Recently, I trekked out to Gold Sounds Bar in Brooklyn, New York City, to see The Queers, which is ironic because I live in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC (badmp bmp!).
(For those who don’t know, Hell’s Kitchen is a particularly gay neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan, and though I’m straight as they come, I’ve lived here for 13 years or so, and many of my neighbors are gay – it’s been an educational, and overall, positive experience).
Like my bad joke, the Queers’ name is also ironic, as Joseph P King (AKA Joe Queer), the only original member still touring, is neither homophobic nor queer.
Still, their brand of fast-paced, guitar-driven, bratty and sometimes pop-infused punk with puerile (thanks for the new word, iTunes) lyrics is occasionally controversial.
They ripped through song after song without breaks or much talking but they didn’t play my favorite songs “I like young girls” and “Rancid Motherfucker,” but I don’t think it’s because Joe is mellowing in old age.
Founded in 1981 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by Joe, Scott Gildersleeve (AKA Tulu), and John Jack Hayes (AKA Wimpy Rutherford), I believe the band has too many songs after so many albums to grind through everyone’s favorite.
Also, on this night, they didn’t have their current female bassist, Ginger Fanculo, who, if I heard Joe correctly, was getting dental work done in Italy.
The crowd was a mixture of old farts like me, mixed with some surprisingly young fans and an equally surprising (to me, at least) cadre of female fans.
Some guest guitarists jumped on stage for a couple of back-to-back songs, leaving Joe free just to sing, and the two opening bands, “Absolute Garbage” and “Chumhuffer,” were excellent.
Though I didn’t hear my favorites, they did play a Ramones cover, and the final two songs of the set were instantly recognizable, “Fuck the World” and “This Place Sucks,” and I’m including the videos in this post.
Enjoy!