Alexisonfire Performs Crisis In Full: At Outer Harbor Live Terminal B in Buffalo, NY
It wasn’t a typical Wednesday night at Buffalo, NY’s Outer Harbor. There are concerts that you attend, and there are concerts that feel like a reunion. Alexisonfire proved to be very much the latter. With Underoath, Buffalo-connected hardcore legends Snapcase and Spaced HC adding to the bill, the night already had the feel of a mini hardcore festival. Everyone was here for one reason, though. Alexisonfire was celebrating the 20th anniversary of Crisis, the 2006 record that helped cement the Canadian band as post-hardcore legends. Fans from all over the US and Canada swarmed Terminal B to witness this nostalgic piece of history about to be made. The merch line wrapped around the venue, with unique pieces for sale, including an exclusive number 77 Bills-themed Alexis jersey that was clearly the popular choice of the night. Attendees rallied around food and beverage trucks and made their way towards the turf to grab a good spot for the night. Terminal B was made for events like this. With a unique open-air style and backdrop of the Lake, the venue’s wide lawn had plenty of good spots for fans to witness the show. The wide availability of the venue makes the space feel more like an amphitheater than a club venue. These small kinds of details make shows feel more intimate, and fans were getting anxious as the first band was set to take the stage.
Spaced wasted no time getting the crowd and overall energy going. This Buffalo-based hardcore band wasted absolutely no time exploding into an aggressive performance and encouraging circle pits and full-on rage throughout their set. What fans really seemed to appreciate about having this band on the lineup was the inclusion of Buffalo’s local hardcore scene. Spaced was the perfect band to represent this. With hard-hitting guitars, raw vocals from Lexi Reyngoudt, and constant rhythm, Spaced kept the crowd moving at a pace that left little room for dead air. The band ripped through song after song, including “No Escape,” “Prove You Wrong,” and “Tear Me Down.” Grabbing straight from the This Is All We Ever Get and No Escape albums, fans in Spaced merch were scattered throughout the crowd in support. Even with their set being short, the band made an impact on the crowd, playing well over 10 songs and igniting fans into a chaotic two-stepping party.
Buffalo’s very own hardcore veterans Snapcase were set to take the stage next. Snapcase has a history to them that the crowd was all too familiar with. Emerging in the early 90’s with their album Lookinglasself, the band helped establish the city as an important hardcore home. The crowd’s response to having them on the lineup reflected the importance of the band to the city. Snapcase brought an intensity that gravitated towards post-hardcore sound and heavy riffs that made longtime fans salivate. Daryl Taberski’s vocals uniquely brought an edge to the night, with a sharp and aggressive tone. The response on the turf was immediate, with fans surging towards the stage, creating a constant blur of bodies. You could see the mix of longtime fans who were reliving their youth and younger fans discovering firsthand why the band remains so important to the scene. Referred to as Buffalo Legends throughout the night, there was nothing but respect for the band. Snapcase fed off the energy throughout the night with tense, confrontational song after song. Taberski made sure to engage the crowd throughout the set, jumping onto the awaiting speakers and engaging with fans. Judging from the reaction of the crowd, a shorter set was not enough and Buffalo wanted more. Angular riffs and pounding rhythms stayed true throughout the set and got people up and moving. A super fun set to watch and witness as a Buffalo native.
As the sun started to set, Underoath took the stage. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The band’s emotionally charged heaviness brought a darker, more aggressive vibe to the lineup, and fans were amped up with energy. The band did a perfect job of mixing a setlist of several eras of their most popular songs. Whether you were a fan of They’re Only Chasing Safety, Define the Great Line, or their newer music from The Place After This One, there was something for every Underoath fan in attendance. Songs such as “ A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White,” “ Reinventing Your Exit,” “On My Teeth,” and “Generation No Surrender” had the crowd chanting back lyrics to Chamberlain. At one point, Chamberlain made his way to the crowd, where fans gathered around him like a moth to a flame, screaming lyrics into the microphone that made for an intimate experience. The duo of Chamberlain’s harsh vocals and Gillespie’s melodic vocals is what makes Underoath truly a unique and unforgettable band. Complimenting each other perfectly to give fans a truly nostalgic 13-song performance.
