The Basement is the place to jam out to all things punk, emo, and indie rock—sounds that were born in a basement and thrive there still today. Listen only on 91.1 KLSU Baton Rouge.
In honor of Women’s History Month, this week’s episode of The Basement covers the trailblazing women of punk, from 1970s pioneers, such as Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex and Sioxsie Sioux, to the 1990s riot grrrl, sistagrrrl, and queercore artists she and her peers inspired.
Riot grrrl was more than just music—it was an underground feminist movement reaching at least 26 countries, far beyond its origins in Washington. It was its own subculture equipped with a DIY ethos, zines, art, and most importantly, activism.
Riot grrrl’s punk roots shine in its lyricism, which often expressed the anger and frustrations women felt with issues of rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, classism, and sexism. However, the movement was not limited to just punk. It reached the indie and alternative rock genres as well. Many artists featured on this playlist are not explicitly punk in sound, but they are punk nonetheless.
Beyond the riot grrrl movement were queercore, sistagrrrl, and female artists who did not associate with any of the above, yet they were just as essential in bringing feminist voices into the alternative rock scene. Both queercore and sistagrrrl were born out of frustration with punk’s lack of intersectionality, even in riot grrrl. Queercore bands like Team Dresch and Spitboy operated outside gender and sexuality norms, while sistagrrrl artists Honeychild Coleman, Tamar-kali Brown, Simi Stone, and Maya Sokora responded to the white predominance in riot grrrl by creating their own space for Black women to freely create punk music that represented them.
Oh Bondage Up Yours! / X-Ray Spex
The Passenger / Siouxsie and the Banshees
Fairytale in the Supermarket / The Raincoats
Jezebel / Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
My Friend Goo / Sonic Youth
The Slap / Chalk Circle
Cake / Fire Party
Lashes / Babes In Toyland
D.A. Don’t Care / Team Dresch
Jigsaw Youth / Bikini Kill
Nothing Can Stop Me / Heavens To Betsy
Cherry Bomb / Bratmobile
What Are Little Girls Made Of? / Spitboy
Knot / 7 Year Bitch
All American Girl / Adickdid
Hag / The Breeders
Take A Swing / Scrawl
Miss Hell / Calamity Jane
Super Golgotha Crucifixion Scene / Linus
Don’t You Ever / Slant 6
Freakathon / Red Aunts
I’d Rather Eat Glass / Excuse 17
Mr. Moneybag$ / Emily’s Sassy Lime
Turn It On / Sleater-Kinney
Any Resemblance… / Cold Cold Hearts
Punka / Kenickie
Burnout / Bangs
Deceptacon / Le Tigre
Gia / Fabulous Disaster
Between You And Me / Suffrajett
Your Girl / Tamar-Kali
