Various artists
True Names: A Benefit for Trans Youth
WORRY BEAD
As the ruling class focuses on culture wars in an attempt to hold at bay a noticeable rise in working class consciousness, the trans community has become a scapegoat to misdirect that anger. The ramp up in anti-trans rhetoric in all aspects of life has been unignorable in recent years, especially in the world of sports, as stoked within the US political arena. Of course, if the Democrats offered any semblance of meaningful protection and resistance to the neofascist Trump regime, rather than acting like the helpless, hopeless, controlled opposition it’s getting harder and harder to deny them being, then perhaps things would be different. As it is, the trans community is under intense fire from bigots in and out of power.
Thankfully, there’s power in solidarity and community—something Queens-based label Worry Bead knows all too well. Run by Tuxis Giant singer/guitarist Matt O’Connor and their partner Jenny Ruenes, the label has compiled 18 tracks to create True Names, a fundraising benefit for the Trans Youth Emergency Project, who will receive all the profits from the compilation. Its title was inspired by the Earthsea series of novels by the late Ursula K. Le Guin, whose fantasy and science fiction books often doubled as scathing critiques of capitalism. According to the press release for this compilation, “in the world of Earthsea, True Names are sacred, holding incredible and transformative power. To know your True Name is to know yourself. And to share your True Name is an extreme act of vulnerability and courage.”
The 18 artists included on this comp, then, stand proudly alongside those unafraid to reveal their true selves to the world, despite the state of it. And despite the state of it, there is still beauty. In fact, True Names is a wonderful act of defiance that demonstrates that beauty also exists because of the state of the world. And so there’s a delicate demo version of Squirrel Flower’s “Intheskatepark” from 2023’s Tomorrow’s Fire, a demo of Really Great’s jangle-punk “To Be with You,” and a powerful live version of “Cut Fruits” by Remember Sports, as well as stunning tracks new and old by the likes of 22° Halo, Michael Cormier-O'Leary, Eleanor Elektra, Tuxis Giant, and 2nd Grade, among many others.
For 10 bucks, you get absorbed into a wistful world of lo-fi elegance at its finest, and also get to support a very worthwhile cause. When the revolution comes, it’s those who made this compilation necessary who will be first to answer for their bigoted inequity.
