Rise Against

11/20/2024 - House of Blues

📸 by @wolfsnapphotos

It was a sold-out show at the House of Blues Anaheim, and being in the photo pit for a band like Rise Against felt like witnessing history. The venue was packed tight, warmth radiating from a crowd that had been waiting since noon to claim the barricade. Outside, it was a cold SoCal evening but once inside, you could feel the heat of anticipation.

The night kicked off with Cloud Nothings, an indie and post-punk trio from Cleveland. Dylan Baldi on vocals and guitar, Jayson Gerycz on drums, and TJ Duke on bass brought an almost nostalgic energy. “Stay Useless” set the tone with its gritty, fast-paced riffing. By the time they hit “Wasted Days,” you could see the crowd connecting, heads nodding, and bodies swaying. Their raw intensity felt both loose and focused, with Jayson’s relentless drumming driving the energy forward.

Next, L.S. Dunes hit the stage and the energy ramped up tenfold. Anthony Green from Circa Survive and Saosin was a force of nature, darting across the stage and pouring every ounce of emotion into each lyric. Flanked by Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance, Travis Stever from Coheed and Cambria, and Tucker Rule and Tim Payne from Thursday, this supergroup delivered.

Tracks like “Grey Veins” (one of my personal favorites) and “Permanent Rebellion” stood out, with the crowd feeding off Green’s raw intensity. The entire band played loud, heavy, and tight. Frank and Travis shredded their guitars with passion, while Tucker’s drumming felt like a pounding heartbeat that pulled you deeper into the music.

Then, the moment we had all been waiting for. The backdrop simply read RISE. The lights dimmed, and the roar was deafening as Rise Against took the stage. They launched straight into “Satellite,” and the entire room felt like it was shaking. Tim McIlrath’s vocals were as powerful as ever, and the crowd sang every word right back to him. Near the end of the song, Tim pulled out a megaphone amplifying the intensity and commanding the room. He tossed it back to a tech with such flair, and the crowd went wild. Joe Principe’s bass lines rumbled through the venue, and Zach Blair’s guitar work was flawless. Brandon Barnes kept it all together with precise and relentless drumming.

The setlist was a journey through their 25-year career. Classics like “Re-Education (Through Labor)” and “Paper Wings” had the crowd screaming every word. The acoustic section created a moment of raw, shared emotion. “Hero of War” and the tour debut of “Forfeit” hit hard. As they closed the set with “Prayer of the Refugee,” the crowd erupted, knowing there was still more to come.

They returned for a three-song encore, including “Savior,” and I looked around, seeing faces lit up with the same fire I felt years ago. The entire room sang along, and it was the perfect way to end an unforgettable night. Rise Against is not just a band. They are a legacy. And after 25 years, they are still setting the world on fire.