'TRUE TRANS WITH LAURA JANE GRACE' SERIES DEBUTS ON AOL ORIGINALS ON NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY 11 OCTOBER 2014 // MORE EPISODES 4 AND 25 NOVEMBER

In celebration of National Coming Out Day (11 October), the first four episodes of the highly anticipated series True Trans with Laura Jane Grace can now be viewed via AOL On Originals. Additional episodes of True Trans will be released on 4 and 25 November 2014.

The 10 episode series follows transgender lead singer of the punk band Against Me!, Laura Jane Grace, who came out at the height of her music career in 2012. Her latest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues deals with this in brutal and honest detail, and is recognised as one of the best albums of this year.

True Trans shares the remarkably real journey of Laura, the most well-known transgender person in music, and other transgender individuals across the country. This unscripted docu-series explores poignant moments from Laura’s life and the overall transition experience.   Each short-form episode will dive deeper into the lives and emotions of this community, revealing the strength in finding who they really are. 

In the first 4 episodes, viewers and fans will get an up close and personal look at people whose stories are only just beginning to be told - from recounting memories of childhood and recognizing moments of gender dysphoria, to finding acceptance and support in the transgender community.

on.aol.com/truetrans / #TrueTrans / @LauraJaneGrace / @AOLoriginals

AGAINST ME! NEW SINGLE 'TRUE TRANS SOUL REBEL' OUT 24 NOVEMBER 2014 // AOL ORIGINALS SERIES "TRUE TRANS WITH LAURA JANE GRACE" STARTS 10 OCTOBER

Against Me! release their furious new single 'True Trans Soul Rebel' - taken from the highly-acclaimed album Transgender Dysphoria Blues - on 24 November. Listen to it below. This is preceded by a UK tour on 13th - 19th November, which includes hard-working, folk-rock Canadian Billy the Kid supporting. Tickets are on sale here.

This is the new single from Against Me! Taken from their incredible album 'Transgender Dysphoria Blues' out now on Xtra Mile Recordings You can buy the album from: Xtra Mile Recordings - http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/Shop/DownloadDetails?rid=XMR_RE_142 Amazon - amzn.to/1fLIg5b Banquet Records - bit.ly/1caem7h

Photo by Ryan Russell

In addition to the musical success of 2014 for the band, frontwoman Laura Jane Grace has become the most visible transgender woman in music today. But that doesn’t mean the Against Me! frontwoman has it all figured out. In her upcoming AOL Originals series, 'True Trans With Laura Jane Grace', the rocker travels around the US and meets with a number of transgender men and women to talk about their hardships, coming out, transitioning and just how messy the idea of gender can be.

“The opportunity I had while shooting this show was nothing short of tremendous,” Grace says of the show “Getting the chance to listen to other people tell their stories of how life shaped their identities and views on gender couldn’t help but further inform my own understanding of just how complicated and also how simple all of it really is.”

The 10-part documentary series, which kicks off with four episodes on 10 October in honor of National Coming Out Day (11 Oct), also takes a look at Grace’s life as a mother, wife and rock star since she came out as transgender at age 31 in a 2012 Rolling Stone profile. 

Against Me! bring their punk rock anthems to the UK this November with label mate Billy the Kid as main support. Catch this incredible band at one of the following venues.
 
NOVEMBER
13 Bristol @ Bierkeller
14 Birmingham @ O2 Academy 2
15 Glasgow @ King Tuts
16 Leeds @ Beckett Students Union
17 Portsmouth @ Wedgewood Rooms
18 Manchester @ Academy 2
19 London @ Electric Ballroom
 
As we head toward the end of the year, plaudits for Transgender Dysphoria Blues just keep on coming.  Don’t just take our word on how great this record is...
 
