23 years into their career Alexisonfire gets ready to play one of their biggest shows yet
CBC
Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire is used to headlining shows and hometown festivals, but 23 years into their career the powerhouse performers have taken a rare opening act gig that puts them in front of one of their biggest audiences yet.
The St. Catharines, Ont.-group hits the Rogers Centre on Thursday, when they will open for pop-punk veterans Blink-182 on the final stop of the California group's "One More Time" tour.
Lead guitarist Wade MacNeil said the band welcomed the invitation from Blink-182, which reunited with their founding guitarist and co-vocalist Tom DeLonge in 2022.
"We're a band that doesn't really open for too many bands. I haven't played for 45 minutes in a very long time so for us to go out there and just rip that set, I can't wait," MacNeil said in a recent video call from St. Catharines.
American post-hardcore group Pierce the Veil will play before Alexisonfire, while U.K. pop-rock band Hot Milk will kick off the night.
While their styles differ, both Blink-182 and Alexisonfire have a discography spanning decades — and fans of all ages.
MacNeil credits the longevity of Alexisonfire's music to the band's avoidance of certain genre conventions, such as breakdowns — a heavy instrumental section in a song that follows a long buildup.
"I think the fact that we shied away from those things, maybe in the past, was a detriment to us but the fact that we didn't do those things I think are the exact reason our music doesn't sound so dated," the 40-year-old said.
MacNeil said the band strives to push their catalogue in new directions.
Their song "Happiness by the Kilowatt" is often extended to a 10-minute show closer, and the band has previously incorporated covers into performances such as Prince's "When Doves Cry" and even Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" at their reunion set at Riot Fest Toronto in 2015.
However, for the Rogers Centre show, MacNeil promises a tight set of "punishing hits" and "bangers."
He said the band is aiming to write and record new material soon and get back on the road, but the exact timeline depends on vocalist and guitarist Dallas Green's schedule with his popular solo folk project City and Colour.
"We're going to go on tour next year (and we've) got a lot of music, we've got a ton of ideas. We just need to get together and hash it out," MacNeil said.
Despite a farewell tour in 2012, Alexisonfire reunited in 2015 for sporadic performances that became more steady over the next few years.
