Absolutely Not's Searing, Sex-Positive Queer Punk

Donnie Moore describes the overtly queer and political themes of his band Absolutely Not's new album Errors as a "middle finger" to ignorance and intolerance. "People being disturbed by someone's sexual preference shouldn't be a thing," he says. "This music has a deeper meaning to me, where I'm actually angry, but I'm saying it in a comical, flippant way--that's a very me thing to do."

Delivering that message through anthemic thrashers has made the Chicago-based trio--composed of Moore on guitar and vocals, his sister Madison on keyboards and backing vocals, and Santiago Guerrero on drums--a fixture on the local punk circuit. But it wasn't easy getting there: When Moore arrived from his Florida hometown five years ago, fitting into the scene proved difficult. "It was kind of odd not to be able to bro out with the guys," he recalls. "I was in an obnoxious punk band, but I wasn't one to be trolling for women in bars at 4 a.m."

Now, Absolutely Not has settled into its niche, hosting its monthly LGBTQ event, Glitter Creeps, and stepping into more mature (but still slightly immature) shoes with songs like Errors's lead single, "Strictly Top," a fizzy rebuff to anyone who's "got a problem with little old me." Says Moore, "It's 2017, and I'm able to have this record where I can sing about my preference in the bedroom and about paranoid thoughts about the government turning people into cyborgs. It's very freeing to know you can put whatever you want out there."

Errors is out today, along with a music video for "Blood Money." Watch, below.