Punk rock outfit, Against Me!, initially began as the solo project of frontwoman Laura Jane Grace, who got her start performing as an acoustic, protest musician in 1997. Throughout the late 90’s, and into the 2000’s, Against Me! underwent a cycling of numerous band members. 1997 saw the eventual release of the band’s debut, self-titled demo. A year later, the group released their second demo, Vivida! Vis.
Unfortunately, a car crash in 2001 led to the bands dissolution, although, Grace would remain the groups mainstay. Grace went on to release an acoustic, self-titled EP, along with bassist Dustin Fridkin shortly after the car accident. A few former members returned for the recording of the bands 2002 debut, Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose, which released through No Idea Records in March. In the mid 2000’s, Against Me! saw a significant, and continual rise in popularity. They signed to Fat Wreck Chords for their sophomore album, Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy.
2012 was a notable year, not only for punk rock, but for Grace herself. That year, Grace publicly came out as a transgender woman, finally confronting the secret burden of gender dysphoria, and abandoning her birth name in the process. The subject of gender identity was dealt with on the independently released, 2014 album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, which also became the bands most successful album to date–peaking at number 23 on the Billboard 200.
Check out Against Me! when they play at the Mohawk on March 3rd.
Friday, March 3rd
Doors at 7:00pm
All Ages
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