TRACK RECORD

Forget the Grammys, Here’s 7 Queer Indie Bands You Should Be Listening To

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The Grammys are coming up on Sunday, and though America’s most prestigious music honors will see gay faves (Adele, Lady Gaga, Pink), bisexuals (Nicki Minaj) and even those who brag about kissing a girl (Katy Perry) vie for awards, it’s probably the least gay of the EGOT (Emmy, Tony, Oscar, Grammy) series.

So here I’m going give some much-deserved attention to bands and solo acts that will probably never get any recognition by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. But they deserve to be recognized by you. Make some room on your iPod for Jonsi (above) and other all-too-often overlooked queer acts.

Click through for the lowdown of some of today’s hottest queer indie musicians

Photos: Mercury Records, Parlophone

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Jump to 31 Comments

By: Dan Avery
On: Feb 10, 2012
Tagged: Diamond Rings, hunx and his punx, Jonsi, kele, Patrick Wolf, People at Parties, perfume genius, the grammys, Track Record

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31 Comments

No. 1 · divkid
dan avery: “But their cover of Young Marble Giants’ “Credit in a Straight World” (above) holds a very special place in my heart”

i’m sure you meant to say: their cover of HOLE’s “credit in the straight world” [your shame compounded because they had a queer element!]

loved kele’s tenderoni. inexplicably it didn’t do shit here in the uk charts, despite decent airplay.

Feb 10, 2012 at 8:36 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 2 · divkid
i’m a fucking idiot. you were correct.

i will NEVER doubt you again.

i am ritually disembowelling myself with my samurai sword even as i write this, such is my shame.

Feb 10, 2012 at 8:42 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 3 · John C
I thought Diamond Rings wasn’t gay, just gay-friendly?

Feb 10, 2012 at 9:30 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 4 · Kate Bushwhacked
When was this article written? Sigur Rós isn’t on hiatus anymore, they have a new album coming out this spring and they’re touring the whole year.

Feb 10, 2012 at 11:04 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 5 · bop2pop
This is a pretty good diverse list, however, I would add Ladyhawke (I would have added Goldfrapp too, but they are too well-known).

My Delirium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....38;ob=av2e

She has just released her new single, , which is an homage to my favorite camptastic horror film, The Eyes of Laura Mars. I have both the video and the video it is inspired for comparison on my website: http://www.bop2pop.com

http://bop2pop.com/2012/01/30/.....ink-remix/

Feb 10, 2012 at 11:21 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 6 · bop2pop
Sorry wrong link to Black White Blue.

here it is…
http://bop2pop.com/2012/02/06/.....lue-video/

Feb 10, 2012 at 11:30 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 7 · Jack
Queerty “grammar” strikes again. The headline should read “Here are . . . bands” not “Here’s . . . bands”

Feb 10, 2012 at 12:22 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 8 · Tom
What about Beirut!? His last record was amazing, and he’s one of my favorite gay artists.

Feb 10, 2012 at 12:59 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 9 · DenverBarbie
Patrick Wolf- I live! I actually quite like Lupercalia, perhaps the most of his albums (maybe it’s just nice to hear him happy?). “The Future” and “The City” are my picks off of that release. “Teignmouth” is an older favorite worth checking out, as is every track off of The Bachelor- the lack of cohesion makes for one hell of a ride.

Will be checking out more Perfume Genius, Hunx, and Ssion. Thanks, Queerty!

Feb 10, 2012 at 1:14 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 10 · rdysetdisco
dane terry should be on this list.

queer neo-vaudevillian singer/songwriter/cabaret superstar.

http://daneterry.bandcamp.com/

Feb 10, 2012 at 2:19 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 11 · jason
Why aren’t these bands being appreciated by the Grammys? Yet, the Grammys has no hesitation in giving awards to homophobic black thugs and their vile rap lyrics. Remember that Buju Banton nomination recently?

Oh, and let’s not forget the awards the Grammys people have given to people like Eminem, a man who frequently used anti-gay slurs.

