We Haven't Had Enough Of The Alkaline Trio

Hey Everyone!

Today I'd like to share with you all a band that I really enjoy. I've been a fan of this trio ever since I first discovered their album Good Mourning in a bin at a local used CD shop. I used to do this a couple times a month... take a few bucks downtown and see how far I could stretch it, picking up CDs that caught my eye. This 2003 album just happened to be one of them, and since the first playback, I have been hooked on the Alkaline Trio. 

Founding member (the only one currently still in ALK3), Matt Skiba formed the band in Illinois back in 1996. After a rocky startup and a few line up changes, the group finally found a working formula to build on. Strange dark lyrics, punk style chords with a little flare and some simple theatrics are a definite recipe for success. They have currently released six studio albums with a seventh slated for a february 2010 release. Their album Crimson is often said to be the one that broke them into the mainstream, containing several ambitious and oddly ambiguous tracks that drew a lot of new fans to the punk rock trio. 

As a crucial foundation block of the thriving Chicago punk scene, this band has worked hard to earn a place at the top. Each of the tree members Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano and Derek Grant, have put work into side projects and helped to support other members of the community through touring, friendships and collaborations.

I had the opportunity to see them on tour a while back, opening for other Chicago natives, Rise Against and honestly I was by NO MEANS disappointed. Their set was great, the sound was fantastic and I was left wishing they were playing more than a 40min opening slot. I highly recommend checking out their music, and if you enjoy it, see them on tour. I'm sure with a new album in the works, a tour is not far from sight.

DISCOGRAPHY:

Goddamnit (1998)

Maybe I'll Catch Fire (2000)

From Here To Infirmary (2001)

Good Mourning (2003)

Crimson (2005) 

Agony and Irony (2008)

This Addiction (Unreleased, Due Feb.2010)

TRACKS TO CHECK OUT:

Burn

Calling All Skeletons

Stupid Kid

We've Had Enough

Time To Waste

Radio

So what do you think of these guys? A little different, so take from it what you will but I hope you enjoy it!

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Song of the Day: You've Made Us Conscious by The Audition... they have toured with the Alkaline Trio, another Chicago based band. Just goes to show how interconnected and friendly the Chicago music scene can be if you know how to become part of it!

Band Tattoos... Good Idea Or Full Of Regret?

Hello Blogosphere!

Today I come to you live from Western's University Community Centre where I have been sitting for about 3hrs and 45mins. Exciting stuff.... the bus strike is not friendly in terms of going home between classes so I've decided to suck it up and get some work done on campus. Clearly this isn't working since I've been monitoring my facebook live feed with great interest and watching College Humor videos on youtube instead of cracking down on that 5 page paper I have due this week. Oh well, what can you do? Distractions and procrastination is all part of the University lifestyle  after all!

So amidst my boredom, I did a little image search for tattoos. I'm a bit of a tattoo fan, and I love to see what people come up with to put on their bodies. I've been thinking about adding to my personal ink for a while now. Something to represent my love and dedication to music... but what? This led me to my search, and I have to say some of the returned results were a little... interesting. Three words: Bad band tattoos.

I have three rules for tattoos... 1) No Names 2) No Brands/Logos/Sports Teams/etc 3) No Portraits. Pretty simple, and pretty easy to follow. Now, I'm not going to lie, I've always wanted to get a couple tattoos of lyrics and bands BUT to abide by my rule, I would want the band tattoos in a subtle way... aka no poster portraits, no album covers, no band logos. Something that is perhaps a lyric turned into an image which communicates the same ideas, you know? 

I have these rules for a reason... these kinds of tattoos are (in my opinion) a fast track to regret! How do you know you'll love that artist forever? How do you know that fierce loyalty you have to the maple leafs will continue ten years from now? And for portraits, well thats because personally I dont want some lifeless black ink eyes staring at me , not to mention they are just incredibly hard to do well. Lyrics, lyrics can stick with you for life, they can become mantras to live by, you may never forget them or the significance they hold. If you get a representative band tattoo... for instance an image inspired by a song, then you can always admire it for the art as well as the meaning.

Bottom Line? I love tattoos, but I just don't understand what some people are thinking when they get them (if they're thinking at all). This search of band tattoos was disturbing on so many levels and I would hate to see anyone else make this mistake. Sure, they can remove them now... but its costly, annoying, and not perfect. Probably better to just avoid getting it in the first place, wouldn't you agree? Here are a few I would really suggest covering up, followed by a few that I think are done well...

NOT A GOOD IDEA...

BETTER/MORE SUBTLE

MORE IMAGES HERE

So what do you think? Would you ever get a tattoo for a band, and if so what would it be? Do you have any rules for tattoos yourself?

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Song of the Day: I Woke Up In A Car by Something Corporate.... "I met a girl who kept tattoos from all homes that she had loved, If I were her I'd paint my body til all my skin was gone..."