Against Me! have been riding the punk rock airwaves since forming in 1997, releasing seminal albums such as New Wave and White Crosses all along the way. It wasn't until 2012 though that the mainstream started to take notice, and it wasn't entirely because of their music. Laura Jane Grace, formerly known as Tom Gabel, came out last year as a transgendered individual, catching the music world by storm. Whatever your opinions are on this subject, it was undeniable that Against Me! were recieving more attention than ever before; some of it good, some of it bad. Unfortunately, the details of Laura's personal life have, at times, overshadowed the band, which is a shame because they are darn good. Their brand of hard-hitting, anthem-centric punk rock has resonated for years on the underground circuit.

Fans of the band will be excited to know that Against Me! are playing tonight at Town Ballroom with the Sidekicks and the Shondes (7pm, $19), although I'm sure they already knew this. They're a rabid lot. Should be a great show...and you may even hear some new tunes from their forthcoming Transgender Dysphoria Blues.