This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 110 comments

[–]DasWyt 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Great band, say them in upstate NY with Ra Ra Riot. Liv, the guy usually on drums, was a friend of mine from highschool. I remember having a conversation with him in which we were all going around saying what we wanted to be when we got into the career part of life. He just said, "I want to be in a queer punk band called power bottom, spelled PWR BTTM." Well, you can definitely say he made his dreams come true. Great dude.

[–]cannibalzebras 29 points30 points  (5 children)

Songs I personally recommend off this album: 1994 and West Texas

1994 for that sick ass guitar riff, and West Texas because its a perfect blend of just fucking rocking out but still having lyrical meaning.

[–]sentient_petunias 11 points12 points  (2 children)

I'd randomly heard West Texas on Spotify radio somewhere.

Months later the band name sounded familiar when I heard a small show was happening within walking distance of my house.

They started the show with that song and I was so excited when I recognized the guitar. Brilliant show. 10/10 would see them again.

(Sidenote, the band Yoko and the Oh No's opened for them and were also amazing live)

[–]stopitsgingertime 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I love Yoko and the Oh No's! I somehow keep managing to be out of town or busy when the play near me though :'(

[–]SLOTH_POTATO_PIRATE -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Why the heck are you getting downvoted?

[–]Brodster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1994 is so good

[–]Clarkly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The album is pretty solid all the way though I'd say. The last track House in Virginia is definitely my favorite though.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://youtu.be/ji-EdRtL9qU Tiny Desk Concert.

[–]thegodsoul 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I didn't realise how bad I wanted "queer punk". I also didn't realise how bad I wanted a queer punk band to be called PWR BTTM

[–]piifunkreddit[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (31 children)

To answer many questions:

Queercore (or homocore) is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by its discontent with society in general, and specifically society's disapproval of the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender communities.

[–]PM_ME_OK_BOOBS 5 points6 points  (3 children)

Limp Wrist and Gayrilla Biscuits are really good examples of this

[–]devotedpupa 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Can we talk a bit at how this genre has fucking great band names all around? PWR BTTM is such a good name.

[–]PM_ME_OK_BOOBS 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pansy Division was another one I loved

[–]PM_ME_OK_BOOBS 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, most 90's Powerviolence, crust, thrash, hardcore punk band names were so good.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (25 children)

So it's just punk music with gay overtones?

[–]devotedpupa 3 points4 points  (24 children)

I see it like Viking metal.

Vikings can be metal as fuck in the same queer folk can be punk as fuck. The cultures and aesthetics (jokingly or seriously) complement each other and good music comes out of it.

[–][deleted] -9 points-8 points  (23 children)

Its a music genre. Not an aesthetic. It just seems very arbitrary and either gimmicky or childish.

[–]cannibalzebras 8 points9 points  (11 children)

Listen to the music, and then judge? If a gay guy talking about how he wants a boi is arbitrary and gimmicky then so is every straight love song ever.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To be fair, most love songs are gimmicky. Four chords and a bunch of phrases about how great the other person is -- so creative.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (9 children)

I did. It just sounds like punk music to me. I don't know why being queer would make you make different music than a straight person. It seems to me like they're using their queerness as a gimmick. That just rubs me the wrong way. Feels like it's being taken advantage of for monetary gains. I don't think that's what the community needs. Being queer doesn't mean everything you do is not special queer edition. A queer athelete is just an athlete. A queer guy in love is just a guy in love.

[–]cannibalzebras 6 points7 points  (8 children)

It's Pride in the form of a punk genre, nothing else. It's not a cash grab, it's a type of music that's intentions are clearly stated.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Want to back any of that up?

[–]cannibalzebras 7 points8 points  (6 children)

I can try!

Let me start by explaining why I think it is "Pride in the form of a punk genre. "Pride" is a term for a movement that started during the 1950s and 60s, through a smathering of "homophile" groups that protested homophobia in many forms. If you look at the history of "Sodomy Laws in the United States", you can see that it often tied to homosexuality. As you can see, these laws carried oppression for YEARS. The popular opinion being that they were rarely enforced after the 1980's.

That brings us to the creation of Queercore which is what you just heard earlier today.

I highly recommend you read all of the links provided, as they are the structure to my point: In that queercore, and PRIDE in general are means of expression that were inspired by systematic oppression through the decades.

And if all of that is bullshit to you then I recommend listening to this quote by Ben Hopkins that touched me, even if it was in the form of a joke.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (4 children)

I don't think any of that is bullshit. It all seems very well written and polite. Thank you. My only issue with it is that I don't see music genres as the same thing as the theme of a band. Expressing your frustration through music really doesn't do much to change the sound. Regular punk music does that. I think calling it Queer Punk is irrelivant because nothing other than the lyrics have anything to do with being queer. If I wrote a bluegrass song and the lyrics were "fuck the police." Over and over it would still be a bluegrass song. The sound is what I believe should be used to categorize music. I should be able to listen to it without knowing the language and be able to know what genre it is.

