The good/bad news is that the old “I swear to God you bootlickers need a good ass kicking” and “Jesus is ashamed at what you do in his name” styles of country are making a comeback
And for inclusivity, there’s a sub genre devoted to the “you tried to end my people but I will not die” style which includes focuses on lgbtqia+, women in general, pagans/wiccans, indigenous groups, other, and various combinations therein
The bog witches, fae creatures, and {unknown description of Appalachian denizens} have been putting out some good stuff
Pink Williams is actually one of those people for those who dont know. His style is very anti capitalist country music. “The Devil is Real” is all about how the real devil is the capitalists who take advantage of the common folk. And “Thank God For Gay Cowboys” is as the title suggests about gay cowboys and rednecks.
Chris Knight, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Turnpike Troubadours, Cody Jinks, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Lucero
All great Americana / Folk Rock / Outlaw artists who have meaningful music most would call country that has nothing to do with pavement princess trucks, shitty beer, racism, or military worship. Quite a few of these artists have songs with anti establishment themes or have made statements against conservativism at some point, as far as I am aware. Classic outlaw country is also full of artists who were hippie / fuck the state types before corporations co-opted the genre
I thought Colter wall was an asshole, but I’m only basing that off the fact that he sang Dixieland as a preface to one of his songs. I just kinda assumed that he was a white supremacist and stopped listening to him after that.
I’m not claiming to be an expert on the personal affairs or beliefs of any of these artists and I’ve removed other artists I didn’t mention from my library after learning some unsavory things. I do know Sleeping On The Blacktop, his most popular song, makes several literary juxtapositions about class and ideology in the south, one in particular about a rich white confederate type woman spitting on the working class people in a region of the appalachians that traditionally opposed the confederacy and slavery.
Would be a very odd to also play songs supporting confederate ideals at the same time, but some people do some real mental gymnastics with their views
There have been quite a few options in heavy music as well. Zeal and Ardor mix black metal and spiritual folk, Wayfarer have an Appalachian black metal vibe, and Bask do some really beautiful progressive metal in the style.
I’ve also been grooving some Lilith Max lately but she ventures closer to indie pop but the sentiment is the same. Add Peggy, Mollie Elizabeth, and Emei to that vibe
Oliver Anthony is a good hit of the Appalachian soul. Bryan Andrews is a hit you over the head with the calling out of the establishment. Add Jesse Welles and Tyler Childers for slightly more subtle messages
Queer Appalachian country sounds awesome. I normally go for folk punk, but I do kinda miss living surrounded by queer Appalachians like some of the places I’ve lived
The good/bad news is that the old “I swear to God you bootlickers need a good ass kicking” and “Jesus is ashamed at what you do in his name” styles of country are making a comeback
And for inclusivity, there’s a sub genre devoted to the “you tried to end my people but I will not die” style which includes focuses on lgbtqia+, women in general, pagans/wiccans, indigenous groups, other, and various combinations therein
The bog witches, fae creatures, and {unknown description of Appalachian denizens} have been putting out some good stuff
Pink Williams is actually one of those people for those who dont know. His style is very anti capitalist country music. “The Devil is Real” is all about how the real devil is the capitalists who take advantage of the common folk. And “Thank God For Gay Cowboys” is as the title suggests about gay cowboys and rednecks.
Just looked him up, this guy is great!
What style is that?
Americana. Check out James McMurtry.
I’m really enjoying Jesse Welles atm, especially his song Masks Off
Willie Carlisle and Sierra Farrell are both phenomenal acts, as are Big Thief/Buck Meek/Adrienne Lenker
Chris Knight, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Turnpike Troubadours, Cody Jinks, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Lucero
All great Americana / Folk Rock / Outlaw artists who have meaningful music most would call country that has nothing to do with pavement princess trucks, shitty beer, racism, or military worship. Quite a few of these artists have songs with anti establishment themes or have made statements against conservativism at some point, as far as I am aware. Classic outlaw country is also full of artists who were hippie / fuck the state types before corporations co-opted the genre
I thought Colter wall was an asshole, but I’m only basing that off the fact that he sang Dixieland as a preface to one of his songs. I just kinda assumed that he was a white supremacist and stopped listening to him after that.
I’m not claiming to be an expert on the personal affairs or beliefs of any of these artists and I’ve removed other artists I didn’t mention from my library after learning some unsavory things. I do know Sleeping On The Blacktop, his most popular song, makes several literary juxtapositions about class and ideology in the south, one in particular about a rich white confederate type woman spitting on the working class people in a region of the appalachians that traditionally opposed the confederacy and slavery.
Would be a very odd to also play songs supporting confederate ideals at the same time, but some people do some real mental gymnastics with their views
Or Tom Russell.
There have been quite a few options in heavy music as well. Zeal and Ardor mix black metal and spiritual folk, Wayfarer have an Appalachian black metal vibe, and Bask do some really beautiful progressive metal in the style.
I’ve also been grooving some Lilith Max lately but she ventures closer to indie pop but the sentiment is the same. Add Peggy, Mollie Elizabeth, and Emei to that vibe
Oliver Anthony is a good hit of the Appalachian soul. Bryan Andrews is a hit you over the head with the calling out of the establishment. Add Jesse Welles and Tyler Childers for slightly more subtle messages
Queer Appalachian country sounds awesome. I normally go for folk punk, but I do kinda miss living surrounded by queer Appalachians like some of the places I’ve lived
If you think about it, isn’t country kinda the American folk music? Not the native American folk music, but the American folk music.