Date: 5/19/2010
Band Link: www.myspace.com/alexisonfire

Alexisonfire’s melodic hardcore provides fans with the best of both worlds: hard music with sweet vocals. The latter is attributed to Dallas Green whose voice seems to float effortlessly over jarring rhythms and screams. The juxtaposition of both offers a sound that is discordant and pleasing at the same time.

The Canadian quintet brought their sound to a rather new venue in Chicago this past week, Lincoln Hall. Lincoln Hall has largely been lauded for its sound. I was interested in experiencing Alexisonfire’s brand of hardcore at that specific venue. Having seen Alexisonfire at outdoor venues, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Green’s vocals can be stifled.

Yet, Wednesday night’s performance at Lincoln Hall didn’t seem to provide a different experience. Don’t get me wrong, Alexisonfire put on an atmospheric show which benefitted from Lincoln Hall’s sound as well as size (it’s rather small). Still, lost was the lovely break that Green’s vocals provide. Instead, the show belonged to lead singer (or screamer) George Pettit. Pettit’s performance was rousing to say the least. As an audience member, it was easy to get lost in the crowd, the performance, the sound. There was no respite from rocking as the band plowed through songs from their recent album, Old Crows/Young Cardinals as well as standards like “Rough Hands.” I might not have seen the kind of show that I wanted to or expected, but I didn’t mind. Surveying the crowd, they didn’t seem to mind either.

Alexisonfire continues their tour through the end of summer (US dates through the end of May and remaining dates in Canada and overseas).