Team Dresch
Encyclopedia
Team Dresch is an American punk band from Portland, Oregon
, originally formed in Olympia, Washington
, which was initially active from 1993 until 1998. The band made a significant impression on the do-it-yourself movement queercore
, which gave voice through zine
s and music to the passions and concerns of those in both the LGBT community and the punk subculture
. All bandmembers were open lesbian
s. Washington Post writer Chris Richards called their debut album, 1995's Personal Best, "a fiery, all-but-forgotten punk masterpiece." In the early 2000s, Team Dresch reunited, and they continue to perform.
, founder of the band, had been involved in the queercore scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s as creator of her own fanzine
Chainsaw and, in addition to contributing to other zines such as Outpunk
and J.D.s
, she contributed to and was featured on the cover of issue five of Homocore
and appeared in the girl-gang film The Yo-Yo Gang
by G.B. Jones.
, guitar, bass, and vocals; Kaia Wilson
, guitar and vocals; and Marci Martinez on drums. All were veterans of other musical outfits; Donna Dresch had previously played and recorded with such bands as Dinosaur Jr., Dangermouse (not to be confused with Danger Mouse (TV Series)), Screaming Trees
, Rastro!, Fifth Column, Some Velvet Sidewalk
, Lois
, Mary Lou Lord
and The Go Team
; Jody Bleyle was simultaneously in the bands Hazel
and Lovebutt while playing in Team Dresch; Kaia Wilson had been in the band Adickdid
and Marci Martinez in Calamity Jane (a band, not the singer of the same name). Scott Plouf, then of The Spinanes
, now of Built to Spill
was the drummer on the first 7". "Hand Grenade" appeared on Kill Rock Stars
in 1994.
Personal Best appeared in January 1995 as a co-release on the independent labels Chainsaw Records
, run by Dresch and Candy Ass Records
, run by Bleyle. Candy-Ass then released the compilation Free to Fight
, a double LP of all-women bands addressing issues such as harassment
and rape
and dedicated to self-defense. The band toured with self-defense instructor Alice Stagg, who spoke and gave demonstrations to the audience prior to the band's performance. The members were committed to a DIY ethic, running their own record labels and booking their own tours, akin to the riot grrrl
movement of the 1990s.
On their second recording drummer Melissa York
, previously of the hardcore punk
bands Vitapup and Born Against
, replaced Marci Martinez. This LP, Captain My Captain
, released in 1996, also featured a guest appearance by Phranc
, well known lesbian
musician. The song "Uncle Phranc", written as a tribute to Phranc, appears on this album.
, while Dresch and Bleyle continued recording with the addition of new member Amanda Kelly and with Marci Martinez once again on drums. The band stopped playing in 1998, with Dresch increasingly involved in running her record label which was releasing many recordings by newer Queercore bands, including The Need
, Longstocking
and Sleater-Kinney
. Marci Martinez went on to play in The Vegas Beat.
In 2002, Jody debuted a new band, Family Outing
, which includes her brother, Allen, and in 2004, Donna returned to the stage with a new band, Davies vs. Dresch. They appeared as part of "Queercore Blitz", a group of queer bands touring the U.S together.
.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, originally formed in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, which was initially active from 1993 until 1998. The band made a significant impression on the do-it-yourself movement queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
, which gave voice through zine
Punk zine
A punk zine is a zine devoted to punk culture, most often punk rock music, bands, or the DIY punk ethic. Punk zines are the most likely place to find punk literature....
s and music to the passions and concerns of those in both the LGBT community and the punk subculture
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
. All bandmembers were open lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
s. Washington Post writer Chris Richards called their debut album, 1995's Personal Best, "a fiery, all-but-forgotten punk masterpiece." In the early 2000s, Team Dresch reunited, and they continue to perform.
Establishment
Donna DreschDonna Dresch
Donna Dresch is an American punk rock musician, perhaps best known as founder, guitarist and bass guitarist of Team Dresch and the Queen of Grunge....
