AFI
by Nicole Gough
Issue 2, Summer/Fall 2003
There's a stage to the right of the room and the lights above it are flashing bright colors into the massive gust of fog creeping along the steps and encircling the amps and cords. From backstage somewhere, the familiar intro to "Miseria Cantare" begins to drift out over the audience. Everyone breaks into the chant, screaming louder as the drummer walks onto the stage, followed by the guitarist and the bassist. Suddenly, the crowd falls silent and from out of the fog, a man approaches the microphone with an indistinguishable look on his face and begins to sing. The crowd is mesmerized by his powerful vocals, the rapid-fire procession of the guitarist's fingers across the fret board, and the immediate magnetic effect the entire band creates through their music.
For those who don't know, AFI stands for A Fire Inside, a band composed of four individuals: Adam Carson (drums), Hunter (bass), Jade Puget (guitar) and Davey Havok (vocals). The music created by AFI cannot be classified as any one particular genre, although most people believe AFI is a punk band. The lyrics, written by Davey Havok, are extremely unique, and unlike common punk lyrics. His lyrics describe, in an eloquent and intellectual fashion, subjects that are not usually written about: like death, the afterlife, and unification. Fans are able to listen to AFI songs and freely interpret the lyrics according to their own ideas, as opposed to listening to a song and hearing only the artistÔø‡Ôø‡s viewpoint through the lyrics. Fans can intertwine their emotions and develop an understanding of the lyrics on their own.
AFI has produced many cd's prior to their most recent, Sing the Sorrow. Earlier cdÔø‡Ôø‡s are directed more towards fans of punk music, whereas the later cd's mellowed out a little bit. The band's cd's consist of songs that are each completely different. Some of the songs are tainted with sorrow and more depressed emotions, conveyed by the tone of voice and music, such as "Death of Seasons" from Sing the Sorrow. Many of the lyrics portray a darker side of life, but the feeling of sorrow is concealed by the quick, catchy music accompanying it. Not many bands can evoke poignant emotions from a single song while still making the song worth listening to.
Other characteristics of a good band are their appeal and their presentation (and fans' reactions) at shows. AFI appeals to multiple groups of people. Fans that were attracted to the band through their earlier albums were mainly categorized as punks, and the music generally appealed to a certain group of people. Now, videos including "Girl's Not Grey" and "The Leaving Song Part II" are helping to expand the fan base to more mainstream listeners. AFI attracts fans of all sorts, making them a truly unique band for their ability to interest so many different kinds of people with one type of music.
For the people who enjoy attending shows, seeing AFI live is an amazing experience. The unification and level at which the fans are involved in the music is incredulous. Although some people felt the urge to crowd surf, for the most part the crowd was there for the music and the band, not for dancing, thrashing, and surfing. The audience sang along with the band for many of the songs, even the slow ones like "Morning Star" and "This Time Imperfect." AFI made a direct connection with their fans through their music; an accomplishment reflecting in the participation of the audience throughout the show. Davey Havok sang with a lot of emotion, a factor that contributed to the reality of the music. Every member of the band demonstrated the extent of his talent and gave fans an unforgettable show.
To find out more about AFI, check out the official website here.