Feb 10, 2012 at 3:47 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 12 · Astro
Diamond Rings was so awful when he opened for Robyn. The crowd totally wasnt feel him, and he even said during his set “don’t worry everyone, only 35 minutes till Robyn comes on” i felt a bit bad for him, but he was awful

Feb 10, 2012 at 3:55 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 13 · Pissedoffhomo
he isn’t queer…..he just appropriates queer culture and style.

Feb 10, 2012 at 5:55 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 14 · SKANK
Your list of “Queer” bands is only gay men.

Gossip, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Justin Vivian Bond…

Feb 10, 2012 at 7:04 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 15 · Ben
No mention of The Magnetic Fields? For shame.

Feb 10, 2012 at 8:39 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 16 · divkid
beth ditto making fart noises under various folds and crevices would appear to me nonetheless as sonic cathedrals of ethereal majesty, such is my love for that woman.

Feb 10, 2012 at 10:13 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 17 · Aaron
What about Xiu Xiu and Parenthetical Girls!?

Feb 10, 2012 at 10:31 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 18 · INTERSCOPE REP
you left off BRANDON HILTON? possibly one of the most exciting new gay artists out right now!

http://www.facebook.com/BrandonHiltonOfficial

http://www.twitter.com/BrandonHilton

just signed with Interscope, gonna be HUGE! they’re calling him “the male Lady Gaga”

Feb 11, 2012 at 12:09 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 19 · John C
There’s also the Jane Austen Argument- an Aussie duo who tour regularly with Amanda Palmer/The Dresden Dolls, and who had lyrics written for them by Neil Gaiman:

http://music.thejaneaustenargument.net/

Feb 11, 2012 at 12:37 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 20 · Lazycrockett · Member · 34 comments
Nice to see queer music get some attention on this mostly boring gossipy site. Good selection of artist, but I hope hunx has properly credit the new order riff.

Feb 11, 2012 at 12:47 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 21 · Doi
Credit In The Straight World was originally done by Young Marble Giants. Not Hole.

Feb 11, 2012 at 12:33 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 22 · Timmmeeeyyy
I think we’re in a sort of LGBT music renaissance right now with lots of amazing bands with openly gay members. A few more to check out:
Jessie J
CocoRosie
God-Des & She
Fagget Fairys
Lady Sovereign
Sleepy Vikings

Serious Business’ fun song Hot Damn is in my rotation often these days.

Feb 11, 2012 at 12:41 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 23 · divkid
@Doi: hence comment no. 3.
please don’t prolong my humiliation. :)

Feb 11, 2012 at 1:11 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 24 · DenverBarbie
@divkid: Don’t be too embarrassed, sugar! Something tells me they were digging on Hole when they recorded the cover. I swear up and down that I heard a couple of Hole references on other tracks.

Feb 11, 2012 at 6:53 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 25 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1670 comments
@divkid: awwww don’t beat yourself up, babe

Feb 11, 2012 at 7:51 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 26 · divkid
@DenverBarbie: @Shannon1981:
mwah, mwah! your both sweeties, and that was…music to *my* ears!

Feb 11, 2012 at 8:04 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 27 · Shannon1981 · Member · 1670 comments
@divkid: thanks,and its my pleasure, and so good to have you around again.

and click my name, that’s the new blog(not the one you came to bring me back on) in case you leave again/get busy and we can email. Queerty really needs a messaging system of some sort..

Feb 11, 2012 at 8:13 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 28 · scott
Secret Rivals
http://www.facebook.com/secretrivalsband

Are a new band from Oxford who im really getting into the more listen x

also Gossip and Bloc Party spring to mind

Feb 16, 2012 at 10:08 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 29 · Daniel
Free promo waheyyy! My boyfriends band:
http://www.reverbnation.com/indigovertebrae

Feb 17, 2012 at 9:41 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 30 · John C
Well, hell, if we’re just shamelessly plugging:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UIrCGR83tI

Feb 17, 2012 at 10:59 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 31 · Alex
As a result of this article, I “ran over” to Amazon and bought both “The Boxer” by Kele and “Lupercalia” by Patrick Wolf…on VINYL!

Mar 15, 2012 at 1:53 am · @Reply · Flag