The queercore veterans have finally returned!
Let’s raise a glass to the pioneers. In the late 70s, the world was not quite ready for punk; in the early 90s, it’s safe to say that Pansy Division were regarded at best as an…oddity. As the band would probably have it, they were too queer for the punk community, and too punk for the queer community. They faced more than their fair share of flak and were often written off as a joke, but ultimately their talent for catchy tunes and humorous lyrics (think along the lines of a homoerotic Nerf Herder) endured, and explains the band’s loyal cult following after all these years.
London-based trio Tomboy Grandpa kick things off with some delightfully jangly punk-pop tunes. Imagine the leading lights of C86 with a touch of Weezer, themed around “being bent in a straight world” and you’ll have a rough idea of where they’re coming from. The likes of recent single ‘Anybodys’ and ‘Closet’ are delivered with enthusiasm to burn, and they leave us feeling chuffed that we bothered to turn up early.
Irked dial things up several notches, ripping into their intro track with savage glee. This is spiky, angular hardcore; think a turbocharged X-Ray Spex with a generous sprinkling of north-eastern English grit and wit. Mercurial vocalist Helen is absolutely unstoppable tonight, even venturing into the crowd to scream in our faces at one point, and as ‘Settle Down’ inspires us to do exactly the opposite of its title, it’s clear that Irked are going to make The Lexington theirs whether we like it or not (and for the record, we do). Be sure to check out last year’s debut album ‘The Grievance’, it’s magnificent.
Pansy Division are finally back in town after nearly three decades, and they waste no time, getting us pogoing away to the introductory salvo of ‘Fem In A Black Leather Jacket’, ‘Bunnies’ and ‘Dick Of Death’. As you’ve probably already gathered from those song titles, they don’t take themselves too seriously, and we wouldn’t have them any other way; this is an unbridled celebration of queerness with a punchy pop-punk soundtrack, and the band are clearly as stoked to be here as we are.
Plus, like so many of the best bands, they’re not as dumb as they might sometimes seem. Whether taking aim at the religious right (‘Blame The Bible’), casual homophobia (‘That’s So Gay’) or dedicating a song to a departed friend (‘Denny’), everything is played with knowing smiles and the ease of folks who know they’re among friends tonight. Pansy Division, it’s been great to have you back after all these years – here’s hoping we don’t have to wait so long for your next visit to these shores.
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
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I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
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