Alkaline Trio - Boiler Shop, Newcastle 22.07.2024

Alkaline Trio not only released one of their best albums 'Blood, Hair, & Eyeballs' but one of the years best albums so far. So they set the bar really high as they took to the stage and opened with one of the aforementioned albums highlights 'Hot For Preacher'. However having a back catalogue of songs as strong as they have it was never in doubt that the rest of the night would dip anywhere.

The sold out Boiler Shop (or Boiling Shop as it should have been renamed in tonight’s heat) were ready for the trios return and were rewarded with a set littered with fan favourites and rarities from across their career.

Looking cool as fuck in suits and ties Matt Skiba and Dan Adriano alternate the vocal duties as always whilst new drummer Atom Willard (Rocket From The Crypt Against Me, Offspring and many more) has given the band a new injection. Now Derek Grant was no slouch but bloody hell Atom is absolutely ferocious behind that kit!

After a quick visit to 'Good Mourning for We’ve Had Enough' we get the first of many from the all time classic 'From Here To Infirmary' album with 'Take Lots With Alcohol' and you can feel the floorboards vibrate with the crowd bouncing in unison singing “Hello what the hell am I doing here.“

And for the next 90 minutes there’s no doubt what we are doing here, the band are possibly the best I’ve ever seen them, a sentiment many post gig were echoing.

'Bad Time' and 'Versions of You' remind us how good that latest album is but then it’s back to 'Infirmary' for 'Mr Chainsaw' where we are “singing about growing up and giving in.“

And so it goes on, a twenty song history of the Trio we are treated to the likes of 'Calling All Skeletons', 'Sadie', 'Warbrain' and more. The title track from 'Blood, Hair, & Eyeballs' sits in the set perfectly sounding like it’s been there forever and just never recorded until now.

BUT for me personally it’s those tracks from .From Here To Infirmary. that take the already brilliant set and make it perfect. 'Armageddon' and 'Crawl' take me back to a time where the dark macabre lyrics and themes of the songs made them stand out more for me than a lot of the other punk/emo/pop punk of the time.

The roof raising double hit of 'Stupid Kid' and 'Private Eye' could easily have finished the night but they’re not done yet and a rousing 'Time To Waste' sees out the main set.

I’d seen Matt pointing at someone at the front as they were leaving the stage gesturing to them and security but no idea what was going on until the band returned to the stage with two extra guests from the front whose night became extra special as they got engaged in front of 1000 “friends“ which whilst lovely it also brought a wry smile to face as the band then went into 'Radio' with its tale of heartbreak and bitterness.

One minute it’s “awwww“ next it’s “I’ve got a big fat fucking bone to pick with you my darling“ echoing around the room!

What a way to spend a hot Monday night in Newcastle!

Review & Photos - G's Gig Shots