Here, Queer, & Everywhere
Whether you’re planning to travel IRL or need to freshen up your mental happy place, there’s several travel guides out there to scratch whatever itch you have, including queer-friendly destinations. (Slightly off-topic, but while I am painfully white I did recently enjoy reading “Asian Girls Are Going Places” - it’s a feast for the eyes and includes a section on self-defense.)
Did you know queer travel guides have been published for almost seventy years? And from the start they regularly included Oklahoma. The earlier years included a small list of coded initials to mark whether a place was better for blending in or standing out and other essentials. The vintage guides take some effort to track down nowadays, but a pretty nifty digital exhibition called “Mapping the Gay Guides” based on the Damron line is now available for anyone to access at mappingthegayguides.org or via the QR code below.
Show
New (Free) Zines Angrr!
Exegesis
by NoMoore by Granny Anarchy written for her performance at Library Out Loud on May 15.
Vol. 1, No. 2
ThePrompt:
So, there is a whole history of songs that explicitly tell a story being a vehicle for passing down history, resisting oppression, etc. Think Woody Guthrie, C.W. McCall, folk songs like John Henry, and a bunch that I've heard but not learned the artists of.
I adore this genre, but I have no idea how to find anything of this type that's been written in the last like 40 years. I'd love suggestions for more current resistance music of this style, or even a piece about it in UMAmi! -Xoje
We loved your idea so much, Xoje, that we tag-teamed on this one! Read on for responses from Granny Anarchy, Primal Opossum, and Jackalope, plus a shared playlist:
Songs of Storytelling and Resistance
Mostly from the last 40 years, with some classics thrown in for good measure
Your Heart is a Muscle: A history of folk + punk
Hello, Xoje! Thank you for your message. I'm excited about answering it, and hope my reply is helpful to you and other UMAmi readers.
Please note: folk is not my area of expertise, so if anyone sees any errors or would like to expand upon anything I egregiously omitted, I welcome comments and collaboration!
“Arkansas Traveler” / “Buffalo Gals” / “Turkey in the Straw”
Songs such as “John Henry” (circa 1909) are known as folks songs, and artists such as Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) are known as folk artists. "Folk" is derived from the German word “volk,” or "people." It is literally "the people's music." There is a long history of folk - which is music recounting human experience (love, war, worry, etc.) with simple structure, minimal instrumentation, and an everyday outlook. Twentieth century North American folk music originated from English, Irish, and Scottish settlers in Appalachia and the many dispossessed African nationalities throughout the south. North American folk began as material circulated by anonymous amateurs within their communities. It was often constrained to vocals and banjo or acoustic guitar, perhaps filled out with harmonica, fiddle, or accordion with uncomplicated percussion. Folk appealed to a growing part of the populationparticularly the working class - especially when the century saw increased activity in industrialism, nationalism, and political conflict.
We are going to have to admit here that the lion’s share of folk/folkpunk musicians who have achieved mainstream recognition – are white, as are most consumers of folk music, who in turn also are middle- or upper-class.
“Will
the Circle Be Unbroken” – The Carter Family
The Carter family (including June Carter, who eventually married Johnny Cash) initiated the popularization of American folk music. They first recorded in 1927, selling over 300,000 records by 1930. This enabled other performers with folk backgrounds to break into the industry, including Burl Ives and Huddie Ledbetter (aka Leadbelly.)
“Dear
Mr. President” – The Almanac Singers
The American folk music revival would not have been possible without Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Pete and Woody each had folk/musical backgrounds and a sense of justice. Both belonged to the Almanac Singers a traveling musical and political group. Pete also formed The Weavers. Around this time (late 1940s-early 1950s) folk recordings were becoming more popular, increasing industry attention.
However, McCarthyite blacklisting (fear over rising communism, aka the “Red Scare”) was also escalating.
Due to the political climate and its economic effects, many folk musicians lived like today’s “indie” artists; they self-produced records and travelled to (poorly paying) shows. Pete was blacklisted and his ability to perform was severely restricted. The Kingston Trio - a group inspired by The Weavers - was the most successful early folk revival band. Their recording of “Tom Dooley” went to #1 in 1958 and helped move folk even more into the mainstream.
“The Times They Are A Changing” – Bob Dylan
Few people around today can think of “folk” and “rock” together without thinking of Bob Dylan. Dylan visited Woody Guthrie in New York in January 1961 and released his first album in 1962. His fifth album and performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 caused considerable controversy when he “went electric.”
