Featured image and gallery: Sophie Robinson
Punk rock legend Laura Jane Grace, formerly of Against Me!, visits Manchester with her latest backing band, the Trauma Tropes. Grace is joined by bassist Jacopo Fokas, drummer Orestis Lagadinos (of Greek hardcore band Vodka Juniors) and Grace’s own wife, Paris Campbell Grace, on backing vocals.
Supports Pet Needs own the stage with infectious energy that compels the gradually thickening crowd to dance along to the bands wild acrobatics.
The pop punk unit, fronted by brothers Johnny and George Marriott, claim to be the world’s smallest full-time band. While this lacks any evidence, it seems plausible through their undeniable passion.
As always, Laura Jane Grace performs with ferocity, spirit and most importantly of all, humour, tackling personal issues such as her own transition and sobriety in the same breath as attacking organised religion and police violence.
Grace and the Trauma Tropes begin their set with a mixture of songs from latest solo album Hole in My Head, which was released in February of this year, in addition to several yet to be released tracks.
As the show approaches its second half, the crowd only grows more animated, beginning to collapse into a pit as Grace and the Tropes thunders through the hits of Against Me!
This included queer anthem ‘True Trans Soul Rebel,’ which prompts some audience members to unfurl several pride flags, which billow through the crowd.
Follow Laura Jane Grace on Instagram @laurajanegrace.
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