The New York Times  - “Crisp, distinct and vibrant”
Rolling Stone Magazine – "45 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
TIME Magazine – "25 Best Songs of 2014 So Far" ("Transgender Dysphoria Blues")
SPIN – "50 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Alternative Press Magazine – "Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Sound Opinions – “The Best Albums of 2014…So Far”
Consequence of Sound – "Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Stereogum – "50 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Flavorwire – "25 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Mashable – Laura Jane Grace named one of 10 LGBT-Rights Activists to Follow on Twitter.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues is the intense follow-up to the band’s previous full-length album, ‘White Crosses’ (reissued with bonus disc Black Crosses on Xtra Mile Recordings in 2011) and stands as another major benchmark for the band and its career spanning 10+ years.

www.againstme.net

AGAINST ME! ANNOUNCE UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR

Against Me! bring their riotous, punk-fueled anthems back to the UK and Europe this autumn/winter, wrapping up an amazing year which began with the release of their sixth album Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

Pre-sale tickets on sale 28th July with general tickets for all headline shows released on sale July 30th at 9am and available from the links below.  UK dates: http://www.gigsandtours.com/go/againstme

Catch this incredible live band at one of the following shows:

November:

13 Bristol @ Bierkeller (headline)
14 Birmingham @ O2 Academy 2 (headline)
15 Glasgow @ King Tuts (headline)
16 Leeds @ Cockpit (headline)
17 Portsmouth @ Wedgewood Rooms (headline)
18 Manchester @ Academy 2 (headline)
19 London, Electric Ballroom (headline)
20 Germany, Kassel, Stadhalle (w/Broilers)
21 Germany, Kiel, Sparkasse Arena (w/Broilers)
22 Germany, Bielelfeld, Seidenstickerhalle (w/Broilers)
24 Germany, Cologne, Stollwerk (headline)
25 Germany, Wiesbaden, Schlachthof (headline)
26 Netherlands, Tilburg, O13 (headline)
27 Germany, Braunschweig, Stadthalle (w/Broilers)
28 Germany, Siegen, Siegerlandhalle (w/Broilers)
29 Germany, Würzburg, S.Oliver Arena (w/Broilers)
30 Germany, Erlangen, E-Werk (headline)

December:

01 Munich, GER @ Backstage Halle (headline)
02 Linz, AUS @ Posthof (headline)
03 Budapest, HG @ A38 (headline)
04 Warsaw, PL @ Proxima (headline)
05 Antwerp, BE @ Trix (headline)
06 Freiburg, GER @ Zaepfle Club ( w/Broilers)
08 Paris, FRA @ La Fleche d’Or (headline)
10 Amsterdam, NE @ Bitterzoet (headline)

Laura Jane Grace also had the honour of presenting Joan Jett with the Icon Award at this week’s Alternative Press Awards - as well as performing ‘Soulmates to Strangers’ - a track she wrote for the Blackhearts new album - with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Slash and Billy Crooked (The Vacancies) Check out the awesome footage here:

Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! introduces AP Icon Award recipient, the legendary Joan Jett. Watch Jett's award acceptance speech.

 Live Performance of ‘Soulmates To Strangers’

AP Icon Award recipient Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, introduced by Sydney Sierota of Echosmith, perform "Bad Reputation," "Cherry Bomb," "Soulmates To Strangers" & "Star Star" with special guests Billy Crooked of The Vacancies, Laura Jane Grace and Guitar Legend award recipient Slash.

We are only just over halfway through the year and the plaudits for Transgender Dysphoria Blues just keep on coming. Don’t just take our word on how great this record is:

The New York Times - “Crisp, distinct and vibrant”
Rolling Stone Magazine – "45 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
TIME Magazine – "25 Best Songs of 2014 So Far" ("Transgender Dysphoria Blues")
SPIN – "50 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Alternative Press Magazine – "Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Sound Opinions – “The Best Albums of 2014…So Far”
Consequence of Sound – "Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Stereogum – "50 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Flavorwire – "25 Best Albums of 2014 So Far"
Mashable – Laura Jane Grace named one of 10 LGBT-Rights Activists to Follow on Twitter.

And finally, here's the band at their very best - 'Drinking With the Jocks' taken from Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

Against Me! official video created and directed by Steak Mtn. New album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, available now on: iTunes: http://smarturl.it/AgainstMe-TDB Amazon: http://smarturl.it/AM-TDB-Amazon Xtra Mile: http://smarturl.it/AM-TDB-XMR

www.againstme.net / @againstme / 

AGAINST ME! NEW SINGLE 'UNCONDITIONAL LOVE' OUT 26 MAY // DOWNLOAD ANNOUNCEMENT // FULL ACOUSTIC SET BY LAURA JANE GRACE

Against Me! unleash the incredible new single ‘Unconditional Love’ on 7” picture disc on 26 May and digitally on 9 June. The single will be backed by the beautiful brand new track ‘500 Years’.