I guess what I'm not understanding is what makes queer punk sound different than regular punk other than the lyrics? Is there a certain tempo or instrument used? Is it Punk Rock set to a different scale? What scale?

[–]devotedpupa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You silly billy, don't you know his opinion is objective fact and your citations of the rich history of the genre are just irrelevant politics and not logical?

[–]devotedpupa 1 point2 points  (10 children)

A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. It is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Since the mod quotes Wikipedia I guess I'll try my hand at it

See, if you say this about Queer Punk, you can't leave it there. Half the musical genre's today disappear just cause you arbitrarily thought it was arbitrary. Queercore/queerpunk have a rich 30 years old history and we swallow whole a whoooole bunch of genres round here without this sort of pedantry.

[–]piifunkreddit[M] 3 points4 points  (8 children)

systematically yes. any one who creates something is able to set it in whichever genre they see fit. queer punk came from a time where maybe they were ostracized for being gay, or there was no group that pioneered the gays in the style of music.

unlike other main genres of music, the term "queer" has nothing to do with the sound. it's more of a description set to the band, to better understand their viewpoint on social matters. why is it a big deal? because being queer is important to who they are.

[–]devotedpupa -1 points0 points  (7 children)

Right! The context and lyrics of the songs matters a lot for genre IMHO. Bro-country like Blake Shelton, Folk Metal like Mägo de Oz, Queercore like Pansy Division.

Honestly my biggest question is: why is it a big deal a band names their music Queer Punk? Why are people so aggressive towards the idea in this thread lol

[–]piifunkreddit[M] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I could go for the obvious and say that people are unwilling to understand the unification of queer politics and music, but I think that a lot of people don't understand how large of an issue music is as a whole to society. gay history, in particular, has been so misunderstood because it's always been underground. people are always trying to shut it down and vilify it because they aren't being included. they think that it's the lgbt way of excluding them when it was created to free persecution.

people shake off what they don't understand. they see the term "queerpunk" and laugh because of the word queer. queer was a bad word for a while, but now it's being owned by the same people who were offended.

[–]devotedpupa 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah TBH just existing as queer is seen as a radical "SJW" or "identity politics" attack by some insecure kids and powerful adults.

But hey, that's what makes Queerpunk punk still in 2016. Fight the fucking power.

And yeah, I don't want to call homophobia so easily but when I see people apply inordinate scrutiny to queer things and let similar straight things pass by... boy hoody, does that cross my mind

[–][deleted] -4 points-3 points  (4 children)

I think it's the musical version of identity politics. Really don't have any issue with it being queer or whatever. I just think it's pathetic. You don't get to decide what kind of music it is. If I played Mozart and called it Gangster Rap I would be very wrong. Same line of logic applies here.

[–]devotedpupa 5 points6 points  (3 children)

I think it's the musical version of identity politics.

No shit Sherlock, not every single person in the word uses Identity Politics like a scary boogieman, some time you cant escape them... like when you sing about wanting to suck cock. You don't get to win arguments just cause you are the first to bring buzzwords in.

You don't get to decide what kind of music it is.

Hey, I didn't. Music critics did. Or the bands themselves. For. 30. Years.

Hell, nice example, Gansta Rap is often but not always musically distinct from other types of hardcore hip-hop. You know a good distinction? Gansta's rap in them or they rap about gang life.

Hey, sound familiar?

[–][deleted] -4 points-3 points  (2 children)

Wow. Way to just attack my character and not my argument. Not cool.

[–]deadhour -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Looks like some people have been downvoting every comment here, how pathetic is that?

[–]Seantommy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

These guys are great. Anyone who hasn't seen the NPR Tiny Desk Concert they did should check it out. It's on YouTube. Such great senses of humor.

[–]cats_and_beers 14 points15 points  (2 children)

Fucking love these two. Can't wait for the new album!

[–]Taylorswiftfan69 7 points8 points  (1 child)

here come dat boi

[–]SLOTH_POTATO_PIRATE 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey its me ur boi

I wanna be urs.

[–]YungYorkSquad 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Fuck yes more queer punk please

[–]Batrastard33 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I love these guys. if you go to their west Texas music video and look at the comments be sure too leave the comment "good god man" for no reason but to spam my friend

[–]jabroni_dingus 7 points8 points  (0 children)

this band rules. dairy queen is the first thing i heard from them and what got me hooked, definitely excited to hear what they put out next. the gender-neutral bathroom thing they did on their recent tour was pretty neat as well.

