If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Mol White Back in January we were treated to Middle-Aged Queers covering Mazzy Star's iconic "Fade Into You." This month, they've released a cover of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero," aka the "I'm the problem it's me" song. It's a straight up punk version of the song in the way that only Middle-Aged Queers could pull off. It's obviously ridiculously fun, but there's an unexpected amount of heart behind the cover. A punk band covering a pure pop song is kind of a novelty cliche, but this one ends up being more than that, especially towards the end when Middle-Aged Queers slow it down into something more heartful... but still silly and fun. Lead vocalist Shaun Osburn says of the band's new cover: "Covering 'Anti-Hero' is part of our multi-tier plan to lure Taylor Swift fans to punk rock. Not only will we be known as musical ambassadors, we can also appropriate that big Swiftie money to further the gay agend...

Photo by Niki Pretti Photography Oakland's Middle-Aged Queers are set to celebrate Valentine's Gay with a pair of shows, and have released a new single to get everyone ready. It's a cover of Mazzy Starr's iconic "Fade Into You." Gen-X's favorite make out song (which Gen-Z finds incredibly depressing) has been reimagined as a raucous punk song. It's loud and noisy, and sounds more like classic late 70's/early 80's punk than anything released this century. It's also a shockingly faithful cover to the original despite the complete change in genre. I never thought "Fade Into You" could work as a straight up punk song, but Middle-Aged Queers pull it off perfectly. Frontman Shauners says of their latest single: “When our bassist, Josh, came to us with the idea of covering this song, I was incredibly skeptical. He then upped the ante by persuading us to let him sing it, with me relinquishing lead vocal duties in exchange for playing bass...

Photo by Niki Pretti Photography Middle-Aged Queers are one of the most fun punk bands we've discovered from doing this blog, and their latest single proves why. "Glizzies Bangin'" is a just under two minute burst of punk joy. It includes all of your favorite punk tropes, from gang vocals and buzzing guitars to double entendre filled lyrics. It's almost painfully catchy at times, but never quite gets overly pop or pop punk. "Glizzies Bangin'" sounds more like a lost Lookout! Records track, with it's gritty but catchy sound. If they ever make it back to the Boston area, we promise that we'll force our Puritan descended selves to dance for this one. The band says of their latest single: “It started off at a show in Sacramento with a pair of friends in coordinated hot dog and mustard costumes, joined by a spattering of young people in clown makeup. A local tradition, perhaps? No. The phenomena followed us from coast to coast. And while the occas...

One problem with doing a music blog is that you start discovering all these bands that will never end up playing near you. Some are ultra local to their cities, and others may tour regionally, but they'd never cross the entire continent to come to the Boston area. I assumed San Francisco's Middle-Aged Queers would never make it out here, but they've announced a tour that hits Lowell's Thirsty First on May 16! To help build excitement about their upcoming tour, the band has released a song off their upcoming split live LP with Raging Nathans. "Pajama Party" is a gloriously bratty punk rock song in the vein of your favorites off Taang! Records or Lookout Records. It's a rough sounding song that almost masks how poppy this one is. It's  a fun song about a group of punks that come over for a pajama party to help you through a rough time. If this one doesn't work for you, I don't even know what to tell you. You can listen to "Pajama Party"...

Photo by Jon Botkin This weekend is the fortieth anniversary of the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco as well as the culmination of Leather Pride Month, Middle-Aged Queers have released a new single to celebrate. "What's Your Favorite Kink?" praises the LGBTQ+ tradition of wearing color-coded bandanas to signal your interest in sexual activities and fetishes. As you can imagine, the song is absurdly fun. It might not be as badass punk as we've become used to from Middle-Aged Queers, but sometimes you want to be less hardcore and just have fun. "What's Your Favorite Kink?" is more of an oddball and quirky alt-rock song, and you're going to be fully onboard even if you're straight and vanilla. You can listen to "What's Your Favorite Kink?" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Middle-Aged Queers, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . What's Your Favorite Kink? by Middle-Aged Queers

Photo by Jonathan Botkin With Pride month starting next week, Middle-Aged Queers have made a new-ish song available for streaming for the first time. Previously only available on the vinyl compilation Punk Rock Saves Lives... The Album! Vol. II , "This Song is Sponsored by Absolut Vodka" takes on the commercialization of Pride by corporations. It's a smart, loud, and fast punk rock song that ends with the repeated mantra of "We're the product." This is just pure classic punk rock. It's buzzsaw guitars and growled vocals with just enough melody and pop hooks to make it appealing to semi-mainstream audiences.  You can listen to "This Song is Sponsored by Absolut Vodka" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Middle-Aged Queers, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . This Song Is Sponsored By Absolut Vodka by Middle-Aged Queers

