NOT THE
KIDS WE
USED TO BE ?
How Alexisonfire overcame burnout , anxiety & inner turmoil to rise back to the top
By Manus Hopkins
On December 30 , 2012 , in front of a packed arena in Hamilton , ON , Alexisonfire played what the band and the world thought would be their final show . Having formed as teenagers and subsequently spent a decade in constant proximity in vans , on stages , and just about everywhere else , the musicians needed a break from the lifestyle — and some time to grow on their own .
“ There was a bit of elation to figuring out what we were going to do ,” frontman George Pettit tells Canadian Musician over a video chat , while relaxing at a cottage during a much-needed break from Alexisonfire ’ s touring schedule . “ We were excited to kind of finish the band on a positive note , but at the same time , there was a lot of general anxiety ; I think a lot of us had been institutionalized by playing in a band for a lot of years . And so , we had to go and figure out our lives outside of Alexis for a while .”
Chatting alongside Pettit on our call is clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dallas Green . Green thinks carefully about each answer he gives , often motioning for Pettit to speak first and building off what his bandmate says .
“ I was uncertain if I had made the correct decision ,” Green admits of his choice to leave Alexisonfire to focus solely on his solo project , City and Colour . “ I felt good about the way we had sort of come to terms with the end of the band , but I was going to venture into uncharted waters for myself . I think it was just a mixed bag of emotions , really , for everybody . We ’ ve always said we felt like we broke up correctly . But still , you just had no idea what the future was going to hold .”
After three long years apart , pursuing other vocations , followed by a soft reunion for some occasional shows in 2015 , Alexisonfire is now back in full force — their first studio album in 13 years , Otherness , was welcomed with critical acclaim and praise from fans in June . But things are different now that the St . Catharines , ON quintet know the toll that burnout can take on them . Rather than jumping right into a full-force reunion , Alexisonfire took their time , slowly feeling things out before deciding the band was something they wanted — and needed — in their lives again .
“ When we started playing again , there was a bit of apprehension ,” says Green . “ But as soon as we started playing shows again , it felt better .”
For lead guitarist and backing vocalist Wade MacNeil , the idea of getting back with Alexisonfire popped up at a time when he least expected it and was most convinced it wasn ’ t something he ’ d do again . MacNeil had just been offered a radio show and signed the contract , thinking that would be a full-time commitment , when he got a call in the middle of the night from Green , who said he may have just written a new Alexisonfire song . MacNeil ’ s initial reaction was give me a fucking break , as he remembers with a laugh .
“ I think that ’ s the last thing I would have expected to hear ,” says MacNeil on a separate video chat . “ You never know what ’ s going to happen . And we slowly found our way back to it in such a nice way . I think it all contributed to getting where we ’ re at , musically and emotionally , for writing these new songs and why [ Otherness ] was such as special album for us to make .”
Both Pettit and Green echo MacNeil ’ s sentiment that Otherness is a special album for Alexisonfire . All three agree that the album is the most collaborative effort between all the members of the band , and showcases the most cohesive songwriting thus far in their career .
“ When this band started and took off , I was the oldest , and I had just turned 21 ,” says Green . “ I worked at the mall and the rest of them were in high school . As far as our musicianship goes , we didn ’ t really have much
34 CANADIAN MUSICIAN