Chicago shows Alkaline Trio how they’re hometown heroes

The Aragon Ballroom in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood was engulfed with energy on March 16th as hometown legends Alkaline Trio took the stage for a night that can only be described as, in a word, electric. The Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs Tour had arrived and fans were in for raw, unadulterated rock-and-roll that capped off a beautiful Saturday night on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Alkaline Trio, consisting of Matt Skiba (vocals, guitar), Dan Andriano (vocals, bass), and Atom Willard (filling in for Derek Grant on drums), has been a mainstay in the punk rock scene since their formation in 1996 in McHenry, Illinois. With a career spanning nearly three decades, the band has released numerous critically acclaimed albums and has built a dedicated fan base around the world.

With albums like Goddamnit (1998), From Here to Infirmary (2001), Good Mourning (2003), and Is This Thing Cursed? (2018), the band’s immense music collection spans generations… generations who show up in droves to support the legendary band night in and night out on their tours.

Adding to the band’s lore, Alkaline Trio was a mainstay on the Vans Warped Tour.

Their presence on the Warped Tour was a significant chapter in their career, aligning them with one of the most prominent punk and alternative music festivals of its time. The band first appeared on Warped Tour in the early 2000s, a period that coincided with their rise to mainstream recognition within the punk rock scene.

Their current tour — which includes stops in the UK, Germany, and Spain — is in support of their latest album Blood, Hair and Eyeballs released in October of 2023. The album received widespread praise from fans and critics alike, further solidifying Alkaline Trio‘s status as one of punk rock’s most enduring and influential bands.

One of the standout moments of the Chicago show was the encore, which featured a blistering performance of “Radio”. The song, which has become a fan-favorite since its release, is a ballad that fans unite to sing their hearts out with the band. As they launched into the anthemic chorus, the crowd sang along with passion, creating a mesmerizing evening of pure bliss for diehard fans.

Matt Skiba’s stint with Blink-182, filling in for Tom DeLonge, also added to the band’s mystique.

Skiba’s unique style and energy brought a fresh dynamic to Blink-182‘s live shows and recordings, further cementing his reputation as one of modern punk’s most versatile and talented musicians.

Dan Adriano similarly joined punk rock supergroup, The Falcon, which formed in 2004. The Falcon consists of members from various bands, including Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, and The Loved Ones. Dan Andriano joined The Falcon as the bassist and vocalist, bringing his distinctive style and musicality to the group.

The chemistry between Skiba, Andriano, and Willard was dialed in throughout the night, showcasing the band’s masterful showmanship and energy at the forefront. As the final notes of “Radio” rang out, the crowd erupted into a deafening roar, a sense of nostalgia draped over the Aragon Ballroom. For a few moments in time, local punks were back to simpler moments: moments where they saw the band play at the infamous Fireside Bowl; moments where we collided in basement shows, screaming lyrics at the top of our lungs.

After we all shared our unique Alkaline Trio concert stories, compared tattoos and mosh pit scars, and ascertained which shows the band got us into for free in past days, we left with an inflated sense of pride for our hometown band. As the fans spilled out into the streets of Uptown in Chicago, their voices hoarse from singing, the night fell quiet, and all the loyal Chicago Alkaline Trio fans went home fulfilled, yet anxiously awaiting the next performance.

Photography by John Bender

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