Alexisonfire gets credit for being gutsy enough to tour Canada in December again. In 2007 they got stuck in a snowstorm which resulted in their December 3rd Calgary concert being postponed by two days. Yet in typical AOF fashion, they headed out in winter again. Luckily for them, and the fans that packed Macewan Hall on the University of Calgary Campus, the band made it safe and sound.

Dallas Green, Wase MacNeil, Chris Steele and Jordan Hastings took the stage and basked in the adulation of the primarily teen and twenties audience before George Petit joined them. They kicked off the show with Young Cardinals, the first single from their album Old Crow/Young Cardinals. The band kept up the blistering pace with Mailbox Arson and Boiled Frogs.

Petit, who seems to be allergic to shirts, didn't even bother wearing one on stage. It makes sense, since all 5 guys end up soaked in sweat within a few songs. It is the live experience that really captures the essence of Alexisonfire, as they put every drop of energy they have into the show. From Petit frantically racing around the stage, to Steele's thrashing around, it's a sight to behold.

What separates Alexisonfire from other similar bands is the unique combination of vocals. Petit is primarily a screamer, which is certainly not everyone's cup of tea, while Green and MacNeil provide a more melodic balance. Songs like Rough Hands and The Northern highlight Green's vocals and show the diversity of their material. Behind the music are some pretty solid messages, such as the song Accept Crime. To hear hundreds of kids singing along to a song about accepting gay marriage is pretty amazing.

"We will be free to use our bodies as we please," they sang. "There's no police between two beating hearts."

There is certainly some crossover between the audience for AOF and Green's other band, City and Colour. Nevertheless, having attended multiple shows from both bands, there is definitely a different audience at each. You wouldn't see someone break through security, jump on stage and then do a dive roll off the speakers into the audience, as one guy did during The Northern. The stunned band could only look on in shock as the audience smartly got out of the way and the guy landed on his head.

"Holy shit!" was all MacNeil could exclaim, summing it up for everyone.

Alexisonfire isn't for everyone. But undeniably, they are a damn good live concert.