Alexisonfire @ Eastpak Antidote Tour + Interview

The ethos of punk dictates that small, sweatbox venues, with no room to swing a strat, deliver the best brutal intimacy. It would be all too easy for that sense of band-fan cohesion to be lost in the deep, dingy corners and towering, upper-seated deck of the formidably sized Forum.

After eight years working under a band name coined after the worlds only lactating contortionist porn star, Alexisonfire’s English fan base is lapping it up more than ever. “England is our home away from home” professes lead vocalist George Pettit, before dropping into Waterwings, a song from their distant self-titled debut released in 2001.

Touring earlier this year on the release of their fourth studio album – Old Crows/Young Cardinals – means the filtration of the newer material into the set is taking pride of place. Pettit has taken a new direction with his vocals, leaning more towards a Henry Rollins’esque, hardcore aggressive shouting style. Despite the frosty reception from fans upon its release, tonight there isn’t much on the set which isn’t vociferously received.

Alexisonfire display their persistent drive of the new record tonight by opening with newbie Heading For The Sun. Most of the crowd remain tight-lipped and static at first, not entirely sure of the lyrics, awaiting the arrival of some older material for sing-along value. However there’s a palpable sense of pride the band holds with their new album, filling nearly half the set with newer songs, trying to force feed fans with their new found maturity.

Young Cardinals, the first release from their latest record, is played with tenacity and seething passion. The crowd pounces on the song, snatching the opportunity to sing along to guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green’s harmonious chorus.

Tonight the Canadian five-piece seize the stage, utilising it as a platform to torrent their relentless energy and passion to the sold-out venue – the lingering cloud of B-O vapour above the fans serving a true testament to this.

Three songs stand from their first two records. Accidents is homage to their more post-hardcore orientated sound and they couldn’t afford not to play this song. But the pizzazz and zeal that is enthusiastically portrayed with new songs like Old Crows, is weak and feeble when playing older songs, love undoubtedly lost into the ether after innumerable plays.

Also here’s my interview I had with them on that night, thrown in for good measure.

D says… check zis band…

CANTERBURY

It’s been fucking ages since I’ve been excited (in a totally sexual way) about a new British band. To actually listen to something that has the pizzazz of originality is seriously rejuvenating. Their new album – Thank You – has been made available for free on their website. I’ll be honest, it’s beyond me why it has no price tag – not that it’s a bad album – just it ain’t exactly In Rainbows.

I dunno if the motive for releasing it free was a whole middle-finger-fuck-you-corporate-wankers thingy, or whether it was literally just to get the album out there and listened to. I’ll try ask them some day. Meanwhile lets focus on the content.

It’s kinda surreal, there are those wistful Explosions In The Sky post-rock intros and relapses, the intro to Diver wouldn’t be amiss on the Friday Night Lights soundtrack. Then you have Hospital with its Brian Wilson Beach Boys surf vibe and sing along hooks. Set Your Right, on the other hand, has an electro feel whilst Hometime has a hammering piano Panic At The Disco’esque charm.

This album is truly a pick ‘n’ mix of genres and you’d be an absolute mug if you didn’t go and download the shit out of it right now.

Seriously, do it. NOW.

Canterbury MySpace

Canterbury Website (For Album Download)

D