Excuse 17
924 Gillman St.
Berkeley, CA
4/28/95
I finished Sara Marcus’s “Girls to the Front: The True Story Of The Riot Grrrl Revolution” this past weekend so I’m declaring it Riot Grrrl week here on TSOI. Quite often while reading the book I found myself thinking it was more like reading a diary than a documentation of the riot grrrl scene. Hearing the intimate stories of friends, acquaintances and bands that I dealt with during the time of riot grrrl gave me a bit of an awkward feeling that I’m guessing the casual reader wouldn’t glean from the same book. Recalling all the in-fighting, it’s no surprise those arguments eventually brought the movement to it’s knees. Even 20 years later, as these comments on last week’s Guardian article will attest, riot grrrl is still a hotly contested topic.
But on to today’s post…here’s a great set from Becca Albee, who is referenced quite often in the book, and her band Excuse 17. It was recorded towards the end of the band’s existence and is a great high energy recording.
Track listing:
1. Sound Check
2. The Drop Dead Look
3. Code Red
4. Forever Fired
5. I’d Rather Eat Glass
6. Carson
7. This Is Not Your Wedding Song
8. 5 Acres
9. Designated Shotgun
10. Watchmaker
Download: Excuse 17 – Berkeley – 4/28/95 – 185 MB
Sample: 5 Acres (Live)
As much as I love Sleater-Kinney I still have to say Excuse 17 was the best of Carrie’s bands. I got to see them a couple of times after their second LP came out and they totally rocked it. Even though they played to smaller crowds than S-K, Excuse 17 definitely had more energy live. This song was recorded on the same tour that I saw them at Gilman Street in Berkeley, CA back in 1995.
