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 and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

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 specifically ...

bands. The label is in Portland, Oregon. It is not linked to Chainsaw Records, UK.

History

''Chainsaw'' began life as a

zine A zine ( ; short for ''magazine'' or ''fanzine'') is, as noted on Merriam-Webster’s official website, a magazine that is a “noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject ...

published by

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 O ...

, Jena von Brücker, Juliana Lueking, Candice Pederson, G.B. Jones and Larrybob. ''Chainsaw'' was one of the seminal queercore zines that, along with '' J.D.s'' and '' Homocore'', 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 of her favourite bands and started to sell these while on tour with

Fifth Column A fifth column is a group of people who undermine a larger group or nation from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or another nation. The activities of a fifth column can be overt or clandestine. Forces gathered in secret can mobilize ...

", 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 originally consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pio ...

The Need The Need is an American queercore band formed by the singer and drummer Rachel Carns and the 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, ...

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. History In 1993, Donna Dresch formed Team Dresch with herself playing guitar and bass, Jody Bleyle on guitar and vocals, Kaia Wilson on guitar and voc ...

LP, ''

Personal Best A personal record, or a personal best (abbreviated to PB), is an individual's best performance in a given sporting discipline. It is most commonly found in athletic sports, such as track and field, other forms of running, swimming and weightlifting ...

''. This was followed by a co-release with Candy Ass Records, the double LP/CD compilation, ''

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 i ...

''. "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 non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...

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 lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member Janet We ...

, 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. The original line-up consisted of singers/guitarists Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and Billy Karren (all of whom were also a part of the riot grrrl band Bikin ...

* 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 ...

* Infinite Xs * Kaia *

Longstocking Longstocking were an American, Los Angeles–based queercore-punk music, punk band. Formed in 1995 by songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Tamala Poljak, the group originally began as a guitar and drums duo with Poljak and drummer, Kevin Hair. T ...

* No. 2 * Show Me the Pink *

Third Sex Third gender or third sex is an identity recognizing individuals categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither a man nor a woman. Many gender systems around the world include three or more genders, deriving the concept either from ...

* Tracy and the Plastics

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 LGBTQ-related record labels Zines Queercore record labels Record labels established in 1991 Record labels based in Oregon Privately held companies based in Oregon Riot grrrl 1991 establishments in Oregon

History

Chainsaw artists

See also

References

External links