Alkaline Trio at The O2 Academy in Bristol

Posted on: 2015-07-09

Our rating:

The album has been around for almost 15 years but every track was performed with such exquisite and measured showmanship you?d be hard pressed to deny they weren?t enjoying it as much as the assembled, rather sweaty, masses.


 

The now iconic three-piece play their album ‘From Here To Infirmary’ in full…and then some.

 

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Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano and Derek Grant unleashed the album that broke them. Boy, did Bristol sit up and take notice. Released in 2001, ‘Infirmary’ is what catapulted them to fame on the back of the two singles Stupid Kid and Private Eye. That brought them to the masses and garnered hundreds of thousands of new fans. Normally one would say ‘the rest is history’ but 98’s Goddamnit and 2000’s Maybe I’ll Catch Fire had set them up for this and are genuine works of supreme art.

Reeling off the hits mentioned above, along with the rest of the album tracks, the crowd were veritably baying for each next offering. With no danger of disappointing the packed house, Skiba and Andriano rattled through the album with ease, as you would imagine, but giving the feeling that they were living every second of it. The album has been around for almost 15 years but every track was performed with such exquisite and measured showmanship you’d be hard pressed to deny they weren’t enjoying it as much as the assembled, rather sweaty, masses.

The band seemed take an improptue mid-set break out of nowhere. Things quickly became clear...a gentleman was invited to jump the barrier and make his way to the stage, girlfriend following closely behind. On bended knee, and to the genuine, genuine delight of the crowd he took the mic and proposed. She said yes...thankfully. Many happy returns to the couple shown below!

Proposal

The album From Here To Infirmary was played in full as the result of an online fan poll; a nice touch though it divided some fans. That wasn’t all though. Songs from their albums Crimson, My Shame Is True, Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire and Good Mourning were all thrown in for a quite joyous extra.

Naturally the show was closed by ‘Radio’. A Trio gig that doesn’t feature Radio is like hen’s teeth. Every show you know what’s coming but every time it gets better. Radio closed the show and gave the assembled throngs the chance, once more, to scream out the lyrics they’ve known for so long.

4/5

Andriano

 

Reviewed by James Anderson for 365Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.