TO FIND CURRENT QUEER BAND INFORMATION: Queer Bands on Tour has links to tourdates for various queer bands. This is the best place to get CURRENT information.
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Larry-bobINDEX:
Hormone Hotel CD. Bandit Queen is a trio with two women and a token male drummer. There are several songs about woman-woman love; "Miss Dandys" is about a female-to-male transsexual; there's a song about Frida Kahlo. The music is noisy pop; if I had to compare this to other bands, I'd say Pixies and P.J. Harvey. A really good record -- don't miss this one. Playtime Records, Box 354, Manchester M60 4PR (reviewed 9/95)
I Am That Great and Fiery Force LP/CD Full length (well, could you really survive more than 20 minutes) from this rapid onslaught of guitar, violin, and screams of desperation. Printed lyrics thankfully provided. "I really want you now so I just have to say it/ You're such a prince boy yeah you've got class/ Just give it to me/ fuck me fuck me." (Outpunk/K) (reviewed 3/98)
self-titled 7". The new band with the singer and bassist from the Mukilteo Fairies, plus a violinist and a couple more members. Totally queer thrash with violin -- now that's not something you hear every day. Fortunately, printed lyrics are included. Songs include "Magnetic Field," about straight boys fascinated by queers; "Secession" is about breaking free of mainstream gay society; "Transnegative" is about mainstream gays who try to jump through hoops to please straight society and reject groups that are too queer. There are eight songs total. (Outpunk)($3, $4 overseas) (reviewed 9/95)
Unisex CD. Blueboy are not the sort of band that I usually listen to, but this is just so well done, I have to like it. Their music is crystalline pop, beautifully recorded guitars and 'cello and male and female vocals. This isn't big haired loud guitars grunge stuff. The main singer, Paul, is gay, and that's reflected in the lyrics. For instance, in "Marble Arch," he sings, "Sold my flesh with eager glee/ but that was way back in '83." "Self-Portrait" is alleged to be about Brett Anderson of Suede--"I, this nation's narcissist laureate" is one lyric. The driving finale, "Imipramine" starts out "You say love can break a boy's heart/ I say there's no such thing." There is a U.S.release that has extra tracks and is generally cheaper. (Sarah Records, Box 691, Bristol BS99 1FG)(reviewed 10/94)
Goddess Of Wet Dreams CD Rumors in the British Press of Jayne's death are greatly exaggerated. She is alive and performed at Wigstock 1993. This CD is apparently not a re-issue of the never-released ESP record, but is mostly new recordings. Jayne County is a transgendered performer who's been around since the 70's. Her older albums are out of print, but there's a couple of old songs reprised on this CD, notably Cream In My Jeans and Fuck Off. There's a couple New York Dolls covers, and a new song by Jayne called "Johnny Gone To Heaven" that's a tribute to Doll Johnny Thunders.(ESP Disk) (reviewed 4/94)
Blow Away the Glitter Diamonds Stolen from the Crown CD. Trumpet belongs in punk rock is one thing Cypher proves as this crew of pirate women plunder and pillage among shifting time rhythms. Lyrics seize on the real -- working in a strip show, being a femme dyke, shooting evil parents. (Candy-Ass)) (reviewed 3/98)
Badass and Free 7". Seven queer women, including ex members of the Gr'ups, perform two songs with such unorthodox instrumentation as trumpet and banjo. The lyrics are also great -- "Militia" is about having a lesbian militia, and "She's Not" is about racism in the lesbian community. (Outpunk) ($3)(reviewed 10/96)
Pedro, Muriel & Esther: "The White to be Angry" CD. Vaginal Davis and Glenn Meadmore in militia drag lash out with a musical onslaught too brutal to resist. Rather than the straightforward sloganeering that is the rule in queercore, they take it to another level with songs such as "Homosexual is Criminal," embracing the Jeffrey Dahmer within us all. And then there's mind-blowing stuff like the operatic "Cherries in the Snow." I find "Beggars of Life" irresistably catchy, Stones-esque with its chants of "Na na na na -- whoo!" and descriptions of homosexual decadence. Recorded by Steve Albini. Specta Sonic Records (available for $10 cash from VCD, PO Box 741278, LA CA 90004-9278 ) (reviewed 10/96)
Queens (Make the World Go 'Round) 7". Vaginal Davis is backed up on this record by Chicago's Robespierre. "Queens (Make the World Go 'Round)" is an ode to queens (such as Ms. Davis). "The Vaginal Creme Theme" is sung by Mark Ruvolo, punctuated by inimitable dialogue from Vaginal. "Small Whyte House" starts out as a ballad with lines like "don't suck my titties/ don't even try," and then escalates into thrash. Spectra-Sonic Records, Box 477868, Chicago IL 60647 ($3.50 check to M. Freitas or $3+32 cent stamp)(reviewed 4/95)
