Chicago label Girlsville Records is readying their Our Voltage punk compilation for a limited edition CD release on March 1st, and proceeds will fund legal aid for anti-racist activists and a new community self-defense gym in Chicago called Haymaker. The DIY label launched in 2015 with the release of their Stupid Punk Boy comp., a benefit for Chicago’s TransLife Center (an organization that helps transgender individuals find housing, legal support and employment). Since that time the label has also released music from Coachwhips, The Prissteens, Purple Wizard, and Mr. Airplane Man, as well as other compilations like The Wild Angels and Neon Maniacs.
Our Voltage will feature a number of Girlsville alums like Justin Hubbard’s recording project Germ House, London’s post-punkers Virvon Varvon, the aforementioned, short-lived 90’s-era punk outfit The Prissteens, and psychedelic blues punk duo Mr. Airplane Man. In addition, the compilation will include tracks from Olympia, Washington’s UK Gold, Detroit Garage rockers The Buzzards, Chicago psych-pop trio Beastii, John Dwyer’s synth-leaning project Damaged Bug, and the Kansas-based punks Mr. and the Mrs.. Featuring many flavors of punk and a slew of killer tracks, standouts here include The Myrmidons‘ rework of the Siouxsie and The Banshees classic, “Christine,” Beastii’s cover of The Violators anti-fascist cut “Summer of 81,” Mr. and the Mrs.’ Cramps-leaning number “Do the Octopus,” and Bummers Eve‘s noisy murder ballad tribute to a 3-year-old autistic boy killed by his foster parents called “Marcus.” Plenty to love here, and with proceeds going to help fund anti-racist activists and a self-defense gym in Chicago, Our Voltage is a no-brainer filled with tons of sonic gold.
