Number one fan, Jason Collie catches up with US punk-rockers Alkaline Trio for the opening of their UK tour

It’s always good to see a band sweat within three songs.

You know, that sheen on a bald head or what was an elegantly swept fringe on the first chord now a rather straggly triangle in the middle of the forehead.

It rather demonstrates the band is trying. And that was the scene at the O2 Academy in Oxford last week as Alkaline Trio kicked off their UK tour.

Being truthful, I’ve seen them produce a (slightly) better show, but they were certainly not going through the motions in Oxford.

It was fast, loud and punky; everything you want from an Alkaline Trio show. They were not easing themselves in gently.

Previously I’ve seen them at their best and the not so good. In Camden two years ago a ridiculous curfew meant a disappointingly short show that they were never really able to get into.

Last year, however, there was a short hop across here from the States to play at Reading Festival and then an anniversary gig at the O2 Academy in Islington and they were on fire both times.

While this tour is to support their latest album, the 18-song setlist contained five songs from My Shame Is True, including stand-out track I Wanna Be A Warhol. It opened with the classic This Could Be Love and that set the tone: hard and fast.

They played for just over an hour and covered a fair representation of their canon. Little time was wasted with dialogue as they battered through the set list.

The trio appear to complement each other perfectly. Guitarist Matt Skiba brings the emotion and angst, bass player Dan Andriano appears the angry man as he bellows out his lyrics but is actually a really nice guy, while drummer Derek Grant provides the drive from the back.

The highlight had to be Sadie, from Crimson. If there is one song that defines the band, this is the baby.

It’s about Sadie Mae Glutz of Manson family infamy. And while the subject matter is bleak, the music itself is strong, with the light wrapping around the dark.

While Alkaline Trio are a tight yet basic collection of guitar, bass and drums, they were not afraid to bring in extra recorded backing material to augment Sadie and Time To Waste, to life as they were recorded.

A longer set is the only quibble. However, despite the seventh song being the relatively new I’m Only Here to Disappoint, they definitely did not do that.