Why Rise Against Matters

My thoughts on why I think Rise Against is an important band. As the only big name punk band to blow up in the 2000s they've gotta be worth something right?
Pop Punk video:
• Crass Course: Old Scho...
Background Music:
"Sometimes Selling Out is Giving Up" by Rise Against
• Crass Course: Old Scho...
"Dressed to Fuck" by the Killing Tree
• The Killing Tree - Dre...
"Elmer's" by 88 Fingers Louie
• Elmer's
"Generation Lost" by Rise Against
• Generation Lost

[@xxErmis]

There are punk bands that reprensent the punk face of "I dont give a fuck / fuck the police / getting drunk" and there are others that want to represent the punk face where the lyrics actually matters. All of their lyrics are phenomenal. Rise Against represents that

[@animal1439]

Rise against has always been one of those bands that's been solid for there entire career. They have peaks and valleys in their discography but I don't think they've released a single objectively "bad" record. Their early stuff is solid and they've done a great job of maturing their sound and lyrics writing as they've grown older.

[@elroma7712]

Just like Judas Priest.

[@animal1439]

@@LoveMusic-bp4iv Bruh... Appeal to reason and Endgame are fantastic albums. They have some of the band's most iconic songs, the lyric writing is as poignant as ever (goddamn Septembers Children!?!?) and they managed bring punk to the masses unlike basically any other. Their newer material may lack the aggression of their older works (their in their 40's now, what do you expect?), but the passion and songwriting chops are still very clearly evident. The Numbers, Broken Dreams Incorp, and Middle of a Dream are fantastic cuts off the new record that I believe stand alongside the band's best material. I stand by my point that Rise Against have no "bad" albums. They definitely have their strongest albums that stand above the rest (Siren-Song of the Counter Culture and Sufferer and the Witness IMO are their best records), but even their so called "weak" albums are still absolutely worth a spin. Their weakest album IMO is the Black Market and even that album has some sleeper hits for me

[@brendonhaire6862]

Wolves is a terrible album. I’ve been a fan since the start, and that the only album I never play.

[@scottgreen4529]

Rise against has been my favorite band for 15 or so years and i don't see it ever changing

[@evy-k6q]

everchanging!

[@cameronportwood2530]

Endgame was what I think their peak. I love all their older albums, but that was the one where I memorized all the lyrics and loved every single song. Also the sufferer and the witness. I remember buying those cd’s at Walmart and listening to them over and over again. There was no song skipped and I just felt every single song. They were the first band I got into punk with. Then ADTR. those two bands have a special place in my heart always.

[@rbalara31]

Back in 2001, we played with Rise Against, The Lawrence Arms, and Give Up the Ghost at a small record store in Lake Elsinore, CA. The only people there were the other bands and a few people who happened to show up to the store not knowing there was a show going on. It was pretty rad.

[@ipeefreely2364]

Rise Against held a special place in my heart. A lot of homies used to rag on me for listen to them...

[@sidwellsk8er]

The reason I find Rise Against important is they made leftist politics palettable to a broader spectrum of people because they were less scary and more approachable than a lot of other bands. Me being an older Anarchist I have seen a lot of bands with like minded politics to my own alienate far too many people where as if we ever want to gain any traction we need to make it a welcoming place to newbs. I don't even tell most people I talk to my beliefs I just try to find a middle enlightening ground to branch out from that gains respect from the other person and slowly integrate my personal politics the more comfortable conversation becomes between myself and the person I may be trying to influence towards leftist ideologies.

[@chrislockejr]

Rise Against is great, yeah they've slowed down a little bit over the years, but they seem to have stayed true to themselves. Saw them play a little stage at 2003 Warped tour and have been a fan ever since. The new album is great, though part of me was a bit sad Tim only screamed one verse on the whole thing.

[@sixty2612]

Lol I had that exact same thought listening to the album

[@crustydread]

punk rock growing in popularity used to bother me as well until i realized that no matter how big shit gets there are ALWAYS underground bands that are way better every time

[@cowmark67]

Heck yeah. Rise Against are my second favorite band behind Green Day. Awesome to see them get talked about in this light. I know they are a very successful band but I don't feel like I see a lot of people talk about how important they are to punk music in the early 2000s. It's really hard to choose a favorite album of theirs but it's definitely one of their first four, probably Siren Song or Sufferer and The Witness.

[@jondoe2099]

I feel like you absolutley nailed this. Grew up to Rise Againsts rise to fame. Mind blowing watching my fav punk band blow up mainstream. Unraveling, Revolutions per Minute, Siren song of the counter culture, endgame. Those were my fav albums.

