Text by Thiago Vidal
Alexisonfire 's return to the stage and their first show in Brazil in ten years, the reunion couldn't have been any different. Energetic, electrifying, and profound, the quintet, along with an audience that knew all the lyrics by heart, transformed the cold night at Lago da Ordem into extreme heat.
Starting the setlist for the second night at CWB Hall in Curitiba with "Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints," the performance began with all the power that the band and audience put into the first verses of the song that opens Crisis , the band's biggest success in 2006 and a classic of post-hardcore.
As the first stage dives of the night began to appear and the frenzied punk mosh pit started spinning, " Old Crows " came at just the right moment, with the chorus sung in unison by the duet between Wade MacNeil and the audience.
Next, Alexisonfire made their debut of the night. The band's self-titled George Pettit , "This is a .44 caliber love letter straight from my heart." The night of perfect harmony was created.
With “Rough Hands” came the more progressive tone of the show, culminating in the track “Sweet Dreams of Otherness,” a new addition to the setlist and a song featured on AOF’s upcoming release, Otherness , their first album in 13 years – scheduled for June 24th. “The Northern” brought the only calm moment of the night, which was closed by the combo of “Familiar Drugs” and “To A Friend,” whose chorus was recited in maximum synergy between Dallas Green and the fans.
Watch out! made their appearance with “Accidents,” kicking off the end of the night, followed by “Dogs Blood,” which got the crowd going wild and created a hole in the middle of the hall. Then, with “Young Cardinals,” the best chorus of the night was shouted by everyone present at CWB Hall. As soon as the band showed signs of leaving the stage for the first time, shouts of “one more song” could already be heard from the crowd.
After a few moments of rest and anticipation, the encore began with shouts of "Steele" led by George. The bassist, who didn't stop for a second during the performance, played the first chords of "Pulmonary Archery" and then the band's most famous anthem and song, "This Could Be Anywhere in the World," reaching the peak of the night.
All that remained was “Happiness by the Kilowatt,” featuring the inclusion of Prince in “When Doves Cry,” sung by Wade, and the extended ending where band and audience joined in the final cries of “wake up, wake…”. Thus ended the beginning of the group's tour in Brazil, with dates scheduled for Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Alexisonfire made a sublime return to the stage, with two sold-out where the band surpassed all expectations, transitioning between the most aggressive and atmospheric sounds. The ten-year wait was rewarded with unique shows, worthy of one of the giants of the global post-hardcore scene.
