Alkaline Trio: Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs - the Tour 2024 - with Drug Church, and Worriers

3/18/2024

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Saturday - March 16, 2024

Matt Skiba.
Dan Andriano.
Atom Willard.
All decked out in business suits.
And ready for business.

Business at hand-
"Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" related- their latest release from this past January.
Lots to say apparently, up to the present day, all shock / horror style, like diving into local and national news with depictions of violence of all shapes and sizes, local, national, worldwide.

Refreshing to know that they're as confused and confounded as we are, not having answers on the current state of affairs, and maybe writing new songs to depict this, and commence on a tour to accentuate like minded feelings can help ease the mind a bit.
At least for a couple hours or so.
But the tensions are evident, horrorlit high energy punk set to mighty and pounding backbeats.

Take your pick on songs that are true to this- opener "Hot for Preacher", "We've Had Enough", "Take Lots with Alcohol", then into "Bad Time", also from their latest release, let alone "Mr. Chainsaw", and of course, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs", deep into their set, which by this time your ears are ringing, you're a sweaty mess in a massive ballroom, ventilation be damned, welcome to the Thunderdome, and good luck surviving.
Although all of this with surrounding sophisticated polish- lighting, PA, overall feel and vibe.

But the message matters, even in professional looking suits and attire.
No time to waste, as Matt Skiba, ducks, dodges and weaves, both guitar and vocal, scathing at a moment's notice.

The other two- Dan on Bass and vocal, and of course Atom on drums, provide the necessary machine gun backbeats to make you shiver and quake.
Controlled chaos throughout.
Time to let loose- massive moshpits when it's appropriate, body surfers coming and going.

Lyrics depending on song, encounter nervous breakdowns of multiple sorts, inspired by real time CNN- ish events, all coming at you of nowhere, on a 24 hour cycle.
It's like there's no chance you can get off this bullet train, heading to inevitable armageddon.

I know- a lot to take in, especially from the ground up pop punk to intelligent hardcore (and yet pop sensibilities) punk advanced.
But it's not like these are dumb numbnuts kinda guys-
They wear their hearts on their sleeves, know some shit, definitely have some brains, have grown up lots, and again, are as world weary as we are.
To make sense of this, through deeply personal songs, and diving deep into nutty behavior of the psychotic mind, let alone making some sense of harsh realities all around- they succeed.
They succeed on many levels.

And we're right there with them, a blood army of sorts, when given the call, as a communal group, we can make you pay attention, and get you off your ass to take action.
"Are you in- or are you Out?", as they say.
Guess what- even for an older guy like me- I'm all in.
Especially with these guys at the helm.
As for Blood Church-
Lots to say as well.

Lead by lead singer Patrick Kindlon- also a band with a message.
Mostly though, even the hardcore / brazen messages unfold musically and lyrically, Patrick knows how to make a bit of sense through all of this, between songs especially, insisting that we all have some fun, and making sure time and time again to pay attention to the headliner Alkaline Trio, and their message, and not to waiver, or go take bathroom breaks.

Stay focused. That's Patrick's message- and to me- that's a classy guy, who's also volatile, like the rest of the band.
They know how to punish and hurt as well, and like Patrick says- both performing and writing songs- "This is all made to order. No Buffet".
Damn right.
Learn how to pivot accordingly.

Openers Worriers have a cool sense of things as well, led by Lauren Denitzio- with solid songwriting and a band that delivers a variety of punches as well.
All well and good, this triple bill of fun and games.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Alkaline Trio, Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, Atom Willard, Drug Church, Worriers, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine

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THE JBTV BLOG

Alkaline Trio: Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs - the Tour 2024 - with Drug Church, and Worriers

Alkaline Trio, Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, Atom Willard, Drug Church, Worriers, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine

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