The set continued to pull heavy throughout the night, pits opening in not one but multiple places throughout the crowd. The stage really set the tone for their performance. A huge LED screen took up the entire backside of the stage with Gillespie perched high on a platform along with keyboardist Christopher Dudley. Make no mistake, Timothy McTague and Grant Brandell helped keep up the energy, racing back and forth across the stage and pumping more energy into the crowd. Chamberlain's raw screams were hard-hitting and pulsated throughout the crowd. Underoath for sure brought the 2000s back to a crowd full of hungry fans and were the perfect cleanse before the headliner.
The air was heavy with anticipation as Alexisonfire finally took the stage. This was a long-awaited reunion for both the band and fans, who were awaiting the celebration of 20 years of Crisis. The stage setup was wide open with lighting strategically placed to showcase various band members. Huge LED screens on either side of the stage and a large one placed at the back made sure fans got an epic experience. Dotted video lit up the screens with silhouettes of the band, making for an intimate experience.
Formed in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2001, Alexisonfire quickly developed a reputation for combining sounds of hardcore aggression and melodic songwriting. George Pettit’s screams and Dallas Green’s euphoric singing and guitar work make this band truly one of a kind. In 2006, Crisis was born and changed the scene forever. The intricate guitars and relatable choruses, along with clean vocals and aggressive screaming, created a sound that solidified the band’s defining sound. Here fans were, 20 years later, ready to go back and re-live memories created with this album.
It was evident throughout the night that this was a performance dedicated to the fans. The relationship between the band and the crowd was truly an experience that you had to be there for. The crowd sang along to the soothing sections and shouted back the screaming lyrics of each song. The Outerharbor truly came alive that night as heavier songs turned into sprawling mosh pits. Crowd surfers weren’t shy and fluidly made their way to the front, holding their phones up to record the epic night. Memories were being relived as well as made. The band hit all the nerves of the crowd, working in memories of high-school years, old friendships, basement shows, and the period when post-hardcore was becoming a defining sound for an entire generation. Alexisonfire being the core to all these things. Pettit’s energy thrived throughout the night. There wasn’t a shortage of energy as he put everything he had into his performance, rocking the mic stand, screaming crowd favorites, and smashing beach balls that were making their way to the massive stage setup. He even sported a Westside Gunn “Buffalo Kids” shirt, which paid homage to Buffalo’s hip-hop identity and the band’s deep connection to Buffalo’s hardcore audience. Green’s smooth vocals were and always will be the perfect pairing to the band’s sound. Wade MacNeils guitars and vocals, Chris Steele’s bass, and Jesse Ingelevic’s drumming add massive talent that ties the band together. Throughout the night, the band relived memories of their time in Buffalo, playing smaller venues and basement shows.
Diving right into the first half of their performance, Crisis was played in all of its glory from front-to-back. There is no exaggeration in that the crowd knew every single lyric to every song on the album. “Boiled Frogs,” “Rough Hands,” “We Are the Sound,” and of course “This Could Be Anywhere in the World.” The night wasn’t over just yet as the band concluded the album. Alexisonfire treated fans with a second set that included songs beyond the anniversary set promised. “ Young Cardinals,” “Pulmonary Archery,” and “Sweet Dreams of Otherness” were among more songs that fans got to experience live. The overall setlist definitely brought fans old and new together, giving them new memories to create and something to talk about for the next 20 years.
This show was definitely the highlight of the summer, with fans staying until the very last song. As the lights went out, fans gravitated towards the parking lot, buzzing about the epic night. For most, it was a time to relive a defining era and trace back their roots of hardcore music. It also gave fans a chance to go back in time and remember why this band was such a staple to the scene. The band’s roughly 75-minute set gave fans what they had been waiting for the last 20 years and sparked new excitement in the music scene. If you haven’t caught Alexisonfire live, check out their site to see if they are stopping by a city near you!
Alexisonfire Setlist:
Drunks, Lovers, Sinner and Saints
This Could Be Anywhere in the World
Mailbox Arson
Boiled Frogs
We Are the Sound
You Burn First
We Are the End
Crisis
Keep it on Wax
To a Friend
Rough Hands
Encore:
12. Pulmonary Archery
13. Accidents
14. Sweet Dreams of Otherness
15. The Northern
16. Dog’s Blood
17. Young Cardinals