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Considering Alkaline Trio have been around since the post-punk bubble of the late 90s/early 2000s, it's a bit of a headscratcher that the Manchester leg of their tour has not sold out tonight.
On the other hand, considering the current popularity of innocuous indie bands flirting with mild rock over the last few years, the turnout is something Alkaline Trio should be pleased with. Even moreso considering it is Sunday night and the hottest, most lethargic day of the year so far.
Those fans that are here fill the room to capacity with sheer enthusiasm, admiration, crowd-surfing and unapologetic dedication to Alkaline Trio who, despite being well-established within their genre, clearly still appeal to younger generations of listeners.
This shows with the band's choice of setlist tonight, with material from their latest album 'This Addiction' recieving the most coverage. 'Dine, Dine My Darling' - a play on a track by the Misfits - could be a new classic and contains all of the bittersweet imagery typical of the band's earlier days. The same could be said of 'The American Scream', which also betrays underlying dissatisfaction with the status quo and maybe even a political edge.
Going back to their roots and releasing a collection of short, aggresive and punk-friendly tracks, the concise nature of the trio's new material sees it translate well on stage. Although the banter is sparing, the band sound tight and focussed on their mission.
Hinting that they are not prepared to dine out on their past achievements, several songs are omitted that long-standing fans may have expected. Breakthrough single 'Stupid Kid' is all present and correct, but more notably material from 'Crimson' and 2008's Agony and Irony' fails to surface.
However, maybe this goes to show how hell-bent Alkaline Trio are on carrying punk rock safely into the future. Afterall, someone's got to do it and there are few bands better qualified for the task. TAGS: Alkaline Trio Words by: Denise Tench Links:
Alkaline Trio - Myspace
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