, founder of the band, had been involved in the queercore scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s as creator of her own fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Chainsaw and, in addition to contributing to other zines such as Outpunk
Outpunk
Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands.The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, Outpunk. Outpunk ran for seven issues, from 1992 till 1997, with contributions from queer punks such as...
and J.D.s
J.D.s
J.D.s is a queer punk zine founded in Toronto by G.B. Jones and co-published with Bruce LaBruce, that ran for eight issues from 1985 to 1991....
, she contributed to and was featured on the cover of issue five of Homocore
Tom Jennings
Tom Jennings is a Los Angeles-based artist and technician. He is the creator of FidoNet, the first message and file networking system for BBSes...
and appeared in the girl-gang film The Yo-Yo Gang
The Yo-Yo Gang
The Yo-Yo Gang is a thirty minute 'exploitation movie' about girl gangs released in 1992 that has become a cult film.Directed by G.B. Jones, this 'no budget film' follows the exploits of two girl gangs, the "Yo-Yo Gang" and the "Skateboard Bitches", as a gangwar erupts between them...
by G.B. Jones.
First album line-up
The line up of the group for its first album was Donna Dresch, guitar and bass; Jody BleyleJody Bleyle
Jody Bleyle is an American musician, songwriter and independent record label owner.Jody Bleyle first gained public attention in the Pacific Northwest music scene of the 1990s, in the Portland, Oregon–based band Hazel. The group, formed in 1992, released two albums on the Sub Pop label, to critical...
, guitar, bass, and vocals; Kaia Wilson
Kaia Wilson
Kaia Wilson is a musician from Portland, Oregon, best known as a founding member of both Team Dresch, a revered 1990s queercore punk band, and The Butchies, a pop-rock spin-off from her solo work. In addition to singing, songwriting and guitar, Wilson co-established and operated Mr...
, guitar and vocals; and Marci Martinez on drums. All were veterans of other musical outfits; Donna Dresch had previously played and recorded with such bands as Dinosaur Jr., Dangermouse (not to be confused with Danger Mouse (TV Series)), Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
, Rastro!, Fifth Column, Some Velvet Sidewalk
Some Velvet Sidewalk
Some Velvet Sidewalk was an experimental lo-fi rock band from Olympia, WA on the independent label K Records.-History:Some Velvet Sidewalk was formed in Eugene, Oregon in 1987 by Al Larsen and Robert Christie . Their first release was From Playground 'Til Now, and was independently released on...
, Lois
Lois Maffeo
Courtney Love is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Although never achieving mainstream success, she has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 90s Olympia, Seattle and DC based musician.-as Lois Maffeo:albums*The...
, Mary Lou Lord
Mary Lou Lord
Mary Lou Lord is an indie folk musician, busker and recording artist.-Biography:Mary Lou Lord first gained notice playing acoustic guitar and singing in and around Boston's subway stations Lord became friends with...
and The Go Team
The Go Team
The Go Team was a 1980s band from Olympia, Washington, consisting of Tobi Vail and Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening.-Career:The Go Team was founded in 1985. As Vail described:...
; Jody Bleyle was simultaneously in the bands Hazel
Hazel (band)
Hazel was an United States alternative rock band based in Portland, Oregon. The group was a quartet, consisting of Jody Bleyle , Pete Krebs , Brady Smith , and Fred Nemo ....
and Lovebutt while playing in Team Dresch; Kaia Wilson had been in the band Adickdid
Adickdid
Adickdid was an all-female American indie punk band started in the early 1990s in Eugene, Oregon by Kaia Wilson Nalini Deedee Cheriel and Sara Shelton Bellum . Their first single "All American Girl" b/w "Columbus" was put out by Imp Records in 1993...
and Marci Martinez in Calamity Jane (a band, not the singer of the same name). Scott Plouf, then of The Spinanes
The Spinanes
The Spinanes was an indie band from Olympia, Portland and Chicago, in the 1990s. The founding members were Rebecca Gates and Scott Plouf ....
, now of Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
was the drummer on the first 7". "Hand Grenade" appeared on Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
in 1994.
