WORDS AND IMAGES GOSIA CZYZNIEWSKA
Rise Against’s much-anticipated show at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on the 8th of February was nothing short of electrifying, even though I, unfortunately, missed the first two bands. From what I later heard, both L.S. Dunes and Spiritual Cramp delivered excellent performances, firing up the crowd perfectly for the arrival of the legendary headliners
By the time Rise Against was set to take the stage, the room was buzzing with anticipation and excitement. The setlist had been changing every night on this tour, so the fans were eager to see what surprises lay in store. When the band finally appeared, the crowd erupted, and they launched right into their opener, “Satellite.”
The energy ramped up with the second song, “Tragedy + Time,” which saw the introduction of CO2 cannons. It was a visual and sonic spectacle, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
One of the show’s standout moments came during “Give It All” when lead singer Tim McIlrath teased the audience about joining the pit. He eventually made good on his promise, diving in for a sing-off with the fans, fist-bumping, high-fiving, and even having his hair ruffled by some lucky crowd members.
During “The Good Left Undone,” McIlrath gave a heartfelt shout-out to the support bands and the audience, thanking everyone for making the night possible. “It’s all because of you, whether it’s your first show or your 50th – it’s all because of you,” he said, before inviting the entire room to sing at the top of their lungs.
At one point, Tim asked the crowd, “Are you alright? I don’t mean existentially; I mean are you alright right f*cking now?” He then reflected on the importance of community and finding strength in tough times, which perfectly transitioned into the emotional anthem “Strength to Go On.”
The band took a brief pause to perform a beautiful acoustic trio of songs, including “People Live Here,” “Hero of War,” and “Swing Life Away.” Tim mentioned how this was their first time at the Victoria Warehouse, a bigger venue chosen because of the growing number of fans. As far as problems go, having too many fans is a good one to have!
The energy picked right back up with “Prayer of the Refugee,” which erupted into an all-out sing-along as the crowd belted out every word. Tim, visibly moved, called the crowd “a beautiful audience,” and the band pressed on with “Audience of One” before briefly leaving the stage.
Of course, the relentless chants from the crowd brought them back for an encore, with Tim taking a moment to express his amusement at seeing a video of fans breakdancing during the show. “I knew Manchester was cool, but I didn’t know it was THAT cool!” he joked, earning another round of cheers.
McIlrath also shared how he’s been learning about Manchester’s football culture, including the segregation of away fans, the ban on drinking in the seats, and the existence of Bovril, which apparently blew his mind! He even got the crowd laughing by sharing his favorite football line: “Push the ball forward, you useless tw*t!”
Rise Against then closed the night with a powerful performance of “Black Masks & Gasoline,” followed by their iconic hit “Savior.” The outro was immense, with the band pouring every last drop of energy into their instruments, leaving the riffs and drums ringing in the air long after they walked off stage.
It was a night to remember, a true testament to why Rise Against remains one of the most enduring and impactful punk rock bands of the last two decades.
SET LIST
1/ Satellite
2/ Tragedy + Time
3/ Give It All
4/ Blood-Red, White & Blue
5/ Help Is on the Way
6/ Blood to Bleed
7/ The Good Left Undone
8/ Strength To Go On
9/ Long Forgotten Sons
10/ People Live Here
11/ Hero of War
12/ Swing Life Away
13/ Nod
14/ Prayer of the Refugee
15/ Audience of One
16/ Black Masks & Gasoline
17/ Savior
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