Warning: This journal entry is kind of wanky.
ET TU, AGAINST ME!?
When I headed up to Athens' 40 Watt Club last night to see Against Me! for what I believe is the seventh time, I was already composing this blog entry with the above title. I don't call them sell-outs, I think that's a silly slur, but you know, they just didn't seem as good any more.
I first got into Against Me! in 2002, when my friend came back from seeing them at some tiny show. She handed me a copy of Reinventing Axl Rose and said, "I think I discovered your soulmate-band." Jane, as usual, was right. So I passed it along to Dave and Mike and little Johnny V. and eventually everybody I knew and loved was singing along to "Baby, I'm An Anarchist." So when we saw them live, it was like a huge drunken family reunion (hat tip to Caitie for that turn of phrase) with the entire crowd hugging and chanting and clapping and leaping on stage to share the mic with Tom.
And they continued being just as incredible, but when I got Searching For a Former Clarity a year and a half ago, I was disappointed. Against Me! had gotten glossy and, worse, the lyrics were bitter and sullen, not the triumphant, riotous stuff that I had fallen in love with when I was eighteen. I got discouraged, and I missed seeing them while I was living in LA and was okay with that. And, gods forbid, I started flirting with the idea of retiring the label "favorite band" for the Florida folk-punks.
But they were playing Athens last night, and everyone was going, so I went, too. The opening bands were mediocre; we drank PBR tallboys and talked with other fans, crossing our fingers that they might even play something from before Reinventing. I was fairly certain that I was going to come home and write about my disappointment.
But once they started "Cliche Guevara" and we were swept up in that old feeling, I remembered what it felt like at an Against Me! show; that suddenly everyone in the room is your very best friend from way back and
walking is still honest
and you haven't given up on me
and, sure, they didn't play all my favorite old songs, but they played some stuff from the upcoming album, and, you know, it wasn't so bad. It wasn't the best Against Me! show I've ever seen (hands-down, the finest live performance by any band I've ever caught was an early show they played with Whiskey & Co. at the MJQ in Atlanta in 2003), but it was still better than most shows that most other bands play. I danced with people I've known since junior high school and people I'd met ten minutes before and sweated and sang out and all in all had a joyful noisy time. I think I kissed fifteen people.
And I know it's silly for my 23 years to wax on about the "good old days," especially since they were only five years ago, so I should just shut up and be grateful that there's a group of four wonderful dudes who manage to write songs that make my heart clench up in paroxysms of wild happiness and recognition, even if it's not every one.
So thanks, Against Me!. I'm sorry I doubted you.
ET TU, AGAINST ME!?
When I headed up to Athens' 40 Watt Club last night to see Against Me! for what I believe is the seventh time, I was already composing this blog entry with the above title. I don't call them sell-outs, I think that's a silly slur, but you know, they just didn't seem as good any more.
I first got into Against Me! in 2002, when my friend came back from seeing them at some tiny show. She handed me a copy of Reinventing Axl Rose and said, "I think I discovered your soulmate-band." Jane, as usual, was right. So I passed it along to Dave and Mike and little Johnny V. and eventually everybody I knew and loved was singing along to "Baby, I'm An Anarchist." So when we saw them live, it was like a huge drunken family reunion (hat tip to Caitie for that turn of phrase) with the entire crowd hugging and chanting and clapping and leaping on stage to share the mic with Tom.
And they continued being just as incredible, but when I got Searching For a Former Clarity a year and a half ago, I was disappointed. Against Me! had gotten glossy and, worse, the lyrics were bitter and sullen, not the triumphant, riotous stuff that I had fallen in love with when I was eighteen. I got discouraged, and I missed seeing them while I was living in LA and was okay with that. And, gods forbid, I started flirting with the idea of retiring the label "favorite band" for the Florida folk-punks.
But they were playing Athens last night, and everyone was going, so I went, too. The opening bands were mediocre; we drank PBR tallboys and talked with other fans, crossing our fingers that they might even play something from before Reinventing. I was fairly certain that I was going to come home and write about my disappointment.
But once they started "Cliche Guevara" and we were swept up in that old feeling, I remembered what it felt like at an Against Me! show; that suddenly everyone in the room is your very best friend from way back and
walking is still honest
and you haven't given up on me
and, sure, they didn't play all my favorite old songs, but they played some stuff from the upcoming album, and, you know, it wasn't so bad. It wasn't the best Against Me! show I've ever seen (hands-down, the finest live performance by any band I've ever caught was an early show they played with Whiskey & Co. at the MJQ in Atlanta in 2003), but it was still better than most shows that most other bands play. I danced with people I've known since junior high school and people I'd met ten minutes before and sweated and sang out and all in all had a joyful noisy time. I think I kissed fifteen people.
And I know it's silly for my 23 years to wax on about the "good old days," especially since they were only five years ago, so I should just shut up and be grateful that there's a group of four wonderful dudes who manage to write songs that make my heart clench up in paroxysms of wild happiness and recognition, even if it's not every one.
So thanks, Against Me!. I'm sorry I doubted you.
VIEW 25 of 38 COMMENTS
mobprod:
The one on the right looks suspiciously familiar...
evermansice:
I would be lying if I said I haven't harbored similar worries about Against Me! so it's good to hear they're still going strong. At the same time, though, I couldn't help but think while reading your entry, "Shit, was 2002 five years ago?" Five years seems so long but 2002 seems like it wasn't long ago at all. Either way, I'm bummed I'm missing their Chicago show (With Cursive and Mastadon no less!), but I hope they're performance is awesome nonetheless.