Rise Against gets a homecoming welcome at a sold-out show at the Salt Shed

october 18, 2024 - chicago, illinois

Chicago punk heroes Rise Against returned to their hometown with a blistering performance at the Salt Shed, packing the venue wall-to-wall with eager fans. The floor was so tightly packed that the crowd resembled sardines, yet they still managed to carve out space for circle mosh pits throughout the night.

Fans camped out as soon as 11:00 a.m. (Authors Note: I was at the venue at 11:00 a.m. for a separate event, so I am the witness!), and the line grew even bigger by 3:00 p.m. A father and son sat on the staircase near security, talking about how this was the son’s first show and how important the band’s music was to him. 

Within the first 20 minutes of doors being open, people filled up the whole floor and it’s hard to believe it wasn’t already at capacity. 

Lead singer Tim McIlrath took full advantage of the home field, dedicating “The People Who Live Here” to Chicago. The emotional weight of the dedication resonated with the audience, setting the tone for the next song, the softer “Swing Life Away.” The crowd sang along word for word, creating a sweet, communal moment before the band turned the volume back up.

At one point, McIlrath shared an amusing anecdote about writing a song in Albany Park, on a balcony that, hilariously, his landlord took away. "How does a landlord even do that?" he joked, but at least the moment birthed a great track.

The encore was a perfect capstone to the night. The energy exploded with the band's signature fast-paced sound, followed by the politically charged "Blood-Red, White & Blue," which transformed the room into a massive circle pit. McIlrath took the time to explain the message of that song, spoke on current events and urged people to use their voices at the polls as the upcoming presidential election day is on Nov. 5, 2024. They made their grand finale with “Savior,” a crowd favorite that had every voice in the building belting out the chorus.

Rise Against’s performance reminded Chicago why they're still one of punk rock’s most vital acts.