The band formed in December of 1996, originally consisting of Skiba, Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals). 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Doran. He was replaced by Andriano, who had been the singer for Tuesday and bassist for the ska band Slapstick. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fan base in the American Midwest. Later that year, they released their first full-length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000. Both were released on Asian Man Records. Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously-released EPs on a self-titled album.
Following the success of their Asian Man releases, Alkaline Trio signed to Vagrant. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001. It was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground as well as Tony Hawks American Wasteland video games. Their cover of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an album made to pay tribute to the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After the release, Felumlee left the band too and was replaced by Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines.
Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing a considerable amount of commercial success. The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a noticeable move toward a more mainstream sound.
The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1 and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Skiba and Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded two split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.
Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, entitled Crimson, on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.
In 2004 Andriano became a member of The Falcon, a super-group of consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist/co-vocalist Brendan Kelly (with who he had played with in Slapstick), and Neil Hennessy, drummer from The Lawrence Arms. The band released a 5-song EP in 2004, and its first full-length Unicornography in September of 2006.
In 2006 Matt Skiba collaborated with Josiah Steinbrick for the band Heavens.
In 2008 Alkaline Trio released Agony & Irony on Epic Records. The album charted at #13 on the Billboard 200.
Alkaline Trio's 7th studio album, This Addiction,was released on February 23rd 2010. This was their first album under their own label, Heart & Skull, an offshoot of Epitaph, and the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.
Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album, Damnesia,, was released July 12, 2011. Consisting of "a selection of beloved fan favorites selected from the group's extensive catalogue and presented in an intimate semi-unplugged format", the album also included two new songs, "Olde English 800" and "I Remember a Rooftop", as well as a cover version of the Violent Femmes' "I Held Her in My Arms".
On April 2nd, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "My Shame Is True".
On August 31st, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "Is This Thing Cursed?".
On June 8th, 2023, longtime drummer Derek Grant left the band due to mental health reasons and intentions to pursue music production as well as graphic design. He was replaced by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Against Me!. The band then released the single, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" on October 17th, 2023, and announced an album of the same name due for a release date of January 26th, 2024.
Kick Rocks
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And apply what you have learned
But you ain't got no water
So you let that motherfucker burn
Yea it smoked up and it burned out
Like a graduation bonfire two miles from your house
And you had nowhere to go, so you came right back here
And when the mess dried up you came up singing,
Let us drink from the hourglass
We can make time stop
Watch from the window upstairs
While they all kick rocks
And I miss smoking in the fall
And pissin' on that gas station wall
What's a law? What's a fire? What's a river?
We jumped over them all
But I guess my legs got tired and my teeth got long
So take a sip from the hourglass
We can make time stop
Watch from the window upstairs
While they all kick rocks
I tried to write you a passage
But you're holdin' out for the flick
Wait outside by the exit
When they don't let you in
So we can drink from the hourglass
We can make time stop
Watch from the window upstairs
While they all kick rocks
The song "Kick Rocks" by Alkaline Trio is about the feeling of being stuck in a rut and wanting to escape reality. In the first verse, the lyrics talk about taking sticks and stones and applying what you've learned. This suggests that the person is trying to make changes but is still struggling because they don't have the resources they need. The phrase "let that motherfucker burn" represents a feeling of letting go and abandoning the old ways, even if it means going up in flames.
The next verse describes a situation where the person has burned their bridges and has nowhere else to go. They're feeling lost and frustrated and end up taking it out on other people. "Let us drink from the hourglass, we can make time stop, watch from the window upstairs while they all kick rocks" suggest that the person wants to escape their reality and live in a dreamlike state. They want to watch others fail while they feel a sense of superiority.
The final verse refers to the person's inability to complete a task and feeling overwhelmed. They feel like they can't write a passage and are holding out for a movie instead. "When they don't let you in, so we can drink from the hourglass" shows that the person wants to ignore their problems and escape from reality by drinking and pretending time has stopped. The song highlights the struggle of being trapped in a situation and feeling the need to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
You take these sticks and stones
You gather the tools you need to face the challenges ahead
And apply what you have learned
You put the skills and knowledge you have acquired to use
But you ain't got no water
However, you lack the essential resources to succeed
So you let that motherfucker burn
As a result, your efforts fail and you let the situation deteriorate
Yea it smoked up and it burned out
The situation reached its climax before burning out
Like a graduation bonfire two miles from your house
It was a big, fiery event that was close but not close enough to touch
And you had nowhere to go, so you came right back here
Feeling lost and defeated, you return to your starting point
I couldn't find what you wanted, so you slapped me in the face and spilled my beer
You lash out at others when you don't get what you want, creating needless conflict
And when the mess dried up you came up singing,
After the chaos subsides, you find a renewed sense of enthusiasm
Let us drink from the hourglass
Let's indulge in fleeting pleasures and escape reality
We can make time stop
We can lose ourselves in the moment and forget about our problems
Watch from the window upstairs
Observe the world from a safe distance, avoiding direct engagement
While they all kick rocks
While others struggle and fail, we can sit back and enjoy ourselves
And I miss smoking in the fall
I long for simpler pleasures and carefree times
And pissin' on that gas station wall
Engaging in reckless and antisocial behavior for the sake of rebellion
What's a law? What's a fire? What's a river?
Questioning the importance and meaning of basic concepts and constructs
We jumped over them all
Defying authority and overcoming obstacles through sheer audacity
But I guess my legs got tired and my teeth got long
However, such rebelliousness has taken a toll on my body and spirit
So take a sip from the hourglass
Despite the consequences, we continue to indulge in hedonistic pursuits
We can make time stop
We still believe in the power of escaping reality through pleasure
I tried to write you a passage
I attempted to reach out and connect with you through writing
But you're holdin' out for the flick
But you're more interested in superficial entertainments
Wait outside by the exit
You remain detached and uninvolved, waiting for others to finish
When they don't let you in
When you're excluded from events, you become angry and resentful
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.