What's in her bag? Laura Jane Grace goes record shopping in Gainesville
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While walking around La Chua Trail to scope out terrifying dinosaur-like reptiles, Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace speaks about cutting her teeth in the local punk scene and growing to love Gainesville.
She talks about its nature and the importance of walking and bicycling around a city to truly appreciate it. Now living in Chicago, Grace asks about the landscape of Gainesville's music scene that she once dominated and talks about her love for other artists who helped make her the rockstar she is today.
It's the day before her homecoming show at High Dive and a documentary crew is following close behind to capture her travels around the country on her latest tour. Some haven't seen gators up close or in person before.
She asks the crew if they know the difference between crocodiles and alligators: One you'll see in a while and the other you'll see later, she jokes.
It doesn't take long before spotting a pile of the creatures in the wild sunbathing. Some scurry away at the sight of humans, while others seem unphased − and possibly hungry.
Before walking back to her Mercedes van, Grace gazes out into the body of water and clear blue sky, seeing more alligators floating and hawks soaring. There's still more to do while in town.
More: Here are 10 career-spanning, must-hear songs from Laura Jane Grace
The crew, Grace and members of The Gainesville Sun are now off to go record shopping a week ahead of the Record Store Day. The vinyl holiday celebrates limited-release music for collectors through hundreds of independently-owned record stores around the country.
Each year, a line of people wrap around the Union Street Station building in downtown Gainesville as they wait for Hear Again to open its doors, hoping there are still copies of the album they came for. This year, Gainesville has a new shop that recently opened for music lovers to also choose from: Sunshine Records.
In a mini warehouse-like building, Grace heads into the new store and makes a beeline to the folk and indie sections, before moving to punk, metal and other genres. She skips over Hot Water Music, NOFX, Tom Petty and other notable bands you'd expect her to buy. Odds are she probably already has copies buried somewhere on one of her three Ikea cubby shelves at home.
Here are seven records the rockstar picked up while at the store to help celebrate Record Store Day:
The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms
Grace said she was first introduced to The Feelies after someone said her punk band Against Me! sounded similar, particularly when it came to “As the Eternal Cowboy.”
“I hear it, I hear what they were talking about,” Grace said. “Like really jangly guitar … But they’re much better songwriters.”
Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors
While walking along La Chua Trail in Gainesville earlier, Grace spoke about one musician she remembers being starstruck meeting: Conor Oberst.
Grace sang backing vocals on the Desaparecidos’ track “City on the Hill,” as did Tim Kasher of Cursive.
Though many attempt to shy away from their early 2000 emo stage, Grace embraces it and swears that everyone in Gainesville around 2000 was listening to Bright Eyes’ classic “Fevers and Mirrors.”
Camper Van Beethoven - Telephone Free Landslide Victory
Described as one of her favorite bands, Grace picked out Camper Van Beethoven's 1985 release “Telephone Free Landslide Victory.” The album features the song “Take the Skinheads Bowling,” which Grace occasionally covers.
“It’s a really funny song with ridiculous lyrics,” she said.
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Being a die-hard fan of Neko Case meant the album “Blacklisted” had to be scooped up as well. The album was originally released on Bloodshot Records, a Chicago Label that also released Grace’s “Bough to Rot” album prior to it closing.
“This may be my favorite Neko Case record, although it’s really hard to pick a favorite Neko Case record.”
Bikini Kill - Self-titled EP
Growing up with fond memories of listening to the band’s EP, Grace described her love for Bikini Kill and lead singer Kathleen Hanna’s other band Le Tigre.
Against Me! selected its first manager based on their experience with Hanna, though Grace said that partnership ended badly and resulted in a lawsuit.
“The coolest bill that I think Against Me! was ever a part of was at Riot Fest in 2019, where it was us, then Patti Smith, then Bikini Kill,” Grace said. “It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
Dikembe - Live at Loosey’s
The Gainesville-based punk band Dikembe for years has been carrying the torch for the city’s DIY punk scene well after members of Hot Water Music and Against Me! moved away.
The band came up in conversation earlier in the day.
“I was already aware of Dikembe and a fan of Dikembe but here we are in Gainesville at a Gainesville record store, so I was like, ‘I should probably buy a Dikembe record.’”
Psychic TV - Snakes
Saving the best for last was probably the most costly item on the list: Psychic TV’s 2014 release “Snakes.”
The rock band became known for its experimental music and art in the early 1980s and continued to release music until 2020 when singer Genesis Breyer P-Orridge died. Grace recalled having a conversation with the legendary singer prior to their death, a memory Grace said she will forever cherish.
“I love Psychic TV,” Grace said. “I think they’re a very unique band and I think Genesis P-Orridge was a true visionary.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Bright Eyes, Bikini Kill, Neko Case among Laura Jane Grace favorites
