American Hardcore Banda Melodic/Punk Rock was in the country for three shows with offspring and plans to launch unpublished material soon
Carnival Monday, March 3, 2025. It’s not quite a holiday, but it’s not a period when journalists and advisors are working on urgent guidelines. Even so, the Rolling Stone Brazil Hit a brief chat with Tim mcilrathvocalist and guitarist of Rise Against which was about to hold three presentations in the country. In a cycle of few interviews of his band to national vehicles, the musician made a point of talking at least with RS. Why stop answering it?
With over 25 years of activity, the group today composed by him, Joe Prince (low), Brandon Barnes (battery) and Zach Blair (guitar) would be – and it was – the opening attraction of the Offspring on the tour with megafestival air promoted at the beginning of the month. The American Quartet of Chicago, specifically, played with punk rock colleagues in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Curitiba, in a lineup that changed according to the city, but in the capitals of São Paulo and Paranaense brought four more attractions: Sublime, The Damned, The Warning and Amyl & The Sniffers.
Mcilrath, like almost every musician who lands here, ensured a special relationship with the country. According to him, the band talked to this day about the previous trip in March 2023 to play at Lollapalooza and a solo date in the charming and intimate Cine Joia, both in Sao Paulo. There was also excitement for returning in a short time, instead of having to wait “Ten years or whatever”.
Before the last two visits, they were here in 2011, 2012 and 2017. In the third year mentioned, they participated in the Maximus Festival, which had shows of Slayer, PROPHETS OF RAGE, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punchbetween others. And of course, a huge headliner: Linkin Parkwho performed one of his last performances before the vocalist’s death Chester Benningtonto occur two months later. Tim recalls the occasion:
“I think this time we played with Linkin Park was the last time I saw Chester. It was a lot of fun to play with Prophets of Rage – it’s great just being close to legendary guys, like Chuck D, B-real and all the guys in Rage Against The Machine. And just being somewhere that we are not very often, people, the food… It was so nice to have this connection with many of our fans. Nothing but positive experiences in Brazil. Also, as it is cold in Chicago this time of year, it is nice to go to a good mood. [Risos]”
While many great bands are beginning to resume their concert schedules for 2025, Rise Against has already performed 22 performances in different parts of the planet. Before Brazil, they traveled around Europe in the middle of winter. Days after they came here, they headed to North America, in a turn with Pope Roach and Underoath that follows the following month. In June, they return to the old continent for the festivals season. September? North America again.
And the year 2025 already promised to be full for the quartet because, as early as January, they made available the single single “Nod”. The idea is that the track only serves from Teaser to a new album, the tenth of the group’s career, with no date to leave. Mcilrath celebrated the possibility of presenting the song created with the producer Catherine Marks in Brazil – what happened – made it clear that it integrates “A lot of new songs” and anticipated: “The sound will be inclined to something more traditional Rise Againt, despite some slightly unexpected tracks”.
If instrumental work can escape the expected from time to time, the lyrical burden with a strong social message – political criticism, reflections on injustices and even animal and environmental rights issues – must be preserved. In this regard, Tim states, in an enigmatic tone:
“I think the new lyrics of Rise Against will talk about what is happening in the world and what is happening now. Many of the questions we talk about are kind of timeless. It’s interesting to see how the songs we wrote a few months ago will ‘land’ in 2025. I think people will find something to explore.”
Nostalgia? Nothing
Although it has experienced the peak of popularity in the 2000s, Rise Against has made its audience grow based on strong tours ethics. It is one of the bands of your period that most excursion. And there’s no bad weather with them: to play as a headliner, they agree to open shows of bigger bands, they are part of festivals regardless of the time they will perform and so on.
As a reflection, Tim McLilrath points out: the fan base continues in renewal. He comments:
“It’s always a surprise for me. It’s like we won’t wait for new fans at this point in our career. But every time we played, we see a lot of young people enjoying the band in the front row. We just did shows in Europe and some of the performances happened to bigger audiences than ever. You don’t predict this kind of things. I am always surprised and happy to see when I see new fans.
Another band that reported witnessing something similar to their audience is offspring. In an interview prior to Rolling Stone Brazil, the guitarist Noodles He said it was only for nostalgia, it would not happen. On the same occasion, he had praised all the bands that accompanied them in the country – including Rise Against, described by him as an excellent attraction to watch live.
Invited to comment on Californian colleagues, Tim McLilrath preserved the friendly tone. He stated:
“Offspring is a legendary part of the punk scene. They are iconic. And they are ubiquitous now: people know offspring around the world. It’s inspiring to watch this Southern California punk band, which started on an independent label like Epitaph, dominating the world.”
The vocalist and guitarist also reflected on the low presence of new rock groups in the so -called mainstream. For him, this does not mean that genre – especially punk branch – is dying.
“The music I grew up listening was always underground. It has always been. It was never mainstream. I never paid much attention to what was popular. It never bothered me much to see if rock becomes popular or unpopular or whatever. I feel that people will find the bands they want to find.”
Twenty (and one) years from jump to the mainstream
If, on the one hand Tim Mcilrath not usually hear mainstream artists, on the other, his own band belonged to him at a certain time of the 2000s. This story began two decades, with Siren song of the counter culture (2004), Rise Againt’s third studio album and the first by a major label, DreamWorks Records, affiliated with Geffen. Won a gold album in three countries (USA, Australia and Germany) and Platinum in Canada, as well as signs the singles “Give It All”, “Life Less Frightening” and “Swing Life Away” – celebrated with gold certification in American territory.
The vocalist and guitarist with love with the album in question, despite the disagreements they had with Garth Richardsonproducer celebrated for his work with Rage Against the Machine, Kittie, Biffy Clyro, Mudvaynebetween others. He comments:
“We made two records on an independent label and then we signed with DreamWorks. It was as if our band was finally doing a record with a high -level producer, with Garth Richardson. We felt the sky was the limit. We felt we could do and compose anything. We were excited to create something we could take to the world. We were still a very raw punk band trying to discover our sound. Garth had done everything from the first Rage Against the Machine to Red Hot Chili Peppers [como engenheiro de som] and Sick of It All. He brought his type of energy to the disc. This is what you feel when you hear. ”
In several recent shows held before Brazil, Siren song of the counter culture obtained prominence in the repertoire: “Dancing for Rain”, “Paper Wings” And, of course, “Swing Life Away,” have been touched in the presentations where Rise Against has more time. Asked about songs that still catch his attention, Tim McLrath replies:
“‘Dancing for Rain’ It is one that we played a lot in this last tour. I am proud of her because she resisted the test of time. Songs such as ‘Give It All’ and ‘Swing Life Away’ It was the introduction of many people to Rise Against. ‘State of the union’, ‘Tip The Scales’… All very fun and intense songs to make. ”
With the bonus, the burden: In this period, Rise Against was accused by old fans of “sold.” Recurring speech when a punk band ends up signing with a large label. In this regard, the frontman reflects:
“I think as your band grows, it’s hard to communicate your message to all your fans. We just knew what we were doing and we were asking fans to trust us. We knew time would say.”
Having recently completed 25 years of career, Rise Against has no plans to stop. At the same time, Mcilrath can already reflect on the legacy she wants to leave with the band. On the subject-and completing the chat-he says:
“I would like Rise Against to be part of the solution, not the problem. That we contributed positive to music that is not afraid to talk about politics. And we would push the conversation ahead and not back. I hope we have inspired some people and artists to merge their art with politics.”
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Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
