RISE AGAINST AT PIER 17 IN NEW YORK CITY

There is nothing that can stop a New Yorker. Subway delays? Long lines? Bad weather? We always do what we set our minds onto and this show was a perfect example of that fortitude. In nearly 100 degree heat and high humidity, Senses Fail kicked off the show with an electric performance of their hit, “Rum Is For Drinking, Not Burning”. The band had this contagious enthusiasm and genuine excitement to be performing in front of everyone. To close their set, they did a mash-up of covers from artists including Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, and Rage Against The Machine.

Minutes before The Used were slated to begin, there were sights of lightning causing the entire open rooftop venue to evacuate. Stuffed onto a sweaty floor, we waited and waited for the signal to resume. Half an hour later, the signal finally arrived (not a moment too soon!) and the venue filled back up again ready for the next performance.

What better way to start the show back up than with The Used?! The sun was setting and wow was it beautiful. The spectacular views were accompanied by a crowd of nostalgic former emo kids shouting along to “Take It Away” to their heart’s content. Although they had to cut some songs, the energy stayed high with the set list including many crowd favorites that many surely jammed back in school. The set wrapped up with a crossover medley cover of their song, “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” and the Nirvana hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

The night was alive and the sun was down when the headliner, Rise Against, took the stage. Instead of keeping the crowd waiting for that one song everyone knows, they began right off the bat with “Prayer of the Refugee”. This strong intro helped revitalize the crowd for an onslaught of fun songs to come. Singer Tim McIlrath spotted a fan holding a Rise Against vinyl and went on to explain how easily it can break. He kept the vinyl on stage in front of the drums, for safe keeping. “You’ll get this back at the end of the show,” he told the fan. In between songs, he asked how many of us actually own record player while the band passed around the vinyl to sign. Even McIlrath noted the resilience of New Yorkers and the weather everyone endured for this show. For their encore, Rise Against saved “Survive” (a personal favorite) and “Savior” to bring the show to a climatic end.