“Teach Your Children” – Crosby Stills & Nash
During last half of the 1960s and the early 1970s, the United States sent troops to fight communism in North Vietnam, causing considerable civic discourse - which was, of course, reflected in music. Elements of folk style were heard in singer/songwriters such as Joan Baez, while folk rock (Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, Neil Young) influenced pop music and helped mold future resistance.
Punk poet Patrick Fitgerald's "Safety Pin Stuck in My Heart" isn't traditionally folk, but his acoustic style and streetwise, melancholy lyrics made it an archetypal and adored song.
“Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues
The 1970s gave rise to punk. The energetic resistance of the CBGB set and The Clash eventually spawned groups such as the Violent Femmes, the Pogues, the Meat Puppets, and Billy Bragg. These acts fused punk’s vitality and passion with (often) more acoustic instrumentation and folk influences.
Don’t forget the letters stood for “Country, Bluegrass, Blues & Other Music for Uplifting Gourmandizers.” Club owner Hilly Kristal was a baritone and recorded his own material, including the song anyone who saw the [inaccurate] 2013 movie may have heard.
In “This Ain’t No Disco: The Story of CBGB,” Village Voice writer Richard Nusser recalls the early 1970s NYC scene in this visit to see Wayne County: "sitting in the middle of it was ... a sweet, innocent, gorgeous-looking girl; she had her hair pulled back in a neat, almost grandmotherly bun, and she was only about 19. She was playing an acoustic rhythm guitar and wearing a brown granny dress and sensible shoes. She could have been the granddaughter of Elizabeth Cotten, who wrote 'Freight Train.'” Hilly also discovered Steve Forbert.
“California Über Alles” –
The Dead Kennedys / “Bleach Boys” - The Dead Milkmen
During the 1980s, resistance persisted in rock and punk with The Clash (who helped introduce reggae to a wider audience,) The Dead Kennedys, Midnight Oil, and U2 each uniquely recording human experiences in ways which appealed to the disenfranchised and challenged the status quo.
One could argue that reggae is Jamaican folkpunk, as it is heavily influenced by Jamaican folk, called Mento.
“Start Wearing Purple” – Gogol Bordello
Plan-It-X Records was created in 1994 and would go on to release acts such as AgainstMe!, AJJ, Defiance,Ohio, Japanther, Pat the Bunny, Ramshackle Glory, The Future Virgins, and many more. The Moldy Peaches began the same year. Near the end of the 90s, Celtic punk groups The Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, and the Real McKenzies began to see wider acclaim. Japanther is not folkpunk, but is heavily intertwined in the community. Likewise, AgainstMe! and Ramshackle Glory are more raucous and electrified than singer/songwriter, but their thematic elements, lineups, and audience draws dramatically overlap.
In the 2000s, Gogol Bordello achieved some mainstream success with self-styled “Gypsy Punk.” AgainstMe! also rose to fame, though it moved away from its original sound. The band Mischief Brew (which started as Kettle Rebellion) emerged in 2001. In 2004, Harley Poe began. Pat the Bunny, who has been active in the folk scene since 2000, released “Your Heart is a Muscle The Size of Your Fist” with Ramshackle Glory in 2011. Author’s note: Gypsy is an ethnic slur against the Roma or Romani. Lead singer Eugene Hütz (born outside Kyiv, Ukraine) is of Ukrainian, Romany, and Lithuanian descent.
“Two-Headed Boy, Pt. Two” - Neutral Milk Hotel
Though not folkpunk themselves, NMH is considered extremely influential in the genre. Most modern artists credit them as an inspiration or influence – including those on “The Songs of Neutral Milk Hotel: A Tribute.”
“Stick It in the Man” - Harley Poe
Since these songs tell of history and oppression, they challenge the people in power who often seek to suppress others.
So! There isn't one current, continuing genre of folk - the storytelling and musical style is related to bluegrass, jug music, and sea shanties as well as folk rock, freak folk, indie folk, and folk punk - which further splinters into gypsy punk, cowpunk, and Celtic punk.
Related
reading:
Granny
Anarchy’s “Punk is Protest” and “Zine about Censored Music”
Thanks for asking this Xoje! I'm a big fan of this kind of music and enjoy dabbling in it, but I would by no means say I /know/ about it. I'm not much of a writer, but I can tell you about some of my favorites in this genre-ish :^)
I feel like Nick Shoulders is a GREAT way to start this (we aren't saving the best for last). He's now a folk/country singersongwriter and yodeler from Arkansas. Originally he was in a punk rock band and then he began releasing country music as a solo artist. He continues to have a punk defiance in his music, and brings up several topics through his music and social media that are often overlooked.
