In case we haven’t made it abundantly clear, we are 100 percent in love with trans joy. Nothing makes us happier than a room full of trans kids living their best life. For the trans kids in Lawrence, Wednesday night was the night where the magic happened.

Laura Jane Grace is one of the most recognizable trans musicians in the world, and she brought one hell of a memorable night to the Granada on Wednesday. This was a bit of a one-off short run for Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals (a three-show run as a warmup to Punk Rock Bowling) one that took them to Lawrence first (hell yeah, we’re Number 1!), then onto Oklahoma City and Las Vegas. As a result, this felt less like a formal venue show and more like an intimate affair (despite the many fans in attendance that evening), a chance to get up close and personal with the artist in a unique way (not the first time, as she came through a year and a half ago for a small, solo, acoustic set at the Granada).

Grace brought along the very energetic (and very English) punk duo Pet Needs, who were bewildered by all the Jayhawks around town. Because they are out-of-towners and this was a foreign creature to them, they kept referring to it as a psychedelic chicken.

But the real treat of the night was the opener. Yes, yes, we know that everyone came for Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals.

But when a mysterious figure appeared onstage to solo start the show, we were completely blown away. I mean, the powerhouse vocals alone were enough to knock us over. But then, halfway through her set, we learned that Jenni Rose, of Vandoliers, had come out as a trans woman just one month ago and this was her first show out as a woman! Do you realize how special that is?? Here is this seasoned professional, who has so much experience in the music industry across several genres, and now they are coming to us as their authentic self ONSTAGE for the first time, and they’re sharing that moment with us? Little old us in Lawrence, Kansas?! This expression of love and openness with Lawrence was only made better by the end of the night when Jenni Rose joined Laura and the band onstage for a number (and a big hug at the end).

We told you, we LIVE for trans joy, and our cup runneth over on this night. We honestly thought this night couldn’t end more perfectly, until we hopped over to the Replay and found half the Granada audience there for Queer Arm Wrestling’s inaugural event.

Keep it gay, LFK.