Walking into the NSW Roundhouse I was prepared for the usual ‘black-fringed beauties’ (a term used very loosely) moping around looking depressed until the lights went down and this week’s rock idols jumped onto the stage with spinning guitar riffs and impeccably stylised rhythms provided by drum and bass.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the appalling lack of originality of Rise Against’s stage show. It lacked inspiration and was a complete rip off of every other punk band that has hit Australia’s stage this year. I was definitely not wowed.
To start with, Tim McIlrath (lead vocals) - sporting a faux-hawk, circa 1988 with an army-green dress shirt and black jeans – gave out and oh-so-original ‘ARE YOU READY TO HAVE FUN SYDNEY?’ Of course, we all were, so a unanimous response was given to the affirmative. But if fun meant breathing in the capacity filled Roundhouse’s patrons steaming sweat for an hour, then I can tell you that some punters were definitely NOT having fun. However if the amount of trouble the bouncers were having with crowd surfing fanatics was anything to go by, the mosh-pit contingent were at least having a blast. I counted at least seven people dismissed from the venue within the space of five minutes, after their third and final warning to cease their antics. Let that be a warning to the kids planning on surfing atheir next gig at the Roundhouse – three times and you’re out!
The sound was spectacular – if you were there to listen to the instruments being played – otherwise it was atrocious. Half the time Tim’s vocals – which in my opinion is the backbone of this band, and sets them aside from every other two-bit punk-rock band of similar style – could barely be heard. But to be fair that’s a given when seeing bands at the UNSW ‘Sweat’house.
Plenty of new material from their latest The Sufferer and The Witness was played including favourites Injection, Ready to Fall and Prayer of the Refugee, but the older Rise Against fans were kept happy with plenty of older songs scattered here and there.
Rounding up, definitely wasn’t the best gig that I have been to this year, but Rise Against were not entirely to blame for this, as their energy and lust for their performance definitely was not lacking (four pools of sweat being left on the stage a testament to their hard work) – only originality in stage antics. Fortunately it’s taught me a lesson. If you would like to enjoy seeing a band this year, or in years to come, give the NSW Roundhouse a wide-berth.
