Chicago's leading Emo-Punk outfit ALKALINE TRIO was initiated during 1997 by erstwhile JERKWATER drummer Matt Skiba handling vocals and guitar alongside bassist Rob Doran and the 88 FINGER LOUIE credited Glenn Porter on drums. The band has fostered a sizable fan base by way of juxtaposing Alt / Nu / Emo musical persuasions with a maudlin reliance on celebrated sub-Gothic and morbid lyrical themes. It is this individuality that has resulted in commercial success upon their own terms.

In their formative years, to finance the band both Skiba and Porter would be working double shift as motorbike couriers. After issue of the EP 'For Your Lungs' Doran exited to be succeeded by Dan Andriano of SLAPSTICK. The 'Sundials' outing followed via Johann's Face Records. Already by this juncture the band was making a national impression with their particular brand of morose alt-Pop.

ALKALINE TRIO's inaugural full length opus, entitled 'Goddamnit', surfaced in 1998 through Asian Man with 'Maybe I'll Catch Fire' and a retrospective singles archive released in 1999. Shifting shape once again, Porter bowed out in early 2000. Filling the vacancy would be Mike Felumlee of the SMOKING POPES for the next offering 'From Here To Infirmary', produced by Matt Allison and recorded at Minnesota's Pachyderm Studios for Vagrant Records in the Spring of 2001. Touring to push this album took in an exhaustive round of roving festivals including the 'Warped' tour, 'Plea For Peace' and 'Vagrant America' events as well as gigs supporting BLINK-182. Meantime the promotional video for 'Stupid Kid' scored healthy TV rotation.

A split EP, in alliance with HOT WATER MUSIC, emerged in 2002 on Jade Tree. MATT SKIBA took a diversion with a split, acoustic based album shared with Kevin Seconds that same year. 'Good Mourning' was delivered in 2003, witnessing yet another switch on the drum stool as Derek Grant enrolled.

In 2004 ALKALINE TRIO shared the 'Split Series Volume 5' album on Better Youth Organization with ONE MAN ARMY. May 2005's 'Crimson' album landed at no. 35 on the US Billboard charts. On 15th September the group engaged in a major tour supporting MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, commencing at the Columbus PromoWest Pavilion. ALKALINE TRIO included a track 'Burn' (Alleged Remix)' on the 'Underworld: Evolution' movie soundtrack.

The band joined the ranks of the roving 'Vans Warped' US touring festival throughout July and August 2007.