Photography by Taylor Cancannon A lot can change in six years, but walking into Festival Pier to see Rise Against was like stepping back in time to their July 2009 show. The venue was still coated in a bottomless pit of sand. The audience was once again specked with enough Rise Against tour shirts to encompass their full career. But, most surprising and nearly unbelievable, was that the show was just as remarkable as it was six years ago. Rise Against shows tend to open with heart-racing, fist-pumping, aggressive opening acts, and letlive. hypnotized the crowd with their opening song “Le Prologue” by tossing in an unexpected rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” Vocalist Jason Aalon Butler kept all eyes on the group by dancing along to his tracks and quite literally rolling across the stage. Even a blink was enough to miss a spectacular mic toss. The audience went ballistic when Butler hopped the barricades to dance along with his long-time and newly converted fans, working his way to the back of the venue and back down the center of the crowd before returning to the stage.

Their set encompassed their motto of “you are letlive.” Furthermore, the group performed with poise and enthusiasm, introducing the evening with an undeniably energetic and well-executed act. Next to the stage was Killswitch Engage, a Massachusetts metalcore group that seems amiss sandwiched between the hardcore and punk rock acts. However, Rise Against has already gained a reputation for touring with groups throughout the rock umbrella, from punk-ska legends Rancid to pop-punk stars A Day To Remember, uniting fans of all parties involved and introducing them to new artists to explore. Killswitch Engage tossed the punk-rock crowd into an authentic metal experience, charged with finger-bleeding guitar solos, shattering screams, and enough headbanging to make even viewers nauseous. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz had more fun onstage than the moshers in the pit, cracking jokes every time he approached a mic and jumping on and off of every speaker in sight. Jesse Leach seethed passion and energy with his show-stopping vocals, leaving the audience aghast when apologizing for seemingly nonexistent vocal issues due to illness.

Killswitch Engage closed their set with nearly all attendees satisfied with their fast-paced, top-class performance. Rise Against introduced themselves with their trademark, activist-oriented light show. Their letter screens, spelling out RISE, flickered as a dialogue was exchanged over a two-way radio. Goodyear Blue Streak Tires PriceThe lights dimmed for a suspenseful moment before Rise Against burst into view with the same explosion of energy as they had six years ago in this same spot. Homes For Sale Hammocks Lynn Haven FlThe stage was their playground as they ran back and forth, jumping off of and over all possible elevated surfaces. Irish Doodle Puppies For Sale In WisconsinRise Against continued these antics throughout their set without missing a beat or taking even a moment to catch a breath.

They packed the hour with their most revered songs. Vocalist Tim McIlrath performed a breathtakingly raw and passionate acoustic version of their most known single “Swing Life Away.” However, Rise Against kept the crowd on its toes with surprise performances of their lesser known gems such as “Dancing For Rain.” Even more impressive than their showmanship and execution was their attitude. As in past shows, the members of Rise Against showed an outward, genuine appreciation for being on the stage. The members still sported the same smiles as noted at their previous visit to the venue. McIlrath made an effort to keep the set nostalgic and personal in reminiscing on a past show at the TLA, when they played as a trio without bassist Joe Principe, to introduce the song “Black Masks and Gasoline.” With a double encore, Rise Against appeared as enthusiastic to play their songs as the audience was for them to continue. All focus was on the group as they performed, and even individuals voicing that they were only present to see Killswitch Engage could be seen nodding and tapping along.

Rise Against performed yet another unforgettable show at Festival Pier. Even six years later, Rise Against has not passed their prime. While their sound has progressed into a more streamlined rock and they’ve grown to tour with more diverse and widely known names, they are still the same band as they were in 2009. Rise Against still performs with the incomparable stamina and the same no-frills, punk rock stage presence as they had six years ago. Over the years, Rise Against has kept to their roots and upheld their fans’ expectations for a show worthy of acclaim. See all the photos from the show below! This slideshow requires JavaScript.Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach has shared a statement online after spending several days “mourning the current state of the world and this country”. Leach takes exception to the notion that the problem lies among average people and instead blames complex distraction tactics to further divide us by those at the very top. His statement is incredibly well written and insightful.

