Review - Rise Against – Wednesday 16th March 2011 – Camden Electric Ballroom

Let’s get this out of the way early – watching concerts being streamed live online is a genius idea, and a brilliant way of giving back to the fans. With many, on this occasion, not being able to join Rise Against on their only UK show in London, and some just not fortunate enough to get a ticket, with this selling out fairly quickly, streaming it is a brilliant way of allowing everyone to watch the show who wants to. An intimate venue, with a great band who have long since outgrown venues such as this, can only mean that all involved are going to have a great night.

Tim McIlrath pretty much gets it spot on. It is either the smallest Rise Against show you will ever see, or the biggest. I am inclined to consider it the biggest.

Tonight is clearly a celebration for Rise Against. Two days after the release of their latest (killer) album Endgame, they return to the capital to play for their UK fans. Many would expect a “new-album heavy” show, which can often be the case when a band comes over so soon after the release of a new record.

However, what the fans in attendance (and the millions watching at home) get, is what they would have wanted. A 90 minute full bloodied greatest hits set. Chamber the Cartidge starts proceedings, sounding (in amidst computer hiccups) huge, and setting the benchmark for all that is to come. Quickly following the incendiary opener with a brutal State of the Union, it is clear to see that Rise Against are here to have a great time tonight, and the crowd visibly go nuts on command, singing along for their heroes at ever peak and turn. The hits follow in full force, the band really hitting their stride on a brilliant one-two of Injection, followed straight by Prayer of the Refugee.

An ill-timed phone call meant that I missed the majority of Audience of One and Architects, but I can imagine that they both went down a storm, as a Rise Against classic, bleeds into a choice cut from the latest record. A heartful and ravenous run through of Help is on the Way, dedicated to Japan after its tragedies of this week is touching, and ever fitting. The song itself sounds huge, and as one of the stand out tracks of Endgame, fits itself easily into the setlist, and becomes an instant crowd favourite.

What was evident throughout (even with an at times intermittent feed) was that the band have some killer hits across a stellar back catalogue. We all know them as well, but sometimes it takes a show as awesome as this to remind you just how many good songs a band has. What is more frightening, is the quality of songs that didn’t make the setlist cut.

A brilliant show all round, and a stream feed which (for me) got better as the show went on. The quality in places was a real surprise, and can only mean good things for more concerts in the future, which will hopefully get streamed for the world to see.

A great band, a great show, and an exciting look to the potential of concert streaming, and the future.

Some great photos of the show can be found here www.rocksound.tv/photos/article/live-and-loud-rise-against

Setlist: Chamber the Cartridge/State of the Union/The Good Left Undone/Heaven Knows/Re-Education (Through Labor)/Survive/Like the Angel/Help is on the Way/The Dirt Whispered/ Injection/Prayer of the Refugee/Audience of One/Architects/Savior/Swing Life Away/Hero of War/Alive and Well/Give It All/Ready to Fall