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Maintaining a meat-free diet is a tall order on a cross-country rock tour, a constant struggle requiring daily sacrifice, extensive planning and more than a little luck. So there’s only one question on drummer Brandon Barnes’ mind this spring morning as he and the other pop-punk musicians in Rise Against head for a gig in eastern Canada, some three weeks before their July 8 show at the Reno Events Center:
“Are there any good vegan restaurants in Reno?”
It’s only after he shouts for his bandmates to remember the name “Pneumatic Diner” that the conversation turns to music — Rise Against’s hit album “Appeal to Reason,” the band’s current “dream team” tour with second-wave punk pioneers Rancid (read the Q&A) and the group’s strident political stance, which has not receded one millimeter since Rise Against hit MTV.
“Obviously, any time you put yourself on the radio, you’re going to get more mainstream fans,” Barnes says. “Some people just don’t pay attention to lyrics. But we feel like, if we’re getting a couple of kids a night to listen to what we’re saying, then we’re getting the job done.”
Liberal lyrics (even now)
Since the band formed in Chicago in 1999, its songs have been remarkable for their unapologetically liberal and, occasionally, anarchist themes. All four members — Barnes, singer Tim McIlrath, bassist Joe Principe and guitarist Zach Blair — are vegetarian and vocal supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The band has also supported the Democratic Party in endeavors such as 2004’s Rock Against Bush campaign. Even recent tracks such as “Ready to Fall” and “Hero of War” are surprisingly critical of American policies, especially coming from a radio-friendly band that signed with a major label some six years ago.
Perhaps most arresting is the video for the recent track “Re-Education (Through Labor),” which depicts a group of normal-looking twenty-somethings bombing government buildings in Rise Against’s hometown of Chicago. Even the band has been surprised that the video hasn’t drawn more criticism, Barnes says.
“People definitely ask about it, but when we explain it, they understand where we’re coming from,” he says. “The quote (at the beginning of the video) from JFK sums it up: ‘If you ignore the masses for too long, this is inevitably what happens.’”
While the group first found mainstream popularity under President Bush (who had precious few supporters in the Rise Against fanbase), the new administration has done little to pacify the band or its fans, Barnes says.
“All the stuff we’ve been talking about for years is still going on,” he says. “We’re still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Global warming’s not exactly fixed. As far as we’re concerned, Obama’s doing a lot of the same things.”
Small changes for the planet
Lately, the band has used its newfound influence to make the recording and touring processes more environmentally friendly, Barnes said. Many Rise Against products are distributed through iTunes and other electronic-only venues, while the physical version of “Appeal to Reason” comes packed in a recycled paper sleeve printed with vegetable inks. The band has also stopped using bottled water at its shows, he said.
“Those small changes make a huge difference,” Barnes says. “After a four-hour show, you see plastic bottles all over the floor. It makes you think, if a few thousand kids can create that much waste, how much can a city create? How much are we creating?”
Rise Against’s upcoming show will be its second in Reno, but Barnes claims he has no debaucherous stories from the band’s trip with Alkaline Trio several years ago.
“We keep four scooters in a trailer, and I think we got those out and went riding in the rain,” he says. “That’s about it. We’re all pretty mellow. If a show gets over at midnight, we pretty much want to take showers — if we can find one — and go to bed. Sometimes we go out on little missions to find local vegan places, so I guess we’re off to a good start.”
Want to faux-stalk Rise Against? You might want to look up some vegetarian restaurants to hang out at after the show.
