Lovely.
Winter's first true day has finally arrived to batter Portsmouth, and the unassuming Pyramids venue situated on the sea front is holding up reasonably well against a barrage of winds and the spray kicked up from waves smashing into the sea defences. A trail of freezing Alexisonfire fans snake from the front doors to the road at the front, having no idea what is laying in store from them.
Inside and not even a minute late, four men dressed top to toe in white prove why it's important to get in early see the support bands. It's a shame these guys are on first, because their performance, showmanship and songs are incredible.
Every track is played with full commitment, and every member of the band means every single word, beat and chord - this is the kind of stuff that inspires kids to pick up a guitar, or sit behind a set of drums. The gauntlet has been effectively thrown to the ground, and vocalist Nic finishes their criminally short set in the crowd at the back of the room, screaming. This isn't the last we'll hear from The Computers.
With the almost impossible task of following up that performance, Chickenhawk make the effort but falls slightly short. While well suited to their position on the tour, it seems as though they're just not trying quite as hard, and relying on what has worked in the past. Nevertheless, they're well received and it's another confident set in the bag.
With so many great studio albums behind Alexisonfire, making a set-list to please everyone can only be a challenge. For fans who prefer their older material, tonight was not going to go their way. Of the 18 songs in their set, 13 were either from Crisis or Old Crows Young Cardinals. Treats came in the form of being one of the first to hear Dogs Blood from the new EP, and Charlie Sheen vs. Henry Rollins.
Whatever your preference in Alexisonfire albums though, there's no denying this Canadian five-piece were on superb form and continue to dominate their scene. As a nod to their past, the .44 Caliber Love Letter and Accidents were included in the encore, which received a greatest cheer of the night.
Words & Photos By Andy Squire - andysquire.net