AFI at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago

31 Jan, 2017 John Kosiewicz Concert Reviews, Rock

AFI-Photo-credit-John-Kosiewicz

On January 31, 2017, Jam Productions and 101.1 WKQX presented AFI’s (A Fire Inside) “The Blood Tour”, at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL. Also on stage were supporting artists, Souvenirs and The Chain Gang of 1974.

Formed in 1991, AFI is from Ukiah, California. Current members include original members: Davey Havok on lead vocals; and Adam Carson on drums, percussion and backing vocals; along with: Jade Puget on guitars, keyboard and backing vocals; and Hunter Burgan on bass and backing vocals.

The Blood Tour is in support of the tenth album by the band, which is self-titled, AFI, but also known as The Blood Album. The album was released on January 20, 2017 through Concord Records, nearly four years since AFI released their last studio album..

As the venue lights lowered, the crowd began to chant in unison (along with other various times throughout the night), “Through our bleeding, we are one!” This is a line from the song “Strength Through Wounding,” off the 1999 release, Black Sails in the Sunset and has become the AFI battle cry.

As each member of the band appeared on stage the crowd cheered with enthusiasm. To the ecstatic crowd, the band started the night’s set with one of their most popular songs, “Miss Murder.” Sure, any band can kick the show off with a fan favorite song, but it’s a confident and talented band like AFI that can keep fans engaged and the momentum going throughout the whole night. Unlike most artist who play the same set list through a tour, AFI has been changing the set list almost every night; keeping fans guessing as to which songs they may hear. The set list was definitely solid with fan favorits, along with some surprises causing comments from the audience like “it was the best show of the tour” while another fan said “it was the best show of my life!”

After a full set of songs and two encores, as the fans emptied the venue, you could hear the appreciation for AFI’s performance and set list. Fans enthusiastically said that the band “brought the house down” in Chicago. Other’s mention key songs for the night, including “3 ½,” “Transmission,” (which apparently hasn’t been performed since 2010), “Morningstar” and the second encore song with “Totalimmortal.”

All in all, a great night for AFI fans. Check out tour dates and the latest information at AFI website.

AFI Set list

January 31, 2017 at Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL

Miss Murder (Decemberunderground)
The Leaving Song Pt. II (Sing the Sorrow)
Aurelia (AFI – The Blood Album)
Girl’s Not Grey (Sing the Sorrow)
Love Like Winter (Decemberunderground)
3 ½ (A Fire Inside EP)
17 Crimes (Burials)
Still a Stranger (AFI – The Blood Album)
Clove Smoke Catharsis (Black Sails in the Sunset)
End Transmission (First time live since 2010) (Crash Love)
Morningstar (The Art of Drowning)
The Days of the Phoenix (The Art of Drowning)
Snow Cats (AFI – The Blood Album)
I Hope You Suffer (Burials)
Silver and Cold (Sing the Sorrow)