Personal Best appeared in January 1995 as a co-release on the independent labels Chainsaw Records
Chainsaw Records
Chainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
, run by Dresch and Candy Ass Records
Candy Ass Records
Candy Ass Records is an independent record label run out of Portland, Oregon by Jody Bleyle, a member of the band Team Dresch as well as member of Hazel and formerly of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs....
, run by Bleyle. Candy-Ass then released the compilation Free to Fight
Free to Fight
Free to Fight is a project consisting of a 1995 double album and booklet, and a single later released by Candy Ass Records.The release is subtitled "an interactive self-defense project." The theme of the project is self-defense for women, and it includes records featuring all-women bands and a...
, a double LP of all-women bands addressing issues such as harassment
Harassment
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset, and it is characteristically repetitive. In the legal sense, it is intentional behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing...
and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and dedicated to self-defense. The band toured with self-defense instructor Alice Stagg, who spoke and gave demonstrations to the audience prior to the band's performance. The members were committed to a DIY ethic, running their own record labels and booking their own tours, akin to the riot grrrl
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement based in Washington, DC, Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and the greater Pacific Northwest which existed in the early to mid-1990s, and it is often associated with third-wave feminism...
movement of the 1990s.
On their second recording drummer Melissa York
Melissa York
Melissa York is a rock drummer. She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina.York first began drumming with the New York-based hardcore punk bands Born Against, the Manacled and Vitapup. After this, she moved to the West Coast to drum for Team Dresch. Following that, she was a member of the power...
, previously of the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands Vitapup and Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
, replaced Marci Martinez. This LP, Captain My Captain
Captain My Captain
Captain My Captain is Team Dresch's second and last album, released June 11, 1996 by Chainsaw Records.-Track listing:#Uncle Phranc - 3:23#107 - 4:05#My Dirty Hands are Mined - 3:00#The Council - 3:20#Don't Try Suicide - 3:11...
, released in 1996, also featured a guest appearance by Phranc
Phranc
Phranc is an American singer-songwriter whose career has spanned several decades.-Biography:She began her performing career in the late 1970s and early 1980s punk scene in Los Angeles...
, well known lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
musician. The song "Uncle Phranc", written as a tribute to Phranc, appears on this album.
Original disbandment and side projects
After Captain My Captain, Kaia Wilson and Melissa York left the band to form The ButchiesThe Butchies
The Butchies are a punk rock band from Durham, North Carolina, that existed from 1998 to 2005, and are currently on a hiatus. The frequent focus of their lyrical content concerned lesbian and queer themes....
, while Dresch and Bleyle continued recording with the addition of new member Amanda Kelly and with Marci Martinez once again on drums. The band stopped playing in 1998, with Dresch increasingly involved in running her record label which was releasing many recordings by newer Queercore bands, including The Need
The Need
The Need was a queercore band that originated in Olympia, Washington in the late 1990s. It was formed by Rachel Carns and Radio Sloan ; both were veterans of other indie rock bands...
, Longstocking
Longstocking
Longstocking were a Los Angeles queercore-punk band.Formed in 1995 by singer and guitarist Tamala Poljak, the group had originally been a guitar and drums duo. Tamala had previously been in the bands Oiler and Fleabag...
and Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
. Marci Martinez went on to play in The Vegas Beat.
In 2002, Jody debuted a new band, Family Outing
Family Outing
Family Outing Season 1 was a South Korean variety show; a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup, along with Gold Miss is Coming . It was first aired on June 15, 2008, and was one of the top rated programs on Sunday Korean television...
, which includes her brother, Allen, and in 2004, Donna returned to the stage with a new band, Davies vs. Dresch. They appeared as part of "Queercore Blitz", a group of queer bands touring the U.S together.
