Song of the Gay: The Spook School - David Bowie Songs

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. All this week we are celebrating Seattle Pride and PrideFest 2016 by featuring all LGBTQ artists for our “Song of the Gay” podcast, selected by me, DJ El Toro. My pick for today is "David Bowie Songs", the B-side to the "Binary" single, by The Spook School, out on Fortuna POP!

The Spook School - David Bowie Songs (MP3)

Pitched somewhere between the Buzzcocks and C86 faves Tallulah Gosh, this touching non-LP B-side by Scottish D.I.Y. queer punk combo The Spook School continues in the pop-punk vein of their second album, Try To Be Hopeful (released in late 2015). As you might expect from a band with song titles like “Binary” and “Burn Masculinity,” the Edinburgh quartet doesn’t shy away from singing lyrics that poke holes in male privilege and question gender norms.

“When I discovered the idea of gender as something a lot messier and more nuanced than two categories, something that could be defined according to how people actually wanted to identify and place themselves, things made a lot more sense,” singer/guitarist Nye Todd told The Herald last year. “I’m so proud and fortunate to know quite a few amazing people who openly identify as non-binary or genderqueer – they exist in the world on their own terms and consistently challenge something that so many people just take as read, that there are men and women and nothing else.”

The Spook School's North American tour took them along the East Coast last month. They're currently touring the UK with PAWS, but hopefully they'll make it back to the U.S. and visit Seattle. Until then, keep up with the band on their website and Facebook page, and watch this conversation between The Spook School and Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace as they discuss music and identifying as transgender.

You can hear more LGBTQ artists on KEXP's Big Gay Podcast. Also, tune in to KEXP all week to find out more about the Pride events happening around Seattle and for my annual Pride show tonight, Wednesday, June 22nd, and a special Pride edition of Audioasis on Saturday, June 25th. Then, on Sunday, June 28th, join us for KEXP's Pride Party in front of the 5 Point Café in downtown Seattle. Find out more here.