Alkaline Trio and American Steel @ The Catalyst on April 6, 2008.

I had heard that Alkaline Trio was going to play at the The Catalyst in Santa Cruz and that it was going to be a big deal, because they hadn’t played in a while? I think that’s how it was. I didn’t know because I wasn’t a fan, although I do enjoy their music from their earlier releases. For a month I kept hearing ‘This person got tickets”, “Are you going to see Alkaline Trio?”, and “Oh no its sold out”. I’m sure it was exciting since the label they were first on and their first couple of CD’s came out on is near Santa Cruz, so that was cool. Finally the week of the show came, I had overdosed myself with their music and vinyl that I was over them, but my boss was like “If you want to go I can get you in”. The words “I can get you in” got me, so I was like “Sure”.

Finally, the day came. It was 6pm and we had to take the bus to get to downtown Santa Cruz. Upon arriving we (my friend and I) saw that in front of The Catalyst a line had formed already. At that moment I realized that this Alkaline Trio show was a big deal. I texted my boss that I was here at the Catalyst, he arrived a few minutes later and gave us our wristbands, but while we we’re waiting my friend and I had over heard that this show was sold out in a minute. We were like “wow, a minute, dang!”. Through the process of trying to get in the venue there were some issues, but finally my boss took us through the back way and we were in. All I have to say to him is, Thanks!

American Steel:

I have to admit, I am more of a fan of American Steel than Alkaline Trio. However, at the show not too many people knew or were familiar with them. I’m sure it had to do with that mainly everyone was there for Alkaline Trio, and that American Steel wasn’t announced on the show until almost the day of the show. They played songs off of their latest alubm “Destroy The Future” and their others, except for “Razorblades” which my friend and I wanted them to play so badly. American Steel are great on stage and I have to say they are the type of band that sounds even better live. If they are ever in your town or city I recommend you go check them out and get their cds!

Alkaline Trio:

As the three boys of Alkaline Trio stepped on stage the crowd grew larger, but yet it shrunk at the same time because everyone was trying to squeeze in to be in the front. I had went to go get next to my friend but when Alkaline Trio started playing we were quickly separated and didn’t see each other until the show ended. First, l have to say I’m sorry to all you dedicated fans of Alkaline Trio fans because I only recognized a few of their songs so I’m not able to name what songs they played. Alkaline Trio did play a couple songs off of their upcoming release “Agony and Irony“, the crowd seemed to like them and a few knew them already since they were up on their myspace a few days earlier. The crowd sang along to every song, grew wild as they played their old material and wanted more. And more is what they got after Alkaline Trio left the stage, they came back and played some more. It was a good show filled with sweat, sing along and most of all the coming together of Alkaline Trio fans into one venue. Nice!