Photo by Matthew Kadi Oakland, CA's "queer punk juggernauts" Middle-Aged Queers are back with new music! "Knot Circus" is just pure vintage California punk. You're going to hear elements of Dead Kennedys and the Germs on this one. It's fast and just dripping with the kind of attitude you want from CA punk. Plus, it's not even a minute and a half, so it's going to leave you craving more. As angry as it is, there is still a sense of fun with "Knot Circus," and what's the point of punk if it's not just a little fun? The band says of the new song: “Most of the songs on this album were written in the initial lockdown period of Covid-19 and take a much darker approach than our first album; ‘Knot Circus’ is no exception. The song explores the phenomenon of catching people in their worst behavior while questioning if we, the public, are becoming a surveillance state. An interesting change of pace for a band that historically written pri...

We've been fans of queercore supergroup Middle-Aged Queers for a while now. The Oakland, CA band features members of such groups as Fang, Bread and Circuits, The Shudders, and more. While still being punk, their latest single goes off in a new sonic direction. "Satanic Mills" has a very 80's feel to it, however not really an 80's hardcore sound. Instead (and get ready for this description) it sounds more like 80's thrash metal mixed with some Fugazi style punk. Yeah, you read that correctly and I somehow typed that. It's a shockingly great mix that you're gonna love. Somehow. Frontqueer Shaun Osburn says of the new song: “‘Satanic Mills’ was written in April of 2020, inspired by the cancellation of our tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were supposed to be spreading our queercore gospel to the masses instead of working day jobs in the midst of the apocalypse.” You can watch the video for "Satanic Mills" below. The song will be available a...

Our favorite "queercore" Oakland supergroup (members have been in bands such as Fang, The Shudders, The Insaints, etc.) are back with a new single. "Size Queen" is a killer old school punk song. It sounds like The Dead Kennedys (the real  Dead Kennedys) reunited in the 90's for the Warped Tour, decided to go slightly melodic but thrashier. It's fast and heavy, with all the gang vocals you could possibly want and some of the best punk rock guitar solos around.  Lead vocalist Shauners says of the new song:  "Size Queen is about the good ol' 'Murican mantra of 'bigger is better' and how its ubiquitousness seeps into every facet of our lives, even the bedroom." You can listen to "Size Queen" below. The song will be available on a split 7" with the Lolly Gaggers on Outpunx Records and Turkey Baster Records. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp . For more on Middle-Aged Queers, check out the band's Facebook . Size Quee...

Considering "Gary's Making Biscuits" was less than a minute long, the newest single from Oakland's queercore sensations Middle-Aged Queers is a downright epic at almost three minutes. "Theme Song" sets the tone for what Middle-Aged Queers stand for. According to lead singer Shaun Osburn, " Our Theme Song is about loving yourself as a seasoned queer person in a culture that prioritizes youth and heteronormativity. The line 'go fuck yourself' is actually meant as a positive; masturbation should be sex with someone you love!" "Theme Song" might be my absolute favorite kind of punk. It's fast, loud, and edgy, but it's also fun as hell. If you want to get a feel for Middle-Aged Queers sense of humor, just notice that their band bio includes the line " Crawling out of the primordial ooze of punk past, Middle-Aged Queers are a quartet of Jurassic Punx barreling down Interstate 580 on a mission to save Rock ‘n’ Roll with br...

Haling from Oakland, CA, "queercore sensations" Middle-Aged Queers have a new song out called "Gary's Making Biscuits." Literally a song about a cat "making biscuits," it's a just barely one minute punk jam about a cat. If that's not enough to get you to listen, maybe these gems from their press release will: " Crawling out of the primordial ooze of punk past, Middle-Aged Queers are a quartet of Jurassic Punx barreling down Interstate 580 on a mission to save Rock ‘n’ Roll with broken limbs and gear held together with duct tape." Also: " Seasoned veterans of DIY-Punk, Middle-Aged Queers feature ex-members of bands such as Flipper, Fang, Yaphet Kotto, Bread and Circuits, The Cost, Wet-Nap, Saviours, The Shudders, S.P.A.G., The Insaints, and No Alternative." If you're still not listening, I don't even know who you are any more. You can watch the video for "Gary's Making Biscuits" below. Too Fag for ...