Alkaline Trio / Rock City / Nottingham

Jul 29

Jul 29 Alkaline Trio / Rock City / Nottingham

A Tuesday night and a trip into town for what promises to be a great night to catch a show on the tour from Chicago punks Alkaline Trio. Heading into Rock City I was surprised how busy it was for a Tuesday night and was surprised to hear to was a sell out – on a school night !

First up in support we have Lowlives. Formed by two Brits vocalist Lee Downer and drummer Luke Johnson in LA who set out to put the magic back into music with their 90’s style grungy rock.

With only one support, the set was a good 40 minutes long which I love, as you really feel like you’re getting two bands fully, two proper live performances.

Starting with Freaking Out its clear the four piece are tight and work well together and the packed house is soon really into it. Luke’s vocals are gritty and powerful, which don’t override the instruments, but compliment them perfectly.

Swan Dive has some wonderful gruff guitar lines which sound positively filthy. Luke on drums has a great personality and pounds out some hefty beat, providing the emotional heart of the tracks. The final track was the highlight for me, Hate Greed, Liars and Thieves starts simply with a strummed guitar intro before the drums burst into life. It has a real heavy rock feel to it, the kinda song you have to shake that head to. Then it dips, the vocals low and emotive before exploding with intense power and energy for the chorus. Top stuff.

Lowlives really set the scene tonight

Setlist

Freaking Out

Hey You

Liar

I Don't Like You

Thieves

Swan Dive

Loser

Closer Than You Know

Burn Forever

Hate Greed, Liars Thieves

I can’t get over how packed Rock City is on a Tuesday for Alkaline Trio, it’s great to see things starting to return to normal. Formed in Chicago back in 1996 by Matt Skiba (vocals & guitar), Rob Doran (bass & vocals) and Glenn Porter (drums), the line up have changes over the years with Matt joined now by bass player Dan Andriano and drummer Atom Willard.

Alkaline Trio released their debut single Sundials in 1997 and their debut album “Goddamnit” in 1998. They released their most recent album “Blood, Hair and Eyeballs” earlier this year. I think this is their first appearance in Nottingham for nine years !

The lights go out, the intro music starts up and the crowd go wild behind us in the pit as the band take their places, all dressed in black suits and roll right into the opening number Hot for Preacher taken from their new album. The energy in the room is electric and it doesn’t take long for the first surfer to come over into the pit. Next we head on to 2003’s “Good Mourning” for We've Had Enough which keeps the tempo at max.

It was great to see a minimalist stage design. A simply small riser for the drums and logo at the back, and loads of space for Matt and Rob to move around in. The lights were not over produced but produced some great effects to complement and not distract from the music.

The set was a real nice mix to, with tracks taken from albums right through their career, right from the start and Cringe from 1998’s “Goddamnit”, through Radio (“Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” 2000), the stunning Mr. Chainsaw (“Here to Infinity” 2001), Mercy Me (“Crimson” 2005) and Warbrain (“Remains” 2007) not to mention the latest album, represented by Hot for Preacher, Blood, Hair and Eyeballs and Bad Time

Highlights for me were the excellent Stupid Kid, Private Eye and the encore track Radio. The interaction with the crowd was great and the audience were lapping it up and didn’t want to the show to end. After 20 years it’s great to see that they remain full of energy and the new album shows there’s plenty of new sounds and ideas in the tank, and I have to say, they slotted in so well to the setlist.

A brilliant, if somewhat sweaty night. Lets hope they’re back much sooner this time !

Setlist

Hot for Preacher

We've Had Enough

Take Lots with Alcohol

Bad Time

Versions of You

Mr. Chainsaw

One Hundred Stories

Calling All Skeletons

Cringe

Break