Alkaline Trio, O2 Academy Bristol (24/7/24)

Patience is a virtue when it comes to certain fandoms. It was ten years between Toho dropping “Godzilla: Final Wars” in 2004 and Legendary picking up the franchise for 2014’s Monsterverse-starting “Godzilla”. I waited like a good boy. Artists like GUNS ‘N’ ROSES and TOOL are prime examples of this too… “Chinese Democracy” for what seemed like an eternity, felt like a myth, or a crusty cryptid; it was years before that came out.  

Was that worth the wait? Was it fuck. The guns had rusted and ceased up, the roses had long rotted let alone wilted, and the point was long gone. That sweet child of his had grown up, developed a class-A drug addiction and overdosed. “10,000 Days” itself felt more like a countdown than anything. I’d be 44 talking about Tool in 2033 if that running joke was real, and that’s something I don’t want NOW. I’d rather Reno Miller take a power drill to my skull in an alley than listen to Tool…but I digress. 

Today is all about ALKALINE TRIO, and that day specifically is Wednesday, July 24th, 2024. Twelve whole years since seeing them last, this reviewer got to attend Bristol’s O2 Academy, as the Chicago three-piece (Now featuring drummer Atom Willard in place of Derek Grant) promote their latest album “Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs”. It’s been a long time since Matt Skiba and the lads signed my copy of “Crimson” …and I’m looking forward to the nostalgia tonight…but they didn’t come alone. Here’s what went down in Bristol town… 

For once in my life, I was sensible financially and booked a room at the Harbourside Hostel instead of a hotel room. A sixteen-bed shared room, with no key, because someone had stolen it. Great start. I was already surrounded by fifteen strangers, like a suspiciously lethargic Hunger Games…as Frank Drebin once said, “Like a midget at a urinal, I had to stay on my toes…”.  

I’m not saying that staying at a hostel doesn’t increase your chance of being murdered, no, I’m just saying that your chances of survival aren’t favorable. Jokes aside, pre-drinks were had with friends at The Hatchet, as is tradition, where we talked gig memories, memes and the cultural impact of Hentai…that I won’t go into; blood hair, and eyeballs are enough we don’t need tentacles too. Nevertheless, we finish up and head in just after doors ready for tonight’s only support band. LOWLIVES [7] 

The hard-hitting quartet (Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Lee Downer, guitarist Jaxon Moore, bassist Steve Lucarelli and drummer Luke Johnson) burst their way onto the stage with the title track from their recent debut album “Freaking Out”. The angst-riddled delivery of the hard-punk track balances the pop-punk melodies of the chorus fantastically; this is energetic, controlled chaos with a vitriolic vibrancy that works wonders. They are bringing it, and it is WELCOME.  

The new album gets the bulk of the performance time tonight, which is understandable given they are promoting their debut. Peddle your wares and all of that. Tracks like “Liar” really channel Lee’s love of 90’s grunge rock as here we have an ode to Kurt Cobain if ever there was one sonically. It houses those aesthetics effortlessly while harboring Kurt’s distinct vocal twang, but it also incorporates certain pop-punk influences with the clap-along percussion, subtle key change sequences, and production. “Swan Dive” really hammers home their love of grunge with an undeniably ALICE IN CHAINS-inspired piece. Slow, chugging and droning, it warbles along with a gruffness perfectly befitting the 90’s. Older tracks like the 2020 single “Hey You” cement their status as contemporary grunge flag-bearers and if there’s one thing we can take away from tonight, is that Lowlives knows how to rock.  

With their gritty guitar sound, gravelly vocals, and penchant for incorporating hooks not too far from WEEZER and ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS in presentation, they’re a band to be appreciated. Could they have included the likes of “Damien” or “Vertigo” in their set? Absolutely, and it would have been masterful, but it just goes to show that these are the ones to watch. Lowlives? Early highlights I’ll tell you that much. 

Finally, then, as the venue is questionably sardine-packed (I can’t complain in all honestly, we were granted press access to a sold-out show) ALKALINE TRIO [10] strut onto the stage in their suits and ties, like the most distinguished of gentlemen in any scene. With a new album of their own to promote, they kick things off with “Hot For Preacher” and the gang-vocal sing-along qualities erupt the crowd into a chorus of whoa-Oh, and believe me this crowd is READY.  A Frenetic, energetic opener and lets everyone here know we’re in for a good time tonight… 

Fulfilling their new album quota, “Versions Of You” is received wonderfully with a sublime sing-along. A personally relatable track that I won’t go into here, they prove that they have aged like a fine wine with another effortlessly catchy alternative rock track. But then, you know most folks don’t appreciate that anyway. Those folks are missing out, Alkaline Trio is on FINE form tonight. “Break” gets a showing too and it’s another lively, darkly underlaid piece of pop-punk laced with melancholy, with more gang-vocal audience sing-alongs. Their tenth album since the mid-90s and they are still as vibrant as ever. 

A large portion of the set is comprised of 2001’s classic “From Here To Infirmary”, with huge iconic singles like “Stupid Kid” and “Private Eye” getting played back-to-back towards the end of the show induce mass lung-busting reactions. Wall-to-wall and floor-to-balcony, every single person in attendance is singing back every single word, and its hypnotic, it is. “Armageddon” delivers a fine slab of angsty punk-rock that gets the crowd jumping, while despite its name, “Mr. Chainsaw” bounces along with more of a light-hearted instrumental frivolity. 

I referenced 2005’s “Crimson” earlier, and we’re treated to a moving rendition of “Sadie”, which is as close to the lads get to a ballad without breaking out the acoustics a-la “Damnesia”. Mega hit “Mercy Me” again gets the crowd rapturous in vocal synchronicity, while initial set-closer “Time To Waste” takes me back to recording The Lock Up with Mike Davies, on BBC Radio 1, on cassette old-school style, while I made notes of what albums I needed. My highlight tonight was a scorching rendition of “Warbrain” which I nearly lost my voice to quite frankly, before the band eventually wrapped the night up, with a one-track encore of “Radio”, and the delicately emotional fan-favorite works wonderfully here as the band bids Bristol goodnight. 

Ten albums deep into a career, they did the perfect job of promoting superb new material while delivering hit after hit for a very eager, excited audience, and the energy and appreciation in the room tonight was undeniable. Arguably, no, EASILY one of the best bands of this century, and another sold-out show here merely hammers that statement home. Few bands blend romantically bleak, Gothic-laced lyricism and storytelling with such fun, up-tempo, and up-beat musicianship the way Alkaline Trio does. The blood, hair, potentially eyeballs, sweat, beer, and tears of joy on the Bristol Academy’s floor tonight is evidence of that. There are so many versions of them, but there’s only one Alkaline Trio. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a hostel to survive…I guess I’m dying tomorrow.