Pedro, Muriel, and Esther 7".Metal band featuring Vaginal Creme Davis and Glen Meadmore. Amoeba Records, 5337 La Cresta Ct., LA CA 90038 ($5)(reviewed 1993)
The After Party cassette.Five songs performed by the full band, not just Paul Bonomo with backing tracks like some past recordings. Sometimes almost heavy metal, these guys don't play like sissies. The songs are (I Just Wanna) Score, Bitch Since I Met You, Pornsong, Let Me Find My Way, and Girlfriend Got Some Problems. Box 641272, SF, CA, 94109(reviewed 4/94)
"36C" CD/CS. This is punk dyke legends Fifth Column's third full-length album, and I think the best yet. They give more of an agressive rock attack, but there's touches of organ that distinguish their sound. Songs include "All Women Are Bitches," "Don't," "Donna," and "Get the Bug." (K Records) ($12)(reviewed 10/94)
Fifth Column/God Is My Co-Pilot split single The Fifth Column song, "Don't" is about all the places women are supposed to avoid to keep from being raped. "She's got a gun/ she's got a knife / she's got some scisors / she's got a life -- and that's more than I can say for you." The music of Fifth Column is strange and wonderful -- the echoey guitar and syncopated drums lend an arabic air. I've already said plenty about God-Co. There's three songs here. Sample lyrics: "Bull dykes -- now they're gay/ at least that's what their moms say." (Outpunk) ($3)(reviewed 4/94)
All Women Are Bitches 7".Toronto's dyke punk band including G.B. Jones. (K Records)(no longer available?)(reviewed 1993)
Straight Not CD/LP/CS. One thing that always disappointed me about the now-defunct Firehose was that they didn't carry on the politics of the D. Boon and the Minutemen. There's parallels in the jazz-punk stylings of God Is My Co-Pilot and the Minutemen, and in the sincere political agendas of both bands, though D. Boon sang about Central America and Sharon Topper sings about loving girls.
With God-Co, you either love `em or hate `em, and I love `em. Noisy skronk, with guitar, sax, and whatever else, topped by Sharon's endearing/annoying girl growl. The lyrics tend to be playfully sexual, as in the dialogue of "A Little Game": "Ooh -- what is it?" "Better not be your finger-- I said no fingers".
"Earliest Memory" juxtaposes a childhood memory with the thought that if she'd given birth instead of having abortions the children would be old enough to have memories of their own. "We Signify" is a manifesto of sorts about the band, and perhaps "the girl who calls herself Rebel and trieds to sell the life I'm leading" refers to Madonna. "Both Ways" is about bisexuality, and straight and gay society's insistance that people be one way or the other.
There's also a Chumbawamba cover, "Everyone's always trying to tell you how to behave," which I guess was originally a Clause 28 protest song. There are also great liner notes about Henry Rollins, homophobia, and music vs. message. 26 songs total, none over three minutes -- a total of 45 minutes.(Outpunk)(reviewed 4/94)
Fifth Column/God Is My Co-Pilot split single
Tight Like Fist: Live Recordings. 39 live tracks recorded over the course of a year at the Knitting Factory. Some of the songs have appeared elsewhere, and some are new to me. I don't think I'd heard any of the folk song stuff before. And the jacket art features a sequence of latex- and saran-wrapped women. If you don't have any God-Co records yet this is a good place to start. Even if you do have their other CDs, most of the repeat material is from the singles. (Knitting Factory) (reviewed 4/94)
Gender is as Gender Does" 7". 6 girls and boys make music that's rhythmic, noisy, jazzy. If I had to categorize it, I'd say No Wave. This single comes in two sleves, one with two girls kissing and one with two boys kissing. Songs include "Handsome Molly," "I Hate Girls," "Sun, Wind," and "Submissive." They have several other singles and a full-length CD, with another CD and more singles forthcoming. (still available, along with "on a wing and a prayer" and "Hattifatteners" from Ment Music Group, www.mentgroup.com, P.O. Box 812 Tannersville, NY 12485 (518) 734 6985) (reviewed 1993)
Ladyman CD/LP. Kaia, formerly of Team Dresch, delivers her second solo album. Introspective songs sung heartfelt just to you through your headphones. That the lyrics are largely unrhymed isn't surprising considering Kaia's appearance on that Minutemen tribute record. "That's Mr. Baby To You" is like "You're so vain" sung to a closeted superstar (at least in my imagination it is.) Melissa York (Vitapup, Team Dresch) drums. No fear of a little synth now and then (including an instrumental interlude.) (Mr. Lady, PO Box 3189, Durham, NC 27715-3189) Mr. Lady website (reviewed 3/98)
