Subcarrier
Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals
Season 7 Episode 13 | 26m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals from Chicago, IL
Laura Jane Grace is one of the most iconic voices and figures of American punk rock in the 21st century. Originally fronting Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me!, Laura’s work has always been devoted to anti-authoritarianism and opening minds. For her new album, Hole In My Head, she was joined in the studio and on tour by Alabama native Matt Patton on bass.
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Subcarrier is a local public television program presented by APT
Subcarrier
Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals
Season 7 Episode 13 | 26m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Laura Jane Grace is one of the most iconic voices and figures of American punk rock in the 21st century. Originally fronting Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me!, Laura’s work has always been devoted to anti-authoritarianism and opening minds. For her new album, Hole In My Head, she was joined in the studio and on tour by Alabama native Matt Patton on bass.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(logo whirs) (signal whirs) (lively punk rock music) (lively punk rock music) ♪ All the birds talk too ♪ ♪ Birds talk too ♪ ♪ They're out of Champagne Haze at Rookies ♪ ♪ I've been gone four weeks ♪ ♪ And I haven't washed out once yet ♪ ♪ Are your wings rose ringed ♪ ♪ Wings rose ringed ♪ ♪ Only planes flying out of Schiphol are higher than I am ♪ ♪ All the birds talk too ♪ ♪ They're just having a good laugh ♪ ♪ I've got my mind set on you ♪ ♪ Heard the beat in the elevator ♪ ♪ I'll take the stairs when I'm coming down ♪ ♪ Coming down, go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Coming down ♪ -♪ Go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Coming down ♪ -♪ Do you run with the wolves ♪ -♪ Run with wolves ♪ ♪ We all go chasing anyways, it's all the same ♪ ♪ When you come back home to find yourself ♪ ♪ Fly away, fly away, fly away ♪ ♪ What's the name of this song ♪ ♪ Name of this song ♪ ♪ They don't play Red Hot Chili Peppers in places like this ♪ ♪ All the birds talk too ♪ ♪ They've just got much better things to say ♪ ♪ I've got my mind set on you ♪ ♪ Heard the beat in the elevator ♪ ♪ I'll take the stairs when I'm coming down ♪ ♪ Coming down, go outside to find myself ♪ ♪ I've got my mind set on you ♪ ♪ Heard the beat in the elevator ♪ ♪ I'll take the stairs when I'm coming down, coming down ♪ ♪ Go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Coming down ♪ ♪ Coming down ♪ -♪ Go outside to find myself ♪ -♪ Coming down ♪ (audience cheers) (upbeat punk rock music) (upbeat punk rock music continues) ♪ Do you wanna screw ♪ ♪ Baby, what's the point ♪ ♪ I keep making my bed ♪ ♪ And it's become a real chore ♪ ♪ And I need a hole in my head, head, head, head ♪ ♪ Need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ Baby, what's the scene ♪ ♪ I've got places to be ♪ ♪ Something left unsaid ♪ ♪ Will explode if not released ♪ ♪ And I need a hole in my head, head, head, head ♪ ♪ Need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ And I need a hole in my head, head, head, head ♪ ♪ Need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ I won't learn to feel less ♪ ♪ You can try to outrun ♪ ♪ All the pain you come from ♪ ♪ That would be a real mistake ♪ ♪ That would be a real mistake ♪ ♪ You could learn to feel less ♪ ♪ That would be a real bore ♪ ♪ Baby, dream your dream ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ ♪ I need a hole in my head ♪ -(audience cheers) -♪ Yeah ♪ I wanna know who was there back in the Cave Nine days.
