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Alexisonfire
 For a moment, let’s ignore these major label pop stars and highly regarded musicians who will (hopefully) never die. Let’s consider the bands who tour other countries on shoestring budgets, living off the equivalent of two minute noodles in a far away land, literally having no knowledge of anyone or anywhere, struggling to find the venue to which they are meant to perform the music they love for possibly 60 minutes a night. All of this, plus hoping that there will be an appreciative crowd there to see them play and with any luck a place to stay, maybe even a bed.
Now that some sort of comparison is made and a scene has been set, it’s time to talk about one of the hottest Canadian screamo outfits around at the moment — Alexisonfire.
This is their third time to our country in as many years, with three albums to their name and each one progressing amazingly into a more contagious release. My only conclusion is there must really be something in Australian waters which keeps bringing these guys back.
“Seriously I cannot wait to get to Australia; I’m surprised it has taken us this long to get back there. We love it so much and we haven’t been there yet to tour the new record. We fly out Thursday this week and yeah just can’t wait,” describes Dallas Green (vocalist and guitarist) with so much anticipation I feel like I’m not enthusiastic enough.
Even with the startling and wonderful attitude Dallas shares over the phone, it hasn’t actually been the easiest couple of days for Alexisonfire, having recently cancelled a few shows in Europe and returning home post haste due to a family emergency.
“Sadly, Jordan’s (Hastings, drummer) grandfather passed away. So we had to come home and not a lot of things tend to make us come home from a tour, but that one thing, there is no question needed. When you lose somebody in your life, that definitely takes preference over the band; he’s dealing with it okay though. It was kind of like his father, he kind of raised him; he took it pretty hard, but he is doing well and Australia is going to keep his mind off things.”
In lighter news, this five-piece are about to become a very busy bunch, with not only tour plans in Australia, USA and Europe to take up most of the year but also plans to start writing for a new record.
“We are touring the 'States with Funeral For A Friend and Fightstar [UK based alternate rock bands] for a few weeks, then we have some Canadian festivals to play in the summer, then another big tour of North America and Europe. After we’ve finished all of that, we’ll start seriously writing for the next release. We have been writing a little bit while we have been on the road and have scraped together about nine or ten ideas for new songs, so we’re getting ready to go.”
The most recent release 'Crisis' is certainly a more mature album than its predecessors and, to no surprise, just as catchy. Although based around much darker themes — from the blizzard of 1977 which affected parts of Niagara and New York, to disenfranchised steadfast employees — the album also experimented with guest vocalists. This is something the band has always wanted to try out.
“Basically we were really good friends with Planes Mistaken For Stars [Denver based hard rock outfit] after touring with those guys a couple of years ago. Honestly I’m just a huge fan of the way Gared O’Donnell [guitarist/vocalist for PMFS] sings. It’s such an interesting and amazing voice. So when I wrote You Burn First we kind of started throwing around the idea of a guest vocalist, and it didn’t sound right me singing those words, and it ended up like I wrote that song intentionally for him. It turned out really awesome and made perfect sense. Also it was cool watching him sing after having a cigarette and a shot of whiskey while I have a bottle of water and a humidifier going, quite a weird parallel,” laughs Dallas.
With Dallas appearing on The Dear And Departed’s (made up of some members formerly of Day Of Contempt) soon to be released album and plans to release a new album for Dallas’ other project City And Colour, “hectic” will soon become his new middle name. Especially with both City and Colour as well as Alexisonfire performing at the upcoming CISCO Ottawa Blues Festival.
“As Alexisonfire we did that festival a couple of years ago and it was really fun. This year is crazy though; with City And Colour I’m playing just before Bob Dylan, so it’s a big deal. Then with Alexisonfire we are headlining over some amazing bands like Poison The Well, Saosin and Cancer Bats.”
Finally, after years of struggle, the band have finally made it onto American television with their single and film clip for the song This Could Be Anywhere In The World, with a televised interview which I’m told went really well because the guys “acted like themselves”. Dallas also informed me of some even more exciting news:
“We are actually shooting a video, next Tuesday I think, for Rough Hands in Toronto. That’s the next single and hopefully that will be out shortly after we record it. I’m not going to tell you anything about it though because that’s like opening your Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.”
Will Oakeshott
Alexisonfire play at HQ (all ages) on Friday 25 May with Moneen (Canada) and Blindspott (New Zealand).
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