Superstitious Minds

This is the first and only Friday the 13th of 2011, though there’s no reason to feel superstitious about heading out this weekend. There’s going to be plenty to do in this part of the city. Just avoid walking under ladders and opening umbrellas indoors.

This Friday The Queers, another in a string of influential punk bands to recently come through Charm City, play the Ottobar. 

 The first incarnation of The Queers lasted from 1981 to 1984. Two years later, lead singer and guitar player Joe Queer, the only constant band member, reformed the band with all new members,  something that regularly happened throughout the band's history.

Queer's sound can best be described as a mesh of The Ramones and The Beach Boys. The Queers have released six of their 11 albums, and numerous EPs, on Lookout! Records, two of which are compilations.  Along with bands like Operation Ivy and later Rancid and Green Day, The Queers became synonymous with Lookout! Records and the San Francisco Bay Area punk sound, in conjunction with Jello Biafra’s Althernative Tentacles. 

The other big event this weekend beginning Friday night is the anniversary of the Wind Up Space, concluding on Sunday. Several bands from Friends Records will help celebrate the occasion at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Friday features Happy Family, Birds of Avalon, Witch Hat and Sri Aurobindo.

Saturday night’s lineup is Beyond Say and Microkingdom. Check out everything these bands and other local favorites have on the Friends Records website.

Other ways to combat Friday the 13th superstition this weekend:

• Friday at CCAS; Colisuem, Gods & Queens, Ancient Shores and War on Women, 7 p.m. War on Women are listed as “riot grrrl influenced”. It’s about time riot grrrl made a comeback! Where’s my Babes in Toyland tape?
• Friday at The Hexagon; A Greater Risk, A World Away, In and Of Itself, & The Comeback Season, 9 p.m.. Wasn't this supposed to be our comeback season?