Big Broad CD. Juliana does spoken word pieces with musical backing. She creates vivid characters and scenes with her storytelling and versitile voice, stories about lesbian life and other topics. "Married in Midair" is about two lesbians who the the knot while skydiving. "Esperanza Dreams" is about a girl who takes a woman who delivers the mail as a role model. "Hide and Seek" is a rapid monolog about a closeted woman whom the community has to tiptoe around. There's 30 tracks in all. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 4/95)
She's Good People" 7". This is a record of six spoken-word pieces by Juliana Luecking. Juliana creates people and places with her voice and the help of clarinet, bass and some other sounds. Her performances leave you with a really great feeling. "Sistahood and Guppie" is about two women who ride their motorcycle to the desert. "Perfect Lesbian Bar" describes the scene, which recreates places from women's sexual pasts. "Playing Doctor" is about helping a friend extract a tampon. "Cleaver. Cleavage" is about figuring what to say to a friend who's had breast enlargement surgery. There will be a full-length CD of Juliana Luecking coming out on KRS soon. To contact Juliana directly about her other projects, write 200 Sterling Place #2B, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 10/94)
Get Lost CD. Stephin Merritt's Magnetic Fields are an anomaly. He writes songs with lyrics, with arrangements, with style. The lyrics are worthy of Noel Coward, the arrangements are intricate compositions of keyboards and guitar, the style is unlike anything else these days. Sample lyric: "In a cool gay bar/ where the people are entertaining/ when the sun clocks in/ we'll still be talking and champagning." (Merge, Box 1235, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.) (reviewed 10/96)
(reviewed 3/98)
Special Rites 7"This is a queer hardcore band. It's a good thing that the lyrics for the six songs are printed on the sleeve, or you'd never decipher them. "Four Letter Love" is a queer thrash love song. "Ripped Out" is about people who want to "change" homosexuals. The Fairies have broken up, but Josh and Quitty have a new band called Behead The Prophet No Lord Shall Livethat has a 7" and a CD. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 4/95)
Closet Check 7" The Fairies are an honest-to-goodness queer hardcore band. Hardcore means loud and very fast. Fortunately, there's a lyric sheet so you can decipher what's going on. There's 12 songs on this single, including "Oly Latent Boys," "Boys Fuck Rock Stars," (I think that one's about Kurt Cobain) "Making Plans for Confrontation" (which ends with the line "Meet your end from a pissed off fag.") "I Had a Relationship in My Head," "Heavy Into Brett," (which might be about homos who fetishize punks), "Who's Been Fornicating In My Bed" (about inconsiderate hetero roomates).The singer, Josh, does the zine "Now I twist your nipples..." (Outpunk)(reviewed 10/94)
Jacky'o'lantern 7". Organ-n-drums-driven time-sig-shifting song about -- what? wet dream of a pumpkinhead? After an instrumental interlude reminiscent of those toy interludes on late-period Husker Du records comes the sexy Pony 4 Honey which brings to mind the angular rhythms of early-80s Rough Trade bands, a sound we need to hear more of. Great and unusual record. Outpunk) (reviewed 3/98)
self-titled CD. The lyrics are all printed and I'm going to leave it to the listener to decode what this stuff is about since I don't want to embarass myself with more public misinterpretation. I also don't understand how just two people make so much music. Surely Rachel doesn't play drums and organ at the same time? Or Radio the guitar and bass. Must be a miracle of modern technology. But in any case, having a small number of people has not limited them in the way some fixed-instrumentation bands have been limited in the past -- there's a good variety of innovative sounds on this record. Some material duplicated from 7"s but I'm not sure what-all. Chainsaw) (reviewed 3/98)
The members are Zeena Parkins, Chris Cochrane, Ann Rupel, Tim Spelios, and Doug Seidel. There's an article in a recent issue of Option about No Safety, which includes a statement by Cochrane, who is gay, complaining about God Is My Co-pilot's use of queer imagery in their songs, despite the fact that Sharon and Craig are married to each other. But as God-Co have said, you'll learn more about gay life from listening to them than by reading the Advocate. I'd take God-Co over Madonna any day. God- Co's song "Straight Not" is a comeback to nay-sayers -- they point out that gender attractions aren't set in stone. (The song is on the Knitting Factory CD, not the Outpunk CD of the same name.)
No Safety's lyrics aren't particularly overt, by contrast with God-Co's -- but whose are? "Lonely," with lyrics "I'm disappearing/ hold me/ hold me/ what I saw/ you won't remember/ what I saw/ won't touch you no more," has an AIDS-era insight into intimacy and loss. Actually, No Safety's songs "Heavenly Puss" and "Master/Slave" are pretty overt.