[@lizzythecutie7648]

While I personally have always been more of a fan of Anti-Flag in terms of that melodic hardcore punk style, I can't deny that Rise Against is a great band and have made a lasting impact.

[@KatherineFtw]

As a more recent fan, I just have to mention how much I love their more recent stuff. Wolves and Nowhere Generation might not have the “power” as you called it that Appeal to Reason had but they have in their own way a refined sense of message and style that is easy to get into if you aren’t a hardcore rock person like me. Coming off the likes of Green Day, I cannot stop coming back to Nowhere Generation’s tracklist.

[@sp00g37]

rise against will always be one of my favorite bands. got me into melodic hardcore, and i felt like they really helped to prop up the chicago sound of alkaline trio and lawrence arms. along with a wilhelm scream, they are epitome of melodic hardcore without the metalcore influence (TGI, STYG, etc.). I think my first real intro to them was walking around the house and hearing Drones on an Madden soundtrack. Same with Atreyu, Anti-flag, cartel, underoath, red jumpsuit apparatus, taking back sunday, and less than jake (had saves the day too, but wasnt my cup o tea.) I think dashboard was on it too. the pink spiders was on it too.

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

Hell yeah! right on!

[@nickpasquarello1291]

love me some Revolutions per Minute. My brother introduced me to that - like about 99% of music I listened to back then - and this was definitely instrumental in getting me into punk

[@elroma7712]

Favorite band since High School. Subscribed.

[@brianesparza4447]

I really appreciate your work. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@ReaperHunter23]

Rise Against has always been a favorite of mine. Haven't heard a whole lot of their newer material but Sufferer and The Witness and Endgame are still pretty frequent listens for me.

[@andrewgrignon826]

I've loved Rise Against since my sister turned me on to them in 2004. Revolutions per Minute and The Unraveling were great albums as well as Siren Song of a Counter-culture. I kinda stopped listening to them after End Game but still jammed everything before that album. I've seen them live probably 10-15 times at Warped Tour and even saw them out of town in Tulsa Oklahoma with Comeback Kid and Silverstine. They are huge fans of The Suicide Machines which is my favorite punk band and always play a cover of them when they play in my hometown of Detroit. They're playing this summer with The Used and I'll probably go since I haven't been to a show since I saw Rancid and Pennywise back in 2020 before Covid ruined everything. My favorite Rise Against song is probably State of the Union Address but I enjoy all of their songs from End Game backwards. Keep up the great work bro. Really enjoy your content

[@ceedivine]

First time I heard Rise Against was on a vans warped tour compilation with the song Like the angel.

[@Treeclimbingexpert]

I have seen them 6 times. I will see them twice this year. Aftershock 2024 and a Berkely show. I think it is safe to say they are my favorite.

[@timdavis4852]

Holy shit, never heard anyone sling love at RA like this. They were one of my first contemporary punk bands I loved. Even though thier first album was a bit dated when I was in highschool (09-13), I still consider that album to be my "High School experience" album. Only other contemporary punk bands that really gripped me that same way growing up was Anti-Flag and Frank Carter era Gallows, at least until I was around 16.

[@edwinm2376]

guitar hero 3 and i miss my teenage day :( thanks for creating video about rise against dude, i was from outside of the USA and really feel connected with the "prayer of the refugee" lyrics and the video clip as well.. i think Tim was one of the great frontmen who could crypt a balanced point of view inside of his territory with what really happened abraod.. amazing video and summary.. you should do Anti flag too by the way

[@AtZero138]

Tim i met at the El Rey theater, Thursday.. We spoke for a while.. Ran into him again at Warped Tour, great guy

[@NateBuker]

I'm a first generation hardcore guy seeing Flag in '83 yadda yadda. Rise Against hit my radar in about 2005 and I dug 'em. Punks as grizzled as I tend to look down on them but I think they were awesome for a few years and three great albums. For me most of their glory culminated with "The Sufferer and The Witness" which I think is high order modern punk rock excellence from front to back. I'm very happy you recognized them here though your delivery was a bit flat. i saw them once at Riot Fest in Chicago. I seemed to be the oldest geezer in the whole massive crowd and none of those kids looked at me twice. The band is now scattered across the country putting stuff together remotely and their best days seem to be behind them, but they should be recognized as a truly great legit punk band.

[@bulletprooftiger1879]

This guy knows his punk. Bad Religion, A Wilhelm Scream, Strike Anywhere, Propagandhi, NoFX, Pennywise, Guttermouth, Rise Against, Leftover Crack, Rancid etc. - Great Rise/TKT tracks in background too.

