Formed in the then-alt-rock hotbed of Portland, Oregon, in the early 1990s, “queercore” pioneers Team Dresch formed around the nucleus of frontwoman Donna Dresch, guitarists Jody Bleyle and Kaia Wilson, and drummer Marci Martinez (who would later be replaced by Melissa York). Along with bands like Slant 6, the all-female quartet channeled conventional punk influences into an activist agenda, particularly on behalf of gay-rights. As a result, they helped define the early days of the riot grrrl movement. Though half the members departed to form the Butchies following 1996’s CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN, Donna kept the band going up through 1998, and their influence can be heard in future scene torchbearers like the Gossip and Sleater-Kinney.