Chicago Punks No Longer A Secret…
RISE AGAINST
by Corine Jurgerson
Some may call their
lyrics controversial. Many would say they’re sending a message of
awareness to the youth of America. Others may call them Chicago’s
best-kept secret. Whatever the case, Chicago-based punk band
Rise Against is undeniably engraving its mark on the Chicago music
scene.
Since forming in
1999, vocalist Tim McIlrath,
bassist Joe Principe, guitarist Chris
Chasse and
drummer Brandon Barnes have signed with two record labels, recorded three
full-length albums and endured seemingly endless touring, all the while,
building a solid fan base that stretches across the globe.
Fresh off the 2004
Vans’ Warped Tour, the guys released their latest CD, Siren Song Of The
Counter-Culture, in
August, headlined some gigs of their own, then hit the road yet again
with Bad Religion.
They’ve even
contributed a track to one of the discs on the Rock Against Bush
compilation set. They have quite a respectable resume’ for a group that
started out playing venues like the Fireside Bowl and small VFW halls in
the suburbs. So how did they get to this point?
“We were really
active members of the punk rock community in Chicago which was a really
awesome punk rock scene at the time,” McIlrath explained.
“As the bands that we
all played in sort of broke up or faded away, we wanted to start this
band and we ended up getting together. Joe came from a band called 88
Fingers Louie, I came from a band called Baxter; we got together and did
Rise Against,” continued McIlrath. “Then we got Brandon, our drummer,
from Colorado, he was playing in a band called Pinhead Circus out there
and when they broke up he was looking for a new band to play in so we
called him up. We found out about Chris from a band called Reach the
Sky from Boston. They both live in Chicago now and we do the band. Then
we just kind of started, and started playing, and did a demo.”
That demo would be
heard by Fat Mike himself from Fat Wreck Chords, who would sign the guys
and put out their first two records, The Unraveling
and Revolutions Per Minute,
as well as launch them on tours that lasted almost four years straight.
When it came time to
record a third album, however, the guys decided it was time for a change
and amicably split from Fat Wreck Chords to sign with DreamWorks, which
is now Geffen.
“There is a message
behind our band,” McIlrath said. “We consider ourselves a punk rock
band, and I think that punk rock bands have messages, and that is the
message of change and awareness. We had a message that we felt like we
could take to another level”.
“You can take what
you hear on commercial radio and on commercial TV which is 95% bullsh*t
and just fluff; stuff that is really just self-important music all about
record sales and making money,” he added. “We wanted to take our music
with more of a message to it – more of a positive message about change
and awareness, and just kind of expose the masses to it, you know? Have
somebody hear one of our songs that doesn’t normally have their thought
processes challenged.”
And Siren Song
Of the Counter Culture does challenge the thought processes. Produced by Gggarth
Richardson (Rage Against The
Machine, Chevelle, Sick Of It All),
the album relays a strong sense of maturity –– maturity that typically
isn’t found in guys only in their twenties.
From the political
“State Of The Union”
to the sobering “Rumors of My
Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated,”
Rise Against’s songwriting abilities far supercede their peers’ in the
punk scene today. Few could even think to write such powerful lyrics
such as this verse in the song,
“State Of The Union”
–– ‘state of the union address;
reads war torn country still a mess; the words: power, death and
distorted truth; are read between the lines of the red, white and blue;
countdown to the very end; equality – an invitation that we won’t
extend’
Although the entire
album is not political in nature;
“State Of The Union”
is a solid example of the band’s beliefs and ability to voice their
opinions to spread awareness. However, the band members do not just
limit themselves to voicing their opinions. They get involved.
“It’s no secret that
we’re adamantly anti-Bush,” McIlrath stated. “We’re adamantly
anti-war. We don’t agree with the war in Iraq. It wasn’t worth it. We
don’t agree with George Bush and the Bush Administration. I think that
the George Bush Administration has been trampling on the graves of 9/11
victims ever since it happened. I think it’s been a shame that someone
like that is presiding over our country. We are involved with
punkvoter.com , which
is encouraging 18-24 year old kids to get out there and vote, which is
working. Kids are going to vote, which is amazing. We are also a part
of the Rock Against Bush” [2 CD’s].
Aside from
Presidential politics, the guys have also been known to support groups
like PETA2 and MoveOn.org, as well as stand up for AIDS activism.
Even more intriguing
is the manner in which the guys guard the way that their band is
managed. Although they are a tight band with amazing potential, don’t
expect to see them on TRL or hear them on a Top 40 station like many of
their Warped Tour counterparts.
“We’re not trying to
become the next big radio hit,” McIlrath explained. “We’re not trying
to become the next MTV single… we already have a really dedicated fan
base. We have what a lot of bands don’t have. We can show up to any
town in North America, and Europe and Japan, and we have fans over there
waiting for us. That’s an amazing thing. That’s more than we ever
asked for when we started this band.
“We’re more
interested in keeping that dedicated fan base than we are in winning
over some radio single or Top 40 fan base who are just going to listen
to our CD and like it for a couple of months and then move on to the
next Top 10 songs,” he continued. “Even though we’re on a major label,
we’ve gone out of our way to really make sure we don’t get pegged as one
of those bands and to really make sure the label doesn’t push us to be
one of those bands. Which, they’ve been very understanding and very cool
with.”
To aspiring bands in
the Midwest, McIlrath relays words of wisdom and stresses that you
really need to get out there and tour.
“You really can’t
wait around for that amazing tour to come along. It’s all about setting
up your own tours and getting out there and playing. Around Chicago,
there are so many college towns. You can play college parties. Go play
in Madison, go play in Peoria, in Normal and Bloomington … at I.U. or
Champaign Urbana. Go play parties, go play shows. Just get out of
town. Pay attention to your fans. Answer your email. Get a good
website going. And really just believe in what you do, because if you
believe in what you do then someone else is going to recognize that at
some point. They’re going to realize what you’re doing, and they’re
going to identify with that. Remain honest to yourself, and always
think about yourself from a fan’s position. I think those are some of
the things that go a long way.”
See RISE AGAINST on tour with Bad Religion
November 6th at the Riviera Theatre.
|
