First of all,
apologies must be extended to my regular readers (Mike and Lynn) who have
obviously been missing my gig reviews. Well fear not fellas, luckily for you I
had nothing better to do during my lunch hour than produce this bad boy.
I was first introduced to Alexisonfire at Reading Festival
in 2007. A festival favourite, this Canadian quintet are famed for the energy
of their live shows, and I was not disappointed. A number of Reading
performances later and after attending one of their own shows in Brighton , Alexisonfire quickly became one of my favourite
live bands. Dubbed ‘post hardcore’, their sound is refreshingly unique,
masterfully blending harsh screaming vocals with Dallas ’ smooth crooning, all to the
background of some extraordinary riffs.
However, after ten years together as a band, they decided to
call it quits in 2011 due to members pursuing other ventures (City and
Colour/Gallows etc). So for Alexis-fans worldwide there was a horrible period
of time where we thought we would never get to see them again, and not be able
to bid our farewells. Thankfully, earlier this year they announced that they
would be playing a handful of dates worldwide on their farewell tour. Two
nights at the Brixton
Academy
The evening began with the customary catch up in a local pub
(on this occasion the fantastic Duke of Edinburgh in Brixton), close to the
venue. The support act for the evening were the specially reformed Ghost of a
Thousand, who none of us were particularly bothered about to be honest, so more
beer was consumed.
We entered the main hall of this fantastic venue around 10
minutes before the band were due on stage. I have been to many gigs in my time,
but I have to say that I have never experienced an atmosphere like the one on
this night. The sense of anticipation in the capacity crowd eclipsed anything I
have been a party to before. For many in attendance this would be their last
chance EVER to see their favourite band, so it’s understandable to say the
least.
As the lights extinguished and the banner descended behind
the stage, the roar was deafening. The boys exploded onto the stage to the
opening riff of my favourite track, Crisis,
and Brixton exploded. As I am still nursing a broken foot, I was unable to be
in the thick of the crowd, but as soon as the unmistakable chord sequence
began, nobody was able to stand still at all. Dallas could not be heard over screams
from the audience in this opener, but never have the lyrics ‘This season’s growing cold, I feel like this
could be the end’ been so poignant. This is indeed the end of Alexisonfire,
but if you were at the show last night, seeing this reaction, you would not be
able to understand why they are calling it a day.
Hardly stopping between hits, Ontario ’s finest launched into bruising riff
after bruising riff, sending the 6,000 strong faithful into ecstasy. When it
could be made out over the phenomenal crowd, Dallas ’ voice was the best I have ever heard
it, not an imperfect note in a 23 song set list.
Alexis are renowned for their song writing abilities, having
won numerous awards in their native Canada, but never have I seen a band’s
lyrics seem so ironic as during the epic ‘Drunks,
Lovers, Sinners and Saints’. ‘Are you
pretending? Are you even listening?’ was screamed back at the band with
such passion it was an incredible thing to witness. Safe to say no-one was
pretending inside Brixton.
Inevitably, the show came to an end with the impeccable ‘Happiness by the Kilowatt’ after which
the band took their final bows, expressing their thanks for all the support
their UK fan base has given them over the years. In all honesty, it is us who
should be thankful to a fantastic band who have provided us with so many
incredible experiences throughout the years. The fact that we are not to be
lucky enough to witness Alexisonfire live again is only just beginning to sink
in. And it sucks.
Other bands need to take note, if you are going to bow out;
this is the way to do it. Graceful, Composed, Heartbreaking. Let’s be honest,
Alexisonfire have gone out the way all good bands should go, in a blaze of
glory.
Never again will we ‘raise
up our hands, and sing along’. All the best, lads.
Rating: 9/10
Set list:
- Crisis
- Get Fighted
- Waterwings
- Old Crows
- Control
- You Burn First
- We Are the Sound
- 44. Caliber Love Letter
- This Could Be Anywhere in the World
- Midnight Regulations
- Pulmonary Archery
- No Transitory
- Dog’s Blood
- Keep it on Wax
- Accept Crime
- Boiled frogs
- Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints
- Charlie Sheen v Henry Rolins
- The Northern
- Accidents
- Rough Hands
- Young Cardinals
- Happiness by the Kilowatt
