Against Me! is one of those bands that is tied to specific times and places in my memory. The breadth of their catalog allows for plenty of great music to be remembered. The first round of associations have strong lunch at ‘Dillo, studying in the library, and shows at Cat’s Cradle vibes to them.
Beyond that, there are distinct memories related to auto repair shops in 2012 and Against Me! (huh?). Quick story: took my car to get yet another new exhaust system at a chain store in Plano. My nervous energy quickly subsided when my mechanic revealed the thick Gothic lettering “Sink, Florida, Sink” vertically down his forearm.
Weeks later I was at a different auto shop when I read the Rolling Stone article announcing Laura Jane Grace’s rightful name and identity. I was surprised, although it’s not as if she didn’t drop a few hints (looking at you “Searching for a Former Clarity”, “The Ocean”, etc). I’m glad she was brave enough to share herself with this world.
Lastly, my time working in the SF Financial District and 2014’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues are also linked in my mind. I’d taken a contract web design position at law firm, which had me riding the bus into the city and exploring the POPOS* on my lunch breaks. Both activities lend themselves nicely to extended Against Me! listening.
Side note: POPOS are San Francisco’s Privately Owned Public Open Spaces. My favorite are the rooftop decks on One Kearny and 343 Sansome. I used one of the dinosaurs from 555 Market on a past blog cover (proved it).
Against Me! “Cliché Guevara”
This is the one that screams 2003 to me. Hell, I even had the cover art poster up on the wall. It feels like C Smith is going to come pick me up to go to School Kid’s in Chapel Hill any minute.
Against Me! “Two Coffins”
This is an amazing animated video to go along with one of my favorite tracks from TDB. Laura Jane Grace mentions in an npr interview the song was written for her daughter, 4 at the time.
How lucky I ever was to see,
Against Me!
The way that you smiled at me
Against Me! “FUCKMYLIFE666”
Excuse me, what now? Lots to unpack and we haven’t even gotten past the title. It is a song Laura wrote addressed to her (then) wife, Heather. It is a lyric video, so why don’t you just read what it is about.
