Results tagged “riseagainst”

        

Here at Phillyist, we've been to our fair share of punk shows. We're well aware that there are certain rules that go along with attending said shows. Even though we know better, we broke almost all the rules at Rise Against/Rancid/Billy Talent. Inappropriate footwear? Check. Expensive sunglasses and camera that might get crushed in a mosh pit? Check. Thank god we brought along our ability to fling guys twice our size into the pit for our own protection.

Saturday at Festival Pier up-and-coming Canadians (read: HUGE in Canada, but just starting to get attention in the US and Europe), Billy Talent will be supporting punk veterans, Rancid, and semi-recent mainstream punk-pop crossover, Rise Against. Our first impression of the Canuck's brand new album, Billy Talent III is that it's instrumentally intriguing. There's definitely some nice guitar work and a couple of cool baselines, but unfortunately the lyrics and vocals aren't quite as strong. Luckily, we hear lead singer Ben Kowalewicz delivers an intense, high energy stage performance. And we can't wait to check a hard-hitting live version of single "Rusted from the Rain," a song Kowalewicz describes as having been built upon an "epic Soundgarden-like riff."

               

With Rise Against (MySpace), you've got to expect everything to be in your face: the attitude, the music, and the politics. So we weren't at all surprised when we walked into the Electric Factory and the first thing we saw was a table where PETA was handing out pamphlets about how meat is the number one cause of global warming. We tend to agree more with the PETA and with Anthony Bourdain when it comes to vegetarianism, but it's just part of the deal with Rise Against. So, accepting that...

We are so dedicated to bringing you the most comprehensive music coverage that we possibly can, that, as you may have read here or here, we covered both Thursday's and Friday's shows at the Electric Factory. Both featured performances by The Gaslight Anthem, Thrice, Alkaline Trio and Rise Against. This review will cover the first two groups. The Gaslight Anthem played an express set that felt like it ended before it began. They had drive and moxy, but their sound was confusing. Sometimes they were an Alkaline Trio offshoot, and other times they had a decidedly more mainstream "classic" rock sound. Their singer belted out a Springsteen-esque growl on more than one occasion.

Well, with the Phillies coming up with that big NLCS win last night, everyone in the city is probably in a pretty good mood today. So we wonder whether everyone's going to be too cheery to be appropriately angst-ridden at the Electric Factory tonight and tomorrow, when punk/hardcore standard-bearers Rise Against (MySpace) and Alkaline Trio (MySpace) will play what promises to be one hell of an aggressive show. (Or, because they're playing two nights, is it two hells of aggressive shows? Our sense of grammar is off this morning.)

Does your boss deserve to be wished a Happy Boss' Day?

...because seriously, whatever brand they're using in their microphones right now sucks. But we'll get to that eventually, because we weren't at the TLA last Tuesday night just to see Alkaline Trio (MySpace). We were also there to see the opening act, The Fashion (MySpace). We were more or less completely psyched for this show, because we've become pretty big Alkaline Trio fans over the course of the last year, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of The Fashion's recent album. But our evening got off to a pretty inauspicious start, and we couldn't help but walk away from the show disappointed.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news.