This single coincides with the band’s welcome return to the UK at this year’s Download Festival. They join the line-up on the Pepsi Max Stage on Sunday, 15 June. The band have also announced their slot at Hellfest on Saturday, 21 June.

Full European dates are as follows: 

MAY
31   Germany @ Huenxe, Ruhrpott Rodeo

JUNE
1     Belgium @ Aarschot, JH Klinker
3    Czech Republic @ Prague, Lucerna Music Bar
4    Germany @ Hamburg, Knust
5    Germany @ Berlin, Lido
6    Germany @ Dresden, Beatpol
8-9 Germany @ Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park
10   Austria @ Vienna, Arena
11    Austria @ Dornbirn, Conrad Sohm
12   Switzerland @ Bern, Reitschule
13   Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
14   The Netherlands @ Ysselsteyn, Jera On Air Festival
15   UK @ Donington, Download Festival
17    Spain @ Madrid, Sala Riviera (with Bad Religion)
18    Spain @ Barcelona, Sala Razzmatazz (with Bad Religion)
19    Spain @ Vitoria Sala, Jimmy Jazz
21    France @ Clisson, Hellfest Festival

Last month, Laura Jane came over to Europe and stopped by Banquet Records for a packed out and emotional instore and signing. Queues snaked through the streets of Kingston, London and the wonderful folk at Punktastic were on hand to film the event. You can check out LJ's interview with them here, and feast your eyes on the full acoustic set below. Please enjoy.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues is out now!

Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! performed an exclusive set at Banquet Records. Punktastic was there to capture the entire intimate gig. Subscribe to the Punktastic YouTube channel for acoustic sessions, interviews and content from bands across the punk/hardcore/rock spectrum. http://pnkts.tc/13Fqxov Head to punktastic.com for the latest news, reviews and features on everything from AFI to Zebrahead.

againstme.net / @laurajanegrace

AGAINST ME! EUROPEAN TOUR AND FESTIVALS ANNOUNCED!

Following the release of their heralded new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Against Me! bring their blistering punk rock anthems to Europe this summer on a string of tour dates and festival appearances as well as a couple of shows with Bad Religion in Spain.

Photo by Ryan Russell

The list of shows is as follows:

MAY

31 Huenexe, Germany @ Ruhrpott Rodeo

JUNE

01  Aarschott, Belgium @ JH Klinker
03 Prague, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
04 Hamburg, Germany @ Knust
05 Berlin, Germany @ Lido
06  Dresden, Germany @ Beatpol
08-09 Germany @ Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park 
10 Vienna, Austria @ Arena
11 Dornbirn, Austria @ Conrad Sohm
12 Bern, Switzerland @ Reitschule
13 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
14 Ysselsteyn, Holland @ Jera On Air Festival
17 Madrid, Spain @ Sala Riviera (with Bad Religion)
18 Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Razzmatazz (with Bad Religion)
19 Vitoria, Spain @ Sala Jimmy Jazz

Further shows will be announced so keep your eyes open. Ticket links (where available) can be reached by clicking on the venue names above.

Listen to and purchase the album via iTunes or get a physical copy from Xtra Mile

‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ is the intense follow-up to the band’s previous full-length album, ‘White Crosses’ (reissued with bonus disc 'Black Crosses' on Xtra Mile Recordings in 2011) and stands as another major benchmark for the band's career, spanning 10+ years. Recorded at Studio 606, Earth Sound Studio, Motor Studio, Total Treble Studio and mixed by Billy Bush (Garbage, Muse, Tegan and Sara), 'Transgender Dysphoria Blues' is an insightful and highly-provocative 10-song offering written by front woman Laura Jane Grace, whose material examines one’s grappling with gender dysphoria, the loss of a young friend and pure self-discovery, as well as love and ultimate acceptance. Featuring Grace’s signature, explicit songwriting and dominant vocals, the album also features long time guitarist/vocalist James Bowman, drummer Atom Willard and Fat Mike of NOFX on bass for ‘FUCKMYLIFE666’ and ‘Unconditional Love’.

‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues' is available worldwide at iTunes and all good record store outlets.

www.againstme.net  /  facebook.com/againstme  / @LauraJaneGrace