Rodeo Boys’ new album Junior captures the quiet rebellion of a queer, blue-collar heart—unflinching, raw, and unafraid to tell the stories that others shy away from.
Produced by Tom May (The Menzingers) and mixed by Marc Jacob Hudson (Against Me!, Saves The Day, Sunny Day Real Estate), Junior is a record of defiance, queerness, and resilience. Vocalist/guitarist Tiff Hannay, a non-binary leftist punk who grew up hunting, farming, and working blue-collar jobs in a state that often marginalizes people like them, brings an unmistakable depth to Rodeo Boys’ hard-hitting, small-town misfit anthems. Elsewhere, Junior chisels through tales of revenge from a unique queer masc perspective, with a ferocity akin to The Pixies, The Breeders, Mannequin Pussy, and Destroy Boys.
Album standouts like “Cowgirl in the Dark” reflect Tiff’s admiration for the often misunderstood Pam Anderson; elsewhere, the fired-up onslaught of “Speedway” and “Pump Six” pay homage to The Clash’s “Straight To Hell,” throwing shade at former friends that threw away their potential by being abusive.
Across its 14 tracks, Junior is a collision of fiery punk rage, salt-of-the-earth passion, and melodic emo; a cathartic soundtrack for anyone still trying to find their place in it all.