We listen to songs for the music and for the lyrics. Mainstream hit songs are all about heterosexual love. The reaction of punk was not to sing love songs. In many cases, the lyrics ended up being about politics. And now, we have songs about queer politics. But now we want to hear love songs or sex songs again, but queer this time. Filling in the blanks in the representation of our lives.(Knitting Factory)(reviewed 4/94)
50 things Pansy Division like about Canada.
Official Pansy Division web site. Make sure to search for Pansy Division at Lookout Records' web site.
More Lovin' from our Oven CD. Another collection of singles and compilation tracks from Pansy Division on CD, for those of you who didn't get the singles. Among the tracks are the Steve Albini-recorded tunes from the Queer to the Core and Manada singles, and the tracks from the metal single which featured Kirk Hammet of Metallica. (Lookout) (reviewed 3/98)
Wish I'd Taken Pictures CD. Their fourth full-length recording, counting last years singles compilation, and their best yet. Play "Expiration Date" for someone, and they'll never guess this is Pansy Division, with its distorted vocals. They address gay culture with songs such as "Dick of Death," "Sidewalk Sale," and "Vanilla." Also now available is the "For Those About to Suck Cock" single, with heavy metal songs and uncredited guest guitar from Kirk Hammet of Metallica. For Pansy Division trading cards, t-shirts, etc. write Box 460885, SF CA 94146-0885 (overseas send IRC) (Lookout) (reviewed 10/96)
Pile Up CD. This is a compilation of 20 tracks that have appeared on singles and compilations. There are some Pansy Division originals here, and also a lot of covers, such as Liz Phair's "Flower," an uptempo version of Joe Jackson's "Real Men" ("Don't call me a faggot/ unless you are a friend"), Prince's "Jack U Off," "Jackson," with Jon singing Nancy Sinatra's part and Calvin Johnson doing the Lee Hazelwood part, and Husker Du's "The Biggest Lie." (Lookout) For Pansy Division records and t-shirts, write to Pansy Division, Box 460885, SF, CA 94146-0885 (overseas send IRC.) (reviewed 4/95)
Deflowered CD. This is Pansy Division's second full-length recording. It's got a lot of the sort of pop-punk songs that appeared on their debut, Deflowered. Examples of these are "Groovy Underwear," "James Bondage", and "Rachbottomoff.". There's some that offer critisism: "Reciprocate," a plea for mutuality in sex; "Anonymous," about slam-pit groping; "Not Enough of You To Go Around," about someone who won't return phone calls. And there's some that are downright dark: "Fluffy City," an anti-L.A. song; "Negative Queen," about someone with too much bad attitude; "Denny" (based on a poem by Trebor Healy) about an HIV-positive guy; and "Deep Water," about being stuck in the midwest. Plus there's two covers, one by Jonathan Richman, the other Pete Shelly's "Homosapien." As a bonus, the booklet includes a guide to gay youth groups. (Lookout) (reviewed 10/94)
Undressed LP/Cass/CD. This queer rock band has a full-length LP/Cassette/CD, "Undressed," and a couple singles, including Bill and Ted's Homosexual Adventure. (Lookout) (single $3, LP/CS $7, CD $10)(reviewed 1993)
Fem in a Black Leather Jacket 7". This single single has the songs "Fem in a Black Leather Jacket," "Homo Christmas," and "Smells Like Queer Spirit," their re-worded version of the Nirvana song. Also forthcoming is a full-length LP/Cassette/CD, "Undressed." (single $3, LP/CS $7, CD $10)(reviewed 1993)
Welcome to My World cassette. 4-track experiments by this ex-2 Nice Girls member. Gretchen talks over guitar, synth and rhythm tracks, with found dialogue from exploitation movies and other sources. "A Downer" is about lesbians getting girls hooked on acid. "How Lesbians Get That Way" uses a reading from a book about how women turn to other women after being dumped by men. "The Penetration Solution" ponders the question of straight people who have only half the experience -- only penetrating, or only being penetrated, over the soundtrack of a gay porn movie. "Who Would You Rather Have Sex With" ponders the question in the case of various celebrites, politicians and their wives (Nancy or Barbara?) Gretchen Phillips, Box 4600, Austin, TX 78765 ($8.50) (reviewed 4/94)
Goofyfoot CD EP.Phranc, the jewish lesbian punk folksinger, has a new CD out on KRS, who put out a single by her last year. The cover shows Phranc on her surfboard, and appropriately enough, it starts out with "Suferfdyke Pal" and ends with an instrumental surf song, "Goofyfoot," which has all-boy surf band Satan's Pilgrims on it. There's a couple of covers, "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "Ode to Billy Joe." "Bulldagger Swagger" is reprised from the single. There's also other guest musicians, including Kaia and Donna from Team Dresch, Patty Schemel of Hole, and Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 9/95)
