Moe's Alley Presents: GayC/DC
Schedule
Thu, 18 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA
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Moe's Alley presents the world’s first and only all-gay tribute (well, more of a “refresh” really) to the music of AC/DC! Thursday, June 18, 2026
Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm
$18 in advance / $23 day of the show
21+
* All sales are final
* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com
* Tickets requested by email will be delivered 3 days prior to the event
* Will Call tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event
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GAYC/DC
The idea for GayC/DC came from another all-gay tribute band, the Gay Gay’s, an all-gay tribute to the Go-Go’s that formed in 2003 and made the front cover of the LA Times Calendar section that March before playing a note. They had been building up a following for over a decade, including actual members of the Go-Go’s (they ended their run playing Jane Wiedlin’s after-party in LA at the end of the Go-Go’s final tour). After officially breaking up in 2013, a few former members decided that they enjoyed playing together, so what else could they do? As they half jokingly bounced around potential names for gay tribute bands, rhythm guitarist Karl Rumpf tossed out “GayC/DC” with a chuckle. It stuck. HARD.
Former Gay Gay’s bassist Chris Freeman (also bassist for iconic queer punk band Pansy Division) and drummer Brian Welch (whom Freeman had met when Welch booked Pansy Division for a Boston Pride event in ’97) were in immediately, and they began to hammer out the details on the spot, creating the logos and coming up with song ideas right off the bat. Next, they needed an Angus Young. Freeman reached out to lead guitarist Steve McKnight when he spotted “guitarist” in his profile online. McKnight had been a part of the Bay Area and LA music scenes in the late ‘80s with Cry Wolf, a melodic hard rock band that made their mark on the Sunset Strip and beyond with several major albums under their belt. Now with Steve in the lead, they would be taking a big step up.
The 4-piece spent months looking for a vocalist to no avail. Finally, Freeman asked the others if he should audition. They did. And so nervously, he did. Thankfully, the band agreed that he was the one to pull it off—but now they needed a bassist. Freeman reached out to Glen Pavan, someone Freeman had also met when Pansy Division stayed at his house on tour. Pavan had previously been keeping the low end down for LA queer punk rockers Best Revenge (their name comes from a Pansy Division song). He was a natural fit. Now they were off and running. Years later when COVID hit, Rumpf declined to continue with the band full-time. Following two replacements in 2023 and 2024, now Portland-based Topher Ruby (whom the band met when his band Ursabomb opened for them in 2023) has taken the Malcolm Young role.
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Where is it happening?
Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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