Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace | Book Review

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Title & Author: Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace, with Dan Ozzi

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Hachette

Publication date: 15th November 2016

Blurb:

A searing account of her search for identity and true self, Tranny reveals the struggles and victories that Laura Jane Grace, the lead singer of the cult punk rock band Against Me!, experienced in her quest for gender transition.

Illuminated by Laura Jane's never-before-published journal entries reaching back to childhood, Tranny is an intensely personal and revelatory look inside her struggles with identity and addiction. Grappling with everything from sex, drugs, and failed marriages to the music and soul of a punk rock star, this memoir paints a vivid portrait of one of the most revolutionary transgender icons of our time.

Review: 

I have been a fan of Against Me! since about 2008 when I was little sixteen year old discovering punk music. (Evelyn was even my top name for my daughter but my husband was not on board, unfortunately!) I have followed the band's music, I remember Laura Jane Grace's Rolling Stone article announcing her plan to transition and live life as a woman and feeling utter delight watching (on YouTube) a video of her singing The Ocean for the first time as Laura Jane in 2012.

I finally have tickets to see her play for the first time at the end of this month so I knew I had to read her book. I opted to listen to the audiobook, read by Laura Jane herself. As a fan who already knew a surface level amount, this book was just wonderful. 

Taken from journal entries that Laura Jane kept throughout her life, we hear about her childhood travelling around as an army kid, her parents divorce and when her thoughts of gender dysphoria begun. It feels as though there are two main focuses of the book that run parallel.

The first being Laura Jane discovering punk music, her run ins with the police as a then teenage boy, realising an anarchist philosophy, which kickstarted the band Against Me! and the trials and tribulations when it came to touring, record labels, changes in band members, making money and being seen as sellouts in the punk scene. All the while, Laura Jane is fighting these feelings of dysphoria, calling times when she would dress in women's clothes as "binges" and eventually coming to terms with who she is, sharing this with her family and bandmates when she is still trying to understand it herself.

It is a very open and honest memoir and very blunt in some ways. Laura Jane does not shy away from sharing her honest opinions and thoughts but at the same time is very reflective of herself and her behaviours. As a fan, it was a really good insight into what was really going on behind the scenes.

My Love of Music & Encouraging My Children's Tastes

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Mohammad Metri  

Music has always been such a big part of my life and I never quite understand when people say that they don't really listen to music.

My music tastes were mostly influenced by my parents when I was a child. I credit them for my love of 80s music such as Adam and the Ants, The Smiths and Prefab Sprout - to name a few! When I hit my teenage years, that's when I really begun my love affair with music. 

I started listening to more "alternative" stuff (mostly emo, if I'm honest. I'm a die hard Panic! at the Disco fan and finally got to see Brendon Urie in the flesh this year after 14 years of waiting!), dyed my hair every colour under the sun, became involved with a group of friends who all listened to the same genres and enjoyed going to gigs. One of the first things that Chris (my partner of almost 10 years) and I did when we first met was buy tickets to go and see Dropkick Murphys together. Seeing bands is something that we love to do.

Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, Pray for the Wicked Tour - SSE Hydro, Glasgow, March 2019

  Back then, I was very set in my ways and would only listen to that type of music but now as I get older and have children, I'm much more open. I like to expose them to music and hope that they develop the same love. Before we've even got into the car for the school runs in the morning, I'm already wondering what radio station we'll put on or whether we'll just link up a Spotify playlist on our phones. If I'm out walking without the children too, you will be sure to find me with my earphones firmly in, listening to a Spotify Daily Mix!

Trusty red earphones, probably listening to twenty one pilots

  My son, C, would listen to Five Nights At Freddys songs on YouTube 'til the cows came home but my four year old daughter E is a little obsessed with George Ezra and will always be singing 'Paradise' or 'Shotgun'!

In order to encourage the children to develop their music tastes, I've switched from having the TV idly on in the background to having a different station on the DAB radio, letting the music drift through the house. Honestly, C isn't bothered so much but E loves a boogie and is very into current pop music like Ava Max or Taylor Swift (and to let you in on a secret, I think I'm becoming a Swiftie too but don't tell 15 year old me that!).

Are your children into music? What do they like to listen to the most?

 

Christmas Gift Ideas: Groov-e Headphones

Music has always been a massive part of my life and as C has grown up he loves all styles too. He's always watching videos on YouTube and singing along and I honestly think I could sing along with them now as he's played them so much!

Groov-e do a range of headphones for all ages and we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to try some out for ourselves. 

