The Need
Encyclopedia
The Need was a queercore
band that originated in Olympia, Washington
in the late 1990s. It was formed by Rachel Carns
(drums and vocals) and Radio Sloan
(guitar and bass guitar); both were veterans of other indie rock
bands. Carns was previously in Kicking Giant, The Fakes, Witchypoo, Slant 6
.
Both members of The Need were in CeBe Barnes Band along with Miranda July
and Sleater-Kinney
drummer Toni Gogin.
The Need made their debut in Olympia, Washington
, and, in the summer of 1996, they played at the Dirtybird Queercore Festival in San Francisco.
The band's first project was Margie Ruskie Stops Time, released in 1996 by Kill Rock Stars
, on which The Need provided the music to accompany the words and vocals of Miranda July. July also performed with the band at the Dirty Bird Festival.
Their last album, recorded in 2000, was titled The Need Is Dead. On this recording they further expanded their range of instrumentation with the addition of synthesizer
and samples contributed by Joe Preston
of The Melvins
; and theremin
, played by producer Mike Lastra of Smegma
.
After the band parted ways, Carns now performs in the band Twin, formerly called King Cobra, while Sloan has been in the bands The Circuit Side, Fact or Fiction and Courtney Love
's recent all-female backing band The Chelsea.
Additionally, she did a guest stint with L.A. band Scarling, and played guitar on Le Tigre
's 2005 album This Island.
In 2010 the band briefly reunited for a handful of benefit shows for their friend Natalie Cox, in order to help with her medical expenses.
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
band that originated in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
in the late 1990s. It was formed by Rachel Carns
Rachel Carns
Rachel Carns is a queer musician, composer, artist and performer currently living in Olympia, Washington, U.S.. Raised in small-town Wisconsin, she went on to study painting and drawing at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, where she completed her B.F.A. in 1991...
(drums and vocals) and Radio Sloan
Radio Sloan
Radio Sloan is a musician from Olympia, Washington.She is best known as a guitarist for The Need, the band she formed with Rachel Carns; her other bands include Ce Be Barns Band, The Circuit Side, Fact or Fiction, Grandpa's Ghost Stories; and Courtney Love's short-lived all-female backing band The...
(guitar and bass guitar); both were veterans of other indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
bands. Carns was previously in Kicking Giant, The Fakes, Witchypoo, Slant 6
Slant 6
Slant 6 was an all-female punk rock trio based in Washington, D.C.The group consisted of Christina Billotte , Myra Power , and Marge Marshall ; it formed in July 1992 following the 1991 breakup of Autoclave, in which Billotte had played...
.
Both members of The Need were in CeBe Barnes Band along with Miranda July
Miranda July
Miranda July is a performing artist, writer, actress and film director. Born Miranda Jennifer Grossinger, she works under the surname of "July," which can be traced to a character from a "girlzine" Miranda created with high school friend Johanna Fateman, called Snarla.- Background :Miranda...
and Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
drummer Toni Gogin.
The Need made their debut in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, and, in the summer of 1996, they played at the Dirtybird Queercore Festival in San Francisco.
The band's first project was Margie Ruskie Stops Time, released in 1996 by Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, on which The Need provided the music to accompany the words and vocals of Miranda July. July also performed with the band at the Dirty Bird Festival.
Their last album, recorded in 2000, was titled The Need Is Dead. On this recording they further expanded their range of instrumentation with the addition of synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and samples contributed by Joe Preston
Joe Preston (bassist)
Joe Preston is a rock bass guitarist and a former band member of Earth, The Melvins, Men's Recovery Project, The Need and High on Fire. Preston has also played with Sunn O))), and has a solo project called Thrones. Joe Preston learned bass from Alexander Giles. In 2007, he joined Harvey Milk in...
of The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
; and theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, played by producer Mike Lastra of Smegma
Smegma
Smegma is a combination of exfoliated epithelial cells, transudated skin oils, and moisture. It occurs in both female and male mammalian genitalia.-Human smegma:Both females and males produce smegma...
.
After the band parted ways, Carns now performs in the band Twin, formerly called King Cobra, while Sloan has been in the bands The Circuit Side, Fact or Fiction and Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
's recent all-female backing band The Chelsea.