[@foxgaming1084]

I discovered rise against while playing Mx Vs Atv unleashed and Nfs underground 2 as their songs made it into their soundtracks

[@davidnaumann2931]

I saw guttermouth on that warped tour. They played after the casualties. The casualties played a minute or 2 into their set and mark from guttermouth was swinging a big clock at them from the other stage. Then he said, "well they can spike their hair but sure can't tell time". I'll never forget it. Guttermouth is great.

[@nmason]

ill never forget the time Guttermouth mocked us as they drove by while we were changing a flat tire while wearing Osker tshirts.

[@superred5]

Paper Wings and Bricks are some of the greatest songs of the last 20 years. Love them.

[@bryanmunroe4593]

Well done. These guys deserve more solo attention and stories.

[@blankearth5840]

I have grown up listening to Rise Against and have been a fan of them for over a decade. I remember listening to the Unraveling and RPM when I was 13 and they were the ones that got me to discover punk rock. Their music really spoke to me and they were the first band that inspired me to play guitar and have the interest in being in a band. I hate when elitists hate on people like me because I’m a fan of them, it’s sad that these elitists hate on them and don’t give them a chance, because their music is so inspiring and has many layers that resonate with me and I totally relate to their rebellious energy. Their new album Nowhere Generation is an absolute banger to me and might just me my favorite if I had to choose only one. And just when I thought there were only going to be a couple bonus tracks, they came out with an entire EP called Nowhere Generation 2. Rise Against is one of THE MOST important bands in the world of punk rock, and these elitists need to be more open minded

[@mrnordyk1125]

From my experience in 2000's people become more open for different music. I have friend which is Metalhead but he like Offspring, Green Day, Dezerter some stuff from Exploited and others. And I was on many different concerts where Punk and Metal bands shared scene and crowd were mixed. Was no fights, friendly atmosphere. Nirvana had similar experience with audience. Before success, Punks and Alternative rockers after meanstream people. Cheers 🍻

[@t.c.bramblett617]

Rise Against mixes punk with pop in a great way that continues the pop punk trend from the very beginnings of punk and hardcore. They have a great and catchy sound and their lyrics are mature, politically radical. I used to call them a guilty pleasure but I now just call them a pleasure.

[@jeremyramos9715]

Amazing video man. Very unbiased, informative, and professional. Would love to see a video on why Against Me or the Gaslight Anthem Matters one day. But even if you don’t ever make those, I support you the whole way through man. This is a channel I was looking for for the longest time

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

Thanks a lot dude!! I probably should talk about Against Me at some point now that you mention it

[@jeremyramos9715]

@@thepunkhistorian6397 hell yeah dude. I know youll do a great job covering them 🤘🏼

[@zaccampa4055]

I love Rise Against so much. I just love everything they stand for.

[@withers91]

I can't remember if it was '06 or '07, but I went to warped tour in Calgary AB as an emo kid. The two bands I wanted to see most were Greeley Estates and Alesana. Both put on great shows. I wouldn't have considered myself a Rise Against fan at the time, but Rise Against was headlining that year. If me watching this video isn't already proof enough, I became a giant Rise Against fan that day, and have seen them live whenever they've come to a city near me since, the best being in Edmonton when they did a show with AFI and Anti Flag. I love them because of the music, the meaning behind their lyrics in a lot of their songs, and , perhaps the biggest reason, because the band couldn't care less about where there fans come from, what other music they listen to, or anything else really? Do you like music? Yeah? Then you are allowed to be a Rise Against fan. Come light your lighters and bang your head with the rest of us.

[@iamtheliberated]

My introduction to Rise Against was Appeal To Reason, still as a right winger kid raised in a home persuaded as such. I loved the sound but got lost in it. I got a couple albums, I listened here and there. Cut to four years ago when I met my partner, now it's regular rotation and I get it. We share music. I was pushed away from MCR in my teens, now a favorite. I got her into The Beatles, Ashnikko, Minor Threat, Gregory Alan Isakov, the list goes on. She brought me back to Rise Against, and got me into Pat The Bunny, Days N' Daze, Lana Del Rey, Ceschi, Trashbag Ponchos, Against Me, AJJ, etc. It's effing great!

[@tacomuncher211]

LOVE Rise Against "the sufferer and the witness" is my personal favorite album i met tim at vintage vinyl in missouri "nowhere generation" is actually their BEST work since "appeal to reason" 11 years ago

[@caffeinatedinsanity2324]

These got me into Bad Religion/Pennywise and Sick of it All, no question.

