AFI, A Fire Inside, is a fire which burns still with the same intensity the Northern California born band displayed when they formed back in 1991 as young musicians hungry as wolves. All it takes to feel the flames is one listen to their latest album, “Crash Love”, which was released the last week of September of this year. It's almost impossible to believe the band is approaching their twentieth anniversary, but eight stellar albums bear witness. One of the things we at ROCKLINE have admired most about the band, led by captivating and compelling vocalist Davey Havok, is their penchant for creating original, individual sounding albums. Each stands on its own as a unique piece of art collectively created by the same four members which have been together for over a decade now. In addition to Havok are Jade Puget, who handles the lead guitar work and occasionally some keyboard contributions, Hunter Burgen on bass, also serving as an additional keyboardist, and Adam Carson keeping the frequently frenetic beat. AFI functions as a well integrated unit creating nuanced performances only achieved by musicians who have performed together over a long period of time. The band invites you to help keep the fires burning by joining us on our show and asking the question of your choice and by visiting their websites AFireInside.net and their MySpace

Many thoughts come to mind regarding AFI, an ongoing debate as to how to label the band's music, for many years besting the other AFI, the prestigious American Film Institute, in Internet hits, achieving platinum status in 2003 with the brilliant album “Sing the Sorrow”, which was the tip of the spear on many “top album of the year” lists (including ours), their impressive growth from a fractured regional punk band to a world class rock band, The Offspring's cover of their highly respected song “Totalimmortal” for the Jim Carrey film, “Me, Myself and Irene” and, of course, their live shows. It is the latter which we find to be most memorable. Simply stated, AFI is stunning in concert, a musical tour de force, a head-spinning, visceral journey which immediately grabs you from the opening song to the last note, whether dressed in traditional rock regalia, or risk-taking all white outfits. It's impossible to see the band perform without being moved on many levels, they begin with breathtaking and continue to get even better as the evening progresses, transcending and transforming as only legendary bands can do.

It's been far too long since the band joined us, but we're about to rectify that injustice. It's time to crash, love, as AFI joins us on our next ROCKLINE!