NEW YORK (Distort/EMI) - St. Catharines band re-writes rulebook for Indie Domination in Canada with 2nd highest debut on Top 200 Soundscan this week.
It's no coincidence that the title of Alexisonfire's sophomore album reads "Watch Out!". With minimal radio play, no Juno nominations, and no major label deal, the St. Catharines natives debut at a sizzling No 6 on the Top 200 Soundscan and No 3 on the Alternative chart. Selling over 6500 records in the first week, "Watch Out" is the 2nd highest debut on the Soundscan chart this week.
"Distort/EMI's debut with Alexisonfire and Watch Out at No 6 far surpasses their previous album that peaked at No 127 on the album chart and this is also with very little help from radio airplay," says Vanessa Thomas, GM of Nielsen Entertainment, Canada.
The fans know the real deal when they see it, and in the case of Alexisonfire, they seem to have told 2 friends, who told 2 friends, and so on. Now at over 30,000 units sold of their self-titled 2002 debut, the band has shot into the mainstream media like a streaker at an All-Star game.
"We are above the law now"" jokes George Pettit from North Carolina where the band play a show tonight. "No seriously, it is absolutely incredible that people are so enthusiastic about everything. This is beyond what we ever imagined""
With unparalleled support from MuchMusic, all three Alexisonfire videos have received heavy rotation on the station as well as MMVA nominations in 2003 & 2004. With Musiqueplus and MTV Select also showing "the love", the illustrious video story continues. Alexisonfire will be shooting the video for "Accidents" at the end of June with Mark Ricciardelli, the director of the band's first 3 videos.
Internationally, the band has just inked a deal with Imperial Records in Japan as well as a deal with hip UK label Sorepoint/Eat Sleep Records for all of Europe.
Alexisonfire is already receiving airplay at BBC's Radio One in the UK and the band will join the legendary Leeds & Reading Festivals playing the Concrete Jungle stage alongside the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria, Avenged Sevenfold, and Goldfinger.
The Edge 102 is leading the way at radio adding the single "Accidents" to their playlist today. With fans across the country snapping up every available copy and selling out shows coast-to-coast, Alexisonfire is re-writing the rulebook for indie domination in Canada. The biggest groundswell story of the year in Canadian music continues"
Upcoming Alexisonfire 2004 appearances:
June 20 - MMVAs - Toronto, ON
July 02 - EDGEFEST - Toronto, ON
July 05 - King Tuts - Glasgow, Scotland
July 06 - Roadhouse - Manchester, England
July 07 - Academy 3 - Birmingham, England
July 08 - Ifor Back - Cardiff, England
July 09 - Metro - London, England
July 11 - SCENE Music Festival - St. Catharines, ON
August 12 - VANS WARPED - Colisee Pepsi - Quebec City, QC
August 13 - VANS WARPED - Parc Jean Drapeau - Montreal, QC
August 14 - VANS WARPED - The Docks - Toronto, ON
August 15 - VANS WARPED - Pontiac Silverdome - Detroit, MI
August 16 - VANS WARPED - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
August 17 - VANS WARPED - Germain Amphitheatre - Columbus, OH
August 18 - VANS WARPED - Darien Lake - Buffalo, NY
August 19 - VANS WARPED - 3 County Fairground - Boston, MA
August 28 - READING Festival - UK
August 29 - LEEDS Festival - UK
