Each month, one of CHIRP Radio’s tastemaker DJs curates a selection of vinyl specially designed to make your ears happy. This month’s installment is curated by DJ Danielle Sines with Hit Girls author Jen B. Larson.

From the Midwest to England: Women of Post-Punk

You’ve probably seen the shirt made famous by Kim Gordon that says “Girls Invented Punk Rock Not England.” Well, girls invented post-punk, too. All joking aside – no one person invented a music genre, as it is always an energetic movement and community effort – but, women played an integral role in its creation and its impact. What sets post-punk apart from punk is the tight and funky rhythm section. The guitars tend to be light and scratchy and pull away from three-chord structures. Vocals wander more. Essentially, post-punk is groovier and more experimental than its punk predecessor. These are three post-punk albums that showcase a variety of talented women.

Au Pairs – Playing with a Different Sex (1981)
British post-punk band Au Pairs were active from 1978 to 1983. The overtly left-wing band expressed their anger through their music, and a natural target of their ire was Thatcherism. As a radical feminist and lesbian, singer Lesley Woods was considered one of the most striking women in music in the UK. She eventually became a lawyer specializing in immigration law and left the music industry. Playing with a Different Sex is considered a post-punk classic, so if you have heard it, it’s always a gem to revisit, and if you have not, now’s as good a time as any!

Kate Fagan – I Don’t Want to Be Too Cool (2023 expanded reissue)
Kate Fagan moved to Chicago from New York City in the late ‘70s. She liked how down-to-earth Chicago artists were, and it felt like her place. She built songs around a bassline and a beat, which is what makes her songs lean into post-punk and new-wave territory. Similar to the L-Seven record, I Don’t Want to Be Too Cool is an expanded re-release, featuring four never-before-released tracks. Kate’s lyrics critique culture and politics in a way that is not heavy and depressing but tongue-in-cheek. Later in the ‘80s, Kate fronted the wildly popular ska band Heavy Manners.

DA! – Time Will Be Kind (1982)
Led by bassist and singer Lorna Donley, DA! was a gothy mixed-gender post-punk Chicago band. Lorna started the band when she was 17 years old in 1977 as an all-girl 3-piece. They went through a few lineup changes throughout their lifespan. DA! leans into darkwave territory and don’t quite fit neatly in any genre, but you may hear some similarities to familiar bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees or Bauhaus. After the dissolution of DA!, Lorna established a few other bands, including Silent Language, the Veil, and Hip Deep Trilogy. Lorna later became a librarian in Chicago Public Libraries, but sadly passed away in 2013.

L-Seven – Unreleased Studio and Live (2020)
Not to be confused with the well-known LA grunge band L7, Detroit’s L-Seven formed in 1980 and consisted of members from a lot of other Detroit bands, including the Blind and Algebra Mothers. L-Seven only released a three-song 7-inch EP while they were still together, but four decades later, Third Man Records put out this self-titled LP of unreleased studio and live recordings from 1980 to 1983. The band’s frontwoman Larissa Stolarchuk (Strickland) wrote poetry, made fanzines, and designed many of the band’s show posters. She later picked up guitar and started the infamous Detroit hardcore band Laughing Hyenas with John Brannon. Her noise-style guitar playing has been praised by Thurston Moore and was included in Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. However, her work as a lyricist and vocalist should not go unrecognized.

Step into a realm where the music takes center stage and vinyl records reign supreme. Introducing Both Sides Now: A CHIRP Vinyl Listening Bar — a monthly oasis for music aficionados and introverts alike. Nestled in the cozy upstairs room of Schubas Tavern, this unique event happens every first Wednesday of the month. Our vinyl listening bar, inspired by the captivating tradition popularized in post-World War II Japan, celebrates the pure joy of listening. Embracing the ethos of listening bars around the world, we prioritize the sublime experience of vinyl, brought to life through stellar sound systems. Experience your favorite albums played front to back in full high fidelity, while enjoying drink and food offerings from Schubas Tied House. Let the DJs from CHIRP Radio 107.1FM curate the sonic journey each month as you savor the symphony. “Both Sides Now” is your sanctuary, an introvert’s dream where the focus is on the music, not loud conversations or bustling dance floors. Join us and immerse yourself in the world of vinyl, one needle drop at a time.

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