Music Monday: Rainbow Connection

I’ve decided to start off 2022 with things I am unabashedly looking forward to. After the year (well, two years) we’ve all hard, sometimes it’s hard to find hope. But this crazy world keeps on spinning, and we’re doing our best to spin along. So here’s the first thing I am genuinely looking forward to in 2022. My wife and I have tickets to see Kacey Musgraves with special guests MUNA and King Princess. This will be our first concert since the pandemic started. We bought tickets over the summer, months and months ago, back when we thought there’d be no way this infernal panini would still be fucking up our lives in February. Surely, we’re safe making plans for then right? Right. But, regardless, I’m thrilled to see Kacey, et al. And I hope this year brings you all Rainbow Connections beyond your wildest dreams. We’re all due for some unabashed gay joy. Happy Monday and 2022, kittens.

Music Monday: Kacey Smash Edition

Now, you know I love Kacey Musgraves (hello, she’s touring with King Princess AND MUNA! Did I buy tickets immediately? YES I DID.), and you know the world loves a good breakup album. (Like, isn’t that Olivia Rodrigo’s like whole deal – teen breakup angst/anger?) Anyway, Kacey has said her new alum “Star-Crossed” was inspired by her divorce. And its first single “Simple Times” is not only a fun bop, it’s video is a fun mini revenge movie. Part “Clueless,” part “Kill Bill,” part less lethal “Jawbreakers,” the movie has Kacey and a trio of friends arm themselves with medieval weaponry and chainmail masks. Her high-impact friends include “Haunting of Bly Manor” star Victoria Pedretti (Dani a.k.a. The Gay Au Pair), rapper Princess Nokia and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone – plus there’s a cameo by their supplier/comedian Megan Stalter. All in all, a good time was had by all except those who work in the Bridal Industrial Complex. I mean, who doesn’t like watching shit get smashed? Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend Crush

It’s been an incredibly hectic week, I am behind on all of the things. But at least I have Kacey Musgraves as my soundtrack. I know I’m a latecomer to loving “Golden Hour.” I didn’t get into it until after she won all those Grammys. But now I listen to it on repeat. And I don’t even like contemporary country music. But then Kacey, like Brandi Carlile, are just out there making their own beautiful music no matter the genre. And, you know, there are rainbows. So it’ll be all right. Happy weekend, all.

Music Monday: Kacey Edition

Look, sometimes life – and the GOP – just get you down. You know, Republicans just really subjugate you to second-class status, remove your bodily autonomy and police your vagina. Like, who wouldn’t feel a little blue realizing that Alabama specifically rejected an exemption for rape or incest because, a woman’s suffering is nothing compared to the potential of the lump of cells growing inside of her. I mean, what if it grows up to be a straight white man? Anyway, all these terrible – and terribly illegal – so-called “heartbeat bills” are designed to be heat seeking missiles for the Trump/McConnell/Kavanaugh Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade once and for all. I mean, it’s enough to make a lady want to have a gun surgically inserted into her womb – because then at least conservatives would maybe think twice before regulating it.

Anyway, we must and will continue to fight this rollback of women’s rights (and the continued assault on immigrants, Muslims, POC, the disabled, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities because this administration is indeed that hateful). What else can we do? But, at least for a little bit, take some time to yourself. Self care is key to resistance. So why not follow our gal Kacey Musgraves’s advice to “roll up a joint – or don’t” and let yourself distress from an unquestionably stressful past week to be a woman (or any person with empathy and a desire for bodily autonomy) in America. I can only assume that’s what Kacey did when she made this visual video for “Oh, What a World” complete with its Geocities-era graphics and majestic centaur doppelgangers. I’ve loved Kasey since she told everyone to “Follow Your Arrow.” I suggest watching this video on a loop until everything melts away. I also highly recommend the rest of Kacey’s Grammy-winning album “Golden Hour.” While it wont’ cure what ails America, it certainly helps heal the soul a little. Unplug, get weird, and come back stronger, kittens.