This is certainly the best analysis I have read on this topic from any musician thus far. Jesse Leach demonstrates a depth that is rare when coming from public figures in the entertainment industry. Here is Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach’s statement: “Knowing full well the insurmountable ridicule and abuse I may receive from this post (by those polarized in one direction or the other) I can not stay silent anymore. I realize my thoughts, concerns and observations may mean nothing to you. If that is the case simply stop reading. For those reading on, thank you and back to your regular unscheduled program of social media to resume in a minute or two. – I can’t just take a “side” or allow a hashtag to define my grief (we all have our ways to mourn with respect). I have been contemplating and mourning the current state of the world and this country for days now. I still find it hard to find the words, but I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror tomorrow if I didn’t attempt to formulate my thoughts and speak my mind and heart.

I mourn the murder of any human! The fact that we as a people use death as a political platform or an agenda is despicable. The denying of deep rooted inequality is also equally despicable! How can we foster progress and actual equality when no one is willing to listen to each other? We must be willing to be considerate and walk in one another’s shoes to find understanding. I don’t see much of that sadly, just division and disregard for one another. What a sad, troubled and shockingly ignorant state of affairs we are caught in these days. The division between us as a people grows daily due tragic events paired alongside calculated disinformation and false flag or “wagging the dog” (look up these terms if you are not familiar and then examine certain current events that change over time). There is much outside of our history books and news reports to learn from. These days we are swallowing blindly what they feed us. Instead of uniting to stand against a common enemy (the ones in power that manipulate justice and care not for the common people).

Instead we are divided against each other! While we bicker and fight over hashtags and who’s killing who, the clandestine dismantling of this country and the world economy continues unchecked. Racism (among many other warped and conditioned hateful thinking) is alive and well people! It is being arrogantly displayed by many on both “sides” of the current issues. Yet we are distracted by social status, fantasy games and vanity glued to our phones like zombies. We swallow manufactured media as click bait conspiracies to occupy our minds. We have been warned for decades about these times from literature, to movies and songs. Yet here we are in the midst of yet another crucial downfall and all we are doing is infighting and pointing fingers at each other. When in fact the blame lies upon those in high “authority.” Those very few at the top who oversee the passing and amending of laws, the controlling of wealth and the distribution of power ARE the divisors and dictators of the system.

We have been conditionally dumbed down, divided and controlled. This is “idiocracy” in full effect, but the vast majority can’t see it! We have been indoctrinated and brain washed so cleverly, patiently and precisely that the vast majority are completely unaware of the state of emergency. We lash out against one another in fear and anger. Anyone trying to make a change and speak out is violently and or verbally struck down by an opposing view. It’s ether that or threatened, ridiculed or simply… silenced in death. How many more of “US” will die before we realize the truth has been disguised? How long do we allow those in control to manipulate us, humiliate us, steal from us and kill us like pawns in their game of power? There has got to be a better way. There has got to be a radical change. Sadly I fear the worst as it seems most are too far gone, trapped in the “matrix” as it were. The only thing I can offer is my personal action. My lyrics in my music, my choices, the companies I support or boycott with money.

The effort I will put forth to be understanding, compassionate and yes, loving when I have the strength. My faith is, that there is enough good with us all to begin to heal and help one another (even in small simple ways). For those of you who believe in God I urge you to pray. For those of you who gather in protest and activism do so in peace. For those of you in uniform show honor and control. For those of you who have compassion and charity to give, give it in abundance. We are facing troubling times and I feel it will only get worse before it improves. In the meantime pause and think before you speak or act and ask yourself “am I a part of the problem or a part of the solution.” You can control and change the way you think and act. Think about this, if only for a moment. I am just a man trying to find understanding and do the best that I can to help in anyway. I will continue to strive to write lyrics and songs for ALL of us. I will strive to be an instrument of light and hope in this world of darkness (albeit a flawed, sarcastic, head case of an instrument)….but It’s all I have and all I can offer at present.