Review: Secret Emchy Society- 'Queen of the Assholes'

Secret Emchy Society is a band that has never done anything by halves. While they're standard-bearers of the current Bay Area Queer Country scene, they've always been more about out-outlawing the outlaws. If it's hard drinking, hard fighting, hard gigging, or hard living, Secret Emchy Society has probably written a song about it. While their new release, Queen of the Assholes, tacks a bit more into classic country territory than their outlaw roots, the album's title is evidence that they haven't completely parted with their outlaw ways.

The album's highlight track is its first single, “Bears in the Lot.” The tale of a heartworn traveler's encounters with a bear in a bar parking lot is punctuated by a call-and-response chorus that, having had the opportunity to hear it live, I can safely say will be a highlight of the group's concert setlist for years to come. It's a fun song, even if the undertones are somewhat less so.

Another highlight is the title track. “Queen of the Assholes” is an uptempo rocker that hits closest to the outlaw country of the band's past. “If you're looking for the Queen of Assholes / just hand me the crown / there ain't no way / I'll let you tear me down.”

“Lavender Fields” is a rare, gentle ballad from Secret Emchy Society. It's a tribute to queer country pioneer Patrick Haggerty and his band Lavender Country. Lavender Country was plowing the fields. Secret Emchy Society is currently planting back in the '70s, making it a fitting tribute to a one-of-a-kind artist.

“Gay Cowboys” is a short but fun subversive take on the iconic cowpoke of yore. “Went to a Party” is a bass-heavy rocker. “Catalyst” is the kind of road song required of any road warrior touring act.

As stated before, this is a much more classic country take than Secret Emchy Society's previous efforts, more Buck Owens than Merle Haggard. But it's a good fit for them. While I personally love the barroom boozers, it's good to mix things up in a setlist, and Queen of the Assholes provides Secret Emchy Society with plenty of material to do that.