Music
Rise Against
September 2 , 2005
Recently at Saint Andrews hall, STLD photographer's Dave Stone and Dave Carlson were fortunate enough to get an interview with Tim McIlrath of Chicago 's Rise Against, a self-proclaimed outcast of a band amongst its peers of punk bands. Rise Against has taken the opposite approach to Punk than most other bands and steered away from the negativity surrounding the culture.

Their lyrics show that it is acceptable to voice your opinions and stay positive in your music. “Armed with the fury of classic punk acts [such] as Minor Threat and Bad Brains, blended with intelligent vocals and a serious commitment to providing a positive alternative to the oft-dreary and disenchanted aura that engulfs most punk bands,” Rise Against has moved out of the underground world of Punk and onto the mainstream. Even after worldwide recognition, the band has not outgrown their proactive nature which was the basis for their whole beginning. Whenever a problem or concern arises that they feel a need to address, a benefit competition or show will be arranged to show their support and voice their own opinions.

A few words with Tim McIlarth:

Dave C : Many fans may have either wondered or even asked why did the band choose “Swing life away” as a single?

Tim : I would've definitely never chosen “Swing life away” as our first single. We released “Give it all” as our first single to show people what we're about, Punk rock. “Give it all” basically showed people who we are; we chose “Swing life away” as our second to show that we aren't about just screaming all of the time, that we are able to get our message across in different ways.

Dave S : I've noticed that Rise Against often plays Detroit ; do you tour most cities this much?

Tim : Yeah, we do play here it seems like more than any other city because we are from Chicago ; Detroit is just a really good and easy city to play. Every time we play here more and more people come to our shows, just every time a few more people than the last. Also we are good friends with The Suicide Machines so when they're doing like their Christmas show they'll invite us out.

On august eleventh, following our interview, Rise Against didn't disappoint following other great bands such as From Autumn to Ashes, the Loved Ones, and Comeback Kid. I came to watch a show and ended up seeing a damn near revolution in Punk Rock. Rise Against's energy was straight forward and 100% the entire show, finishing with a not one but three song encore was the perfect ending to another night of sweat drenched clothes, lost voices, and ringing ears well into the next morning. A quick stop at Lafayette Coney afterwards and I started feeling like one of those bums standing on the corner preaching their political views to the rest of the world who isn't listening; but this is Punk Rock Politics, so who cares anyway. I can't hear the bum's views from the ringing in my ears, and I don't think he was listening to mine anyways.

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