Rise Against with Political Show at the Wiener Stadthalle

8,000 fans came to be part of the European tour's finale. And it was worth it in every way, as Tim McIlrath and Co delivered a convincing show with many hits and some political undertones.

It's hard to imagine Rise Against without them. The activist streak seems ingrained in the quartet, especially in singer and guitarist McIlrath, which is expressed in big numbers like the anthemic "Re-Education (Through Labor)", as well as extensive liner notes and literature recommendations that are often included with their albums. The latest example is the song "Nod", released a few weeks ago, which is not only considered a precursor to an album expected to be released this year but also aims to evoke a sense of community.

Despite Dark Times: "Together We Can Do It"

"There is always something happening in the world that calls for a Rise Against song," McIlrath mentioned in an APA interview before the concert. He noted that "Nod" being released just a few days after Donald Trump's inauguration was "a happy coincidence" for him. "This song is meant to remind you that the world can overwhelm you at times. But even if it looks like 2025 will be a very dark year, you should take a deep breath and take a step back. There are many people standing by your side. Together we can do it."

Conveying this message was apparently also a secondary thought of the powerful, very crisp 90-minute show: The rousing opener "Satellite" made it clear that Rise Against does not settle for half measures, let alone the audience. The crowd hung on McIlrath's every word from the first second and proved to be incredibly familiar with the lyrics, especially during the acoustic set with a touching "Hero of War". Fire fountains repeatedly shot up on stage - a nice visual, but actually secondary on this evening.

Rise Against Performed in Vienna

Instead of relying on big effects, Rise Against could fully depend on their repertoire. The catchy "The Black Market" ignited just as much as the melodic masterpiece "Nowhere Generation" from the album of the same name released in 2021. Of course, "Prayer of the Refugee" could not be missed, which brought movement to the very back rows and set no less than five circle pits throughout the hall in motion. At the same time, Rise Against knew how to capture the mood repeatedly to lead to the next highlight.

"This band was made to fight," McIlrath let his audience know towards the end. By then, he had already demanded solidarity for Ukraine, pointed out the consequences of the climate catastrophe, and clearly spoken out against any form of exclusion. He didn't even need to start preaching for this; a few clear words between the equally clearly worded pieces were enough. And above all, there was the impression of: Yes, it is not too late to turn the tide.

Not Accepting Political Fearmongering

With this attitude, McIlrath also views the current developments in the USA. Right-wing politicians worldwide are currently dealing with fear. "This comes straight from the fascism handbook. We are supposed to fear the others. What gets us out of this? Transparency and the refusal to let these things become normal. We must not accept this," emphasized the musician. "When Trump lies about the number of undocumented immigrants in America, it must be called out as such. Racist, sexist, and xenophobic views must not be normalized!" The loud appeal for this was unmistakable in the Stadthalle. In June, it will resound at Nova Rock when Rise Against returns to Austria.

(By Christoph Griessner/APA)

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.