Chainsaw Records is an
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
run by
Donna Dresch
Donna Dresch is an American punk rock musician, perhaps best known as founder, guitarist and bass guitarist of Team Dresch.
Dresch has been actively involved in the queercore scene since the 1980s, as the creator of the fanzine ''Chainsaw'' and ...
that is devoted to
Queercore
Queercore (or homocore) is a cultural/social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of the punk subculture and a music genre that comes from punk rock. It is distinguished by its discontent with society in general, and specifical ...
bands. The label is in Portland, Oregon.
History
''Chainsaw'' began life as a
zine
A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published
Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to writ ...
published by
Donna Dresch
Donna Dresch is an American punk rock musician, perhaps best known as founder, guitarist and bass guitarist of Team Dresch.
Dresch has been actively involved in the queercore scene since the 1980s, as the creator of the fanzine ''Chainsaw'' and ...
in the late 1980s. Musicians and writers featured in the zine included
Lois Maffeo
Lois Maffeo (professionally known for much of her career as Lois) is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. She has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 1990s-era Olymp ...
, Jena von Brücker,
Juliana Lueking, Candice Pederson,
G.B. Jones
G. B. Jones (born 1965) is a Canadian artist, filmmaker, musician, and publisher of zines born in Bowmanville, Canada. She is known for producing J.D.s with her acclaimed''Tom Girls'' drawings before going on to create more musically, cinematica ...
and Larrybob. ''Chainsaw'' was one of the seminal queercore zines that, along with ''
J.D.s'' and ''
Homocore
Queercore (or homocore) is a cultural/social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of the punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse and widely known array of ideologies, fashion, and other forms of expression, v ...
'', helped define the movement.
"In 1991...Chainsaw developed from a zine into a record label. This began simply enough when she made a compilation
cassette
Cassette may refer to:
Technology
* Cassette tape (or ''musicassette'', ''audio cassette'', ''cassette tape'', or ''tape''), a worldwide standard for analog audio recording and playback
** Cassette single (or "Cassingle"), a music single in the ...
of her favourite bands and started to sell these while on tour with
Fifth Column
A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group or nation from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or another nation. According to Harris Mylonas and Scott Radnitz, "fifth columns" are “domestic actors who work to un ...
", writes Amy Spencer in ''DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture''. In 1994 Chainsaw began to release LPs and singles, beginning with the release of The Fakes (featuring members of
Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill is an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pioneered the ...
,
The Need
The Need is an American queercore band formed by singer/drummer Rachel Carns and guitarist Radio Sloan in Portland, Oregon in the mid-1990s.
After issuing a series of seven-inches on labels including Kill Rock Stars and Outpunk, The Need relo ...
and
Nation of Ulysses
The Nation of Ulysses was an American punk rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in spring 1988 with four members. Originally known as simply "Ulysses," the first mark of the group consisted of Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner ...
), the
Frumpies and the first
Team Dresch
Team Dresch is an American punk rock band originally formed in 1993 in Olympia, Washington. The band made a significant impression on the DIY punk movement queercore, which gave voice through zines and music to the passions and concerns of LGBT p ...
LP, ''
Personal Best''. This was followed by a co-release with
Candy Ass Records
Candy Ass Records was an independent record label in Portland, Oregon that was run by Jody Bleyle, a member of the bands Team Dresch and Hazel and of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs.
The label is best known for the 1995 relea ...
, the double LP/CD compilation, ''
Free to Fight''. "The label established itself as a vital element of the queercore scene..." says Spencer, as Chainsaw then began to release records by a variety of
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...
mainly women artists.
Of note is the fact that many bands, such as
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney ( ) is an American rock band that formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1994. The band's current lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member J ...
, have been able to put out their initial recordings on the label. As well, the website for ''Chainsaw'', and in particular its message board, have fostered a sense of community and provided a vehicle for expression by queers and music fans.
Chainsaw artists
* Davies vs. Dresch
*
Excuse 17
Excuse 17 was a punk rock band from Olympia, Washington, US, that performed and recorded from 1993 to 1995. The band consisted of Becca Albee (vocals and guitar), Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), and Curtis James (drums). The band recorded ...
* The Fakes
*
The Frumpies
The Frumpies were an American lo-fi punk rock band formed in 1992 in Olympia, Washington, United States. The original line-up consisted of singers/guitarists Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and Billy Karren (all of whom were also a part of the legendar ...
* Heartless Martin
*
Heavens to Betsy
Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991 with vocalist and guitarist Corin Tucker and drummer Tracy Sawyer. The duo were part of the DIY riot grrrl, punk rock underground, and were Tucker's first band befo ...
* Infinite Xs
*
Kaia Kaia or KAIA may refer to:
* Kaia (name), including a list of people with the name
* KaiA, a gene
* KAIA (group), a Filipino girl group
* KAIA (FM), radio station (91.5 FM) licensed to Blytheville, Arkansas, United States
* King Abdulaziz Internati ...
*
Longstocking
Longstocking were an America, Los Angeles-based queercore-punk band.
Formed in 1995 by singer and guitarist Tamala Poljak, the group had originally been a guitar and drums duo with Poljak and drummer, Kevin Hair. Tamala had previously been in ...
*
The Need
The Need is an American queercore band formed by singer/drummer Rachel Carns and guitarist Radio Sloan in Portland, Oregon in the mid-1990s.
After issuing a series of seven-inches on labels including Kill Rock Stars and Outpunk, The Need relo ...
*
No. 2
* Show Me the Pink
*
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney ( ) is an American rock band that formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1994. The band's current lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member J ...
*
Team Dresch
Team Dresch is an American punk rock band originally formed in 1993 in Olympia, Washington. The band made a significant impression on the DIY punk movement queercore, which gave voice through zines and music to the passions and concerns of LGBT p ...
*
Third Sex
Third gender is a concept in which individuals are categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither man nor woman. It is also a social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders. The term ''third'' is usually ...
*
Tracy and the Plastics
Tracy + the Plastics is an American electropop and video project group from Olympia, Washington, United States. The members include Nikki Romanos on keyboard, Cola on drums, and Tracy as the lead vocals. Although the name implied the group was m ...
See also
*
List of record labels
File:Alvinoreyguitarboogie.jpg
File:AmMusicBunk78.jpg
File:Bingola1011b.jpg
Lists of record labels cover record labels, brands or trademarks associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos. The lists are organized alphabetically, b ...
References
* Spencer, Amy; ''DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi Culture'', Marion Boyars Publishers, London, UK,
External links
Official site chainsawrecords.com
{{Authority control
American independent record labels
LGBT-related record labels
Zines
Queercore record labels
Record labels established in 1991
Oregon record labels
Privately held companies based in Oregon
Riot grrrl
1991 establishments in Oregon