The artful outlaw country indie rock parables of "Holy Rollers 25", by stalwart San Francisco singer-songwriter / transgender country punk pioneer Shawna Virago, cuts a thoughtful swaying porch blues country swathe right into your heart and brain. I am the traditional country / folk rock persuasions, the nimble guitar moves, the rockabilly laced musicality and, of course, Virago's lovely sharp tongued vocal countenance, full of drawling truths about the weaponization of faith that extends to the bastardization of religions and (to me) all the fucking politicians who hypocritically adopt fake religiosity to saturate their hateful dog whistling speech with.
The truth of Virago's politico poetry is so so evident, "like children who find out to late that matches burn your fingers / they never learn to hesitate 'till nursing those wounds later / and Jesus fills them up / but Jim Beam fills their cup / their known as Holly Rollers who feel the sin but no salvation / she sells cars a little / he does the entry / they married a long time ago / but treat each other like enemies / until the Whiskey hits their cup and they forget their on the bottom rung..." and feels absolutely personal like long time battle scars. Stylistically, Virago's voice has me feeling an amalgam of artists like Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash and Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano (or thereabouts) and I feel both strength and vulnerability. Punching away, sharing her truth since the 1990's.
Wow, cool and impactful, a great searing combination.
LINER NOTES (excerpted / bracketed):
[Shawna Virago stands as a pioneering figure in American roots music, blending punk energy with country storytelling to create a sound that defies easy categorization. Based in San Francisco, she has been a trailblazer for transgender representation in music since the 1990s, touring nationally and releasing critically acclaimed albums that tackle themes of identity, resilience, and social justice. Her previous album, Blood in Her Dreams, was named one of the best albums of the year by Billboard Magazine and showcased her evolution as both a musician and storyteller, cementing her reputation as what Rainbow Rodeo calls "the fairy godmother of trans country artists."]
-Robb Donker Curtius
+ + +
The Chicken Wheel will take you to the AP Go Fund Me- and any amount is so appreciated!
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://soundcloud.com/shawnavirago
https://shawnavirago.bandcamp.com/track/high-road-no-6
https://www.instagram.com/shawnavirago/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063892221984&ref=br_rs#
https://x.com/ShawnaVirago
“The fairy godmother of trans country artists, Virago writes and performs a potent mix of folk, alt-country, and punk that grew out of the crucible of eighties LA. Her music is easily on par with the great country lyricists – Guy Clarke, Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams.”
– RAINBOW RODEO
“It’s a dark, oft-demonstrated truth that society lashes out at its most vulnerable members when the world gets scary, and 2024 was a shameful year for Americans scapegoating and scaremongering against the trans community. But as a trans woman who has been creating and performing since the ’90s, Shawna Virago knows a thing or two about resilience. Blood in Her Dreams adds a ramshackle punk punch to the world of Lucinda Williams-esque Americana. And while the insightful, evocative lyrics are more personal than political, there’s an undercurrent of resistance and fortitude that makes Dreams a much-needed catharsis in reality.”
– Billboard: The 20 Best Pride Albums of 2024
Shawna Virago, alt country, country punk, outlaw country, folk country, indie rock, rockabilly, “The fairy godmother of trans country artists", political country, social commentary, transgender artist, "Holy Rollers 25",
No comments:
Post a Comment