POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Pansy Division Surges With a Statement

As legions of bands like Green Day resurrect punk minus its original conviction, a group with something to say like Pansy Division becomes that much more important. The San Francisco trio, which is part of rock’s “homo core” movement, plays punk-based songs but with lyrics from a gay perspective. Instead of alluding to its homosexuality, Pansy Division comes right out and sings about boys with the same candor as macho, girl-crazy rockers have in the past. They do it with substance, savvy and wit.

Saturday at the Las Palmas Theater, Pansy Division, which opened for L.A. installations the Muffs, played tight, charged power tunes with lyrics that were both hysterically funny and intensely angry. The show was eye-opening, inspirational and fresh, showing Pansy Division a brave band in the often homophobic world of rock (some of the more uncomfortable members of the audience threw beer cans and sneered) and also one of the few alternative bands around with a purpose.

Singer and guitarist Jon Ginoli sang about boys in tight shorts, and also, the pain of “coming out” and the rage of an HIV-positive man. A high-energy delivery by the band kept several audience members pogoing throughout. While Pansy Division’s music could come off too agenda heavy, it doesn’t. Instead, it bristles with the stuff incredibly good rock and roll is made of--urgency.