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Hard-On for Queers
By Megan Carneal
mcarneal@mscd.edu

Photo courtesy of planetarygroup.com Sept. 8 at the Black Sheep, 2106 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. All ages Sept. 9 at the Aggie Theater, 204 S College Ave., Fort Collins. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. All ages Sept. 7 at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m., the show is at 8. Tickets are $12. 16+

There is something about distasteful pop-punk band names that makes the “pop” so much more palatable. The Hard-Ons and The Queers are here to create snickers, blushes and enough pop-punk to make your pants feel tight.

The Hard-Ons got their start in 1982 before they were old enough to play the local pubs of Sydney, Australia. With their fresh take on punk, they earned respect not only from their fellow Aussies, but they also gained a following from punk icons like Henry Rollins and The Ramones.

The trio, consisting of Keish De Silva, Blackie and Ray Ahn, has stayed true to its roots, developing their own brand of punk that borrows from the groundbreaking bands of the late ’70s. With their pop melodies fused with a punk edge, their music can be closely compared to that of The Buzzcocks.

Although they encompassed the pop-punk spirit, their earlier work incorporated much more of the anarchic-thrash sound of the early ’80s. With their latest release on Bad Taste Records, Most People Are a Waste of Time, The Hard-Ons have exorcized their thrash demons. This album is a psychedelic cocktail of airy, wistful vocals and hypnotically saccharine melodies.

In 1994 the band broke up to pursue side projects. The split only lasted until 1997, but three years later, De Silva decided to leave. With the loss of De Silva, who played an integral dual role in the band as drummer and vocalist, guitarist Blackie took over the vocals. The Hard-Ons also enlisted drummer Pete Kostic to take De Silva’s place. Most People Are a Waste of Time marks the return of De Silva, although he is not officially back in the band. He contributed to the album and still stays very close to the band.

Pop-punk icons The Queers will be playing with The Hard-Ons for most of their U.S. dates. The Queers also started in 1982 and were never ones to take anything too seriously; hence the name. Avoiding violence and politics, The Queers helped pioneer pop-punk and bring out the humorous side of an aggressive genre.

The Hard-Ons and The Queers will play three Colorado dates, and with 26 full-length albums and a slew of EPs between the two bands, there should be enough bittersweet pop melodies and bathroom humor to bring out the bright-eyed fifteen-year-old in even the most jaded of rockers.