"We want Australia to feel spoiled," declares Wade MacNeil, lead guitarist of Alexisonfire.
It seems Alexisonfire can't get enough of Australia after announcing their return for March 2025. They were last on our shores as recently as 2023, but this time they're bringing a stacked line-up featuring scene favourites Underoath – performing 'They're Only Chasing Safety' in full - and soaring newcomers GEL.Wade is no stranger to Australia and perhaps knows it even better than most locals due to his scenic road trips exploring the country in between shows. "Last time I was there, Harley Australia was nice enough to give me a bike, and I rode all over the country and I think the plan is very similar this time.
"I think we've definitely got enough time to ride from Brisbane to Sydney, Sydney to Melbourne. So, try and do most of the tour and see a bunch of little spots in between everything on a motorcycle.
"We'll take the scenic route for sure. Last time I turned Melbourne to Sydney into, I don't know like 2,300 kilometres or something. I took the most scenic, crazy circuitous [route]. It was f...ing amazing, though. . . I was in the mountains, I was in the forest. I was in the outback. I was along the coast, it was like every single thing. It was amazing."
It's not often a band this far into their career releases a fan favourite and critically acclaimed album, but that's just what Alexisonfire did when they entered the studio together for the first time in over a decade and released 2022's 'Otherness'. "Usually bands write a [new] record and fans are like 'yeah, no thank you'," Wade laughs.
"It's a real trip. Like, when we play 'Sans Soleil', it's the loudest sing-along in the set. So for that to happen with a new song. . . what an incredible validation of coming back and making new music. . . I think we're very lucky to have the fans that we have."
It was a quieter year of touring for Alexisonfire, but they performed one of their biggest and most important shows at Toronto's Rogers Centre after being invited by Blink-182 to open for them.
"It was really special. I've seen a bunch of baseball games there growing up and I've seen Metallica play there and, you know, it's the biggest place you could play in Canada. To be able to play in that spot was pretty incredible. It felt like a real kind of career milestone."
You'd be hard pressed to find a more in demand and busier musician in the industry than Wade. Outside of Alexisonfire, he's the vocalist of Gallows, he has his own project Dooms Children, he scores music for film and television and he has his DJ nights The Only Emo Night Ever.
In 2024, Wade's been touring The Only Emo Night Ever around the world, which has taken him to places that even Alexisonfire has never been to. "This year, I went to Mexico and then Brazil and Costa Rica. Then Guatemala and played in the States. I did like a British tour last month, Canada coast to Coast.
"[Alexisonfire have] never had a chance to play in Mexico, and I went down there and did like six shows in Mexico. So to be in Guadalajara, DJing and stuff like that, such a trip man. Alexis has played Rio, but to be starting a DJ set at Rio at like 4am. It's a trip.
"I definitely try and do [the DJing] when Alexis is on the road. So I'll definitely throw some parties along the March tour for sure."
Alexisonfire & Underoath 2025 Tour Dates
Thu 6 Mar - Perth HPCSat 8 Mar - The Riverstage (Brisbane)
Tue 11 Mar - Hordern Pavilion (Sydney)
Fri 14 Mar - Festival Hall (Melbourne)
