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Alkaline Trio

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Alkaline Trio is a punk rock band from Chicago consisting of Matt Skiba on guitar/vocals, Dan Andriano on bass/vocals, and Derek Grant on drums/back up vocals. Their music is characterized by morbid lyrics, catchy hooks, fast tempos and recurring themes of alcoholism, heartbreak, drug addiction, boredom, fire, and death.

Contents

Band history

1996 - 2000

The band formed in December of 1996 (see 1996 in music), originally consisting of Matt Skiba (guitar/lead vocals), Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals), all from McHenry, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Rob Doran. After the departure, Dan Andriano, former singer of Asian Man Records band Tuesday and bassist for Slapstick, took his place and they began recording. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fanbase in the American Midwest. Later on that year, the band released their first full length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000 (both on Asian Man Records). Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously released EPs on their self-titled album.

2000 - 2003

Soon after, Alkaline Trio was signed up by Vagrant Records, a record label much larger and more renowned than their previous label, Asian Man Records. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes, now of Squirtgun), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001 on Vagrant Records. Recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studio, this was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground video game. Their cover version of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation "The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show", an album made to pay tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

After the release, Mike Felumlee left the band, to be replaced by drummer Derek Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines, Telegraph, Thoughts of Ionesco, Remainder, and Broken Spoke.

2003 - Present

Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing much the same success as the previous single "Stupid Kid." The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a move toward the mainstream.

The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1, Vagrant Records: Another Year on the Streets Vol. 1, 2, and 3, and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Felumlee's label Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded 2 split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.

Alkaline Trio released their fifth album on Vagrant Records, titled Crimson (the title the band chose over the other potential album name, Church & Destroy), on May 24th, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Common Rider bassist Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.

In December of 2005, a dual-disc special edition re-release of Crimson hit store shelves. This album features the original cut of Crimson released earlier in the year, while the 2nd disc has demo and acoustic/live versions of some of the songs from Crimson. Additionally, an enhanced version of the lyrics and liner notes are available for download with personal messages from the band members on the history and/or inspiration(s) behind the songs.

On April 21, 2006 Altpress.com reported that the band would be spending the remainder of the year writing and recording songs for an album to be released via Vagrant Records, after they have finished their current tours.

After the release of Good Mourning in 2003, a curious outcry was heard by Alkaline Trio fans when it was noticed that a second guitar player was hidden beside the speakers during the band's live performances. Fans worried there was a new member of Alkaline Trio, making them...the Alkaline Quartet? Alkaline Trio responded that this guitar player, Nolan McGuire, was not a member of the band and never would be, but with the growing complexity of their music, a second guitar player was needed on tour to fulfill the sound Skiba had written/recorded on the album. As of the release of Crimson, Nolan McGuire no longer hides behind the speakers but appears on stage with the band. It seems that since there is definitely no change to Alkaline Quartet being made, fans have embraced McGuire. (who is also the tour manager). It should also be noted that McGuire only plays with the band on certain songs live.

Related Bands

Alkaline Trio is part of a large circle of Chicago punk/hardcore bands. Skiba played drums for the Chicago punk outfit The Traitors. Stemming from Andriano's previous bands, Slapstick and Tuesday, other artists in this family tree include: The Broadways, The Lawrence Arms, The Honor System and, more tenuously, Florida's Less Than Jake. Also Matt Skiba has stated on "Steven's Untitled Rock Show", on Fuse, that it has always been him and two other guys until now.

Trivia

Difficulty in Classification

There is a longstanding debate among Alkaline Trio fans (and non-fans for that matter) about the classification of the bands genre. Some say the band is emo, while some say the band is a punk band, with morbid lyrics. While the band has the lyrical content of a typical emo band (heartbreak, depression, self-mutilation, etc.), the instrumental quality and vocal delivery is more that of a punk band. Many bands considered to be punk (as opposed to emo) have songs about similar subjects, notably The Misfits, AFI etc.

Discography

Studio albums

Album Cover Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
October 13, 1998 Goddamnit Asian Man Records
March 14, 2000 Maybe I'll Catch Fire Asian Man Records
April 3, 2001 From Here to Infirmary Vagrant Records #199
May 13, 2003 Good Mourning Vagrant Records #20
May 24, 2005 Crimson Vagrant Records #25

Compilations

EPs

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK
2001 "Stupid Kid" - - - #53 From Here to Infirmary
2001 "Private Eye" - - - #51 From Here to Infirmary
2003 "We've Had Enough" - - - #50 Good Mourning
2003 "All on Black" - - - #60 Good Mourning
2005 "Time To Waste" - #40 - #32 Crimson
2005 "Mercy Me" - #38 - #30 Crimson
2006 "Burn" - - - #34 Crimson

Samples

External links

 

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