Bulldagger Swagger/ Hillary's Eyebrows 7". The Jewish lesbian folksinger is back. Bulldagger Swagger is a tribute to butch lesbians (of which Phranc is one), while Hillary's Eyebrows is an ode to the first lady. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 4/95)
Drag King CD/LP. British queercore band Sister George may be the homo punk band you've been waiting your whole life for. The 8 songs get across a message about non-mainstream queer experience. The song "Sister George" includes the classic line "I never met a man quite like you before, girl"; "Let's Breed" is a sarcastic paen to heterosexual reproduction; "Virus Envy" is about lesbian AIDS transmission-- "Girl-to-girl HIV transmission/is going to go on happening if we give it permission"; "100X No!" incorporates a cover of Tom Robinson's "Glad to be Gay," and samples of Aileen Wuornos. (Catcall Records, 142B St. Paul's Road, London, N1 2LL)(reviewed 10/94)
Call the Doctor CD/LP. The dual guitars of Sleater-Kinney center in from both directions on a harmony in an uncanny way. And Corin Tucker's voice is unearthly in its intensity. Sleater-Kinney can be my Joey Ramone anytime. (Chainsaw) (reviewed 10/96)
Smoke web page
See the memorial page to Benjamin,
Benjamin Remembered.
See this article
on Benjamin.
Web Page: http://www.radioactive.net/BANDS/SNOWPONY/snowp1.html
The Little Girls Understand 7". Katherine Gifford (ex-Stereolab) and Deb Googe (ex-My Bloody Valentine) are in this band. The two songs on it are "Come & sit here on your daddy's knee" and "Who's going to be your daddy now." There are liner notes by Pat Califia explaining the reclaimation of the term "daddy" in the dyke scene. In addition to being a "concept" single, it's musically good, especially some interesting mix tricks on the second song. They sound closer to MBV than Stereolab, I'd say. It's in a brown cardboard jacket, and was a limited release. They also have two other singles. (Go a href="http://radioactive.net/boom.html">here to hear a clip from one of them.) (Rough Trade Singles Club) (reviewed 3/98)
Vespa-Sex 7".A 5-song 7" from this San Francisco-based "patheti-core" band, featured on Outpunk Dance Party. The songs are "It's a really bad scene"; "Vespa-Sex", about someone who's into scooter riders, of course; "Elbo Grease"; "Double Your Chances," a song about bisexuality; and "Powter Choice," a mock-grindcore anti-dieting song. Comes with an amusing 12-page booklet. (Outpunk$3/$4 overseas)(reviewed 9/95)
The New Team Dresch v 6.0 beta 7". Turns out this, along with the TD song on the Marigold 7" comp is the band's swan song -- they have broken up, but Donna and Jody are continuing in the Electricians. The other two members band on this record were Marci and Amanda of Vegas Beat. "Deattached" is about getting on with life after a relationship, a propulsive song with a driving beat. "Venus Lacy" is an anthem about women's basketball. If Team Dresch had to break up, at least this single is a high note to go out on. (Outpunk)
Captain My Captain CD/LP. I find the lyrics on this, Team Dresch's second full-length release more overtly queer, and that's just fine with me. "Uncle Phranc" is about families of choice vs. families of origin and rings so true. "I'm Illegal" is about not being allowed to be affectionate in public. "Musical Fanzine" really represents the connections that can be made through zines -- "queer sex is great, it's fun as shit don't worry Jesus is dead and God don't exist". (Chainsaw or Candy- Ass) (reviewed 10/96)
Personal Best CD.Team Dresch is kind of a punk rock dyke supergroup, with Donna Dresch, who's played with "so many bands" (as Fifth Column sang in their song about her), Kaia from Adickdid, and Jody from Hazel. At their live shows, they have self-defense demonstrations. "Hate the Christian Right" is a rant against homophobic oppression. "Growing Up in Springfield" is about being a young lesbian in a small town. Other songs include "Fagetarian and Dyke" and "She's Crushing My Mind." (Chainsaw or Candy-Ass)(reviewed 4/95)
