Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	December 1, 2001; 24 years ago in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Founder	George Pettit, Dallas Green, Wade MacNeil, Chris Steele, Jesse Ingelevics
Headquarters	St. Catharines, Canada
Products	Music albums, EPs
Website	alexisonfire.ca

Alexisonfire (pronounced "Alexis on Fire") is a Canadian post-hardcore ensemble established in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2001. The group consists of George Pettit (vocals), Dallas Green (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Wade MacNeil (lead guitar, vocals), Chris Steele (bass), and Jordan Hastings (drums). They have received numerous accolades, with every Canadian release achieving gold or platinum certification.

Blending intense and melodic elements, the band gained recognition with their 2002 debut album featuring the track "Pulmonary Archery." Their 2004 release, Watch Out!, enjoyed commercial acclaim across Canada. The 2006 album Crisis entered the Canadian Albums Chart at number one, expanding their global presence. Old Crows / Young Cardinals from 2009 introduced a heavier and more experimental approach. After disbanding in 2011, Alexisonfire reunited for performances and officially reformed in 2015. Their 2022 album Otherness was their first full-length project in over ten years, combining their signature sound with new artistic directions.

History

Formation and Early Years (2001–2003)

Alexisonfire came together in late 2001 following the dissolution of three separate bands: Pettit from Condemning Salem, Green from Helicon Blue, and MacNeil and Steele from Plan 9. They enlisted drummer Jesse Ingelevics and adopted the name inspired by adult film actress Alexis Fire. Although Fire threatened legal action over the name, no lawsuit materialized since it was not trademarked.

In 2002, they released their initial EP titled Math Sheets Demo, which caught the attention of recording engineer Greg Below and journalist Mitch Joel, founders of Distort Entertainment. Below's connections with EMI facilitated studio time and a co-publishing plus distribution agreement.

Their self-titled debut album, Alexisonfire, was released on October 31, 2002. Despite EMI’s distribution support, the album’s success was largely driven by grassroots promotion. The band toured extensively across Ontario and New York alongside groups such as GWAR and Glassjaw. In 2003, they supported the record through extensive Canadian tours with Spitalfield and Billy Talent, performed at Hellfest, and conducted a European tour with Rise Against.

By October 2005, Alexisonfire had been certified gold in Canada for sales exceeding 50,000 copies. A remastered version was issued by Dine Alone Records in 2014.

The band garnered industry accolades: their "Pulmonary Archery" video won Best Video at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards; they were honored as Favourite Indie Band at the CASBY Awards; and "Counterparts and Number Them" earned a nomination for Best Independent Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards.

Watch Out! Era (2004–2005)

The band recorded their sophomore album, Watch Out!, with producer Julius Butty at Silo Studios near Hamilton, Ontario. Released on June 29, 2004, it was distributed globally mainly through Distort Entertainment, with Equal Vision Records managing U.S. distribution and Sorepoint Records handling the UK market. The album debuted at number six on the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200 chart, moving 6,000 units in its first week. Within twelve weeks it reached gold status in Canada and achieved platinum certification by 2007. The eighteen months of touring prior to this release helped sharpen their sound into a more focused and aggressive style that received critical praise and marked an evolution from their debut.

Following the release of Watch Out!, Alexisonfire embarked on extensive tours including multiple U.S. dates on the Vans Warped Tour circuit, appearances at Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK, as well as shows throughout Canada, Europe, and Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival. In June 2005, original drummer Jesse Ingelevics left the band and was succeeded by Jordan Hastings from Jersey.

Recognition continued as their video for "Accidents" won Best Independent Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards where they also earned a nomination for Peoples' Choice – Favourite Canadian Group. Additionally, Alexisonfire secured the New Group of the Year award at the 2005 Juno Awards.

Crisis (2006–2007)

On August 22, 2006, Alexisonfire unveiled their third full-length album, Crisis, which was met with widespread critical praise and continues to be regarded as a significant release. The album's launch was marked by a celebratory event held aboard a boat on the River Thames in London, England, which also served as the starting point for an extensive 10-month international tour spanning the UK, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Throughout this tour, the band performed for crowds as large as 80,000 at prominent festivals such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals, Festival d'été de Québec, and took the headline spot at London's Brixton Academy. Their festival appearances further included the Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos tour, Saints & Sinners Festival, and Australia's Soundwave festival, cementing their reputation as one of Canada's leading musical acts.

During this timeframe, Alexisonfire shared stages with groups like Anti-Flag, Saosin, The Bled, Norma Jean, Every Time I Die, and Cancer Bats. Vocalist George Pettit expressed an interest in evolving beyond the screamo genre for their forthcoming album, a viewpoint he later revised.