Reunion
In the summer of 2004, Jody, Donna, Kaia, Marci and Melissa came together to headline the queercore festival Homo-a-Go-Go in Olympia, Washington. Since then, the band has played sporadically, embarking on brief West and East coast tours throughout 2006 and 2007. Their 2007 tour came with an announcement of a new record planned to be released in 2008; as of late 2009, there have been no updates as to its development. The band's most recent reunion shows were held in Portland and Seattle in September 2009 also in Ladyfest Brasil for two shows in May 2010.Albums
- Personal Best (1994, Chainsaw RecordsChainsaw RecordsChainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
/ Candy Ass RecordsCandy Ass RecordsCandy Ass Records is an independent record label run out of Portland, Oregon by Jody Bleyle, a member of the band Team Dresch as well as member of Hazel and formerly of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs....
) - Captain My CaptainCaptain My CaptainCaptain My Captain is Team Dresch's second and last album, released June 11, 1996 by Chainsaw Records.-Track listing:#Uncle Phranc - 3:23#107 - 4:05#My Dirty Hands are Mined - 3:00#The Council - 3:20#Don't Try Suicide - 3:11...
(1995, Chainsaw RecordsChainsaw RecordsChainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
/ Candy Ass RecordsCandy Ass RecordsCandy Ass Records is an independent record label run out of Portland, Oregon by Jody Bleyle, a member of the band Team Dresch as well as member of Hazel and formerly of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs....
)
Singles
- Hand Grenade / Endtime Relay / Molasses In January 7" (1994, Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - The New Team Dresch V 6.0 Beta 7" (1998, Outpunk Records)
Split singles
- Take On Me split tour 7" with Bikini KillBikini KillBikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in October 1990. The group consisted of vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement,...
(1996, Banda Bonnet) - What Can A Lover Do? split 7" with F-80, Shove, and Dahlia SeedDahlia SeedDahlia Seed was an influential indie rock/post-hardcore band from the New York/New Jersey area, that was instrumental in defining the sound which is now termed Emo.-The beginning:...
(1996, Marigold Records) - It's A Conversation split 7" with LongstockingLongstockingLongstocking were a Los Angeles queercore-punk band.Formed in 1995 by singer and guitarist Tamala Poljak, the group had originally been a guitar and drums duo. Tamala had previously been in the bands Oiler and Fleabag...
(1998, Sub PopSub PopSub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
) - Temporary Insurance split 7" with The Automaticons (2000, Mental Monkey Records)
Compilation appearances
- "Fake Fight" on Periscope (1994, Yoyo Recordings)
- "Seven" on Rock Stars KillRock Stars KillRock Stars Kill is a compilation of various artists released by Kill Rock Stars on August 1, 1994. The compilation was released simultaneously as a vinyl LP with accompanying 7″ single, and as a CD.-LP:Side one#Tourettes – "Horse Girl"...
(1994, Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - "Song For Anne Bannon" on Free To FightFree to FightFree to Fight is a project consisting of a 1995 double album and booklet, and a single later released by Candy Ass Records.The release is subtitled "an interactive self-defense project." The theme of the project is self-defense for women, and it includes records featuring all-women bands and a...
(1995, Candy Ass RecordsCandy Ass RecordsCandy Ass Records is an independent record label run out of Portland, Oregon by Jody Bleyle, a member of the band Team Dresch as well as member of Hazel and formerly of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs....
/ Chainsaw RecordsChainsaw RecordsChainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
) - "She's Amazing" (live) and "The Lesbionic Story" on Yoyo A Go Go (1996, Yoyo Recordings)
- "Hand Grenade" on Some Songs (1997, Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - "Deattached (A Maximum Volume Interpretation)" remix by Christoph De BabalonChristoph De BabalonChristoph De Babalon is a Berlin based producer and DJ, best known for his work on Alec Empire's label Digital Hardcore Recordings. He also is the co-founder of the label Cross Fade Enter Tainment .-Biography:...
on Join The Queercorps (1998, Queercorps) - "Fake Fight" and "My Voice" on The Shiner Cassette (Slo-Mo Records)
Documentary
The band performs and is interviewed in the documentary film She's Real, Worse Than Queer by Lucy ThaneLucy Thane
Lucy Thane is a documentary filmmaker.One of her most notable works is It Changed My Life: Bikini Kill In The UK in which she followed the 1990s riot grrrl band Bikini Kill while they were on tour in the UK with Huggy Bear....
.