Self-titled 7". Donna Dresch, the namesake of this band, is the same Donna as in the Fifth Column song; she's been in many other bands and published the zine Chainsaw. Now she's in this all-dyke band with Kaia and Jody. "Hand Grenade" is a catchy song with a line that "she knows how to fight." "Endtime Relay" is a little crunchier. "Molasses in January" is, as you might guess, a slower song. Some lyrics: "You superbutch punk-ass motherfucker/ lay down between between my legs/ come up here and say that to my face." The cover art is based on an old lesbian romance novel. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 10/94)
G.R.R.L. CD. Beat-oriented rather than ambient like some of Thaemlitz' other work, this falls into (and transcends) a variety of categories. Instrumental with the exception of China Doll (Kill All Who Call Me), sung in Chinese by Chiu-fen Chen, which attacks fetishization of Asians. (Comatonse) (reviewed 3/98)
They's Third Sex web page
For info about Third Sex, email Peyton (who is a member of the band) at Pagel@aracnet.com
Card Carryin' CD/LP. Brand new full-length record by this Portland- based dyke trio. Driven by Killer's propulsive drumming, Peyton and Trish play bass and guitar riffs and trade vocals. Lyrical topics range from fucked-up relationships ("Crazy Glue," "Definition") to messed up family stuff -- the lyrics of "Love in the Basement" are "My sister is the girl I was when I was 13/ I want to tell her everything I learned the hard way/...They won't let me talk to her cause I am the lesbian freak." But there's also fun stuff like "Un Deux Trois Cat" where at least the two-timing is being done by a kitty-cat. Don't miss their next tour --tour dates can be found at the Chainsaw web site. (Chainsaw) (reviewed 10/96)
Self-titled 7".Debut single from this dyke trio from Portland, who also appear on Free to Fight. The songs are "Feed Me," "My Expense" and their song about family communication "Mombies". The way the guitarist and bassist trade off vocals is very effective, especially on Mombies, where they yell back and forth like a mother and a daughter "Why can't you get over it -- I don't know, I don't know". Great cover photos of the band in family drag. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 9/95)
Role Models For Amerika CD. Third full-length from San Francisco's punk dyke superstars. Stream-of-conciousness rants, the headbanging thrash, if you don't know by now where have you been? It's a sign of how close they are to the reality they talk about that they're able to be irreverent about topics like breast cancer and the psych hospital industry. Tribe 8 are writing the songs about stuff nobody else is singing about -- sewing jeans in prison, people who talk about "white trash," being a femme dyke. (Alternative Tentacles) (reviewed 3/98)
Snarkism CD/LP. The CD is really great -- their best yet. Plus you get cover art by Diane DiMassa. Some of the songs include Republican Lullaby -- total hardcore, with great political lyrics; Tranny Chaser -- guest backing vocals from Justin Bond, with Lynn singing about various drag queens; She Said -- a song about a bad band manager and the band she manages; Checking Out Your Babe -- hip-hop- esque song about playing around with het's minds; Jim, Darby, & Sid -- a song about those dead (clothed) rock star boys; Wrong Bathroom -- ever get challenged about what bathroom you're in?; People Hate Me -- a song about getting ostracized for being different; Dead Clothed Boys -- When you can get live nude girls for free, what's worth paying for? (Alternative Tentacles) (reviewed 10/96)
Fist City CD. Tribe 8's long-awaited first full-length record is out, and if you haven't heard this great band of dykes yet, it's time. The music is rockin' punk, and Lynn Breedlove has a great tough, sarcastic voice. There's a few songs that have appeared in different versions on other records (classics like "Manipulate," "Neanderthal Dyke," "Femme Bitch Top," and "Frat Pig") but there's a lot of new material also. Some of the new songs: "Butch in the Streets" is about a woman who's femme in the sheets, naturally. "Romeo and Julio" is about having been a fag in a past life. "Kick" is about having a junkie girlfriend. "Freedom" is about monogamy and non-monogamy. "Flippersnapper" is about the exploits of a member of Tribe 8. (Alternative Tentacles) (reviewed 4/95)
Allen's Mom 7"/CD5. The theme of this single is mothers; the back cover has pictures of each of the band members' moms. "Allen's Mom" is about a mother who leaves her husband for another woman. "Chickenshit" is about having a lover who's afraid of commitment. "Mom Gone Song" is about not being able to communicate with one's mother. (Outpunk)(reviewed 10/94)
By the time we get to Colorado CD/LP/CS 6 song CD by this dyke punk band, including "Lezbophobia". (Outpunk)(reviewed 1993)