-(audience cheers) -(lively punk rock music) ♪ It's been a long, long time since we used to play ♪ ♪ Punk rock in basements, punk rock in basements ♪ ♪ That's where we made it ♪ ♪ That's where we used to bear our heart and soul ♪ ♪ Could never hear the microphone ♪ ♪ But we knew every single word ♪ ♪ It's been a long, long time since we used to play ♪ ♪ Punk rock in basements, punk rock in basements ♪ ♪ That's where we made it ♪ ♪ That's where we used to bear our heart and soul ♪ ♪ Could never hear the microphone ♪ ♪ But we knew every single word ♪ ♪ Way, way loud ♪ ♪ See the past appearing ♪ ♪ Don't it make you wonder ♪ ♪ If you're coming or you're leaving ♪ ♪ Way, way loud ♪ ♪ See the past repeating ♪ ♪ Don't it make you wonder ♪ ♪ If you're following or leading ♪ ♪ Yeah, we were loud, we were proud, we were freaking out ♪ ♪ It was the sound of revolution that translated into action ♪ ♪ I can still taste the sweat ♪ ♪ I, I, I have been carried by the motion ♪ ♪ I, I, I have been deafened by the volume ♪ ♪ The music gave us freedom ♪ ♪ It was a reason to believe in ♪ ♪ Way, way loud ♪ ♪ See the past appearing ♪ ♪ Don't it make you wonder ♪ ♪ If you're coming or you're leaving ♪ ♪ Way, way loud ♪ ♪ See the past repeating ♪ ♪ Don't it make you wonder ♪ ♪ If you're following or leading ♪ ♪ And the band goes ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ It's been a long, long time since we used to play ♪ ♪ It's been a long, long time since we used to play ♪ ♪ It's been a long, long time since we used to ♪ ♪ Play ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Punk is dead ♪ (audience cheers) Navigating the world now of the music industry or of the art world or whatever, it's like a continual challenge, you know?
It's something that, on the one hand, I think has changed so much, but on the other hand, I don't think has really changed at all, and I think that, like, what's ultimately, like, you know, you can look at Spotify streaming numbers and you can argue about, like, how, you know, of course, artists deserve, like, to be paid more per listening or whatever, you know, and you can talk about, like, the death of major labels, or, like, you know, like the overall state of the music industry, but my honest belief is just, like, that good songs rise to the top, you know?
And as long as you're writing good songs, nothing else matters, and everything else will work itself out around it, you know, and maybe the model kind of changes a little bit, but maybe it doesn't change so much as it, like, reverts to ways that it used to be, you know?
If we're talking about existing in, like, the Spotify world now of it just being singles, to me, that just like kind of reminds me of more of how it started out, with putting out like singles as in seven-inches and 45s, you know?
But, again, the bottom line is just, like, if you're striving to be the best you can be at your craft, you know, like the best songwriter you can be, write the best songs you can, be the best performer on stage, like, those are the things that are tangible and in the real world, and everything else is kind of artifice, and everything else is kind of, like, distorted in those ways and can be presented, and, like, you can look really good on social media, but when it comes down to it, if people come and see your show and you suck, it doesn't matter.
(lively punk rock music) (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ Evelyn sits by the elevator doors ♪ ♪ It's been 37 years since James died ♪ ♪ On St. Patrick's Day in 1964 ♪ ♪ She could not hold it against him ♪ ♪ There were times when there was nothing she could do ♪ ♪ But lie in bed all day ♪ ♪ Beside a picture of them together ♪ ♪ A picture of better days ♪ ♪ And just like James, I'll be drinking Irish tonight ♪ ♪ And the memory of his last work week ♪ ♪ Will be gone forever ♪ ♪ Evelyn, I'm not coming home tonight ♪ ♪ If we're never together ♪ ♪ If I'm never back again ♪ ♪ Well, I swear to God that I'll love you forever ♪ ♪ Evelyn, I'm not coming home tonight ♪ (lively punk rock music) ♪ In all the years that went by ♪ ♪ She said she'd always love him ♪ ♪ And from the day that he died ♪ ♪ She never loved again ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ And in his wallet she kept on her nightstand ♪ ♪ An AA card and a lock of red hair ♪ ♪ Kept secrets of pride locked so tight in her heart ♪ ♪ It killed a part of her before the rest was gone ♪ ♪ She said, if I would have known ♪ ♪ Just how things would have ended up ♪ ♪ I just would have let myself die ♪ ♪ And just like James, I'm drinking Irish tonight ♪ ♪ And the memory of his last work week ♪ ♪ Will be gone forever ♪ ♪ Evelyn, I'm not coming home tonight ♪ ♪ If we're never together ♪ ♪ If I'm never back again ♪ ♪ Well, I swear to God that I'll love you forever ♪ ♪ Evelyn, I'm not coming home ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ (audience cheering) (mellow punk rock music) (mellow punk rock music continues) (mellow punk rock music continues) (mellow punk rock music continues) ♪ I think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ ♪ With the spirit gone, I'll be what I fear the most ♪ ♪ An empty vessel, just machine at the most ♪ ♪ But I think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ ♪ If I could pray you to me ♪ ♪ I would fall right down onto my knees ♪ ♪ Swear to God, this time, I am ready ♪ ♪ Worth the cost to find ♪ ♪ Would you give your time to me ♪ ♪ And I'm standing at the center of the universe ♪ ♪ Screaming at God, I'm not done ♪ ♪ And I'm standing at the center of the universe ♪ ♪ Screaming at God, I'm not done ♪ ♪ I'm not done ♪ ♪ But I think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ ♪ With the spirit gone, I'll be what I fear the most ♪ ♪ An empty vessel, just machine at the most ♪ ♪ But I think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ ♪ I think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ ♪ With the spirit gone, I'll be what I fear the most ♪ ♪ An empty vessel, just machine at the most ♪ ♪ But I think it's time that I ♪ ♪ Think it's time that I ♪ ♪ Think it's time that I give up the ghost ♪ (audience cheering) This one's called "Razor Blade Blues."
(lively punk rock music) (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ First thing I do when I get home from the road ♪ ♪ Is stow away my box of razor blades ♪ ♪ You know, the ones that belong to your baby daddy ♪ ♪ Back in his carpet-cutting days ♪ ♪ And I know you've got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ And I know you've got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ Tell me, what are you up to ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ Ah, ah ♪ ♪ It's tempting, a quarter inch in ♪ ♪ Just the strength of razorblades ♪ ♪ That's not the type of metal ♪ ♪ That you use to shave your legs ♪ ♪ When you claw the door open ♪ ♪ A big way to make an exit ♪ ♪ But I don't have to take the jump ♪ ♪ When I know where the edge is ♪ ♪ I know you got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ And I know you got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ Tell me, what are you up to ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ And I threw away those oxy pills ♪ ♪ That I kept as my back-up plan ♪ ♪ Flushed right down the toilet ♪ ♪ I do not regret the action ♪ ♪ Now, babe, I'll give you credit ♪ ♪ And I'll take some credit too ♪ ♪ Now, you didn't make me do it ♪ ♪ But you make me want to ♪ ♪ I know you got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ And I know you got your secrets too ♪ ♪ What do they say to you ♪ ♪ Tell me, what are you up to ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ ♪ Won't you take me with you ♪ (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ Ah, ah ♪ ♪ Ah, ah ♪ (audience cheering) I just never had a taste for wearing khakis.
You know, like, I couldn't sell out in those ways, you know?
And that, to me, is what selling out has always meant.
You know, like, coming from the DIY punk scene, there's a real, like, wrestling match that goes on in your head when you start to become successful, because there are economics involved in it, and we live in a capitalist society.
We can't escape it, right?
And if someone's selling tickets at the door, someone's making money off you, and I would prefer the artists are the one making money off of their own art, right?
But, to me, selling out always meant giving up that dream and getting the soul-sucking job that I didn't want to do.
So, you know, like, this is always what I've wanted to do.
Just since as early as I can remember, I've wanted to be in a band and I've wanted to travel the world and play music, you know, and to be able to continue to do that, I will do it as long as I can, and I do not take it for granted either, you know?
And I recognize that there are highs and there are lows and there are plateaus and all those things, but that's just kind of what happens if you're in it for life, you know?
It means so much to me, having that connection and that continuity through the years, you know?
Like, talking with you all here about, you know, back in the day, playing shows at Cave Nine in Birmingham, you know, and on the one hand, like, I was talking about this a little earlier with somebody, like, that was yesterday.
I know that was, like, 2003 and I know that was 2004, but also that was yesterday, and, like, I'm still very much connected to the person that I was back then and still connected to the person even that preceded that.
You know, like, that existed in that time, pre-9/11, if you wanna look at it like that.
You know, pre-pandemic, pre-9/11, back in the days of when it was like, you know, punk rock fanzines and just writing letters in the mail, you know?
