawd”
- John-Allison Weiss, The Long Way, “Different Now”
- Terry Blade, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper, “Won’t Be Around”
- Jaimee Harris, Boomerang Town, “Good Morning, My Love”
- Izzy Heltai, “Running Out” (Single)
- Tina and Her Pony “Beautiful Mess” (Marigolds)
- Tami Hart, “Thanks For Saying Hi” (Thanks For Saying Hi)