Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire, pronounced “Alexis on Fire,” is a Canadian post-hardcore band that originated in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 2001. The band consists of George Pettit (vocals), Dallas Green (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Wade MacNeil (lead guitar, backing vocals), Chris Steele (bass), and Jordan Hastings (drums, percussion). Over the years, Alexisonfire has received numerous accolades, with all their albums in Canada achieving gold or platinum certification.

History

Alexisonfire (2001–2003)

Alexisonfire formed in late 2001 after the dissolution of three local bands. George Pettit was playing guitar in a metal band called Condemning Salem, Dallas Green was the lead vocalist and guitarist in Helicon Blue, and Wade MacNeil and Chris Steele were members of a punk band called Plan 9. Following the breakup of these bands, Pettit, Steele, MacNeil, and Green, along with drummer Jesse Ingelevics, came together to form Alexisonfire. The band’s name was inspired by a pornographic actress named Alexis Fire. When she discovered the band was using her name, she threatened legal action, but it was revealed that the name had not been legally registered, and no further action was taken.

In 2002, Alexisonfire released their first EP, Math Sheets Demo, named after the math homework that had been used to wrap the CD. This caught the attention of Greg Below, a recording engineer, and Mitch Joel, a Montreal journalist, who were in the process of establishing the record label Distort Entertainment. With connections to EMI, the band was able to record at their in-house studio and secure a co-publishing and distribution deal. On October 31, 2002, the band released their self-titled debut album, Alexisonfire. Although there was a distribution deal with EMI, the album’s success was primarily due to word-of-mouth. The band supported the album by playing shows in Ontario and New York alongside bands like GWAR, Juliana Theory, and Glassjaw. By 2003, they had toured across Canada and Europe, performing with bands like Spitalfield, Billy Talent, and Rise Against. The album was certified gold in Canada in October 2005 and was re-released in 2014 by Dine Alone Records in a remastered edition.

At the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards, the video for the album’s track “Pulmonary Archery” won Best Video, and the band was named Favourite Indie Band at the CASBY Awards. The video for “Counterparts and Number Them” was also nominated for Best Independent Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards.

Watch Out! (2004–2005)

Alexisonfire’s second album, Watch Out!, was recorded with producer Julius Butty at his Silo Studios near Hamilton, Ontario, and released on June 29, 2004. The album was distributed worldwide through Distort, Equal Vision Records in the USA, and Sorepoint Records in the UK. It debuted at number 6 on the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200, sold 6,000 copies in its first week, and was certified gold in Canada within twelve weeks. By 2007, the album had gone platinum. The critical reception of Watch Out! was positive, with many noting the band’s growth and the album’s more focused and aggressive sound compared to their debut.

Following the album’s release, Alexisonfire embarked on extensive tours, including dates on the Vans Warped Tour in the US and performances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK. The band spent much of 2005 on the road, touring the UK, US, Canada, and Europe, and playing the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan. In June 2005, the band announced that drummer Jesse Ingelevics had left the band and was replaced by Jordan Hastings, formerly of the band Jersey.

At the MuchMusic Video Awards, the video for the song “Accidents” won Best Independent Video, and the band was nominated for the Peoples’ Choice Award for Favourite Canadian Group. At the 2005 Juno Awards, Alexisonfire won the award for New Group of the Year.

Crisis (2006–2007)

On August 22, 2006, Alexisonfire released their third studio album, Crisis. The album was met with widespread acclaim and is considered a significant release in the band’s career. The album’s release was celebrated with a party on a boat on the River Thames in London, England, and it kicked off a 10-month world tour that took the band across the UK, Australia, Canada, and the US. The band performed at major festivals such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals, the Festival d’été de Québec, and headlined at the Brixton Academy in London. They also played the Warped Tour, the Taste of Chaos tour, and Australia’s Soundwave festival.

During this period, Alexisonfire toured with bands like Anti-Flag, Saosin, The Bled, Norma Jean, and Cancer Bats, among others. The extensive touring schedule resulted in the release of three live albums: Live At Brixton Academy (London, 11/13/07), Live At Manchester Academy (11/14/07), and Live At Birmingham Academy (11/16/07). Around this time, George Pettit made a bold statement about the band’s next album aiming to “put the knife in screamo,” though he later expressed regret over this comment.

At the 2006 CASBY Awards, Crisis won Favourite New Indie Release. The video for “This Could Be Anywhere in the World” won Best Cinematography at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards, where the band was also nominated for Best Rock Video and the Peoples’ Choice Award for Favourite Canadian Group. At the 2007 Juno Awards, Crisis received a nomination for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year, Julius Butty was nominated for Producer of the Year, and Alexisonfire was nominated for Group of the Year.

Old Crows/Young Cardinals and Dog’s Blood (2008–2010)

In 2008, rumors of a breakup began circulating, but Alexisonfire silenced them by announcing a new album on February 1, 2009. They began recording Old Crows/Young Cardinals the same day, and by March, the album was nearly complete. The band signed with Dine Alone Records and released the first single, “Young Cardinals,” on April 20, 2009. The album, released on June 23, 2009, received positive reviews and marked another successful chapter in the band’s career.

