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Prior to the band’s concert at the Grand Sierra Resort on Tuesday night, the last time I saw Rise Against live was March 2007 at Lawlor Events Center, in part because my sister wanted to see the main acts that night.
Back then, Rise Against was opening along with Underoath for headlining acts Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance. Now, the band is headlining its own series of shows.
Prior to the band’s concert at the Grand Sierra Resort on Tuesday night, the last time I saw Rise Against live was March 2007 at Lawlor Events Center, in part because my sister wanted to see the main acts that night.
While Rise Against’s profile has risen since I last saw them – aspiring bands could do a lot worse than use Rise Against as its inspiration – one thing that hasn’t changed are the band’s roots: musically or socially.
While some bands eschew the political and social movements Rise Against embraces in an effort to sell records, that just isn’t the Rise Against way. That was made clear once again Tuesday night before the band even took the stage in front of a nearly sold out crowd at the GSR’s grand ballroom.
Before Rise Against rocked the roughly 2,500 fans, four screens lit up on stage with images of social injustices beaming from the screens and a baritone-voiced narrator speaking of ongoing societal ills on the eve of the presidential election.
During one of the show’s breaks, the narrator said: “The first part of overcoming a problem is realizing there is one. American is not the greatest country in the world anymore.”
The grave message, however, served as a secondary plot line to Rise Against’s 21-song, 105-minute show, which included two encore breaks and a two-song acoustic slow down.
“A lot has happened in the world since we’ve been here,” said singer Tim McIlrath, who last played Reno in 2009. “But I’m not going to get into it. I’m just the singer of a punk rock band. What do I know?”
McIlrath and his bandmates do know how to rock. The set’s second song, fan favorite “Ready to Fall,” worked the crowd into a frenzy and the thunder didn’t stop until the band ripped through “Prayer of the Refuge” before taking a quick encore break.
McIlrath returned for a two-song acoustic set. He first played the catchy and poppy “Swing Life Away,” ironically the band’s biggest commercial hit, before an acoustic cover of No Use For a Name’s “For Fiona,” played in honor of Tony Sly, No Use’s lead singer who died at 41 earlier this year.
McIlrath also dedicated the song Re-Education to the opening act Hot Water Music, who his high school band opened for more than 15 years ago. Rise Against was ably fronted by The Gaslight Anthem, a rising band from New Jersey that can aptly be described as a punk version of Bruce Springsteen.
But the night belonged to Rise Against, which blended hard-hitting rock and social consciousness in the vein of bands like Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine. That social consciousness was evident when bass player Joe Principe wore a PETA shirt (the band is made up of all vegetarians).
Rise Against also appears to have affinity for Reno, which is has played about a half dozen times. The band made The Biggest Little City its last stop on its U.S. tour.
“I’m really proud that Reno, Nevada is a place we get to play,” McIlrath said, adding “The one thing I know about Reno is you guys like to dance.” McIlrath also seemed intrigued by the GSR’s unique ballroom setting, with tables and booths set up behind a nicely sized floor pit.
“This is one of the few places you can watch a punk rock show from a couch,” McIlrath said late in the show. “No, it’s the only place. But I enjoyed it.”
Before ending the show with fan-pleasing “Savior,” McIlrath took a moment to ask the young crowd to register to vote. While not naming his preferred candidate (although there’s no doubt he leans toward the Democratic ticket), McIlrath asked Rise Against’s fans to rock the vote.
“For nothing else, it’s punk rock to vote,” McIlrath said.