I have a couple local artists as well. Mallory Eagle is a country/Americana singer/songwriter from OKC whose music is dedicated to storytelling. And Compost Adjacent is an OKC prairie folk rock band. They have a song in particular called “Great White Father” that I’d like to mention that is a critique on Western culture.
I’m going to simply list a few names here that are of the genre, but the storytelling and history is more fictional or they’re of personal struggles. Just some fun folksy/adjacent music to listen to. Dakota Ray Parker, The Dead South, The Devil Makes Three, Billy Strings, Charley Crocket, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Dakota Ray Parker, Ye Banished Privateers, and the “O Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack.
I have a couple names outside of these more traditional sounds. Andrew Jackson Jihad (AJJ) is a folk punk band that sings about topics from poverty and politics to addiction and existentialism. Panopticon is a black metal project run by Austin Lunn. Overall, his music might not be what you’re looking for, but I’d like to mention a few albums of his: “Social Disservices,” “La Passione De Sacco & Vanzetti,” and “Kentucky.” You’ll get it when you hear it. :^)
And I knooowww you said the last 40 years, but I had to mention Malvina Reynolds. Born in 1900, she was an American folk/blues singer songwriter and a polical activist as well. I love her music because she was in the business of calling things out. I was especially surprised by her lyrics after finding out how old the music was.
My playlist I made here for the April 2024 zine includes several of the names I listed.
Happy Listening :^)
“Back to the Roots”
Playlist by Primal Opossum
Hi Xoje (and other readers)!
I am terrible about sticking to a single genre and honestly don’t plan on changing that. So my “two cents” will be mostly driven by vibes (sorry not sorry). Although, if you’re surfing through genres and other keywords, don’t forget to throw “anti-folk” into the mix.
A couple other quick notes:
Look at artists from a variety of ethnicities, traditions, genders, homelands, and backgrounds. They’re out there, they just have not been highlighted or categorized the same way. If your playlist looks pasty, you need to dig deeper. Some songs you already know might have progressive or subversive histories, like “Tubthumping” (yes really.) Our Native Daughters
Jackalope Jams:
Activism & Protests
My Recommendations Include:
Batya Levine
Pussy Riot
Taína Asili
The Resistance Revival Chorus
Ana Tijoux
Grace Petrie
Mavis Staples
The Last Internationale
Raye Zaragoza
Mona Haydar
David Rovics
Free Radicals
Los Cafeteras
This is a kitchen-sink playlist (best played on shuffle) that includes multiple genres, eras, and social justice issues.
Reaction and Action
This playlist (begun last November) is not exclusively protest music, but is kind of my theme music for the year.
89thStreet
VENUES
8911NWesternAve(OKC) 89thstreetokc.com
BeerCityMusicHall
1141NW2nd(OKC) beercitymusichall.com
BlueDoor
2805NMcKinleyAve(OKC) bluedoorokc.com
BlueNote
2408NRobinsonAve(OKC) okcbluenote.com
Bookish
1005NW36thSt(OKC) thebookishshop.com
Criterion
500EastSheridanAve(OKC) criterionokc.com
Core4Brewing
7NLeeAve(OKC) core4brewing.com
DiamondBallroom
8001SEasternAve(OKC) diamondballroom.com
FactoryObscura
25NW9thSt(OKC) factoryobscura.com
GrandRoyale
1749NW16thSt (OKC) instagram.com/grandroyaleokc
JonesAssembly
901WSheridanAve(OKC) thejonesassembly.com
OKCider
705W.SheridanAve(OKC) okciderco.com
Opolis
113NCrawfordAve(Norman) opolis.org
Ponyboy
423NW23rdSt(OKC) ponyboyokc.com
ResonantHead
400SW25thSt,SuiteA(OKC) resonanthead.com
Resonator
325EMainSt(Norman) resonator.space
TheSanctuary
1012NIndianaAve(OKC) facebook.com/thesanctuaryok
51stStreetSpeakeasy
1114NW51stStreet(OKC) 51stspeakeasy.com
TowerTheatre
425NW23rdSt(OKC) towertheatreokc.com
TheVenue
1103NorthVilla(OKC) thevenueokc.com
WhiteRabbit
219SKleinAve(OKC) whiterabbitokc.pro
OpenMicnightatFactoryObscura-1stThursdays
BluegrassattheSpeakeasy
SongSwapattheBlueNote(usually1stThursdays)
DJnightsatPonyboy
LiveMusicatJohnnie’sonBritton
urringEvents
THURSDAY
LocalmusicatZeroTolerance’sjukeboxatNoon DJnightsatPonyboy
LiveMusicatJohnnie’sonBritton
CelticJamattheBanjoMuseum-4thSaturdays
DJnightsatPonyboy
LiveMusicatJohnnie’sonBritton
CelticmusicatFullCircleBookstore
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SongwriterSessions-3rdSundaysatCore4Brewing
JazzJamatFlycatcherClub
SUNDAY
Message Board
your news & submissions
Indie harpist and songwriter Moriah Bailey, formerly known as sun riah, is hitting the road with a full ensemble for the first time. Known for her emotive, minimalist sound and experimental harp work, Bailey will be joined by Sarah Reid (violin), Nicholas Allen (bass), and Beth (drums).
