in Heavens to Betsey. Brownstein, a classically-trained pianist, was
so inspired by Heavens to Betsey and other bands, such as Bikini Kill
and Bratmobile, that she formed Excuse 17.
In 1994, Tucker and Brownstein formed Sleater-Kinney (named after a
freeway on-ramp near their practice space) as a side band with
drummer Misty Farrell and recorded their first 7" release with Villa
Villakula Records. Farrell was then replaced by Lora McFarlane, and
the band recorded their self-titled 10". This first album was
released in 1995 by Chainsaw Records. In 1996, the band released Call
the Doctor, also on Chainsaw Records. This record marked the further
development of their sound and musical style.
The band soon found it difficult to coordinate performances because
McFarlane lived in Australia, so she was replaced by Toni Gogin, who
was the drummer during the tour to support Call the Doctor. Gogin was
later replaced by Janet Weiss, who was with Sleater-Kinney for the
recoding of their next album, Dig Me Out, which was released in 1997
on the Kill Rock Stars label. Since then, Weiss has been the
permanent drummer, and the current line-up has since released three
other albums: 1999's The Hot Rock, 2000's All Hands on the Bad One,
and 2002's One Beat, all on Kill Rock Stars.
some girls are bigger than others
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