You’ve got to hand it to Alexisonfire and Underoath. With Cyclone Alfred postponing and cancelling gigs across Brisbane a few weekends ago, it would have been very easy for them to skip the city altogether, wrap up the tour, and head home. Instead, they switched out one night at Riverstage for two at the Fortitude Music Hall, adding an extra week onto their trip down under, and giving the fans exactly what they’d hoped for, and in a much more intimate setting too. Alexisonfire even had shirts printed with the new dates – a very nice touch.
New Jersey punks GEL were up first, with an explosive set that showcased their exciting hardcore sound. Fronted by Sami Kaiser, they were a great fit for the tour. It’s not the easiest gig, opening for two bands with back catalogues people are clamouring to see, but GEL held their own, and likely left with more than a few new fans.
Underoath were next, and it was clear that early arrivals to the Music Hall had They’re Only Chasing Safety firmly on their minds. The band tore through tracks from their seminal 2004 album along with other favourites, aided by an audience all too happy to scream and clap along. It was a healthy reminder of just how good Underoath are, with new song “All The Love Is Gone” hitting just as hard as set closer “Writing on the Walls“.
I feel like there’s not a lot I can say about headliners Alexisonfire – they were simply that good.
They’re some of the genre’s most consistent performers, whipping through their impressive back catalogue with minimum preamble, and throwing a special treat or two into every setlist. Dallas Green‘s clean vocals only seem to get better with time, and fellow frontman George Pettit remains a ball of screaming energy. Leaving the show (clutching a brilliant “Keep honking! I’m listening to Alexisonfire’s 2004 screamo masterpiece Watch Out!” bumper sticker), all we could think to say was “God, they’re f-ing good“.
Opening with “Accidents“. “Rough Hands” making an appearance. The crowd screaming the words to “We Are The Sound“. “Young Cardinals” as the perfect main set closer. The three hit combo of “A Dagger Through The Heart of St. Angeles“, “Dog’s Blood” and “Happiness by the Kilowatt” for the encore. And, for the first time live since 2005, “That Girl Possessed“. 10/10, no notes.
When given the choice between a Saturday and a Sunday during the refund/exchange process, it seems most fans, unsurprisingly, chose the Saturday. This made the Sunday night we attended much quieter than we expected. The Music Hall’s mezzanine was closed and everyone gathered together in the main area, lending it a really wonderful, intimate feel. It’s been a while since anyone could see Alexisonfire in a crowd this size, and it’ll likely be longer still before it happens again. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that a cyclone has nothing to do with it next time.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Photo credits: Alexisonfire, Underoath and GEL at Horden Pavillion – photos by Jordan Munns