Her performances remain intimate and vulnerable, now enriched with lush textures and layered arrangements. After nearly seven years off the road,
Bailey returns with shows in eight cities close to her home and heart, featuring local openers and emotionally resonant sets. Full tour details at moriahbailey.com.
6/5 – Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf w/ Leoncarlo
6/6 – Austin, TX @ Chess Club w/ Little Mazarn
6/7 – Miami, OK @ Art Park (collab w/ LEAD Agency & local filmmakers)
6/8 – St. Louis, MO @ Chill Dawg Cove w/ Julio César & dee bird
6/9 – Chicago, IL @ Color Club w/ Andrew Sa, Ava Brennan & Garrett Frank
6/11 – Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge w/ CS Luxem & Aud Whitson
6/12 – Tulsa, OK @ Belafonte w/ Matt Magerkurth & Micaela Young
6/13 – OKC, OK @ Factory Obscura w/ Sky Hemenway & Sarah Reid
“DELICATE THING,” BY MIRANDA MOORE
THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL IN THE WILLOWS SILENT AND STILL WITH A HOLE IN HER CHEST WHERE THE WIND GETS IN IT HUMS TO THE MOON
SHE WEARS SORROW LIKE SILK AND THE NIGHT WRAPS AROUND HER LIKE IT ALWAYS HAS SHE TRIED TO FILL IT WITH POEMS WITH STARS WITH SLEEP WITH PRAYERS TO END THE PAIN
BUT THE HOLLOW JUST ECHOED WHATEVER SHE PUT IN IT
THEN CAME THE BIRDS SOFT SONGS IN THE SKY SPIRITS WITH FEATHERS AND A FIRE IN THEIR EYES
THEY CIRCLED ABOVE THEN LANDED SO LIGHT SINGING, “YOU ARE NOT BROKEN, JUST WAITING TO FLY.”
THEY LIFTED HER CHIN WITH THE FLAP OF THEIR WINGS AND TAUGHT HER THE MAGIC OF DELICATE THINGS
BLESS THE BIRDS WHO FOUND HER ON THAT VERY DAY WHO DIDN’T FIX HER, BUT THEN SHOWED HER ANOTHER WAY TO LIVE WITH THE HOLE, AND TO LOVE THROUGH THE ACHE
AND SHE STILL SINGS WITH THE BIRDS WHO REMEMBER HER NAME
Shoutout: Y’all know about Uncanny Art House in Norman? They’ re putting on really cool events, and they’ll be showing artwork by the late artist Ty Johnson June 13.
Shameless Plug
What the Punk?!
Photos by Primal Opossum
all taken on disposable cameras :^)
EINOK at 89th street!
AMA, Roadies Edition
What is your favorite color or color scheme?
My default answer for fave color is blue, cerulean to be precise (I had a crayon obsession as a kid). I’ve been thinking for years though that I’ve been lying to myself because I'm a big fan of purple and green. I like blue+black/grey, purple+black, and green+brown/yellow a lot. -Primal Opossum
I simply can't fathom why anyone would be interested in my favorite color, so I'm going to Go Granny and talk about octarine, which is a fictional color from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Octarine is the color of magic. It's described as a fluorescent purple-green-yellow visible only to cats and wizards, and is probably most similar to what you see when you close your eyes and rub them or blink/sleep (and THAT happens to be phosphenes, let me...!) -Granny Anarchy
Black, rainbow, and particular shades of blue. Depending on my mood and context I’m a blend of Rothko minimalism and maximalist whimsigoth, with a dash of Ms. Frizzle and some technicolor monochrome. -Jackalope
