Alkaline Trio

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Alkaline Trio


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = McHenry, Illinois, USA
Genre = Alternative rock
Pop punk
Punk rock
Years_active = 1996–present
Label = Epic Records (US)
V2 Records (Europe)
Vagrant Records
Asian Man Records
URL = [http://www.alkalinetrio.com/ Official website] [http://www.alkaline-trio.co.uk/ Official UK website]
Alternative names = A3, The Alkaline Trio, Alk3
Current_members = Matt Skiba Derek Grant Dan Andriano
Past_members = Rob Doran Glenn Porter Mike Felumlee
Associated_acts = Heavens The Falcon The Vandals

Alkaline Trio is a punk rock band from Chicago, consisting of Matt Skiba on guitar/Vocals, Dan Andriano on bass/Vocals, and Derek Grant on drums/back-up vocals. Their music is characterized by dark lyrics, catchy choruses, fast tempos and recurring subjects of love, alcoholism, depression, fire, drugs, and death.

History

1996-2000

The band was formed in December 1996 (see 1996 in music), originally consisting of Matt Skiba (guitar/lead vocals), Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals), all hailing from McHenry, Illinois, in Chicago's Northwest suburbs. 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, "Sundials". This was followed shortly after by the departure of Rob Doran, after which Dan Andriano, former singer of Asian Man Records band Tuesday and bassist for Slapstick, took his place and they began recording. The band released their second EP, entitled "For Your Lungs Only", in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fanbase in the American Midwest. Later on that year, the band released their first full length album, "Goddamnit", followed by "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" in 2000 (both on Asian Man Records). Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously released EPs on their self-titled album.

2001-2005

In 2001, the band released "From Here To Infirmary" on Vagrant Records. This was their first step towards the mainstream, with music videos for the singles "Stupid Kid" and "Private Eye". Other songs from "From Here To Infirmary" that brought attention to the band were "Another Innocent Girl", "Crawl", and "Armageddon".

Their next full-length album was "Good Mourning", released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing much the same success as the previous single "Stupid Kid." The album was something of a departure from earlier works, featuring greater production values and a move toward the mainstream.

The band appeared on various compilation albums, notably "Plea for Peace" Vol. 1, "Vagrant Records: Another Year on the Streets" Vol. 1, 2, and 3, and "Rock Against Bush" Vol. 1. Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album "This is Unity Music" by Common Rider. They recorded 2 split EPs: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.

After the release of "Good Mourning" in 2003, it was noticed that a second guitar player was hidden beside the speakers or off-stage during live performances of some songs. Alkaline Trio stated that this guitarist, Nolan McGuire, who is also the band's tour manager and an ex-member of fellow Chicago punk band The Honor System, was not a member of the band, but with Matt's developing use of lead/second guitars on record, a second guitar was needed on tour in order to reproduce the sound. As of the release of "Crimson", McGuire usually appears on stage with the band. He can also be seen handing Matt's guitar to him near the beginning of the Time To Waste video.

In 2004, Dan became a member of The Falcon, a supergroup of sorts consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist Brendan Kelly, previously of Slapstick (alongside Dan) and The Broadways, and drummer Neil Hennessy. The Falcon also saw contributions from Todd Mohney of The Killing Tree and formerly Rise Against. The band released an EP, "God Don't Make No Trash / Up Your Ass With Broken Glass" in 2005 and its first full length, "Unicornography" in September 2006.

2005-2007

Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, titled "Crimson", on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Squirtgun and Common Rider bassist Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.

In December 2005, a dual-disc special edition re-release of "Crimson" hit store shelves. This album features the original cut of "Crimson" released earlier in the year, while the 2nd disc has demo and acoustic/live versions of some of the songs. Additionally, an enhanced version of the lyrics and liner notes are available for download with personal messages from the band members on the history and/or inspiration(s) behind the songs.

Alkaline Trio released an album of B-sides/Rarities, Live Performances, and a DVD with Performances from The Occult Roots Tour in early 2007 called "Remains" and put out on Vagrant Records.

In October 2006, it was announced that Alkaline Trio had signed with V2 Records [http://www.punknews.org/article/20262] . On January 12, 2007, the North America branch of the label announced that they were undergoing restructuring to focus on their back catalogue and digital distribution. As a result, their employees were let go and their roster of artists left as free agents.

During late May 2007 the band began listing Epic Records as its label on their MySpace. Punknews.org has now also reported that band is on the Epic roster.

2008-Present

In February 2008, Asian Man Records released a 10th Anniversary reissue of the band's 1998 full length, "Goddamnit". The disc was remixed and remastered, with 4 bonus tracks from their 1996 demo tape added, and the album was repackaged with new artwork and a feature length DVD documentary about the band's early days. Predictably, the release caused quite a bit of excitement for long-time followers of the group.

