Review: Secret Emchy Society Melds Classic Country and Punk Ethos on 'The Chaser'
“Queer Country” isn't so much a genre label as a collective. It's a way to unite a population artists who haven't always, or ever, been treated well by a very conservative and risk averse political establishment in support of each other's work. Most of these artists have organically drifted to Americana, which itself tends to be defined as a loose group of people who are just a little bit too different for mainstream country. One of the movement's more prominent fixtures is Cindy Emch, who not only serves as editor for Country Queer magazine but also fronts the California-based Secret Emchy Society, whose latest album The Chaser released May 15.
Somewhat ironically, The Chaser is an album that is by far more in the realm of “true country” than anything on country radio today. Pulling heavily from Buck Owens' Bakerfield sound, the outlaw country style of the '70s, and the hard drinking songs of Hank Williams, it's an album that should satisfy any honky tonk barfly.
Did I mention hard drinking? One hopes for Emch's liver's sake that she doesn't quite live her songs because there is enough whiskey, bourbon, cheap beer, and wine across the album's 11 tracks to drown even the most robust alcoholic. On “I Get Drunk”, a rambling guitar riff anchors Emch's bar-soaked voice about being equally drunk on Irish Whiskey and a long-term lover.
On one of the album's most fun tracks, “Whiskey Fightin' Terri”, Emch draws comparison to LA punk band X, whose primary members John Doe and Exene Cervenka have delved into country and Americana. There's more than a little bit of punk snarl in this rockabilly tale of a woman who can't hold her liquor (or, more appropriately, can't resist holding others in a headlock). Lyrics like “trouble is coming with a lopsided grin” would be at home in any punk song, as would “keep on going 'cause we're all gonna die.”
But it isn't all drunken revelry, or rumblery, on The Chaser. There are moments of tenderness and insight as well. On “Dance Like the World is Ending”, day drinkers find camaraderie as they “dance like the world is ending in a song.” On “The Good Dog”, Emch pays tribute to a faithful companion who is coming to the end of his life. “Your heart is a butterfly beatin' to lose its wings”, she croons, “time to shed the pain and sleep again, sleep again. On “Grackle”, Emch and Tolan McNeill take opposite sides of a toxic relationship that isn’t doing either party any good.
While The Chaser is going to be forever labeled a “queer country” album due to Emch's strong connection to the community, it's an album that you could slide wordlessly to any elderly devotee of the classic country legends and know he'd be right there. Secret Emchy Society is by no means a throwback act, but the direct line to country's history makes it a perfect boozy barroom companion. Its songs would sound perfectly at home pouring from an antique vinyl jukebox tucked away in the corner of some time-forgotten honky tonk dive.
You can get The Chaser on May 15 from the band's website or at your favorite local independent record store if they offer mail order or curbside pickup.