Written by: Uriel Alcalde
Photos by: Javier Vicecio
Punk rock is a very special genre of music with a very deep history and meaning to its listeners. I believe it’s also a genre that is not widely represented as it should be, but there are some bands that proudly carry, the flag and are still taking the genre to the next level and maintaining its roots. ALKALINE TRIO is probably one of the bands that have influenced a very big chunk of current rock and punk rock bands out there today, and it’s of great joy to know that they’re currently on tour, which is not one to miss if you want to pause time and build or relive some memories through music.
On Monday, February 26th, 2024, the HOUSE OF BLUES in Dallas, TX hosted a night of memorable punk rock music delivered by ALKALINE TRIO, in the company of the bands WORRIERS and DRUG CHURCH, both of these were able to really set the tone for the entire night and deliver music with just as high quality as the headlining band of the night. I personally don’t go to many of these types of concerts very often, but I must admit that the whole environment and the vibe from the fans was just on point to enjoy an incredible night and forget the fact that everyone had to get up early the next day to continue with our responsibilities.
I was very glad to check out DRUG CHURCH for the first time. It’s not a band that I’ve heard of before, but I was really digging some of their songs before I got to the venue. It seems to be a relatively new band, formed in 2011, with all the members really embracing the nature of the songs they shared with the crowd, in addition to the vocalist, Patrick Kindlon, who was very capable of handling the crowd to get rowdy and enjoy the set just for the sake of old times. During this band’s performance, it was very pleasant to see everyone having such a good time, and even more impressive to see attendants of all ages enjoy every minute before the headliners took the stage.
After the energetic set from DRUG CHURCH, I took advantage of the free time to wander around the venue and really enjoy the experience of a punk rock show. It’s more natural to me to lean more towards shows that have more hard rock and heavy metal in them, but this one was a nice variation that reflected the culture of the music on the fans and definitely displayed an almost aggressive vibe, but with a deeper meaning due to what the music and the bands represent. I must admit that I was also surprised by the amount of merch that some fans got, which is a great sign of loyalty and appreciation for the bands they paid to see.
Now it’s time for ALKALINE TRIO to take the stage. I clearly remember the first time I saw this band, which was not very long ago in the summer of 2022 when the band was announced as a supporting act for COHEED AND CAMBRIA on their tour. I’ve been a fan of COHEED AND CAMBRIA for many years, and one of the things that I most appreciate about them is the kind of bands that they tour with, often introducing me to newer bands or more interesting forms of music to continue enjoying what I enjoy as well.
ALKALINE TRIO has been around for almost three decades, releasing consistent music over the years to keep their old school fans engaged and win some new ones in the process. I must admit that I was somewhat excited to see the entire act due to the intimacy of the venue where we all gathered and the quality of the sound we got to enjoy. At the time things got started, “Hot for Preacher” was the chosen song to open the set, from their new album Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs, followed by “We’ve Had Enough” and “Dine, Dine My Darling”. 3 songs in, and the crowd was already showing extreme excitement.
Through the course of the night, there were multiple tunes chosen from different albums to give some variety to all attendants and make sure most eras of the band were covered in just one night. Songs like “Bad Time” and “Versions of You” also made it in the set, followed by “Mr. Chainsaw”, “Demon and Division”, “Trouble Breathing” and “Break”.
The night is going great so far, and we’re just halfway through the show. Everything feels like just a good flow, everyone’s having a good time, people from all ages knowing and singing the lyrics left and right, with a few friendly mosh pits here and there, as we continued hearing other songs like “Bloodied Up”, “Burned is the House”, “Mercy Me” and “One Hundred Stories”. The same energy kept high during the night, and there are still some surprises left from the band to all the public in Dallas.
It’s very important to mention that this was only through the first week of the current tour, and without even coming to an end, and based on my experience, it’s one of those where you don’t have to know all the songs to have a very good time. To close things up, the band brought us a few more popular tracks like “Stupid Kid”, “My Friend Peter”, “Time to Waste” and “Radio” to wrap things up and call it an amazing night.
Even though everything happened on a windy Monday, and my energy levels were not quite high, I’m very glad that I was able to forget about my exhaustion to get connected with live music, as I’ve done it for many years, and I’m thankful that there are so many bands that carry great work and continuously connect with the fans over the years to share great moments. This tour is highly recommended for all ages and lovers of music. Punk rock is not a genre with lots of representation, so, just like any other artist, it needs our support and it will continue as much as we allow it to. In the meantime, thanks to all the bands for bringing back punk rock into my radar.