Pig Bitch 7". Great punk dyke band. Songs are Femme Bitch Top, Frat Pig, Power Boy,and Neanderthal Dyke.(reviewed 1992)
Tribe 8 / Blatz split 7". Two songs each by these queer bands. Also available: Tribe 8 "Pig Bitch" 7". A Tribe 8 CD is forthcoming. (Outpunk, no longer available) (reviewed 1992)
Diesel Queens vs. Insainsts double 7". The Diesel Queens rock out on "Manson Family Feud," "Man-boy Love," "Punks Went Dirthead" (about sell-outs) "Happy Peppy" (an ode to the rave scene) and "I Love Cheese." The Insaints blaze through seven songs on their 7". The best song is the last one, "Whore": "If I wasn't here, you'd be alone/ If it weren't for me, you would be alone tonight/ I'll take your money/ give you the company/ you don't know me/ you don't own me/ and I won't give it away" One record's clear with red spots, and the other's purple. (Blacklist, 475 Valencia SF, CA 94103) (reviewed 4/94)
Fluke/Samsara split 7". Each band contributes two songs to this EP. Fluke's songs are "100 Million Little Girls" (about female genital mutilation in Africa) and "Answers Melt". Samsara's songs are "My Gears Are Slipping" and "We Won't Give Up" (which has the lyrics "The body is a temple," and is dedicated to the riot grrrls). (Out of Bounds Records, Box 4809, Alexandria, VA 22303)(reviewed 10/94)
Free To Fight 7" A sequel to the CD/LP self defense compilation. This 7" has a song each by Sleater-Kinney ("Big Big Lights") and Cypher in the Snow ("Blame the Victim.") There are also spoken word segments on the record. The theme of this 7" is finding alternatives to girls fighting girls. The Cypher song is about being in an abusive relationship. Plus the record comes with extensive amounts of writing about self-defense, including excerpts from letters prompted by the earlier parts of the project. Three more 7"s in the series are promised. $20 subscription to the series includes a poster. Candy-Ass) (reviewed 3/98)
Free To Fight CD/double LP. A compilation of music and spoken word with the theme of women's self-defense.Bands include Team Dresch, Fifth Column, Third Sex, and many more. Alsoincludes a zine of writing about self-defense. (Candy-Ass) (reviewed 10/94)
Gay Pride 7" compilation. SPDFGH, from Australia, does a short tune called "Sweet"; Pansy Division does "Bill and Ted's Homosexual Adventure"; Chumbawamba does "Ugliest Part of the Body"; Mambo Taxi plays a hilarious song called "Brett From Suede (It's About Time You Got Laid By a Man); Doom does a thrash song that rhymes "homophobia" and "claustrophobia"; Wat Tyler does "Wet, Wet, Wet (the fucking bed)," actually covering a Troggs song. This is mostly out of print, but if you look around, you might find a copy. Rugger Bugger Discs, Box 357, London SE19 1AD(reviewed 4/95)
Masturbating Twat 7" compilation. Squack does "Masturbating Twat," which of course is an ode to self-pleasure; Quivvver's "Taboo" is a love song, but I couldn't decipher the lyrics enough to figure out if it's a queer song; Mona Elliott plays "A.M. Radio"; Cheesecake's "Brats" is like the stuff parents yell at kids; Meghan McLaughlin plays "The Carolina Song"; Lint does "Popcorn," a cute song about popcorn and candy. Comes with a 16-page zine. Fistful Records, Box 390210, Cambridge, MA 02139-0003(reviewed 4/95)
Outpunk Dance Party CD/LP/Cass. This is the ultimate queer punk compilation. The Mukilteo Fairies contribute "Queer Enough for You," a hardcore rant about conforming to gay stereotypes; Power Snatch tells exactly how they're going to make your "Booty Go"; UK queercore band Sister George's "Handle Bar" has a fuzztone groove and super sarcastic lyrics; Double Zero's "Pacer" has lyrics about a dyke S/M scene; Swine King's song "All Broke Down" features Biscuit of the legendary Big Boys, in as fine form as ever; CWA's "Chickenhawk" is a rap about a dyke w/ bike who seduces a straight girl--"Boy I fucked your girlfriend, and she is done with boys"; Pansy Division's "I Can't Sleep" is about a pick-up gone sour; Hyperdrive Kittens contribute the catchy pop-rock song "Rock'n'Roll Drag Queen"; Jolt's "Rise" is an emo- y song about coming out of the closet; Sta-Prest's "Nelly Strut/Suspiria" is a K-style song about vampire lesbians; Tribe 8's "Oversize Ego" segues into a cover of Devo's "The Girl You Want." This compilation is just plain required. Also out now from Outpunk is a reissue of the "There's a Dyke in the Pit" compilation on all three formats. (Outpunk)(reviewed 10/94)