On Saturday, February 9, 2008, the band posted a message on their MySpace page explaining that they had been in the studio for three weeks working on the new album without revealing a release date or title. The band later announced via their fan club, the Blood Pact, that their upcoming album, titled "Agony & Irony", would be released on July 1st, 2008. [http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=309793] As a gift for members, they made a new song titled "In Vein" available as an exclusive. On April 4, they posted the song on their MySpace for 24 hours.

An episode of the MTV show "The Hills" featuring the band aired on May 5, 2008.

A contest ( [http://www.alkalinetrio.com/settlethescore "Settle The Score"] ), was announced May 6, 2008, that encouraged fans to download sheet music of "Love Love Kiss Kiss" from the official website and send Alkaline Trio footage of their interpretation of the song before it was released by the band.

As expected, the band released "Agony & Irony" on July 1, 2008. First week sales for the album placed Alkaline Trio at number 13 on the Billboard album charts, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.

Related bands

Alkaline Trio is part of a very large circle of Chicago punk/hardcore bands. Skiba played drums for Jerkwater (with Rob Doran (currently in Pit er Pat); Sean Seeling (currently in Apocalypse Hoboken, ex-Tommyrot); and, Jeremiah Klinger (currently in Gregor Samsa), as well as the Chicago punk outfit The Traitors. Former drummer Glenn Porter played in Tommyrot and 88 Fingers Louie. Stemming from Andriano's previous bands, Slapstick and Tuesday, other artists in this family tree include: The Broadways, The Lawrence Arms, The Honor System, Smoking Popes (Rob Kellenberger from Slapstick, Tuesday and Smoking Popes side project Duvall briefly played drums for part of the Popes reunion tour before being replaced due to scheduling differences. Ironically, Kellenberger replaced original Smoking Popes drummer Mike Fellumlee, who played drums for Alkaline Trio on their album, From Here to Infirmary, after the Smoking Popes broke up, and now plays with Squirtgun), and, more tenuously, Florida's Less Than Jake. With the addition of drummer Derek Grant, Alkaline Trio's family tree has grown to include ties with bands such as The Suicide Machines, Thoughts of Ionesco and Walls of Jericho. In 2004 Dan Andriano formed somewhat of a supergroup called The Falcon. The band reunites Andriano with fellow former Slapstick member Brendan Kelly (guitar and vocals) (currently in The Lawrence Arms) and expands the family to Neil Hennessy on drums, (also in The Lawrence Arms). Todd Mohney, former member of Rise Against, played guitar on the first EP but could not attend the recording session for the band's first full length Unicornography, and his spot was temporarily filled in by Kelly and Hennessy.

In 2006, the band's website announced that Matt had started a side-project called Heavens with Josiah Steinbrick, previously of F-Minus. Their debut album, "Patent Pending" was released on Epitaph Records.

Heather Gabel (formerly Heather Hannoura)

Heather Gabel is an artist by trade, best known for her work on Alkaline Trio's merchandise.

Gabel has been close friends with Alkaline Trio for many years. Gabel is regularly on tour with Alkaline Trio working at their merchandise table. The artwork Gabel uses for Alkaline Trio's merchandise is similar to the fine art work of hers - which combines painting, collage, and photography. Her work is themed around classical subjects with a twist of dark humor.

Matt Skiba has written a song about her that was released on the debut album "Patent Pending" by Skiba's side project Heavens.

Apart from her work for Alkaline Trio, Gabel has also been part of several solo and group art exhibitions and has designed merchandise and album art for several other bands. Gabel is also married to Against Me! frontman, Tom Gabel.

Band members

Current members

*Matt Skiba - vocals, guitar (1996–present)
*Dan Andriano - vocals, bass (1997–present)
*Derek Grant - drums, percussion, Backing vocals (2001–present)

Former members

*Rob Doran - bass, backing vocals (1996–1997)
*Glenn Porter - drums, percussion (1996–2000)
*Mike Felumlee - drums, percussion (2000–2001)

Touring members

* Atom Willard - drums (2000)
* Pete Parada - drums (2001)
* Nolan McGuire - guitar (2003(?)–present)
*Heather Gabel- Merch Girl

Discography

tudio Albums

Video/DVDs

See also

* Slapstick Family Tree

External links

* [http://www.alkalinetrio.com Alkaline Trio Official Page] (Flash plug-in required)
*PureVolume|alkalinetrio|Alkaline Trio
*MySpace|alkalinetrio|Alkaline Trio
* [http://www.blood-pact.com The Blood-Pact] - The Official Alkaline Trio Fan Club
* [http://www.allhopedeleted.com/ AllHopeDeleted] - An Unofficial Alkaline Trio Fan Site
* [http://thepunksite.com/interviews.php?page=alkalinetrio Interview With Derek Grant]
* [http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/1160.html The Story Of Alkaline Trio]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/alkalinetrio Alkaline Trio] at Rolling Stone