And I'm really thankful that I have that connection and those roots, because I do think they keep me grounded.
(upbeat punk rock music) ♪ All dressed up and nowhere to go ♪ ♪ Walking the streets all alone ♪ ♪ Another night to wish that you could forget ♪ ♪ Making yourself up as you go along ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Does God bless your transsexual heart ♪ ♪ True trans soul rebel ♪ (upbeat punk rock music continues) ♪ Yet to be born, you're already dead ♪ ♪ You sleep with a gun beside you in bed ♪ ♪ Follow it through to the obvious end ♪ ♪ Slit your veins wide open, you bleed it out ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Does God bless your transsexual heart ♪ ♪ True trans soul rebel ♪ (upbeat punk rock music continues) ♪ Well, you should have been a mother ♪ ♪ You should have been a wife ♪ ♪ You should have been gone from here years ago ♪ ♪ You should be living a different life ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home tonight ♪ ♪ Who's gonna take you home ♪ ♪ Does God bless your transsexual heart ♪ ♪ True trans soul rebel ♪ ♪ True trans soul rebel ♪ (audience cheering) (lively punk rock music) (lively punk rock music continues) (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ Lost track of the time ♪ ♪ How long have I been here ♪ ♪ Lost track of the time ♪ ♪ How many tries have I failed ♪ ♪ But the modal many mornings ♪ ♪ Wipe the grime off your walls ♪ ♪ But don't breathe it in ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ I'm having a hard time having a fun time ♪ ♪ I'm having a hard time finding faith in myself ♪ ♪ When the strange becomes familiar ♪ ♪ And there's no going back from where you've been ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ -♪ Come sail ♪ -♪ Supernatural possession ♪ -♪ On a spectral sea ♪ -♪ You're forever possessing ♪ -♪ Throw away, throw away ♪ -♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ Throw away ♪ -♪ All your hopes and dreams ♪ -♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ Supernatural possession ♪ ♪ You're forever possessing ♪ (audience cheering) (lively punk rock music) (lively punk rock music continues) (lively punk rock music continues) ♪ If she wants to dance and drink all night ♪ ♪ Well, there's no one that can stop her ♪ ♪ She's going 'til the house lights come up ♪ ♪ Or her stomach spills onto the floor ♪ ♪ This night is gonna end ♪ ♪ When we're damn well ready for it to be over ♪ ♪ Worked all week long ♪ ♪ Now the music is playing on our time ♪ ♪ We do what we do to get by ♪ ♪ And then we need a release ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ You get mixed up with the wrong guys ♪ ♪ You get messed up on the wrong drugs ♪ ♪ Sometimes the party takes you places ♪ ♪ That you didn't really plan on going ♪ ♪ When people see the track marks on her arms ♪ ♪ She knows what they're thinking ♪ ♪ She keeps on working for that minimum ♪ ♪ As if a high school education ♪ ♪ Gave you any other options, you know ♪ ♪ They don't know nothing about redemption ♪ ♪ They don't know nothing about ♪ ♪ Recovery ♪ ♪ Some people just aren't the type for marriage and family ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to be a junkie ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to sleep alone ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to be a junkie ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to sleep alone ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ She's out of step with the style ♪ ♪ She don't know where the action's happening ♪ ♪ You know, the downtown club scene ♪ ♪ Ain't nothing like it used to be ♪ ♪ You reach a point where there's not a lie in the world ♪ ♪ That you could use to make the boys believe ♪ ♪ You're still in your 20s ♪ ♪ But they keep getting younger, don't they, baby ♪ ♪ She's not waiting for someone to come over ♪ ♪ And ask for the privilege ♪ ♪ She can still hear that Rebel Yell ♪ ♪ Just as loud as it was in 1983, you know ♪ ♪ There ain't no Johnny coming home to share a bed with her ♪ ♪ And she doesn't care ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to be a junkie ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to sleep alone ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to be a junkie ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to sleep alone ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ No mother ever dreams ♪ ♪ That her daughter's gonna grow up to be a junkie ♪ ♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da ♪ ♪ And if she had to live it all over again ♪ ♪ She wouldn't change ♪ ♪ Anything for the world ♪ ♪ No, no, no ♪ (audience cheering)


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