The Grammys are coming up on Sunday, and though Americaās 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, itās probably the least gay of the EGOTĀ (Emmy, Tony, Oscar, Grammy) series.
So here Iām 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 todayās hottest queer indie musicians
Photos: Mercury Records, Parlophone
Ā
Patrick Wolf,
I often describe Patrick Wolf to friends as our generationās Kate Bush: passionate, eclectic, left of center, British and, at times, just bloody weird. His latest album, Lupercalia, is admittedly not my favorite, though it actually might be his most accessible to date. And short of 2007ās āThe Magic Position,ā āThe CityāĀ (above) might be the happiest song heās ever written. For more complicated tracks, Iād recommend āTo the Lighthouse,ā āTristan,ā and āMagpieāāwhich features stunning guest vocals by Marianne Faithfull. After performing only a handful of acoustic dates in the U.S. last year, Wolf may tour the U.S. in 2012, though no announcement has been made.
Ā
Kele
Bloc Party may have gone on hiatus in 2008, but gay frontman Kele Okereke has been busy since then crafting some considerably more electro-tinged solo work. His first solo album, 2010ās The Boxer, felt like what it was: an indie rockerās first foray into electro pop. And the fusion works! Last Novemberās The Hunter, a seven-song E.P., was more in the vein of straight of dance musicāsee lead single āWhat Did I Do,ā featuring guest vocals by Lucy Taylor. Still, āTenderoniā (above), off The Boxer, remains a personal fave.
Ā
JĆ³nsi
Also gaining steam as a solo artist for the last couple years is Sigur RĆ³s frontman JĆ³n āJĆ³nsiā ĆĆ³r Birgisson. With his band on indefinite hiatus, the Icelandic singer has recorded an instrumental album with his boyfriend, Alex Somersā2009ās Riceboy Sleepsāand, in 2010, released his first solo album, Go. The album features JĆ³nsiās first songs performed in Englishāincludin āGo Doā (above)ā,though his characteristic high pitched warbling is still there.
JĆ³nsiās solo output is much more pop than Sigur RĆ³sās sprawling, strangely orchestral compositions. But the same quirks are thereātwinkling, tinkling chimes; atmospheric strings; resonant pianos and the general feeling that this is music that comes from ancient souls locked inside toy soldiers. Most recently, JĆ³nsi has contributed music to the soundtrack of Cameron Croweās We Bought a Zoo.
Ā
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Ssion
Kansas City-based Ssionāpronounced āshun,ā in case you were wonderingāare equal parts New Wave, neo-disco and synth pop. They can go from campy gay madness (āClownā) to playfully creepy and maybe even a bit dark (āA Wolveās Eyeā). But their cover of Young Marble Giantsā āCredit in a Straight WorldāĀ (above) holds a very special place in my heart. The band is on tour (with a stop at New Yorkās Highline Ballroom on March 2), so catch them if you can.
Ā
Hunx and his Punx
If The Drums feel just a bit too commercial to you, may I suggest you get into Hunx and his Punx? Actually, if The Drums feel too commercial to you, youāre probably already a Hunx fan. Whatever. Frontman Seth Bogartās faggoty retro garage pop, evident in songs like āCruisingā (above), is a blast. The bandās latest album, Too Young to Be in Love, is up for GLAAD Media Award this year. Meanwhile, Bogart has gone solo with Hairdresser Blues, which sees the usually flamboyant singer in a more reflexive mood, dealing with personal loss and emotional lows on tracks like āAlways Foreverā and āSay Goodbye Before You Leave.ā But judging from the albumās promo clip, thereāll be no shortage of retro diner punk theatrics.
Ā
Diamond Rings
On his debut, Special Affections, John OāReaganāa.k.a. Diamond Ringsāgoes from sensual slow burners like āPlay By Heartā to swaggering dance tracks like āShow Me Your Stuffā (above). He combines jangly guitars with programmed beats and a minimal electro sound that, oddly, almost reminds you of ā90s gangsta rap. Heās also a big fan of eye makeup and lip glossāand opened for Robyn on her 2011 tour.
Perfume Genius
The video for Perfume Geniusās latest single, āHoodā (above), co-stars adult performer Arpad Miklosāmaybe thatās why it was initially banned from YouTube for adult content despite featuring no nudity or graphic sex. It was eventually approved but , ironically, that ban caused something of a scandal in the gay blogosphere and brought out solo artist Mike Hadreas some much deserved attention for his upcoming second album, Put Your Back N 2 It, out February 21.
Ā
Ā
divkid
dan avery: “But their cover of Young Marble Giantsā āCredit in a Straight Worldā (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.
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.
John C
I thought Diamond Rings wasn’t gay, just gay-friendly?
Kate Bushwhacked
When was this article written? Sigur RĆ³s isn’t on hiatus anymore, they have a new album coming out this spring and they’re touring the whole year.
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=X_bFO1SNRZg&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/ladyhawke-black-white-blue-the-big-pink-remix/
bop2pop
Sorry wrong link to Black White Blue.
here it is…
http://bop2pop.com/2012/02/06/ladyhawke-black-white-and-blue-video/
Jack
Queerty “grammar” strikes again. The headline should read “Here are . . . bands” not “Here’s . . . bands”
Tom
What about Beirut!? His last record was amazing, and he’s one of my favorite gay artists.
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!
rdysetdisco
dane terry should be on this list.
queer neo-vaudevillian singer/songwriter/cabaret superstar.
http://daneterry.bandcamp.com/
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.
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
Pissedoffhomo
he isn’t queer…..he just appropriates queer culture and style.
SKANK
Your list of “Queer” bands is only gay men.
Gossip, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Justin Vivian Bond…
Ben
No mention of The Magnetic Fields? For shame.
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.
Aaron
What about Xiu Xiu and Parenthetical Girls!?
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”
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/
Lazycrockett
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.
Doi
Credit In The Straight World was originally done by Young Marble Giants. Not Hole.
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.
divkid
@Doi: hence comment no. 3.
please don’t prolong my humiliation. š
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.
Shannon1981
@divkid: awwww don’t beat yourself up, babe
divkid
@DenverBarbie: @Shannon1981:
mwah, mwah! your both sweeties, and that was…music to *my* ears!
Shannon1981
@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..
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
Daniel
Free promo waheyyy! My boyfriends band:
http://www.reverbnation.com/indigovertebrae
John C
Well, hell, if we’re just shamelessly plugging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UIrCGR83tI
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!