The Queers in Columbus

About The Queers

The Queers are a New Jersey pop punk band that formed in the late 80s and basically never stopped. They've built a weird, loyal following by doing what they do best: writing catchy, dumb, occasionally offensive songs about girls, drinking, and being broke. Their songs are deliberately simple and repetitive in a way that gets stuck in your head for days. They've released dozens of albums with almost no variance in their formula, which is either their greatest strength or a running inside joke depending on who you ask. Live, they move fast and sound tight despite deliberately playing stupid. They've never been cool or tried to be, which is maybe why they've outlasted a lot of their peers.

Tight, loud, and quick. The crowd moshing isn't aggressive—it's more chaotic and goofy. Lots of singing along to simple choruses. They play fast, finish songs in two minutes, and keep moving. It feels less like attending a concert and more like hanging out with people who happen to be playing instruments.

Known for Homework, Punk Rock Girl, Everything Goes, The Ramones, Killer Queers

The Queers + Columbus

The Queers have maintained a steady presence in Columbus over the years, reliably showing up to deliver their brand of snappy pop-punk to the faithful. Most recently, they played The King of Clubs in October 2025, working through their catalog with the kind of efficiency that comes from decades of touring. The band stuck to what they do best — tight, hook-laden songs that don't overstay their welcome. It's the kind of show where you know exactly what you're getting: no surprises, no deep cuts meant to impress indie critics, just the straightforward pleasure of songs that were written to be memorable. Columbus crowds have always appreciated that kind of honesty.

The Queers in Columbus News

• The Big List Of 2025 Halloween Concerts Live For Live Music · Oct 10, 2025
• Queen Out or Get Out: An Interview with DJ Boywife, the newest it-girl of the Ohio River Valley The Buckeye Flame · Sep 7, 2025
• The Queers celebrate 40th anniversary with punk rock show at Jazz Cafe in Plains on June 15 NEPA Scene · Feb 28, 2022
• Reel Big Fish/The Expendables/The Queers/Tunnel Vision (US) Punknews · Apr 28, 2017
• Concert preview: The Dwarves and The Queers finally get together for a one-stop shop of punk rock juvenilia Columbus Monthly · Aug 22, 2013

Live Music in Columbus

Columbus has historically been a pit stop on the touring circuit rather than a generator of its own scene, which actually works in The Queers's favor. The city's pop-punk audience tends to be practical and unpretentious — they want catchy songs and a good time, not a statement. Venues like The King of Clubs have built their reputation on hosting exactly this kind of band: established acts with solid discographies and no need to prove anything. It's a town that respects a band showing up to do their job well.

Columbus road trip to see The Queers?

Stay in German Village, where the restored brick townhouses and tree-lined streets feel like an actual neighborhood rather than a tourist zone. Dinner at Harvest Bistro on High Street for refined American food done without fuss. Spend the afternoon at the Columbus Museum of Art, then walk through the Short North corridor—the gallery district has real energy without feeling manufactured. Catch the show at Nationwide Arena, then grab drinks at Drinkery in German Village for something low-key.