Following the album’s release, the band embarked on an extensive 300-date tour that spanned Europe, the US, and Canada, lasting through December 2010. During this time, Dallas Green began working on new songs that he hoped would take the band into “new, weird territories.” These songs eventually became the Dog’s Blood EP, released in 2010. The band announced the release of Dog’s Blood at the 2009 Verge Awards, where Old Crows/Young Cardinals was nominated for Album of the Year and the band was nominated as Artist of the Year. At the 2010 Juno Awards, Old Crows/Young Cardinals was nominated for Rock Album of the Year.

In February 2010, the band’s performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics was cut short due to a crowd surge that resulted in injuries. Despite this, the band returned to Vancouver later that year as headliners at the PNE Forum. Additionally, in 2010, the band released a digital EP titled iTunes Originals, featuring previously recorded material, alternative versions of their songs, and interviews with the band.

Disbandment and Farewell Tour (2011–2012)

In 2011, Dallas Green’s solo project City and Colour had become increasingly successful, leading to conflicts with his commitments to Alexisonfire. By the end of the Old Crows/Young Cardinals tour, Green informed the band of his intention to leave, though he waited to announce it until the band decided on their future. On August 5, 2011, Alexisonfire announced their breakup, citing the departures of Green and Wade MacNeil, who left to become the vocalist for Gallows, as well as personal issues among the remaining members.

In July 2012, Green hinted at the possibility of final Alexisonfire shows, leading to the band’s farewell tour in December 2012. The tour expanded from an initial nine dates to 30, covering Canada, the UK, Australia, and Brazil. During this tour, the band released the Death Letter EP, featuring new interpretations of songs from their previous albums.

On December 25, 2013, Alexisonfire released a limited-edition vinyl box set containing all their albums, EPs, LPs, B-sides, and more. The 1,000 copies sold out in just 30 minutes. In August 2014, a second, smaller edition of the box set was released.

Reunion and Otherness (2015–present)

In March 2015, Alexisonfire announced a reunion tour, their first since the 2012 farewell tour. The band played major festivals like Reading and Leeds, Sonic Boom, Heavy Montréal, X-Fest, and Riot Fest. On September 19, 2015, at Riot Fest in Toronto, Wade MacNeil announced that the band was officially back. However, the band clarified that they had no immediate plans for new music or tours, though they played over 100 concerts since 2015.

On February 12, 2016, the band released Live at Copps, a recording of their performance on December 30, 2012, at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. The album was available for download through iTunes, as a 4-record set, and as a Blu-ray video. The band headlined the 2017 Unify Gathering in Australia and toured with The Dirty Nil, Behind Crimson Eyes, and The Getaway Plan through Australia and New Zealand. In 2019, Alexisonfire released three new singles: “Familiar Drugs,” “Complicit,” and “Season of the Flood,” marking their first new material in nearly a decade.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band hosted a watch party on YouTube, featuring a performance from their farewell tour in 2012. The event also included the premiere of the music video for “Season of the Flood,” which was made up of footage shot by fans during their 2020 tour.

In a 2019 interview, George Pettit revealed that he had become a professional firefighter in 2015, and while the band had reunited, this new career would be his priority. Wade MacNeil continues as the lead singer for Black Lungs and Gallows, while Dallas Green has continued his work with City and Colour and You+Me, his collaboration with Pink. In 2021, Alexisonfire announced they were working on new music, leading to the release of their fifth studio album, Otherness, on June 24, 2022. The album won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 2023 Juno Awards, and the band is set to open for Blink-182 in Toronto on August 15, 2024.

Musical Style and Legacy

Alexisonfire’s music has been described as “the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in mid-knife-fight,” and has been categorized under genres such as post-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, and screamo. The band’s music is distinguished by its use of three main vocalists: one clean (Dallas Green), one unclean (George Pettit), and one that blends the two styles (Wade MacNeil). Their 2009 album Old Crows / Young Cardinals featured a more prominent use of clean vocals, with Pettit contributing additional clean vocals alongside his traditional screaming style.

The band has cited influences including Saetia, Refused, Fucked Up, Moneen, Quicksand, Planes Mistaken for Stars, The Misfits, Tears for Fears, Hot Water Music, Elliott, The Appleseed Cast, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Alice in Chains, Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, and Slint. Alexisonfire has been recognized as an influential band in the post-hardcore scene, with bands like Cancer Bats, Silverstein, Four Year Strong, and 36 Crazyfists citing them as an influence. Their live performances have also been highly regarded, with many crediting them for opening doors for other Canadian punk and metal bands.

Band Members

Current Members

• George Pettit – vocals (2001–2011, 2012, 2015–present), keyboards (2009–2011)
• Dallas Green – vocals, guitar (2001–2011, 2012, 2015–present), keyboards (2005–2009)
• Wade MacNeil – vocals, guitar (2001–2011, 2012, 2015–present)
• Chris Steele – bass (2001–2011, 2012, 2015–present), backing vocals (2022–present)
• Jordan Hastings – drums, percussion (2005–2011, 2012, 2015–present), backing vocals (2022–present)

Current Touring Musicians

• Matt Kelly – keyboards, organ, synthesizers, pedal steel, backing vocals (2022–present)

Former Members

• Jesse Ingelevics – drums, percussion (2001–2005)

Former Touring Musicians

• Kenny Bridges – bass (2008)

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Alexisonfire discography.

Studio Albums

• Alexisonfire (2002)
• Watch Out! (2004)
• Crisis (2006)
• Old Crows / Young Cardinals (2009)
• Otherness (2022)