by Raymond Kao
When I heard Rise Against would be touring, I knew I had to cover the show. Anyone into punk rock back in the early 2000s knows their name - and they did not disappoint live.
Joining them for their first show of the tour was Cloud Nothings, an indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. I'm not sure that I understood the music, but the crowd seemed to be into it, which is always a good thing to see. Given their long history with performing and the general nature of rock acts, I thought they would be more active on the stage, but it might have just been difficult to move around with the other set pieces already in the way.
L.S. Dunes would take the stage next, fronted by Anthony Green. In contrast to Cloud Nothings, Green was a whirlwind around the stage - jumping, spinning, stomping. Green has a pure, classic punk sound and was a captivating performer with some signature microphone moves. True to punk culture(and on Election Day Eve), Green urged audience members to use their voice and vote. Having just formed in 2022, I think they've got a good path ahead of them.
Rise Against was a first for me in a lot of ways. You immediately notice the lack of a backing track for the band, which Tim and the band used to great effect to freestyle songs with various pitch and tempo changes, as well as adding in lengthy guitar solos. Tim showcased his acoustic ability through performances of "Hero of War" and "Swing Life Away". He also spoke at length about the upcoming election, wanting to protect the rights of his fans equally - a message that felt authentic to the image of the band. Fittingly, he closed out the night with a performance of "Savior".
All images of Rise Against, L.S. Dunes, and Cloud Nothings by Raymond Kao.
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