Additionally, she did a guest stint with L.A. band Scarling, and played guitar on Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Le Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run...
's 2005 album This Island.
In 2010 the band briefly reunited for a handful of benefit shows for their friend Natalie Cox, in order to help with her medical expenses.
Singles
- Margie Ruskie Stops Time (as Miranda JulyMiranda JulyMiranda July is a performing artist, writer, actress and film director. Born Miranda Jennifer Grossinger, she works under the surname of "July," which can be traced to a character from a "girlzine" Miranda created with high school friend Johanna Fateman, called Snarla.- Background :Miranda...
with The Need) 7" (Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, 1997) - The Need 7" (Kill Rock Stars, 1997)
- Jacky O'Lantern 7" (OutpunkOutpunkOutpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands.The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, Outpunk. Outpunk ran for seven issues, from 1992 till 1997, with contributions from queer punks such as...
, 1997) - Mailorder Freak Singles Club (as KaraNEEDoke) double 7" (Kill Rock Stars, 1998)
Albums
- The Need s/t CD (ChainsawChainsaw RecordsChainsaw Records is an independent record label run by Donna Dresch, devoted to Queercore bands and operating out of Portland, Oregon.-History:...
, 1997) - The Need with Joe PrestonJoe Preston (bassist)Joe Preston is a rock bass guitarist and a former band member of Earth, The Melvins, Men's Recovery Project, The Need and High on Fire. Preston has also played with Sunn O))), and has a solo project called Thrones. Joe Preston learned bass from Alexander Giles. In 2007, he joined Harvey Milk in...
and DJ Zena 10" (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
, 1998) - The Need Is Dead (Chainsaw, 2000)
- The Transfused (as The Need with Nomy LammNomy LammNaomi Elizabeth "Nomy" Lamm is an American singer/songwriter and political activist. Lamm has described herself as a "bad ass, fat ass, Jew, dyke amputee."-Biography:Lamm was involved with musical theater during her youth...
) CD (Yoyo Recordings, 2000)
Compilations
- Destination compilation (Ross Records, 1996) -- "Sam"
- Yoyo A Go Go 97 LP/CD (Yoyo Recordings, 1998) -- "Crown" (live)
- La Foresta Della Morte soundtrack CD (Toyo Records, 1999) -- "Talk Potty"
- New Women's Music SamplerNew Women's Music SamplerNew Women's Music Sampler is a sampler album of alternative rock songs by artists on the San Francisco, California based lesbian-feminist independent record label, Mr. Lady Records. It was released in October, 1999...
CD (Mr. Lady RecordsMr. Lady RecordsMr. Lady Records was a San Francisco-based lesbian-feminist independent record label and video art distributor. Artists on the label included Le Tigre and The Butchies. OutSmart magazine noted that Mr...
, 1999) -- "Girl Flavour Gum" - Homocore Minneapolis: Live And Loud CD (Lefty Records, 1999) -- "Vaselina", "Crown", "Majesty" (live)
- Projector LP (Yoyo Recordings, 1999) -- "American Woman"
- Yoyo A Go Go 99 LP/CD (Yoyo Recordings, 2000) -- "Dark Sally" (live)
- Group (motion picture soundtrack) CD (Yoyo Recordings/Wovie, 2000) -- "Mona Tinsley", "2-Story Girl"
- Charm (motion picture soundtrack) CD (5 Rue Christine5 Rue Christine5 Rue Christine is a semi-defunct Olympia, Washington based independent record label, formed as a spin-off from the Kill Rock Stars label in 1997...
, 2000) -- "Jolly Roger" - Up Next CD (Up Records, 2000) -- "Talk Potty"
- The Structure of Scientific Misconceptions/The System of Scientific Misconstructions CD (Toyo Records, 2001) -- "Resurrection", "The Green Manalishi With The Two Pronged Crown"
- Home Alive Compilation Vol. 2: Flying Side Kick CD (Broken Rekids, 2001) -- "Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
- Random Slice of Life from Fort Thunder – Some Bands Who Played at CD (Contact Records, 2001) -- "2-Story Girl"
External links
- The Need Webpage circa Aug. 3, 2001 by way of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine
- Review of The Need Is Dead
- Kill Rock Stars
- Plazm magazine interview