Alexisonfire live in Sydney – review and photos
We sent photographer/reporter Adam Davis-Powell along to The Enmore Theatre in Sydney to catch Alexisonfire:
Having lived in Sydney for over 10 years and seen and photographed my fair share of live shows, I can say without a doubt that Alexisonfire’s performance on Monday night was one of the greatest I have ever witnessed in this legendary venue. Maybe I’m a bit biased since these Canadian rockers were a major part of my teenage years, and the catalyst that propelled me into the harder side of rock music. But let me tell you, my review is not based on sentiment alone. Alexisonfire had enough electrifying energy to power a small town. These guys are all in their 40s, except for Wade and Chris, but they certainly didn’t move like it. From the moment they stormed the stage, it was like a sonic explosion that shook us all to our cores.
But before I get to the main act, let’s talk about the opening band, Luca Brasi. These Tassie boys brought their A-game and gave us a blistering set that quickly won over the crowd. By the time they closed with “Clothes I Slept In,” the room was already teeming with anticipation for what was to come.
And then, the moment we had all been waiting for arrived. The lights dimmed, and the speakers blared out “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” by none other than Shania Twain. It was a fitting choice, and damn, if it didn’t get us all in the mood. Then, just like that, the five members of Alexisonfire stormed the stage, in what can only be described as just pure unadulterated excitement.
They did not waste any time and crushed straight in ‘Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints’. The lights blared green, and we knew we were in for a treat tonight. I cannot overstate the level of energy that Alexisonfire brought to this show. Dallas Green and Chris Steele practically tore up the stage with their interweaving guitars and bass, their chemistry crackling with electricity. And let’s talk about Chris for a moment – this dude had more faces than a deck of cards! He went from a wide-eyed kid to a possessed demon in the blink of an eye, and it was all part of the show.
The band played an extremely varied set, spanning all five of their albums and one EP. From key tracks from their new album “Sweet Dreams and Otherness” & “Blue Spade” all the way back to “Dogs Blood” from their EP to the chorus chanting of “Young Cardinals” to the show-stopping “Happiness by the Kilowatt,” Alexisonfire gave us everything we could have wanted and more. Also, notably, the lighting design was a stroke of genius. The strobes, the in-beat light changes, and the seamless transitions all came together to create a visual and aural feast that left me and the entire crowd reeling.
As the night drew to a close, the audience left the Enmore Theatre with a sense of elation that stayed with us long after the final notes had faded. Alexisonfire proved once again that they are the undisputed kings of the post-hardcore scene, and that their music has the power to move even the most jaded of hearts.
This was not just a show – it was an experience, one that I will cherish for a long time to come.
Review and photos by Adam Davis-Powell.