[@silverwolf281]

interesting video. i got into rise agains because of "i dont want to be here anymore". saw it in an ad on tv and thought i should check it out. now i´ve been listening to siren song all week

[@conors4430]

I still remember the first time I heard Give It All as a 14-year-old, siren songs was the second album after war on Errorism that I ever bought, when I started to venture from blink-182 and Good Charlotte, into the heavier stuff. I had never heard anything so angry and frantic, but also oddly positive. Tim is a lyrical genius. The first five albums are my favourite, it’s also worth, noting that from endgame through to wolves, Tim were starting to have some pretty serious vocal issues which he ended up, dealing with before the most recent album, which is why he sounds a lot more gritty vocally in Nowhere Generation than he did in the couple of albums before. Dude screamed for 20 years and got to his early 40s before he ever needed a singing lesson to actually stop destroying his voice.

[@adniels3n]

Mark Adkins copping a water bottle to the face @4:58 is the best.

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

😂😂😂

[@138modified]

Siren song of the counter culture is my personal favorite, and as far as I'm concerned "state of the union" is their best song. All that being said, i love this band and they have a ton of outstanding songs.

[@nunorocks31]

Not my fav punk band, but saw them live last summer and man... RESPECT. Big well packed, energic, well played and perfectly done show!! They re still having a good time doing what they do, and I can t say the same about other bands

[@christopherlouis1444]

favorite vid so far, keep up the good work!

[@TheDantheman12121]

I was playing a need for speed game one day and I heard this song called we give it all, found the band name and was a fan ever since. I would be one of those fans you mentioned at the gigs you would not usually go to. I was always more of a hip hop fan tbh, also a fan of electronic music. These days (just turned 40) my tastes are all over the place from classical to metal.

[@Greening83]

Saw these guys the summer before the pandemic with AFI and anti flag at the budwiser stage in Toronto. Amazing show, great venue, good times😃😃😃

[@mate53]

Did you mean to play Dressed to F*ck by The Killing Tree in this? Pretty clever if done purposely. Awesome song. Also awesome video, despite the political stuff in the later years and some of my older friends hating on Rise Against for "selling out" I've loved this band since I found out about them.

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

Yeah that was definitely intentional lol. I wish I could still throw in deep cuts in the background of my vids but YTs copyright detection is not kind sometimes lol

[@mate53]

@@thepunkhistorian6397 That would make sense.

[@julez2106]

Very insightfull, RA has been my favourite band since a year now :) Could you tell me what song is playing in the background from 1:45 to around minute 4? Thanks :)

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

“Dressed to F*ck” by The Killing Tree. The band was a side project of Tim McIlrath’s during the early 2000s when Rise was starting to take off. They only did one record and a couple 7”s. But it’s all really good. That song specifically was recorded for a Chicago punk comp called “Hair” in like 2003 I wanna say? Which is also worth checking out. Hope this helps and thanks for watching! 🤘🏻

[@KazuLP]

I came across RA back in 2003, while playing NfS Underground 2, the song "Give it all" was in there. It became my favorit song of the game and i put it into repeat. A few years later, around the time they released "The Sufferer and the Witness", i bought all of their existing albums and still do. My favorit album? I can't tell since they got a few i really like. ^^

[@TheDantheman12121]

hero of war brought a tear to my eye when i first heard it.

[@stephenchurch1784]

First time I saw them was at a mini emo fest and I credit hearing Make it Stop live for me still being here today. Absoutely love these guys. Going to see them at the same venue I first saw them at this October and we'll see if I can hold it together for the whole show 😂

[@ashlee3479]

I like your kids on fire shirt. I used to own the same shirt but… My guinea pig likes kids on fire so much he ate a hole in the middle of the shirt 😅 Hopefully one day I’ll see kids on fire live again and I can rebuy their shirt.

[@GremlinBones]

I always get the feeling that Rise Against's music is meaningful to them. It's not just random crap to make money. And i think that counts for a lot.

[@matthewbeckwith663]

Ive never heard the term techpunk. A Wilhelm Scream makes sense because of their guitar work and their bassist has a complex approach, especially for punk. But Strike Anywhere seems far from technical to me. Certainty, they're more melodic, but they are pretty straight forward. All that said, I'm here just to nerd out and it's fun learning about how people perceive bands 😊. That's to say, my intention isn't to debate delineation of genres. I was into metal-leaning hxc when I moved to Richmond, VA, for grad school. I kept seeing stickers on street poles with their (Strike Anywhere) symbol. Gave them a listen and was hooked. That lead me to hearing Rises Against for the first time.

