177 -- Rise Against -- Wednesday, July 29, 2015 -- The Fillmore -- Silver Spring, MD

Almost every A+ show brings something new: new songs, venues, interpretations, experiences, etc.  This Rise Against show, though, generally brought the same (awesome) elements as the previous ones.

The difference was that this was the first time I was able to share it.  Hark, Alex Bush, Angie Bryl, and Zach Wood had never been to a Rise Against concert before.  It was especially rewarding sharing with Zach, now a junior at JMU, since this was the first concert with a (former) student.  Technically, it was not perfect: Tim McIllrath’s vocals lacked clarity, Appeal to Reason made few appearances, and the band should always play more songs.  Being able to revel in so many good things with four good friends, though, made it special.

Among the good things…
 
--- Hearing the crowd shriek in protest at “I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore.”  Such lies – no one wants to leave.  

--- Hearing the band pay specific attention to the Fillmore audience: “We are in Silver Spring, not Silver Springs.  I want to make sure I get that right…We were first in DC 15 years ago at a tiny place called The Nation.  We were slotted to perform 10 minutes before doors opened?!...Few thing better than hot punk rock…This next song is scientifically better with a circle pit.  If you spin, it’s a proven improvement.”

--- The fact that they did everything they could to combat homophobia before doing so was socially acceptable.  Not sure the crowd would have been as unified during “Make It Stop” a few years ago, but I’ll still take it!

--- Including Revolutions for old-school fans, literally being caught by someone during “Help Is On Way.”

--- Alex and I flying from the back through the mosh pits to the front and back again in ten seconds flat.  The best mode of transportation: being flung by fellow fans.  Planes, trains, and cars can’t compare.

--- Hark, Angie, and Zach getting rid of sloppy wastes of space in time for a group song.  Linking arms made “Hero of War” / “Swing Life Away” even better.

--- The gate-based heart attacks Zach and I survived in the parking lot.

--- And finally, hearing the progression of songs.  They went from good to great to !!!!: “Dancing For Rain,” “Satellite,” “Give It All,” “Reeducation,” “Collapse,” “Ready To Fall,” and “Prayer of the Refugee.”  Glad Hark, Alex, Angie, and Zach were all there to hear them.

Grade: A+