Excuse 17 were a three-piece punk band from Olympia, Washington that were around from 1993 to 1995. They released a split with the excellent Lync (which I don't have the individual release for) and two full-lengths albums, the second of which was released via Kill Rock Stars. Influenced by the emerging riot grrrl movement spearheaded by bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens To Betsy, featuring prominent members of it including Becca Albee (guitar/vocals), Carrie Brownstein (guitar/vocals), and C.J. Phillips (drummer). Though a commendable band in their own right (Such Friends Are Dangerous is a fantastic album, seriously listen to "Watchmaker"), part of their legacy is as a partial prototype for Sleater-Kinney, which Brownstein formed along with Heavens To Betsy's guitarist/vocalist Corin Tucker initially as a side project, which then shortly thereafter became their main focus following the dissolution of their respective bands. You can hear the DNA in both bands, with Brownstein's sharp, energetic, and winding guitar chops present here and Tucker's soaring, gut-wrenching vocals and punchy playing style there, which is now making me realize I should just do both bands at once, because they're both solid, integral parts of the riot grrrl scene in their own right, regardless of their later affiliation with the undeniably monumental Sleater-Kinney. Enjoy.
It is the loneliness and most crestfallen day of the year again, and with it brings bad tidings, quotes from a movie that we'll never run out of, and a screamy band capable of matching that inner despondency. Pyre are a five-piece screamo band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 2022. Following an EP and a split, they released their debut full-length This Is How We Lose Fullness last year, which is when I first heard of them. After reading the lyrics and seeing how delightfully dismal they were, this band was immediately pegged for this very post. Don't let the song titles fool you, they're just a cover for the bleeding heart drudgery behind them, accentuated by an incredible sonic blend of heavy, dissonant chaos and shrieked vocals (in the vein of Jeromes Dream, Portrait, or Loma Prieta) with melodic breaks that trade off screamed and sung vocals reminiscent of fellow V-Day alumni You And I. The drums are flooring, the guitars harshly cathartic, with melancholic lyrics and vocals that all come together as the perfect recipe for this miserable day. If you want to deepen the wound, links to all the previous V-Day entries can also be found below. Don't enjoy.
Meet Me In St. Louis were a five-piece post-hardcore/emo/math rock band from Guildford, Surrey that were active from 2005 to 2009 before reuniting for a tour in 2023. If you're interested in doing a deep dive on the band's history, they conducted a retrospective interview you can read here. In terms of sound, imagine trebly guitars, syncopated rhythms, odd time signatures, robust bass lines, and impassioned vocals that create this cacophony of sound that's as beautiful as it is blistering, just as melodic as it is technical. Their sole LP Variations On Swing is incredible, but if you're looking for just one release a compilation of all their recorded material was put out by Big Scary Monsters, so that's probably your best bet to start with. Enjoy.