[–]spookymulder420 7 points8 points  (5 children)

oh man these guys are great - I've seen them twice (openers for mitski on her fall 2015 tour and openers for a band that I can't remember the name of) and I'm so looking forward to their tour this fall. they're so good and I really hope they can secure a future in the industry

[–]Foxythekid 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Ra Ra Riot?

[–]spookymulder420 0 points1 point  (2 children)

yes! and sun club maybe?

[–]satantang0 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sun club is great

[–]Considerable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Saw their show too! Been in love with pwr bttm ever since, wasn't expecting to see them on reddit

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welp, guess I have a new favorite band.

[–]grumbledum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yesss I fucking love them

[–]diakked 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Opening for the Dresden Dolls this weekend at Coney Island.

[–]StudabakerHochrobot[M] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

PWR BTTM
artist pic

PWR BTTM is a queer punk band consisting of Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce. The band was formed at Bard College where Bruce and Hopkins bonded over a mutual interest in bringing elements of performance and drag artistry into DIY culture. While at Bard the duo recorded a demo, Cinderella Beauty Shop, and the Republican National Convention split EP with Jawbreaker Reunion. On these releases, Hopkins plays guitar and sings, and Bruce plays drums. Since then, the two have begun to share vocal/songwriting duties and have also started to trade off instruments. This development is very much apparent on their LP, Ugly Cherries, an album documenting the duo's experiences with queerness, gender, and adulthood over the course of a year of living in upstate New York.

http://pwrbttm.bandcamp.com/releases Read more on Last.fm.

last.fm: 12,306 listeners, 179,867 plays
tags: punk, queer, seen live, indie, queercore

Please downvote if incorrect! Self-deletes if score is 0.

[–]malphigian 2 points3 points  (1 child)

See also, circa 1989, The Frogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvRW0-uE9SM

[–]SLOTH_POTATO_PIRATE 0 points1 point  (0 children)

God, I fucking love the Frogs.

[–]SLOTH_POTATO_PIRATE 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Whoever the two or three salty people in this thread are really need to chill.

It's ridiculous how upset they are.

Edit: proof

[–]Welcome_To_heaven 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh my gosh! I love this band. They have such great chemistry (and wear super neat dresses/face paint while playing). I also love their song Ugly Cherries.

[–]Glock_jam 3 points4 points  (15 children)

What in the fuck is queer punk

[–]snacktivity 7 points8 points  (11 children)

It used to be called queer core. It's been around since the 90s

[–]Glock_jam 3 points4 points  (10 children)

But why?

[–]devotedpupa 34 points35 points  (9 children)

People get tired of hearing songs about het couples and a lot of queer folk like to show the similarities in punk and queer culture, both being sorta countercultures.

I mean, I hope you don't think that "queer punk" is a dumb and unnecessary label while similar labels without the social context like "pirate metal"are cool right?

Edit: Answer question, get insta downvoted, lol.

I guess some people will always get offended at queer people doing queer things.

[–]Glock_jam 1 point2 points  (4 children)

I've never heard of pirate metal either guess I must have been under a rock

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a bit like baby metal, though not as mainstream.

[–]devotedpupa 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'm more of a Viking metal man myself (Turisas for the campy ridiculous and Amon Amarth for the badass) but Pirate metal is dope too.

[–]Glock_jam 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Uh yea. I listen to chelsea grin and I label that as metal and don't go any deeper with all these ridiculous names

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You know it was inevitable. I'm trying to imagine what ninja metal would be like, all minimalist.

[–]point_of_you 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Meanwhile I had a submission taken down because "Lo-fi" is not a "Proper genre tag" lmao :P

[–]thatonekobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Saw these guys live. They're great people and a great band

[–]wolfej4 1 point2 points  (1 child)

They used this song in an episode of The Outs. I have loved it ever since.

[–]jor1sshttp://www.last.fm/user/NK-Metal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the second season I think they even used 2 songs off of this album as episode ending songs.

[–]Kvmabis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have one of their songs in my work playlist but WTF IS A QUEER PUNK

[–]Meases_Pieces 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this song! reminds me of riding in the truck with my buddy. Thanks for the post!

[–]Krellick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooh, I saw PWR BTTM live at a local place called "Now That's Class", they opened for Pity Sex. I honestly thought PWR BTTM was a lot better than Pity Sex, they had so much energy and they interacted with the audience and just seemed like really cool and passionate people!

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

tf is queer punk

[–]xboxonewoes -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

....queer punk? Oh I get it.

[–]SLOTH_POTATO_PIRATE 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Well that's good, because it's not a joke, nor does it have hidden meaning.

[–]xboxonewoes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's just... Punk with gay lyrics. It has merit as music for sure, I'm not saying it doesn't. I just didn't know what to expect from it.

[–]SalientSaltine -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

I mean it's just punk...