HLC opens for famous 90s queer-core band, Pansy Division

​OMG what a blast! We got to open for Pansy Division at one of my favorite local venues, ONCE Ballroom in Somerville. It's probably my favorite venue because, for one, I live just blocks away, and two, it is absolutely reinvigorating the music scene here in Boston by pairing local bands like us with national touring acts like Pansy Division. Thanks to the wonderful owner of ONCE, JJ Gonson, who noticed our vigor at promoting our album release show in July (which, we sold out, yay!), we scored a slot to open for this awesome and raunchy band who themselves used to open for Greenday on some of their national tours back when Greenday was the shit.

JJ is an amazing person, photographer, and now club/restaurant owner who also was very much around the music scene in the 90s (she used to photograph her musician friends, including the likes of Kurt Cobain and other such folks). She is certainly bringing music back to Boston in a huge way and letting us little guys gain more fans by playing with these giants. We are forever grateful to her and ONCE Somerville. Not to mention their staff is the best and treated us with such respect and friendliness. And the sound was amazing! Shout out to Goose, our sound guy for the evening. We would certainly love to play there again in the very near future.

Pansy Division played like the queer rock royalty they are. The crowd went wild for them and they really brought their A-game to our little urban village along with a million of their albums, they have so many since they've been around for quite some time. I want to note that they were out as gay in the 1990s before anyone else was. Before straight men even played gay on TV or movies (I think). Before it was socially acceptable and I'm sure they faced (and probably still face) a lot of adversity on their road to rock-dom just for being their unapologetic, filthy-mouthed, super honest, punky and always fun brand of rock and roll. They are pioneers and I'm so grateful to have gotten to warm the stage up for them.

​I would be remiss to fail to mention the first band that played, The Fatal Flaw. They are a great local band that was certainly closer in style to us and they sounded amazing. One of their members, Joel Reader pulled double duty because he also happens to be the guitarist in Pansy Division as well! I hope we get to play with them more since they are local and aren't taking off in a camper to tour quite yet like Pansy Divsion is, so I'm sure we'll see them again.

Also, I should mention it was the first time we played with our new line up (Rainy Maple Logan on drums, Beck Goguen on bass and me, where I usually am, up front singing and guitaring). We had only rehearsed twice as a full band before this and Beck learned all the songs in about 2 weeks and Rainy learned all the drum parts in about that time too. She had it a little easier since she knew how all the songs went from when she was playing bass in the band. And yet we sounded the most amazing the band has ever sounded, in my humble opinion! My new bandmates are such great musicians and thankfully really fast learners. And Beck and I got to interact on stage for the first time, which was incredible to be able to dance around and get silly up there. And Rainy held down that beat like a beast. All I had to do was concentrate on singing, it was amazing! I felt so lucky to share the stage with them. And I'm pretty sure the audience noticed our spontaneous epicness too.

​I think it's safe to say that the crowd that Pansy Division brought out last night was certainly the warmest to us and we came away with so much love, email sign ups and great conversation. It's so nice to be able to connect with people after a performance. And they left with some of our brand new albums and even our signatures! That was the first time adults have asked for our signatures and we hope the trend continues! The only other time we've been asked for signatures was when we played at lunchtime at Girl's Rock Camp Boston by 8–10 year old girls. Those little girls were the cutest! I just never thought adults would also want our John Hancocks.

Anyway, enjoy this vid of Pansy Division in all their glory. We hope they come back soon. Stay happy!

Jac