Alexisonfire Cause Frenzy To Start Homestand

Seeing one of Canada's most popular rock bands in one of Toronto's smallest clubs is definitely not something that happens every day, which is why Alexisonfire's gig at The Reverb, their first of six sold-out hometown shows, was one of the biggest tickets of the year. With the show selling out in minutes, their diehard fans, some of whom spent astronomical amounts on tickets from scalpers, were definitely expecting something big, something more than just another Alexisonfire concert.

They got it. The St. Catharines quintet knew they had to make the show a spectacle, and to achieve this, they lined up a surprise guest that no one in attendance expected. Soon after Attack In Black played their set, fans were left scratching their heads as to who would take the stage next. Who was the big surprise guest? None other than Billy Talent, whose appearance alone made the audience go completely insane.

It's a testament to Billy Talent's immense popularity that almost every audience member knew all the words to their songs, singles and album tracks alike. The band played a relatively short set of no more than eight songs, drawing equally from both their records, and the crowd didn't stand still for a single one of them.

They were so energetic, in fact, that it was a wonder people had any breath left for the headliners. Judging by the enthusiasm and adulation Alexisonfire received upon taking the stage, the opening band could have been Led Zeppelin and their fans would still save their loudest screams for the quintet.

The band didn't rest on that, however, and pulled no punches with a relentless set filled with their strongest and most aggressive material. George Pettit hopped up and down incessantly, while guitarists/vocalists Dallas Green and Wade MacNeil traded riffs and wails. The banter between the group members made the show that much more intimate. Green, Chart Magazine's Artist Of The Year, told a story about a Hatebreed concert he attended at the same venue, and encouraged the audience to re-enact the massive circle pit he experienced. MacNeil sarcastically remarked, "Yeah, that's right. Forget that City And Colour shit, this guy is the biggest skinhead in acoustic rock!"

Regardless, the crowd obliged, and during heavier cuts "We Are The Sound" and ".44 Caliber Love Letter," the pit encompassed at least a quarter of the venue. The fans' roars during the singalong moments of "Accidents" were deafening, and I can only imagine how loud they'll get at the bigger venues next week.

If Alexisonfire can match both the intimacy and intensity of this show for the rest of their hometown dates, then everyone attending has something special to look forward to.