Drag Queens In Limousines, the sophomore album by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier, turns 25 this year. To commemorate this milestone, Kill Rock Stars will reissue the album for the very first time to vinyl, on October 18th, 2024. The vinyl package will include new retrospective liner notes written by Gauthier, as she reflects on the road that led to the recording and the impact it had on her path forward.
Released independently on September 13th, 1999, Drag Queens In Limousines introduced the world to a songwriter whose “character-based narratives spoke of the outsiders, those not considered the “normal” members of society.” Much like so many of her musical heroes, such as John Prine, Lucinda Williams and Tom Waits, Gauthier’s lyrics tend to “remind us that we are all connected after all.”
Gauthier says:
In retrospect, I believe these were the songs that helped me find my writer’s voice. My characters, like me, were on the edge, but they were also on the verge. People cracked, crumbled, and burned as they tried to deal with the everyday dramas of love vs. lovelessness, community vs. loneliness, and despair vs. faith. I was learning about sobriety, humility, and about how a brutal crack in the ego could become a lifesaving gift. Many of these songs remain on my set list today.
Mary Gauthier has documented her life in 2021 book Saved By A Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting. She reflects on the time of writing the album:
At this point, I was thirty-nine, twelve years sober, and still running restaurants in Boston. The success of this record helped me decide to leave the restaurant business, move to Nashville, and start over. It was terrifying to imagine myself walking away from my successful businesses to pursue music full time (because, honestly, who in their right mind STARTS a career in music at age 40?). My hope was that I might be able to do it for real, that is, become a full time, professional songwriter. In my heart of hearts I knew I had to try. I had to dedicate my life to it in order to succeed.
Additionally, this year on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 the Americana Music Association’s Americanafest will kick off with an All-Star Tribute to Mary Gauthier, featuring Lori McKenna, Rodney Crowell, Gretchen Peters, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Jaimee Harris, Steve Poltz and many more to be announced. Gauthier will also perform Drag Queens In Limousines in full at this special event that will take place at The City Winery in Nashville, TN at 7pm.
On Thursday, September 19th, as part of Americanafest, veteran journalist Jewly Hight will host the discussion, “Drag Queens in Limousines Forever: The importance and influence of Mary Gauthier’s Songs.” A special limited-edition pressing of Drag Queens in Limousines on ruby red vinyl will only be available at the celebratory events while supplies last.
Mary Gauthier has released nine critically acclaimed studio albums that have received several award nominations, including the Grammy for Best Folk Album. She has won an Americana Music Award, International Folk Music Awards (Folk Alliance) “Album Of The Year” and Americana Music Association’s UK “International Artist Of The Year” Award.
