Excuse 17 was a

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band from

Olympia, Washington Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington. It had a population of 55,605 at the 2020 census, making it the state of Washington's 23rd-most populous city. Olympia is the county seat of Thurston County, and the central city ...

, US, that performed and recorded from 1993 to 1995. The band consisted of Becca Albee (vocals and

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

Carrie Brownstein Carrie Rachel Brownstein (born September 27, 1974) is an American musician, actress, writer, director, and comedian. She first came to prominence as a member of the band Excuse 17 before forming the rock trio Sleater-Kinney. During a long hiatu ...

(guitar and vocals), and Curtis James (

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

). The band recorded two full-length albums and a single, and contributed to several compilation albums.

History

Brownstein, Albee and CJ (Curtis James) Phillips came together to form Excuse 17, a band that lasted only a few years but would prove to be influential. Brownstein and Albee both played guitar and sang and CJ played the drums. The band quickly recorded a demo tape and then began recording for various compilations on

independent record labels 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 ...

. Their first full-length recording, '' Excuse Seventeen'', was released jointly on Atlas Records (LP) and the

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 ...

label Chainsaw Records (CD). They released a second and final album, '' Such Friends Are Dangerous'', on the indie label

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in February 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but it was orig ...

in 1995, which displayed a boost in recording quality. The band often played shows with Heavens to Betsy, including touring, not surprisingly since both bands were an active part of the

riot grrrl Riot grrrl is an underground feminist punk movement that began during the early 1990s within the United States in Olympia, Washington, and the greater Pacific Northwest, and has expanded to at least 26 other countries. A subcultural movement ...

scene. They also both appear on the compilation LP/CD '' Free to Fight''.

Corin Tucker Corin Lisa Tucker (born November 9, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney. Tucker is also a member of the alternative rock supergroup Filthy Friends, and previously record ...

from Heavens to Betsy struck up a friendship with Brownstein and they dated for a time. They decided to form

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 ...

, a side project that soon evolved into their main focus as their respective groups ended. However, Excuse 17's recordings are still valued by fans of Sleater-Kinney, those interested in riot grrrl and queercore recordings, and record collectors in general: ''Such Friends Are Dangerous'' was named one of the fifty best indie rock albums of the Pacific Northwest by online music magazine ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

''. Albee also recorded with Tucker as Heartless Martin, releasing a cassette on Chainsaw Records in 1993. Following the dissolution of Excuse 17, Albee has built a successful career in visual art. Her work has been praised by publications including ''

Bomb A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...

'', '' Tom Tom'', ''

Artforum ''Artforum'' is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art. The magazine is distinguished from other magazines by its unique 10½ × 10½ inch square format, with each cover often devoted to the work of an artist. Notably ...

'', and ''

Aperture In optics, the aperture of an optical system (including a system consisting of a single lens) is the hole or opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. More specifically, the entrance pupil as the front side image o ...

''. Her papers are being preserved by the Fales Library at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

. As of 2017 she is a photography professor at the City College of New York.

Discography

Albums

*'' Excuse Seventeen'' on Chainsaw Records (CD) and Atlas Records (LP) (1994) *'' Such Friends Are Dangerous'' on

(1995)

Singles

*"Youth On Fire" split single with Lync on Candy Ass Records

Compilations

* "Sevenwhateverteen" on ''Periscope'', Yoyo Recordings (1994) * "Forever Fired" on '' Free to Fight'', Candy Ass - Chainsaw co-release (1995) * "Carson" on ''Yoyo A GoGo'', Yoyo Recordings (1996) * "I'd Rather Eat Glass" on ''A Slice Of Lemon'', Kill Rock Stars (1996)

References

External links

Excuse 17 fan siteExcuse 17 Poster 1994-05-21
{{Authority control Punk rock groups from Washington (state) Kill Rock Stars artists Musical groups from Olympia, Washington Musical trios from Washington (state) Musical groups established in 1993 Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Queercore groups Riot grrrl bands 1993 establishments in Washington (state) Chainsaw Records artists