Twelve dollars won’t get you very far in Philly these days. Sure, there are a few things you can do with a dozen bucks. You could feed one and a half grown-ups at Pat’s or Geno’s, or two at Maoz on South Street. You could pointlessly venture back and forth across the Walt Whitman bridge four times. Find a National Wholesale Liquidators, and you’ll be able to buy every movie featuring Jesse “The Mind” Ventura. Or, if you’re really smart, you’ll wait for the right concert to invest your dough.

October 23rd was a good night to let go of twelve bills - at least, if you were in reasonable distance of the First Unitarian Church. On that Tuesday night, the increasingly popular venue played host to a fantastic gig starring reunited punk legends, The Avengers, with local crust punkers, Witch Hunt opening. And, in the middle of that delicious rock ‘n roll sandwich, were those four lovable guys who make up Pansy Division.

Pansy Division, from left to right: Joel Reader, Luis Illades, Jon Ginoli, and Chris Freeman

An introduction for Pansy Division may be needed for some, and it’s certainly deserved. PD are a San Franciscan rock / alternative / indie / pop / punk / no-labels-needed band, who got together in 1991 with a simple goal - to present a gay voice in music while writing and performing great songs. They found a niche quickly, in that the early 90's also gave rise to what is known as the “queercore” movement. Queercore is a tricky thing to define, even today, as it was more about empowerment and presence than one simple style of music. Because of that uniting factor, it was an especially powerful movement.

Pansy Division’s first release came on a queercore compilation entitled Outpunk Dance Party (Outpunk Records, 1991). They soon signed to Lookout! Records and released their first EP, Fem in a Black Leather Jacket, in November of ‘92. That EP featured the song “Smells Like Queer Spirit” - a reworking / parody of the similarly titled Nirvana anthem. Kurt Cobain later stated that he was very flattered the band had chosen to rework one of his songs. Not a bad start, eh?

The group went on to release a total of seven EP’s and four albums (plus the collections, Pileup and More Lovin’ From Our Oven) on Lookout!, while also contributing to many compilations and putting out EP’s on various other labels. Their sound developed into a fine mixture of alternative, almost “college” rock, Gilman-informed punk, and good ol’ jangly pop rock. Meanwhile, their lyrics explored a host of gay issues, while also taking on some broader topics along the way. There were several line-up changes over the years, but, with vocalists Jon Ginoli (guitar) and Chris Freeman (bass) writing the songs, Pansy Division had a style distinctively theirs.

When Pansy Division emerged in the early 90's, gay culture was much less a part of the mainstream than it is today. The band debated its place in the rock world as it recorded its first album for Alternative Tentacles, Total Entertainment (2003). But, amidst whatever doubts the band had about their purpose, fans were clamoring for their return. In 2007, they were satisfied, as Pansy Division once again hit the road.

The band, which started out as a trio, came to the Church as a four piece - the format they’ve been using for a decade now. Luis Illades, who first played on 1997's Absurd Pop Song Romance, was behind the drum kit. While the band’s newest (and single straight) member, Joel Reader, took on lead guitar duties. Very non-coincidentally, Illades and Reader played together in The Plus Ones and are currently both in The Avengers. As a result, Pansy Division play like they’ve been together forever. And so they sounded during their latest Philly gig.

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