Austin Lucas
Bloomington, IN
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ustin Lucas - Reinventing Against Me!
In June, Bloomington, Indiana-based artist Austin Lucas will release Reinventing
Against Me!, a curated collection of eight of the iconic punk band’s hits - all in Lucas’
signature country style. The album, co-produced by Lucas and Jake Belser, will be
released via Sabotage Records in Europe and Grindethos/Immortal American
Recording Co. in North America, unveiling a new label imprint of Lucas' own.
Like most working musicians over the last couple of years, Lucas began to connect
with fans through streamed performances. Rather than merely rehash the same show
over and over again, Lucas decided to take the opportunity to pay tribute to some of
the artists and bands that they loved. One of their choices has been a constant source
of inspiration for Lucas for more than two decades--friends and musical peers Laura
Jane Grace and her seminal punk band Against Me!.
“My love for them made it easy to decide on doing a streaming event that showcased
her songs as a special event,” Lucas recalls. “After the event, which attained incredibly
high viewership and praise from Laura herself, I made a joke to her on Twitter that if
she wasn't careful I would do a reinventing Against Me! album to which Laura basically
‘double dog dared’ me to see the project through. I'm generally not one to back down
from a challenge, especially one as fun as changing Against Me! songs into country
tunes, so I took the joke to its maximum potential and just went ahead and did it.”
Lucas reimagined their favorites from the Against Me! Discography--“merely chosen
because of my intense love for each and every one of these perfectly written anthems,”
Lucas adds.
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Over the last two decades, the name Austin Lucas has become synonymous with
emotionally impactful and intellectual songwriting, and unparalleled live performances.
The critically-acclaimed artist and community organizer has earned high praise for
their unique blend of folk, punk, and country. With their songcrafting prowess and
dynamic stage presence, it's no surprise that Austin has shared stages with everyone
from punk luminaries Face To Face and Against Me!, to alt-country icons Lucero and
Sun Volt, to bonafide folk heroes Willie Nelson and Ray Price.
Lucas’ long history in the DIY punk scene forged an uncompromising attitude towards
the way their art should be presented to the world. The desire to do things on their
own terms has inspired countless artists over the years, while their iconoclastic heart
has found them running afoul of industry executives-- those who could see Austin's
place at the forefront of a cultural zeitgeist, yet preferred working with artists whose
careers were seemingly easier to manipulate and commodify.
Band Members
Austin Lucas