The ‘Live Album’. Many bands have done them but very few have succeeded in creating something special. Many times it feels like a cheap cash in but we are happy to say that this is not the case here. Against Me! have shown many times over the years what an exciting prospect they are, not just to punk rock but to music in general. Here on live album 23 Live Sex Acts they prove this 23 times as you are given a real feel of what it is to catch them live.
The band dip into parts of their entire back catalogue throughout this album and it just goes to show how strong they have been throughout their 15 year career but what a high they hit with last years frankly amazing Transgender Dyphoria Blues. Everyone knows by now the story of vocalist/songwriter Laura Jane Grace and so there is no real reason to go over it again and let’s just focus on the music. ‘FUCKMYLIFE666’ may open the album but it is track three ‘Cliche Guevara’ when it really kicks it up a gear and starts to become something very special.
The three pronged attack of ‘True Trans Soul Rebel’, ‘I Was A Teenage Anarchist’ and almost ‘New Wave’ just once again shine a light on the talent this band is gifted with. One part punk, one part folk and one hell of a message being delivered throughout. Against Me have never been a band to back away from something they truly believe in and will happily state when they are not happy. This is why we said ‘almost New Wave’ earlier as we do not get the full song sadly. Laura Jane Grace notes an over zealous security guard throwing a person out and stands up for her fans as she goes off on a fair deserved tirade against the guard.
It is impossible to go into an in depth review and synopsis of every track on here although it would be very easy to do so as it is that good, it is just we don’t think you would want to hear us ramble on for 10 million words. It is just excellent to hear a band play live and realise that they are not one of those acts who uses auto-tune and a million effects on their albums to sound good. Against Me! don’t just sound as good as they do on record. They sound better live.
‘We Laugh At Danger and Break All The Rules’ closes this frankly awesome live album on a pure high. The crowd singing out loud and clapping along with the band gives it a euphoric feeling of victory. As the final chords ring out and the crowd go ballistic you get a warm feeling deep inside and realise how lucky we are to have a band with quality like this, out there touring, recording and saying it as it is. Excellent.
