Against Me!
Amos' Southend
June 14, 2012
The band launched into fan favorite "Pints of Guiness" as a massive mosh pit broke out with crowd surfers floating above the swirling mass of people. Against Me! has played that song hundreds of times over the years, but, like most of the band's music, it has a renewed energy thanks to a reinvigorated stage presence. Aside from the heavy-handed hammering of drummer Jay Weinberg, who joined the band in December, Grace displays enthusiasm not seen before in the Florida punk band.
Since the singer formerly known as Tom Gabel made the announcement that she was transgender and would be known as Laura Jane Grace, there's been a lot of talk of her bravery, strength and unknown future. Little has been said about her excitement and comfort level that were so easy to see on this night.
As it has on many nights of the current tour, "The Ocean" received the most applause with its line, "If I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman/ My mother once told me she would have named me Laura."
When Grace made her live debut last month, how she sounded and what she looked like were the focus of reviews. What was quickly apparent on Thursday night is that Grace is not only comfortable in her own skin, but truly happy. This isn't a singer going through the motions and singing familiar songs with an expected punk-rock attitude, this is someone who can finally be herself and lets the crowd know it.
Encore
Androgynous (cover)
Impact
Disco Before The Breakdown
We Laugh at Danger
Showing 1-1 of 1