Queer to the Core CD. A probably bootleg reissue of some old queer novelty tunes. The Teddy and Darrel "These Are the Hits You Silly Savage" LP is reissued in its entirety. According to Rhino Records, one of the people on this record was future California Lt. Governor Mike Curb. It's kind of like the Frogs, in that it's probably a joke record where the people doing it aren't gay, though who knows. Three singles on Camp Records are included (including the classic "I'd Rather Swish than Fight," which I always wished Sta-Prest would do a cover of.) Camp Records also released the LP "The Queen is in the Closet," but it's not on here. (The Camp Records tracks are apparently circa 1965, as they're advertised in a Vagabond catalog from that year.) And there's an exerpt of the Pearl Box Revue double LP, which is a tape of a group of drag queens including Dorian Corey of Paris is Burning fame talking circa 1970. If the people who put out this rerelease are reading this (or people who know about the original releases, even better) please get in touch with me. (Quick Nuts) (reviewed 3/98)
Sibilance #1 CD: This is a queer audio zine on CD. Some of the pieces: "Asexual" is an electronic rant - "You make me want to be asexual"; "Ale Heigh" is a pig-latin Gregorian chant; "Discharge" couples the reading of a military discharge for reason of homosexuality with Sousa music; "Charlie off the Wall" is a plea to a Manson fan to be more discreet; other pieces include "Gym Queen" and "Michael's a Faggot." The price is a bargain: $5. Trip Records, 79 Franklin St, NY, NY 10013-3408. email: sibilance@tripnet.com web: http://www.tripnet.com/sibilance (reviewed 10/96)
Stars Kill Rock compilation CD/LP. 17 bands, including Tribe 8, Slant 6, Pansy Division, and the instant classic "Only Straight Girls Wear Dresses" by Cunts With Attitude (CWA). This is great stuff. (Kill Rock Stars) (reviewed 1993)
Stop Homophobia Now 7" compilation. Four bands, four songs. And it also comes with a booklet with pages from each band and from several other folks, including Dave on Damn Nation zine, Baby Sue comics, a comic by Terry Sapp, Gary Fembot, Matt Outpunk, and Jen Angel of Fucktooth. Here's the songs: Fagbash: "Another Freak Out": The title has the double meaning of a freak coming out. And the music's fast and exciting as Paul Bonomo freaks out. Black Angel's Death Song: "Brother and Sisters" is a song about homophobia. Pansy Division covers "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other," a song which they played on tour in Texas. It's a great song. Happy Flowers: "Toast Fire" is a feedback-drenched song about accidentally setting mom's toaster on fire. 6403 Johnny Morris Rd #12, Austin, TX 78724 ($3)(reviewed 4/94)
There's a Dyke in the Pit 7" compilation. Compilation with a song each by grrrl bands Bikini Kill (Suck My Left One),Tribe 8 (Manipulate), Lucy Stoners (Soiled Princess), and 7 Year Bitch(Dead Men Don't Rape.) (Outpunk) (reviewed 1992)
"Succubus" cass. W.O.D. make hard-driving, melodic music. "Burn Me" is about getting a pap smear; "Fetus" is a pro-choice song; "Booty" is a funky song about girls' butts; "Big Stinkin' Man" is a rap ode to street harassers; "P.V.I. (is a lie)" is about the myth that women get pleasure from penile-vaginal intercourse; "Mass-Murdering Buddhist" is about becoming just that; "Devour" is a slower, sensual, but still powerful song, featuring guitar and accordion. (P.O. Box 29919, Baltimore, MD 21230)(reviewed 10/94)
Feel/P.V.I (Is a Lie) 7". The music is driving, rhymic punk rock. I guess "Feel" is about having sex. "You may be a stranger / but I can really feel it." P.V.I. stands "Penile- Vaginal Intercourse," and it's about the oppression of women. (Lounge Singer)(reviewed 4/94)
Alternative Tentacles
Box 419092
San Francisco, CA 94141-9092
web page: http://www.alternativetentacles.com
Candy-Ass
Chainsaw is now doing Candy-Ass mailorder.
NEW URL:Candy-Ass Records Web
Page.
Chainsaw
PO Box 1151
Olympia, WA 98507-1151
NEW URL:Official Chainsaw Records Web
Page
Harp Records
Box 460465
San Francisco, CA 94146
Outpunk Records
Box 170501
San Francisco, CA 94117
email: outpunk@sirius.com
QueerCorps/Outpunk Web Page
Kill Rock Stars
120 NE State Ave PMB #418 (must put PMB)
Olympia, WA 98501
email: killrkstrs@aol.com
Killrockstars.com - official
web page
unofficial
KRS web page
Knitting Factory
74 Leonard St.
NY NY 10013
Tel: 212-219-3055
Fax: 212-219-3401
email: kf@knittingfactory.com
Knitting Factory Web Page
K Records
Box 7154
Olympia, WA 98507
email: K@olywa.net
NEW URL:K Records Web Page
Lookout Records
P.O. Box 11374
Berkeley, CA 94701
email: llivermore@aol.com
NEW: Official Lookout Records
WebPage
timmi-kat ReCoRDS-usa
p.o. box 156
Denair, CA 95316
http://www.moontrentmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/timmikat