Crisis earned the award for Favorite New Indie Release at the 2006 CASBY Awards. At the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards, its music video for "This Could Be Anywhere in the World" secured Best Cinematography and received a nomination for Best Rock Video. The band was also nominated for Peoples' Choice Award – Favourite Canadian Group and received recognition at the Juno Awards of 2007 for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year. Producer Julius Butty gained a nomination for Producer of the Year for his work on that track, while Alexisonfire was shortlisted for Group of the Year.

Old Crows/Young Cardinals and Dog's Blood (2008–2010)

In 2008, MacNeil expressed uncertainty regarding Alexisonfire’s continuity, which sparked speculation about a potential breakup by 2009. Nevertheless, on February 1, 2009, the band revealed the title of their upcoming album and commenced recording Old Crows/Young Cardinals that same day. By March, recording was almost complete with tracks such as "Midnight Regulations" and "Emerald St." made public. On March 31, Alexisonfire signed with Dine Alone Records, a label founded by their former manager Joel Carriere.

The album’s lead single "Young Cardinals" hit radio waves on April 20, followed by its music video debut on MuchOnDemand in May. Released on June 23, 2009, the album garnered favorable reviews from critics. To promote it, Alexisonfire embarked on an intense tour featuring approximately 300 shows across Europe, North America, and Canada through December 2010.

In 2008, Dallas Green began pursuing alternative musical styles that culminated in the release of a four-track EP titled Dogs Blood in 2010. The band announced this EP during the 2009 Verge Awards ceremony where Old Crows/Young Cardinals was nominated for Album of the Year and Alexisonfire for Artist of the Year. Additionally, the album received a nomination for Rock Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2010.

On February 16, 2010, a free performance at Live City Yaletown—the venue used during the 2010 Winter Olympics—was abruptly halted after a crowd surge resulted in minor injuries to around twenty attendees. Later that year, Alexisonfire headlined a show at Vancouver’s PNE Forum.

In 2010, they issued a digital-exclusive EP entitled iTunes Originals, which featured reimagined versions of their songs alongside interview segments. Furthermore, a digital release of their Aussie Tour 7" became available on iTunes in November; this included cover versions of tracks originally by Midnight Oil and The Saints.

Disbandment and farewell tour (2011–2012)

Dallas Green initiated the acclaimed solo folk/rock endeavor City and Colour in 2005. Balancing this alongside his responsibilities with Alexisonfire eventually contributed to a nervous breakdown. Following the Old Crows/Young Cardinals tour, Green informed the group of his intention to leave but postponed making a public announcement until the band could determine their direction.

On February 14, 2011, Alexisonfire revealed they were working on a new heavy album; however, it never came to fruition. The band declared their breakup on August 5, 2011, attributing it to departures by Green and MacNeil—who left to lead Gallows—as well as internal personal conflicts. George Pettit characterized the separation as far from "amicable." Despite this, they arranged a tenth-anniversary Canadian tour and related releases, though Green regarded their December 19, 2010 hometown performance as their final show.

By July 2012, discussions between Green and MacNeil led to agreeing on concluding Alexisonfire with a series of farewell concerts. The band embarked on a farewell tour in December 2012, which expanded from an initial nine dates to 30 shows across Canada, the UK, Australia, and Brazil. Alongside this, they issued the EP Death Letter, featuring reimagined versions of songs from their previous four albums.

On December 25, 2013, Alexisonfire released a limited-edition vinyl box set containing all four studio albums plus EPs, LPs, and B-sides; the initial 1,000 copies sold out within half an hour. A slightly smaller second edition was subsequently released in August 2014.

Reunion and Otherness (2015–present)

The band announced their reunion tour on March 9, 2015—their first since the farewell tour in 2012—with performances scheduled at Reading and Leeds festivals, Sonic Boom, Heavy Montréal, X-Fest, and Riot Fest. At Riot Fest Toronto on September 19, Wade MacNeil officially declared the band's return. Although they later clarified having "no immediate plans" for new recordings or tours, Alexisonfire has performed over 100 shows since reuniting.

On February 12, 2016, they released Live at Copps, capturing their December 30, 2012 concert at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, which was the final date of their farewell tour. This release was made available through iTunes as well as in a special four-record vinyl set and Blu-ray format.

In June 2016, Alexisonfire was announced as the headliner for the 2017 Unify Gathering festival in Australia. Subsequently, they toured Australia and New Zealand alongside The Dirty Nil, Behind Crimson Eyes, and The Getaway Plan. The band also headlined Quebec’s Montebello Rock festival and made surprise guest appearances during Billy Talent's tour. Tours across Europe and Canada followed in late 2017 and mid-2018.

On February 15, 2019, Alexisonfire unveiled "Familiar Drugs," marking their first new music release in nearly nine years. This was succeeded by singles "Complicit" in May 2019 and "Season of the Flood" in January 2020. Their touring schedule included major cities such as London, New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, as well as an appearance at Ottawa Bluesfest.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band hosted a one-time YouTube watch party showcasing their final farewell tour concert from December 2012. The event also premiered the fan-shot video for "Season of the Flood," recorded during their January tour.

