LIVE: RISE AGAINST – Perth, 7 Feb, 2018

LIVE: RISE AGAINST – Perth, 7 Feb, 2018
HBF Stadium, Perth – Wednesday, 7 February, 2018
Reviewed by Melanie Scrafton

The hardcore/punk band Bare Bones were a highly efficient warm up as the punters were filtering into HBF stadium, getting the crowd’s heads were nodding along as the set progressed. The 4 piece created a heavy and solid sound, demonstrating great musicianship and energy on stage, with frontman Tom Kennedy connecting with the Perth crowd and obviously stoked to be on this tour with Rise Against. Their profile is growing fast after scoring previous supports with Stone Sour and Every Time I Die, amongst others, and they seem to be getting set for greater things.

Rise Against started their set promptly at 9pm on this first show of their Australian tour, promoting latest album Wolves, and the crowd participation was on from the start.

Front man Tim McIlrath really connected with the crowd: he seems to have a genuine fondness of Perth and the fans here, and by the second song in he was crowd surfing at the front of the mosh without missing a beat. All through the set he was talking to the crowd, mentioning previous visits to Perth, even remembering an Amplifier Bar show that stood out in his memory. He took his time discussing the concepts behind certain tracks, showing enormous passion for the music the band produces and the uniting qualities music can bring to its audience.

Referring more than once to the crowd as making the band feel at home, and like their family or tribe, McIlrath led his guys through a selection of tracks from their back catalogue, only including The Violence and House on Fire from the latest album during the initial 40 minutes. Tim then went solo for 20 minutes playing several songs including Hero Of War acoustically.

When the whole band returned to the stage for the final 30 minutes, the momentum built again, still pulling popular tracks from their previous albums as well as the title track from Wolves, and dedicating Survive to the late Chester Bennington. Their energy was solid, whilst the lighting and backdrop was complimentary to the band without being over the top, ensuring that it still felt like a rock gig, not a show.

The sound throughout the stadium wasn’t always on point on this occasion, though, with a fair amount of distortion, albeit inconsistent. It certainly didn’t ruin the show for me: as I was leaving the venue, I was looking forward to their next visit.

Set List
Chamber the Cartridge
Give It All
The Violence
Re-Education (Through Labor)
Dancing for Rain
The Good Left Undone
Collapse
House on Fire
Prayer of the Refugee

Acoustic:
Swing Life Away
People Live Here
Hero of War

Help Is on the Way
Bricks
Make It Stop (September’s Children)
Survive

Encore:
Wolves
Satellite
Savior

Remaining tour dates –

Feb 09, 2018 The Barton Theatre, Adelaide – Licensed All Ages
Feb 10, 2018 Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – Licensed All Ages
Feb 13, 2018 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – Licensed All Ages
Feb 14, 2018 Riverstage – Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Brisbane – Licensed All Ages
Feb 17, 2018 Horncastle Arena, Christchurch – Licensed All Ages
Feb 19, 2018 Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland – 18+

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries