New York-based and cabaret-inspired indie rock band Dust Bowl Faeries released The Plague Garden in Nov. 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. The influences for The Plague Garden run from a deep and extensive well of multiple genres, from traditional Eastern European folk music to dark cabaret, gypsy punk and the riot grrrl punk movement of the 90s.  

The Dust Bowl Faeries (2020/21) are: Ryder Cooley (Faerie Queen; accordion, singing saw, ukulele, lead vocals), Jon B. Woodin (Rocket Faerie; guitar, castanets, vocals), Rubi LaRue (Feisty Faerie; lapsteel, vocals), Liz LoGiudice (River Faerie; bass, vocals) and Andrew Stein (Time Faerie; percussion). The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Michael Schoonmaker, who also did the album artwork

03 Vampire Tango

lyrics by Ryder Cooley
It’s annoying how perfect you are
You always look good, and we look so bizarre
It’s annoying how perfect you are   

It’s annoying how cheerful you are
You’re always smiling, while we are so dour 
It’s annoying how cheerful you are   

You're always on time , when we are late
We’re rather crooked, and you’re laced up straight
Your’re celebrated, we’re outlawed 
It’s really not fair how popular you are 

You're always happy, while we are depressed
You seem so calm, why are we stressed?
You're always lucky, we must be cursed
You are so flawless, call us a hearse

Throw up your hands, Throw out your keys 
Jump in our caravan, Enjoy the breeze
Perfection’s boring, what’s right is wrong
Life’s a mess, and then you’re gone

It’s annoying how cleaver you are
So perfectly cleaver, a sinister star
It’s annoying how cleaver you are

We’re on the mend, while you’re on the make
Your diamonds real, ours are fake
You live in a castle, we live in a moat
You’re always flush, why are we so broke?

It’s alarming how charming you are
If this is a joke, you’ve gone too far
It’s alarming how charming you are

Oh why are you perfect, why are we flawed?
It’s smoke and mirrors, what a maraud
Bring out the wizards, call on the witch 
give us a drink, we are in a stitch

Throw up your hands, Throw out your keys 
Jump in our caravan, Enjoy the breeze
Perfection’s boring, what’s right is wrong
Life’s a mess, and then you’re gone
Life is short, and then you’re gone
Life is beautiful, and then you’re gone


New York-based and cabaret-inspired indie rock band Dust Bowl Faeries released The Plague Garden in Nov. 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. The influences for The Plague Garden run from a deep and extensive well of multiple genres, from traditional Eastern European folk music to dark cabaret, gypsy punk and the riot grrrl punk movement of the 90s.  

The Dust Bowl Faeries (2020/21) are: Ryder Cooley (Faerie Queen; accordion, singing saw, ukulele, lead vocals), Jon B. Woodin (Rocket Faerie; guitar, castanets, vocals), Rubi LaRue (Feisty Faerie; lapsteel, vocals), Liz LoGiudice (River Faerie; bass, vocals) and Andrew Stein (Time Faerie; percussion). The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Michael Schoonmaker, who also did the album artwork

02 Dustbowl Caravan

1 Overture

All songs by Ryder Cooley/Dust Bowl Faeries except:
Lost in Time by Dennis Herbert
Clockwork Romance by Jon B Woodin

06 Lost In Time

05 Clockwork Romance

04 The Old Ragdoll

03 Medicine Show

02 The Changeling

01 Cuckoo

A sea shanty about Hudson, New York and the River that flows to the sea. Written by Ryder Cooley. Recorded with Karen Cole, Jen DuBois and Sara Ayers

Hudson River Shanty

Dust Bowl Faeries - Vampire Tango - single
Written by Ryder Cooley
Recorded live on 2 track reel-to-reel during a music residency at 
Onelovenola in New Orleans, 2017.  
Recording by Alex P. Wernquist/Basement Floods Records, mastering by Rachel Alina Hudson NY 2018.
Musicians: Ryder Cooley, Rubi LaRue, Aaron Martin, Jon B. Woodin
Guest musicians: Chad Dziewior & Twiggy Branches. 
Photo by JD Urban
Special thanks: Cameron Melville & Onelovenola

Vampire Tango

single

Ketermaya-the fk remix

Ketermaya (the FK Remix) - bonus track

Dust Bowl Faeries is an accordion-driven Dark Carnival band based in N.Y. and founded by  artist/musician Ryder Cooley and her taxidermy spirit animal, Hazel the Ram.

Dust Bowl Faeries

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