There comes a time in every band’s career where they have the opportunity, the privilege to be able to perform back-to-back-to-back-to-back nights at the same venue. Furthermore, having the amount of material to string across four evenings without repeating a song is quite the feat. From last Thursday night through Sunday evening, Alkaline Trio put on quadruple shows at the Observatory in Santa Ana that’ll go down in history as some of their finest performances.
Originating in a small suburb of Chicago named McHenry the trio started way back in 1996 as a punk rock band. Over time the group started to develop pop punk accents as well as emo and alternative rock crescendos. Nonetheless, Dan Andriano, Derek Grant, and front man Matt Skiba still know how to make everyone in the crowd turn into a “fangirl” for their sets.
The band opened up with one of their all-time greatest tracks “Time to Waste.” Upon the crowd’s sudden realization that the track was in fact “Time to Waste” all mayhem broke loose: Crowd surfing, moshing, shoulder-sitting (and subsequent shoulder-falling). Up next were additional heavy-hitting tracks “The Poison” followed by one of Alkaline’s greatest, “Burn.”
Sunday was the final night of the group’s four-show run in Southern California and as Matt Skiba would state during Alkaline’s performance “One of the best crowds of the weekend. Wait… Who’s been here all weekend long?” The answer came when half of the audience dominantly raised their hands into the air; Alkaline Trio fans come out. They come out hard. The venue was packed to the bring with fans sporting the band’s merch. One Alkaline addict even had the logo of the band tattooed onto his wrist.
Not one fan left the Observatory late Sunday night with a sad face. Alkaline came out like they always do, with authority and pure musicianship. Hopefully down the line, sooner than later, we’ll be graced yet again with an onslaught of Alkaline Trio performances.
Words & Photography: Timmy Farmer
Want more photos of Alkaline Trio at The Observatory? Check out the photo gallery below!
Alkaline Trio at Observatory Setlist:
Time to Waste
The Poison
Burn
Mercy Me
Dethbed
Settle for Satin
Sadie
Fall Victim
I Was A Prayer
Prevent This Tragedy
Back To Hell
Your Neck
Smoke
Good Mourning:
This Could Be Love
We’ve Had Enough
One Hundred Stories
Continental
All on Black
Emma
Fatally Yours
Every Thug Needs a Lady
Blue Carolina
Donner Party (All Night)
If We Never Go Inside
Blue in the Face
Encore:
’97
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