LAST YEAR, Rolling Stone magazine named Against Me! the “best punk band” working today. No one really knows what such a proclamation means, but at least it provides some vindication for frontman Tom Gabel, who has always done things his way, and has taken no end of crap for it. Originally, Against Me! was just Gabel on an acoustic guitar, playing open mics and Laundromats. Then he paired up with Kevin Mahon and a loose group of other players, and despite what seems to have been a brutal falling-out between the two, many fans still pine for the days of Tom and Kevin. Everything changed in 2002 with Reinventing Axl Rose, the first Against Me! recording to feature electric guitars. “Baby, I’m an Anarchist” became a cult hit, and the band evolved into more of a traditional punk-rock sound. Again, many fans weren’t happy, and even more protested when Against Me! signed to a major in 2006. Gabel has always stuck to his guns, and continues to surprise—his recent acoustic recording of “Here Comes a Regular” is one of the best Replacements covers ever laid down.
AGAINST ME! performs Sunday at 7:30pm at WORKS/San José, 451 S. First St., San Jose. Tickets for the all-ages show are $12/$10 with the donation of a can of food.
