Still finding the need to Rise Against
Political venom not in short supply for veteran punk band
PROFILE. In a shocking turn of events, Green Day is the biggest band in the world and populist punk is, well, populist again. Although for some the idea of taking notes on rebellion from aging millionaires seems a little contradictory. In the meantime, one might instead turn to the seething agitprop punk of Chicago’s Rise Against.
On the their most recent record, 2008’s “Appeal to Reason,” the band tackles the working class condition and our society’s passive reception of political information through media on songs like “Re-Education (Through Labor)” and “The Strength To Go On.”
The songs’ hard-charging energy and gritty indignation are tempered by a tuneful accessibility that have widely broadened their potential mass appeal. The most poignant track is a melancholy acoustic number called “Hero Of War” based on stories they heard from Rise Against fans serving in the military in Iraq. In short, the band, who are also strict vegetarians and active in the animal rights movement among other progressive concerns, has given the workers of the world something to actually unite around, even if it’s just the invigorating power of their punk anthems.
The catchy songs only help the political pill go down easier, says bassist Joe Principe.
“I think as a general rule the music is what grabs people first and the message kind of seeps in as people listen to the song,” he says. “I think that’s why we always went more the melodic way. Even when we were starting as a band, we all loved hardcore music, but we liked the melody involved. If it’s kind of message first with aggressive music it tends to turn people off right away.”
It’s an approach that he learned from listening to influential political punks Bad Religion.
“Growing up I loved Bad Religion so much,” says Principe. “At first I didn’t get what Greg Graffin was singing about, then it started seeping in and I was like ‘Wow these are amazing lyrics.’”
No doubt there are thousands of kids out there saying the same about his own band right now. Principe says he relishes being somewhere in the middle of the popularity pack. Not too big to rise and flame out fast, but just enough to carry over a devoted fan base over their 10-year run and still be able to pick up new fans along the way.
“It’s just a good feeling to know that our music seems to stand the test of time,” he says. “That we’re not the flavor of the month.”
As long as there are social and political concerns to rise against it’s unlikely this type of punk will ever go out of style.
Rise Against
with Rancid
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Festival Pier at Penns Landing
Columbus Boulevard and Springgarden Street
$30,215-569-9400
www.livenation.com
Sunday, 7 p.m.
Roseland Ballroom
239 West 52nd St., New York
$40, 212-777-6800
www.roselandballroom.com
Tuesday and Wednesday
House of Blues
Lansdowne St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore
www.hob.com/boston