Rise Against Electrify the Edmonton Convention Centre

A chilly night and brisk snowfall didn’t stop Rise Against from bringing the heat to the Edmonton Convention Centre. The electric spring tour brought along punk band Koyo to kick off the rowdy night, with Destroy Boys amping up the crowd further. Vocalist Alexia Roditis took a few moments out of their set to remind the crowd to look out for each other before spiralling back into their chaotic brand of punk rock.

The anticipation in the packed room was palpable by the time the members of Rise Against strutted onstage – the quartet comprised of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe, drummer Brandon Barnes. They dove headfirst into their powerhouse track “Re-Education (Through Labor)” with crowdsurfers already flying and red and blue lights flooding the massive room.

“Give It All” saw McIlrath stepping offstage to interact with diehard fans at the barricade, intimately belting out the lyrics and even autographing a fan’s hotdog costume. Blair’s heavy hitting riffs, Principe’s upbeat groove, and Barne’s pulsating beats combined with McIlrath’s gritty vocals resonated throughout the building as the vibrant crowd rocked out to Rise Against’s legendary punk sound.

The band performed songs that spanned their discography, such as “Help Is on the Way” and “The Good Left Undone” before blasting into “Nod,” a newer song from their 2025 album Ricochet. “Ready to Fall” had McIlrath encouraging the crowd to sing the refrain back as loud as they could, and Edmonton demonstrated just how loud they could get. The energy carried into “Satellite,” headbangers and crowdsurfers illuminated by the strobe lights.

“Hero of War” and “Swing Life Away” felt intimate and emotional as McIlrath performed both with an acoustic guitar. The softer ambience made the audience’s voices even clearer as they sang the words back to McIlrath. The heaviness returned when Blair, Principe, and Barnes rejoined for “Chamber the Cartridge.”

“This is an old one,” McIlrath declared before they played 2003’s “Like The Angel” before the band closed out the night with their hard-hitting number “Savior,” the perfect song to end the fiery night with a bang. Rise Against proved that they own their place as punk-rock veterans – after 20+ years, their fire burns brighter and every show is a riot.