In a 2019 interview, George Pettit disclosed that he became a professional firefighter in 2015 and prioritizes that career despite participating in the reunion. He continues to serve as lead vocalist for his side project Dead Tired. Wade MacNeil remains active with Black Lungs and Gallows, launching Doom's Children in May 2021. Jordan Hastings persists with his side project Cunter. Dallas Green continues his work with City and Colour along with his collaboration with Pink under You+Me.

In June 2021, Green hinted that new Alexisonfire material was underway. On March 10, 2022, the band announced their fifth studio album Otherness, their first release in thirteen years; it was released on June 24, 2022. This album earned them the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023. They supported Blink-182 during their Toronto show on August 15, 2024.

In October 2025, Alexisonfire revealed plans for a covers EP titled Copies of Old Masters, Vol. 1, scheduled for release via Dine Alone Records on November 7. The EP features their rendition of The Tragically Hip's "Fully Completely."

Musical style and legacy

The group characterizes their sound as "the clash of two Catholic high-school girls mid-fight"; in 2004, then-drummer Jesse Ingelevics described their style as a fusion of Mogwai and Sunny Day Real Estate. Their music has been categorized under genres such as post-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, and screamo. The members initially connected through a variety of punk subgenres present in their local scene, including moshcore, screamo, youth crew, crust punk, and emo. In a 2022 discussion, MacNeil reflected that although screamo was the scene they first aimed to join, he later developed a critical view of it. Petit expressed his intention to "kill" rather than preserve screamo.

A hallmark of their sound is the presence of three primary vocalists: Green delivers clean vocals, Pettit provides unclean vocals, and MacNeil combines both techniques. The 2009 release Old Crows / Young Cardinals showcased a stronger emphasis on clean singing, with Pettit also contributing clean vocal parts occasionally, as heard on Crisis. The band's initial two albums feature some spoken word elements performed by Pettit.

Their influences include bands and artists such as Saetia, Refused, Fucked Up, Moneen, Quicksand, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Misfits, Tears for Fears, Hot Water Music, Elliott, the Appleseed Cast, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Taken, Alice in Chains, Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, and Slint.

Alexisonfire has served as an inspiration for groups like Cancer Bats, Silverstein, Four Year Strong, and 36 Crazyfists. The Canadian hardcore outfit Counterparts derived their name from Alexisonfire’s track "Counterparts and Number Them". According to Revolver Magazine, Alexisonfire played a pivotal role in shaping much of the mid-2000s post-hardcore movement. Liam Cormier from Cancer Bats noted that Alexisonfire, alongside Billy Talent, helped bring heavy music into the Canadian mainstream.

The band is also celebrated for their dynamic live shows. Kyle Bishop, former vocalist of Grade, commended their energy and influence on Canadian punk rock, emphasizing how they paved the way for numerous other bands. Ian Gormely of Exclaim! underscored their lasting impact on Canadian rock and aggressive music scenes overall.

Band members

Current

George Pettit – unclean vocals , clean vocals , keyboards
Dallas Green – clean vocals, rhythm and lead guitar , keyboards
Wade MacNeil – lead and rhythm guitar, clean and unclean vocals
Chris Steele – bass guitar , backing vocals
Jordan Hastings – drums, percussion , backing vocals

Former

Jesse Ingelevics – drums, percussion

Touring

Kenny Bridges – bass
Matt Kelly – keyboards, organ, synthesizers, pedal steel, backing vocals

Official Member Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Alexisonfire (2002)
Watch Out! (2004)
Crisis (2006)
Old Crows / Young Cardinals (2009)
Otherness (2022)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Received	Nominated
2004	Canadian Independent Music Awards	Best Video ("Pulmonary Archery")
	CASBY Awards	NXNE Favourite Indie Band
	MuchMusic Video Awards	VideoFACT ("Counterparts and Number Them")	Best Independent Video ("Counterparts and Number Them")
2005	Juno Awards	New Group of the Year
	MuchMusic Video Awards	Best Independent Video ("Accidents")	Peoples' Choice Award – Favourite Canadian Group, MuchLOUD Best Rock Video ("Accidents")
	SPIN.com Band of the Year		Band of the Year in the "All-Ages" category
2006	CASBY Awards	Favorite New Indie Release (Crisis)
2007	Juno Awards		Group of the Year
2007	MuchMusic Video Awards	Best Cinematography ("This Could Be Anywhere in the World")	Peoples' Choice Award – Favourite Canadian Group, MuchLOUD Best Rock Video ("This Could Be Anywhere in the World")
2009	XM Verge Awards		Artist of the Year, Album of the Year ("Old Crows/Young Cardinals")
2023	Juno Awards	Rock Album of the Year (Otherness)

External links