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February 2024 • Volume 50 , Number 04 • www . illinoisentertainer . com
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COVER STORY : ALKALINE TRIO
Alkaline Trio is no stranger to the macabre . The Chicago punk outfit doesn ’ t shy away from talking about heavy topics like loss , addiction , and depression . But even when they ’ re talking about how everything sucks , they do it with a wink and nod . Their wry lyrical wit paired with punchy high energy music makes their brand of bleak catchy and fun . It ’ s why fans find them so endearing , even nearly 30 years later . It ’ s not hard for frontman Matt Skiba to tap into the dark side . He just has to look around to find it . And with the gun violence , political unrest , unabashed racism , and the threat of AI , the darkness is looming around every corner .
Skiba often writes from a personal place , but on the new album Blood , Hair , and Eyeballs , he shifts his gaze outward to look at how ugly everyday life has become . If the title didn ’ t give it away , the album gets grim . The chaotic state of the world and the constant barrage of bad news inspired Skiba to write an album that looks at life ’ s horrors and comes to the realization that things are downright apocalyptic . Pulling from real-world events , along with personal experiences , the album takes listeners on a dark journey , yet it doesn ’ t leave you hopeless . Rather , it pumps you up , and gives you the energy to keep moving . To keep on fighting .
This , being their 10th album , also marks new beginnings and endings for the band . It ’ s their first release on their new label , Rise Records , and their last with drummer Derek Grant . Still , Blood , Hair , And Eyeballs sees Alkaline Trio revitalized , and Skiba is eager to dive into the new era . Before the release of the new album , Skiba sat down with IE to dig into the record , the secret behind his writing process , and how he finds light in the darkness . IE ’ s Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth spoke to Skiba .
ANTICIPATED ALBUMS ’
As we get into 2024 , music fans and enthusiasts like our readers start planning what concerts we plan to attend and what music we ' re planning on buying . 2024 promises to produce some great music , starting with albums from Pearl Jam , Bruce Dickinson and UB40 – just to name a few . Rumored tours often piggyback ’ s with new music , which puts a bow on it . IE ’ s David Gedge has been saving press releases and scouring music sites to bring us the latest info available .
PAGE 20 : ALKALINE TRIO
Spins
The Defiant , Beastie Boys , Rob Fetters and more
File
Anticipated Albums .
CinemaScopes
February Films in Theaters and Streams .
Calendar
1300 shows and 2800 bands , it ’ s IE ’ s live music calendar .
Classifieds
Music services , musicians and more .
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Publisher Emeritis David Roberts
Publisher John Vernon
4 illinoisentertainer . com april 2019
Curt Baran Mike Me er illinoisentertainer . com february 2024
Publisher John Vernon
Contributing Editors Curt Baran Mike Meyer Tom Lanham Lori Vernon
Design Team Notion Pool Dragon Design Vision Design Teknigram Graphics
Classified Advertising David Gedge
Founder Kenneth L . Voss
Contributing Editors
Advertising Sales Scott Assmann Mike Engel
Advertising Director John Vernon
Website Direction Notion Pool
Senior Columnists
Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
- Sweet Home Rick Kaempfer - Media
Kelley Simms - Caught In A Mosh
David C . Eldredge - East Coast
Advertising Sales Scott Assmann Mike Engel
Ad ti i Di t
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