There was a sense of bittersweet anticipation as a disorganised shuffle of post-hardcore kids and slightly bewildered 30-somethings make their way from Southern Cross station to Festival Hall to see Alexisonfire’s farewell show to Melbourne.
However, when the band’s three founding members – Wade MacNeil, George Pettit and Dallas Green – walk onto the stage, that is awash in yellow lights, all emotional ambiguity is wiped out by the crushing intro of Young Cardinals. MacNeil looks slightly comical with his Ned Kelly beard – It would seem his new appointment as lead singer of UK hardcore band Gallows has inspired him to beard up.
This show was the first time I had seen new bass player working hard for his place with proto-punk dance footwork. To be honest it pissed me off because Alexisonfire’s longevity, from 2001 (s/t album) to the Death Letter EP 2012, comes from their lack of pretentiousness for a genre band.
Boiled Frogs was a crowd favourite with its embodiment of the band’s archetypal good (Green’s soft vocals) versus evil (Pettit’s growl). At the completion of this track Pettit implored, “This is not a funeral it’s a wake. Let’s celebrate!” This sermon was followed by Counterparts and Number Them.
The massive tracks from their debut album kept rolling on with 44 Calibre Love Letter and Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas) along with Accidents from Watch Out (2004) that features the life affirming chant “Let’s redefine what it means to heal!” To steal a line from Regurgitator – I like their old stuff better than their new stuff.
Brutalised by the squealing guitars, wailing vocals and thundering drums, I left the venue shaken but this physical rapture ran deeper than sheer physicality – with Alexisonfire no longer releasing music or playing live shows I was reminded that the constants of my youth were now slipping away from me.
BY DAN WATT
LOVED: Alexisonfire
HATED: Alexisonfire
DRANK: Orphan blood
