Alexisonfire Surprise Fans At Wakestock Kick-Off Party

It was an eventful weekend for Toronto music fans, with the Beaches Jazz Fest and Wakestock going on in the city, the Hillside Festival happening in Guelph, and the Rogers Picnic closing things out at Fort York on Sunday.

Though Wakestock kicked off its Toronto Island event on Friday afternoon, things really picked up with the 10th anniversary concert at the Opera House that night. All proceeds from the show went to Rob Dyer's Skate4Cancer charity, and it featured Deftones, Protest The Hero, Attack In Black and special surprise guests Alexisonfire.

Attack In Black opened the show with a number of tracks from their forthcoming Marriage album and got the crowd in good spirits with catchy tunes like "Young Leaves."

Protest followed, playing a handful of songs fresh from the studio where they're recording their as yet untitled new album. Singer Rody Walker made up for his lack of profanity at their Wakestock set earlier that day by saying "fuck" about 16 times during their half-hour set. For those keeping score, that averages out to one "fuck" every 1.8 minutes.

Though it had already been announced that the St. Catharines, Ont. quintet would be the surprise band, fans were stoked to see Alexisonfire back in a smaller venue. The guys were all smiles throughout their set, playing a number of songs from their most recent release, Crisis. They opened with that album's lead track, "Drunks, Lovers, Sinners And Saints," and the crowd didn't keep still until they were finished.

The group blew through their set list, rarely pausing to breathe, let alone talk to the audience. A special rendition of "Accidents" saw them bring up Moneen's Kenny Bridges to help out on vocals. The band took several audience members with them when they walked off the stage.

Deftones were in their element in the small venue, closing things out with a strong set that drew from each of their five albums. The Sacramento, California quintet were evidently far more enthusiastic than the last few times they rolled through Toronto, and vocalist Chino Moreno was visibly more fit than he'd been in recent years. The Wakestock headliners ended their brief Canadian tour at the festival the following day.

The special Wakestock appearance wasn't the only guest spot AOF members pulled off on the weekend, though. 'Fire guitarist Wade MacNeil did a cameo with Bedouin Sounclash during their spirited reggae set on Sunday night at the Rogers Picnic.

Alexisonfire play the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ont. on Aug. 5.