Released in 1990 via Sub Pop, L7's "Shove" / "Packin' A Rod" 7-inch single is a definitive artifact of the early grunge era, capturing the band at their most raw and abrasive. The A-side, "Shove," serves as a heavy, mid-tempo anthem of urban frustration and defiance, driven by thick, sludge-inflected riffs that would later define their breakthrough album, Smell the Magic. In contrast, the B-side, "Packin' A Rod," is a blistering, high-velocity punk cover that showcases the group’s high-energy roots. Together, these tracks cemented L7's reputation for blending feminist grit with "loud and rude" rock and roll, bridging the gap between the Pacific Northwest’s underground punk scene and the mainstream alternative explosion.
L7's 1990 release "Shove" / "Packin' A Rod" stands as a landmark 7-inch single that captured the band's transition from L.A. punk to the forefront of the emerging grunge movement. The A-side, "Shove," is an enduring anthem of urban annoyance and defiance, featuring a heavy, mid-tempo groove and a signature Sub Pop sludge that fans describe as "loud, rude, pissed-off fun". Critics often highlight the track as a "battle cry" that helped L7 break into the male-dominated underground scene with its snarling riffs and unfiltered feminist rage.
The B-side, "Packin' A Rod," offers a sharp contrast with its blistering, high-speed energy, showcasing a different version of the song than what later appeared on their EP Smell the Magic. A cover of the Fiends, this track reinforces the band's deep punk roots while highlighting their ability to deliver raw power and "gnarly" vocal performances. Together, this two-track 7-inch, featuring iconic photography by Charles Peterson, remains a highly-rated collector's item that serves as a perfect primer for L7's "nail-tough" aesthetic and unapologetic attitude.
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A: Shove (3:10) – Written by Suzi Gardner and Donita Sparks.
B: Packin' A Rod (2:09) – Written by Scott Morrow (Fiends cover).
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