Country Strong

I’m not really a country gal. While I grew up in the Midwest and had plenty opportunity to get my twang on, I gravitated more toward indie rock. But I have enjoyed from time to time some of classics – Johnny to Willie, Patsy to Loretta. And what I’ve particularly liked through the years is the unmistakably strains of strong women standing up for themselves and taking absolutely no shit. Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels,” Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” Dolly Parton’s “Just Because I’m a Woman,” Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill,” Martina McBride’s “Independence Day,” Dixie Chick’s “Goodbye Earl,” and so many more.

As a non-regular listener of popular country, I realize I’m about six months behind on Maddie & Tae’s “Girl in a Country Song.” But it’s never too late for a good, old-fashioned jolt of lyrical feminism. And, of course, it’s true. One grows ever so weary from the continued and relentless objectification, belittlement and worse of women in all genres of music – very much including country.

And, if like me, you don’t really listen to contemporary country music regularly you might not have realized the very recent controversy around playing women artists on the radio. In May a national radio consultant said in a major trade magazine that he cautioned stations from playing too many female artists. Like, he flat-out said that. And I quote: “If you want to make ratings in country radio, take females out.”

Instead he said female artists should be played sparingly like the decorative “tomatoes” in the predominantly male artist “salad.” I AM NOT EVEN MAKING THAT UP. Yes, I checked the calendar again, it’s actually 2015 and professional men are actually still saying stupid-ass shit like this.

But don’t worry, female artists like Maddie & Tae have already shot his sexist theory to smithereens with stone-cold results. In December their “Girl in a Country Song” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. So suck on them tomatoes, boys.

So today I extend my appreciation and admiration to those country music women out there fighting against The Man. And it’s also another excuse to post something about the continually delightful Kacey Musgrave, who just so happened to stop by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series on the day the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality across the nation. Yee-fucking-Haw.

Follow your Kacey

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I generally dislike Katy Perry. My reasons have been well documented and also lesbians HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN that “I Kissed A Girl” shit. But she’s had some admittedly catchy songs and I liked “Roar” – even if Sara Bareilles did it first and better with “Brave.” But, I digress. Katy did a CMT Crossroads with Kacey Musgraves over the weekend. And they dueted on Musgraves’ adorable hit “Follow Your Arrow.” Interesting point of order, Kacey initially offered “Follow Your Arrow” to Katy. But she told Kacey she should keep it for herself because “This is going to be really good for you.” And, indeed, it was. So I guess I can’t hate Katy entirely. I mean, she helped make Kacey a star and I think Kacey is cute as a damn button. Also, I really like this song. It makes me want to tap my toe every time I hear it. So I’ll post it whenever I can. Though, no comment on Katy’s purple cellophane skirt. Is it made of Fruit Roll-Ups? Sorry, I forgot, I wasn’t commenting.

Follow Your Kacey

If you are like me, when the country music portion of the Grammy Awards come on you use it as a perfect time to go get another beer. But at Sunday’s Grammys I stayed seated and delighted. Well, no, not with Hunter Hayes. What’s with the random quotes, Country Bieber? You see, I’m no country music fan – but if that’s what you’re into, absolutely no judgment. I enjoy some classics – Patsy, Loretta, Johnny, Willie. But the contemporary stuff, eh. Still the adorable Kacey Musgraves had me glued to my couch.

First, there was her outfit – light-up boots and lamp-shade skirt and all. Then there was her band – with their cute matchy-matchy Western wear. And now I have this odd desire to decorate my living room with neon cacti. But the main attraction was Kacey herself. And, more importantly, her music. I am a little bit in love with “Follow Your Arrow.” See for youself.



Yes, America, a popular country music song discusses same-sex smoochies, pre-marital sex, toking up, body snarking, slut shaming and aethism – in a good way. This is one of the most merrily progressive songs I’ve heard in the past year. And it does it all without being preachy. It’s just about, you know, following your heart. Do what makes you happy, don’t worry about what makes other people happy. Be you. How utterly refreshing.

Right, so I’m off to iTunes to download “Follow Your Arrow.” If you need me I’ll be two-stepping under my desk.

p.s. Here is the official video. I kind of want hot-pants with gun holsters to become a thing.