Laura Jane Grace is best known for her punk rock band Against Me! and being one of the first well-known punk rock musicians to publicly come out as transgender. Grace released her powerful folk punk debut solo album Stay Alive in October 2020 through Polyvinyl Record Co. and her second solo EP At War with the Silverfish in September 2021. She kicked off her solo Canadian tour in September, but not without stopping at The Raccoon Motel in Davenport, Iowa first.
The name of the music venue alone was enough for me to make the trek from Chicago…but Grace playing there, too? Count me in.
The sold-out show included two openers, the first being Everlasting Light, a black metal band with piercing vocals native to the Quad Cities.
Next up was Planning for Burial, a musical project from Thom Wasluck based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His solo act featured killer distortions with sounds that span across shoegaze, doom, and post-metal.
Grace was soon welcomed to the stage with roaring applause. Armed with her acoustic guitar, Grace’s outspoken songs and powerful voice completely captivated the entire room, along with her melodic yet raw sound. Check out more photos below!