C thought he was the bee's knees with the Groov-e 'My First Headphones' which are recommended for children aged 3+. He can be a bit funny about wearing things when he's asked to rather than wanting to do it of his own accord but he took to them right away. As soon as I plugged them in, put them over his ears and played his music, he couldn't stop smiling. I honestly think he would have sat with them on all day I'd let him. 

The headband is quite thin (and adjustable too!) so they don't feel too weird on his head and the ear pieces are cushioned for comfort. They are really lightweight too so he doesn't get annoyed by them. There is a volume limiter of 85 decibels which is great as I can be sure that he isn't causing himself any damage when listening.

He absolutely adores the little turtle on the side too and he likes to think he's like his daddy when he has them on! Although we received the green pair, they are also available in blue, red, yellow and pink. The Groov-e My First Headphones retail at £11.99 and you can purchase them from Amazon.

We also received the Groov-e Streetzheadphones. These ones are really similar to the My First Headphones except the shape is more "grown up". They'd be better for an older children as C, aged 3, much preferred the smaller ones but it's nice to have these as a progression when he's too big for those! Similarly, they have cushioned ear pieces and are stylish and lightweight with high quality sound.

The Groov-e Streetz headphones are also available in blue, violet, pink, red, white and black as well as green and they retail at £14.99. You can find them on Amazon.

I think either of these would make a great Christmas gift if your child is anything like mine and likes to have some iPad time!

(Disclaimer: We received these headphones for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Christmas Gift Ideas for The Music Lover: Jam Rewind Wireless Speaker

Chris and I love music and to be honest, I don't think I know anyone who doesn't!

We were recently given the opportunity to try out a Jam Rewind Wireless Speaker and before I could even open it out of its packaging, Chris had snatched it off me to charge it up. 

Firstly, it looks like a cassette tape (remember those!?). So retro! It comes with a USB lead too so it fits perfectly into the plug for my iPhone charger or I can charge it through my laptop. It's small so it can be carried around too.

Once charged, the battery lasts for around 8 hours of continuous play. The sound that comes out of it is amazing, you really wouldn't expect it for such a small speaker. The speakers actually vibrate with the bass (baby E loves this and it settles her to sleep!)

Playing music through it is simple as it works using Bluetooth. I have an iPhone so it's simply a case of me switching the speaker on then going to 'Bluetooth' in my settings. It comes up "Jam Rewind" then you just click and it connects. I play my music through Spotify so when I choose a playlist in starts playing through the speaker automatically.

The speaker has buttons on the top for power, next, play, pause, rewind and volume. There are also lights for the battery and Bluetooth. The battery light will shine red when it needs charged and the Bluetooth one shines blue when it is connected. It has an audio prompt to let you know when it is switching on, off and is paired.

There are USB and audio in jacks so that you can also use it if you don't own a Bluetooth device. 

The Jam Rewind Wireless Speaker would make the perfect gift for any music lover this Christmas! It retails at £79.99 and can be purchased from HMV, Game or Argos.

(Disclaimer: We received this item free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Who Am I?

Right now, I'm feeling the way I hope that most "new" mums feel. I watched 'The Hangover: Part 3' a few days ago and 'Mother' by Danzig was one of the soundtrack songs. I'd forgotten that I liked Danzig. I'd forgotten that I liked music. I don't know who I am. What do I like? What hobbies do I have?

My teenage years were great. 2006 (I was 14) was the best summer ever. My friends will tell you that also. I was a typical teenager. I went out with my friends every day, into town on a Saturday afternoon and listened to copious amounts of music. Everywhere I went, I had to have my headphones in. I also took advantage of the summer to dye my hair insane colours.

A friend & I, Summer 2008

I eventually had to grow up and get a job. When I was 17, I got my first job. I stayed there for 2 years and managed to get up to supervisor level. I met my boyfriend, Chris, at work. He started a week after me. Our first date consisted of going to the museum and then a bookstore (what does that say about us?). I used to read all the time. Chuck Palahniuk is my favourite author. I can't remember the last time I read (and finished) a book. Probably when I was pregnant.

When we first started going out, Feb 2010

Us with C, May 2013

When Chris and I were in a serious relationship we went to gigs, we went to bars, we ate huge amounts of junk food as we snuggled up and watched movies together (I went from a size 8 to a size 14).

Dropkick Murphys gig, April 2010

Gogol Bordello gig, March 2011

Since having C, I've gone back down to a size 10. I never listen to music and my only hobby now is comping. Something that I started doing when I was pregnant and bored sitting indoors.

I rarely see my friends. I used to see these people every day. Some I see monthly, others less often, and some I haven't seen in years. It does make me sad. I want to change that.

How have you changed since becoming a mum?