Rise Against in Nashville, TN
Rise Against rolled through Nashville, TN, on November 5th, election day in the U.S., and I could think of no better way to spend the day than celebrating what I believe makes America great: enjoying live music.
The show kicked off with Cloud Nothings taking the stage in an already full venue, with more people pouring in as they played through their first few songs. This was my first time hearing the three-piece band from Cleveland, Ohio, and I loved that drummer Jayson was set up right at the front of the stage alongside Baldi on guitar and Chris on bass! The high energy on stage, with the drums feeling almost within arm's reach from the front of the barricade, got the audience warmed up and ready for the next act.
Next up was LS Dunes, and judging by the fans in the audience holding signs with their name, they attracted a crowd eager to see them tonight! This supergroup, formed in 2020, is a melding of talent from Circa Survive, Saosin, My Chemical Romance, Coheed and Cambria, and Thursday. Anthony Green on vocals instantly brought high energy with his stage presence, whipping the mic cord around the stage. Their sound blends the members' various backgrounds with hard riffs from Frank Iero and Travis Stever on guitar and punk energy anchored by Tucker Rule on drums and Tim Payne on bass. The venue was packed, and between songs, Green took a moment to thank the fans and express that no matter the outcome of the election tonight, things would be okay. The crowd, much like myself, chose to enjoy music they loved while those at home anxiously watched the election results trickle in. LS Dunes' eight-song set concluded with the title track from their debut album “Past Lives” and one of their most recent releases “Fatal Deluxe.” I’m hooked, and I know their albums will now be in my rotation alongside those of the headliner!
At 9:30 PM, the house lights dimmed, and Rise Against took the stage bathed in blue light. The opening riff of “Satellite” began, and Tim McIlrath’s vocals rang out across the crowd. As the chorus hit, the stage lights kicked in, igniting the crowd as they screamed back the lyrics: “We are the orphans of the American dream, so shine your light on me!” The energy and uncertainty of the politics outside these walls were matched by themes and lyrics Rise Against has crafted over the last two decades. In their third song, “Give It All,” while the band continued to amp up on stage, Tim jumped off stage and climbed onto the barricade giving the chance for people in the audience to screamed back into the mic during the chorus. Their set included hits from all their albums, including “Swing Life Away” with just Tim on acoustic guitar; at times, the audience almost overpowered his vocals. Before concluding with their final song of the night, the band expressed that no matter what happens out there—no matter how much we’re told to hate those on the opposing side of the political spectrum—I will not hate you. As “Savior” started, both crowd and band were ignited with a final burst of energy. The chorus resonated: “I don’t hate you, I don’t hate you, no.”
This show is why music is important, this band, these lyrics, a reminder that music unites us, while so many other things seek to divide us.