Today, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers release Revelations, an album that The New York Times says is “the work of a songwriter relishing newfound clarity and confidence.” Self-produced for the first time by bandleader River Shook (they/them), and recorded in two breakneck but clear-eyed days, these 10 songs are their most righteous, rousing and resilient to date. From navigating class division and capitalism to fighting for queer love, tackling mental health turmoil and toxic relationships, cultivating compassion and coming to terms with issues of substance abuse, Revelations finds River Shook commanding their own path of self-discovery and perennial perseverance.
As their self-described gay cowboy song, “Criminal” is about defying social taboos through unabashed desire. With lyrics like “If lovin’ you will always be a crime I’ll always be a criminal,” River Shook says, “That line got me thinking about how we as queer people have been persecuted, and how we so often have to keep all kinds of things under wraps because of the law because of social taboo. I wanted ‘Criminal’ to portray these feelings of longing and desire that two gay people can have for each other. They’re complicated feelings because human beings are complicated. Gay love is every bit as complicated as straight love.”
Across the rest of Revelations, River Shook captures the Disarmers’ spirit like no one else can, channeling the ferocious energy of their live shows into anthems for barbacks and service workers (“Backsliders”), galvanizing takes on depression (“Revelations”), and kiss-offs to villainous men (“Motherfucker”).
In a captivating new profile, The New York Times traces the arduous and even life-threatening journey it took River Shook to arrive at the music of Revelations, between a tumultuous childhood in an ultraconservative family, discovering country music at age 23, playing 150 shows a year, getting sober, coming out as nonbinary and embracing their identity more openly than ever. Now they are writing their most liberating songs yet – read the story HERE.
Beginning with a hometown release show tonight and a stop in Nashville this weekend, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers are bringing the music of Revelations all around the country this spring and summer, on a 2024 tour of nearly 50 dates and counting. See the latest list of shows below, and find tickets at disarmers.com/tour.
