Live Report: Rise Against rock the 3Olympia Theatre

Rise Against shook up the 3Olympia Theatre last night, supported by opening acts Spiritual Cramp and L.S. Dunes. The audience, bathed in leather and black, came to party.

Spiritual Cramp, a punk rock band from San Francisco, California, took the stage by 7:30. Earning their place as my favorite opener of the night, each member of the group was extremely animated. Lead vocalist Michael Bingham ran across the stage wildly, lurching over himself and swinging his microphone by its cord.

Their keyboardist, clutching a tambourine, smacked the instrument against his chest in time with their punchy drums. He played the tambourine with so much fervor that I wondered if his body would grow sore, but he didn’t appear to mind.

“Fuck the United States government! Fuck the police! Fuck Donald Trump! And fuck you too!” shouted Bingham before playing their final song.

Spiritual Cramp supporting Rise Against at 3Olympia Theatre on January 28, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring

Next up was L.S. Dunes from Chicago, Illinois. Their brand of melodic alternative rock would frequently descend into untamed shrieks, paired with a bright, starry guitar. Lead vocalist Anthony Green would routinely place his hand over the microphone to soften his screams, though I wish he hadn’t.

“This is our first show ever here. It's an honor to be here with you,” he said. “Thanks for being so nice to us while we play songs at you.”

L.S. Dunes supporting Rise Against at 3Olympia Theatre on January 28, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring

While the openers were well-received, it was clear the crowd was waiting for the main act to arrive. When they did, the reaction was instant.

Fast, flashing lights overwhelmed my senses and excited the crowd. A small, growing cluster of the audience attempted to form a mosh pit, though the band’s sing-along punk anthems didn’t necessarily lend itself to that environment. Most people I saw knew the words by heart, screaming along and bobbing their heads.

Lead singer Tim McIlrath, clutching a shiny red guitar, possessed a powerful and commanding voice. At one point he pulled out a megaphone, screaming muffled lyrics to form a distorted sound, before throwing it into the air and onto the ground.

“I'm so happy to finally be back here in Dublin," he said. “Thank you for traveling to see us play.”

Jumping onto a ledge in front of the pit, McIlrath gave out high fives, shook hands and sang along with fans.

Rise Against at 3Olympia Theatre on January 28, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring

A stand-out track of the night was ‘Blood-Red, White & Blue’ off their 2003 album Rpm10. Brandon Barnes pounded so fast on the drums that even the intense flashing lights couldn’t keep up. The song gave a critique of the phrase “God bless America,” citing war, murder and the court system.

“We live in crazy fucking times Dublin. We’re American so we live in crazy fucking times,” said McIlrath.

The real highlight of the song, apart from McIlrath’s animalistic screaming, was Zach Blair’s performance on guitar. I found myself lost in the intoxicating solo, his fingers flying with skillful ease. Any time his performance on guitar was spotlighted at all had me completely hooked.

Rise Against at 3Olympia Theatre on January 28, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring

As the night went on the bass grew heavier, and the crowd more excited. Fog machines blew smoke into the air as their set came to a close. Before switching to an acoustic guitar to perform ‘Swing Life Away,’ McIlrath paused to share a story with the audience.

“I’ve gotten letters over the years, and this one touched me in this real tangible way,” he said.

The letter included a model of a wind turbine, and the writer explained that Rise Against inspired him to pursue a career in renewable energy. Now, McIlrath displays the token in his home as a reminder of his fans.

“It always makes me think about the music. It makes me think about our connection, your connection to us. So I never take that for granted… If you ever think no one is listening, someone’s out there listening,” he said.

While in the Chicago airport on the way to Dublin, McIlrath stopped to chat with a fan. Once the conversation was nearly over, the singer discovered he was not only speaking to the man who sent him the model, but he was also traveling to Dublin.

“Where’s my friend Chris? Did Chris make it here tonight?” McIlrath asked, scanning the crowd. “Is that him? Oh there he is.” The crowd erupted in cheers. “I hope I didn't embarrass you or anything but I had to tell that story dude, like that's crazy.”

After a few acoustic songs, the band gave three encore performances to the audience. The mass of people churned with energy, lifting a few up to crowd surf.

With clear passion and a close-knit community, Rise Against created a memorable night for their fans.