[@BostonReapers]

Good content, i really enjoyed it. Well said

[@jatom6996]

Has anyone found The Killing Tree’s MySpace/Purevolume tracks?

[@kworyl6490]

Hahaha, 'sall about the vegan hate! Been wearing it since the 90s. Another banger of a vid, thank u from the UK ;)

[@_c3a3m_88]

They’d be more popular in punk if they focused more on image than technicality of their sound. Not complaining I love their music

[@thexGRIMMx1]

if you'd do At the Drive In, it would be awesome

[@alexandregubio]

Just seen them at Lollapalooza in Brazil and they still have It. Wolves is a great album IMO, superior than endgame, nowhere gen and Black market by far

[@richiedagger733]

Rise against played my home town in the early 2000s, good show, but they have never been a favorite of mine.

[@JoshuaMutant]

You talked about veganism so now I'm obligated to tell everyone in the comments I'm vegan before my head explodes.

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

😂😂😂😂

[@iatetheradio]

You’ll be hearing from Head Honchos attorneys Jack Bill Miller!

[@thepunkhistorian6397]

😂😂😂

[@PNESIG]

me too

[@jefftennis1275]

RPM is their best hand down!

[@stacim9356]

AFI dedicated a song to rise against at riot fest yesterday saying they've been with them for a long time

[@niaboctruk138]

Oh that's rad. I haven't seen AFI since the tour with Linkin Park.

[@mattbrunson995]

No mention on crust?

[@RealLarsUlrichISwear]

Went to see blink 182 in sydney and they played first. They were great.

[@bobapep20]

Ghost Note Symphonies. At one point I've only ever head that version of Voices Off Camera. Then I head the original and was absolutely blown away how hard punk that was. The ghost note version sounds like it could easily have been written that way. But on the vegan thing. I don't hate them. But I don't like them always announcing it everywhere they go and trying to force their ways on everybody. And I wonder are there any absolutely poor vegans? My point is vegans can only be vegan today because modern society and modern technology allows it. I'm almost certain most vegans take extra vitamins and supplements they need because they can't get everything they need to survive from plants alone. I guarantee you can't be vegan if you lived in some drought starved country in Africa like Ethiopia during the 80's because you don't a super market every 5 miles offering vegan choices with the vitamins and supplements. And you can't be too choosy even here in America. If you're vegan, poor and hungry and someone offers you an extra cheeseburger you have from McDonalds are you really going to say "no I'm vegan, I can't eat that?" I pretty much would just laugh and walk away.

[@unsafe9148]

Funny that a video titled “Why Rise Against Matters” is 90% “well, they made records, toured a lot, their music even played on TV and Radio and they were very popular” you know, crazy important stuff really. Then there´s like 20 seconds of “also they´re all vegan and activists and some people really don´t like that stuff” when that´s like the one thing that makes them “matter” compared to everything you described describing literally every succesful band on the planet. An interesting take to say the least.

[@Billy-sm3uu]

Rise Against is one of my favorites, but to say Sum 41 lack aggression? You must have not heard them

[@xeverettx2564]

Band with against in their name that are true important punk legends look at Born Against greatest fucking pure skinhead punk that influenced so many of us born in the early 80’s and started coming of age in the 90’s!! This was the band that took you from Sex Pistols, the Clash, Sham 69, Crass, discharge, etc. and transitioned you into a hardcore fan!!! Rise against were just radio rock built for shirtless jocks at lallapalooza. I really am a fan of your channel and for being born in the 90’s you do a much better and much more informed accurate job than any other millennials doing music history videos if you can even call it that haha (I believe it’s better and deeper than that). So I not cutting on you it’s more that I just want people to check out Born Against because they were such a crucial band who can’t be forgotten to the annals of time!!! Keep up the good work my man!!!

[@milescameron8945]

niiice bro

[@hofx666]

Offspring, pop punk? I’ve never considered them pop punk.

[@SimplePleasuresMTB]

Strung Out…GTFOH🤘🏻

[@TheFuel89]

My favourite thing about Rise Against is a conservative homophobe telling me how beautiful song Make it stop is.

[@SlyHikari03]

Rise against is alright I guess.

[@jorgealexphoto]

Sorry not to be mean. I actually like your channel a lot, but Rise Against will always be watered down Strike Anywhere to me.

[@mattbrunson995]

Fall out boy is not punk!

[@chesspunk489]

I can't stand Rise Against.

[@SoDamnGangsta]

You should do a video on anti-flag