QueerCuts: Sarah Shook
The first time I heard Sarah Shook I had no idea she was part of our little Queer Country family. I just knew that hot damn – this is another musician that’s going on my personal high rotation list. Fast forward not too far and I started noticing some same gender love songs and reading bios stating she was an out bisexual. Well hot damn again. My people.
With a voice that cuts right to your soul, lyrics that are painfully specific and universally anthemic, and a no shit taking Merle Haggard sort of swagger – Sarah Shook is the real deal.
Check out this new amazing skate punk country video for her tune New Ways to Fail
More about Sarah Shook:
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers is an old school outlaw country/Americana band with punk tendencies. Inspired by artists such as the Sex Pistols, Elliott Smith and Hank Williams, Sarah sings with confidence, control, and, at times, a hint of menace. The Disarmers match her on every track,
coloring the tales of resilience and empathy with as much urgency as ever as well as a broader sonic sweep.
Her second album ‘Years’ will release on April 6th, 2018. At its pounding heart, ‘Years’ crackles with a pointedly contemporary and relevant take on the outlaw spirit. Built around the buoyant pedal steel of Phil Sullivan, and the post-punk rattle and Live at San Quentin hum of Eric Peterson’s guitar, there are echoes of Nikki Lane and Merle Haggard as much as Ty Segall. It’s home is the ragged-but-real honky tonk, not the bro-country “honky tonk.” It’s easy to hear Sarah as a close cousin to artists like Hurray for the Riff Raff and Margo Price on the title track, or in the country-‘60s mod vibe on “Lesson.”