Alkaline trio biography

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We want as many people to get our music as possible, and I would be lying if I said that we didn't want to be a huge band."

by Timothy Borden

Alkaline Trio's Career

Formed group in Chicago, IL, 1996; released first full-length album, Godd**nit!, 1998; released Maybe I'll Catch Fire, 2000; released third album, From Here to Infirmary, 2001.

Famous Works

  • Selected discography
  • For Your Lungs Only (EP), Asian Man, 1998.
  • Godd**nit! Asian Man, 1998.
  • I Lied My Face Off (EP), Asian Man, 1999.
  • Maybe I'll Catch Fire Asian Man, 1999.
  • The Alkaline Trio Asian Man, 2000.
  • (Contributor) Living Tomorrow Today: A Benefit for Ty Cambra Asian Man, 2001.
  • From Here to Infirmary Vagrant, 2001.

Further Reading

Sources

Periodicals
  • Billboard, May 26, 2001, p.

    Their music has been featured in various media, including TV shows, movies, and video games, helping to cement their place in popular culture. While the setup was fitting for groups in the garage-band league, by 2001 Alkaline Trio had grown too popular to remain with the label. After releasing the Sundials EP in 1997, Rob Doran departed, replaced by former Slapstick bassist Dan Andriano.

    The Goddamnit Era

    Alkaline Trio's full-length debut, Goddamnit, dropped in 1998, establishing their signature blend of raw punk with introspective and often dark lyrics.

    Respected for its integrity of pricing its products almost at-cost, Asian Man was a small, do-it-yourself-run label operating out of its founder's garage. The album’s raw production, courtesy of producer Matt Allison, and its honest, heartfelt lyrics resonated deeply with listeners. They have inspired countless bands to embrace authenticity and emotional honesty in their music, proving that punk rock can be both powerful and poignant.

    Alkaline Trio’s journey from the late 90s to the present day is a testament to their enduring appeal and influence.

    Critics praised the album for its sincerity and intensity, with AllMusic noting its “unapologetic emotional bloodletting” .

    “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” (2000)

    Although technically released in 2000, “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” was recorded in late 1999, capturing the band’s growth and evolving sound at the end of the decade. Mainstream publications now took notice, with Rolling Stone hailing the album's "effortless hooks and Skiba's hysterical lyrics." A Los Angeles Times concert review welcomed the band's latest offering as a necessary jolt to pop-punk music.

    Released again on Asian Man Records, this album featured more polished production and deeper lyrical content. Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance has mentioned in interviews how Alkaline Trio’s blending of punk energy with gothic themes helped shape his band’s sound.

    Their influence is also evident in the emo revival of the 2010s, with bands like The Wonder Years and Modern Baseball drawing on Alkaline Trio’s emotive storytelling and raw musical style.

    Both Skiba and Porter worked in Chicago as bike messengers, while Andriano worked in a record store. He was replaced by Dan Andriano, who had also played with a number of Chicago punk bands, including Slapstick and Tuesday.

    alkaline trio biography

    Addresses: Record company--Vagrant Records, 2118 Wilshire Boulevard #361, Santa Monica, CA 90403, website: http://www.vagrant.com; Asian Man Records, P.O. Box 35585, Monte Sereno, CA 95030-5585, website: http://www.asianmanrecords.com. Like many songs on the first album, both tracks made references to suicide and self-mutilation, although the band insisted that airing such feelings was therapeutic for themselves and their audience.

    "But the way I look at it," Skiba told Line and Ink, "we're doing it independently and more importantly by our standards. This album solidified their presence in the punk scene, with standout tracks like “Cringe” and “San Francisco” becoming fan favorites. When the group announced it had signed a new deal with independent label Vagrant Records, its members had to go on the defensive regarding their decision to leave Asian Man Records.

    Website--Alkaline Trio Official Website: http://www.alkalinetrio.com.

    Originating in Chicago's vibrant punk scene during late 1996, Alkaline Trio developed a fervent fan base throughout the Midwest while releasing several full-length and extended-play albums of hard-driving music with emotionally direct lyrics.