The middle aged punks are out in force tonight – I include myself in that. My memory hasn’t yet faded that much yet – I can still remember where and when I purchased “From Here to Infirmary” Alkaline Trio’s breakthrough success delivering Kerrang TV favourites Stupid Kid and Private Eye. (For those wondering, it was an HMV in Leicester when visiting DeMontfort University in 2001 and the topic of Taylor Hawkins’s overdose on painkillers was part of the conversation between me and my very Catholic mother). They say as we get older that we stop delving off in search of new music.
Lowlives maybe struggling with that specific statistic tonight unfortunately. Their brand of fast paced grunge infused rock sounds perfect. Vocalist Lee Downer has a voice that many rock singers could only wish for. But other than the mildly polite applause at the end of each song there isn’t much love for Lowlives. Speaking to another photographer who says she has seen them play a few times before – they are holding back. There is a raucous energy early on, Downer is jumping around, bassist Steve Lucarelli is a head banging mass of hair but it seems as if they delve further into their set the lack of energy from the crowd is beginning to show. Even Lucarelli’s final attempt at crowd participation, climbing down off the Forum’s stage into the photo pit with someone in the front row to hold a mic for him doesn’t seem to incite a spark.
Alkaline Trio on the other hand do not have a similar problem. In the past I haven’t been overly impressed with their live performances, they have left me feeling flat. Not tonight though. The Chicago natives are in fine fettle and the crowd have been conserving their energy. From the moment “Hot For Preacher,” the launching pad for the latest album Blood, Hair And Eyeballs kicks in this is going to be be a party. Right through to encore “Radio” off of 2000’s “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” on legendary Punk label Asian Man Records (much love needs to be shown to Mike Park – and his mum) the second of two shows at Kentish Town Forum are possibly the best seen from the Trio in years. New addition to the line-up, replacing long serving drummer Derek Grant who had been with Alkaline Trio since 2003’s Crimson, Atom Willard is no stranger to a punk crowd given his CV boasting The Offspring, Angels and Airwaves and Rocket From The Crypt to name a few fits as though they have been playing together for years. The energy from Willard has seemed to invigorate the duel frontmen of Dan Adriano on bass and Matt Skiba on guitar have never sounded better.
The likes of post Skiba Blink 182, Sum 41 and Green Day have all seen a renaissance of late, both in their live shows and some of the best material put out it years. Alkaline Trio are no different when it comes to this. Their live sound is now a true reflection of their records and the fans seem to truly appreciate this. The atmosphere is better than a lot of shows I have been to in years – everyone is singing, dancing and accommodating. I find myself in the middle of the venue attempting to take full stage shots and have a group of guys cheering me on, high fiving, giving me room and making me feel welcome as I shoot and sing along with them (and the occasional “that’s sick” as they look at the back of the camera is always appreciated). I take back anything bad I have ever said about the Chicago punks live show – they have left me tonight having to eat the whole humble pie.
See below for a full photo gallery taken by Benji Walker:
