Bring The Rage, Bring The Noise, Bring The House Down. Rage Against The Machine’s Public Service Announcement Tour Chicago Review

Jul 12, 2022 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By James Currie

Politics. Rage. Rock n Roll. These things all go hand and hand for the band Rage Against The Machine. The 90’s rap rock group that spawned a genre and inspired a generation is back with a new tour that kicked on right here in the midwest with two nights scheduled right here in Chicago. United Center became home to the Los Angeles based icons with Monday night being the first of two. This is the much, highly anticipated tour that originally was to be 2 years ago, but like most things, got delayed due to COVID.

Tonight was a sort of home coming show for lead guitarist and founding member Tom Morello. Morello, who grew up in the north shore suburb of Libertyville, has been a Chicago advocate for decades and has made it clear, this town holds a special place in his heart. Sadly, due to recent horrific events around his community, this love and support have become even stronger due to the mass shootings at the Highland Park school.

 

The show started with a boxed in stage draped in images of migrant workers on a train car. The ‘waiting room’ music was selections from Peter Gabriel’s ‘Passion: Music From The Last Temptation of Christ’ soundtrack. When that stopped and the lights came down (along with the giant drape) the band rushed out filled with energy kicking off the night with, “Bombtrack”. Singer, Zack de la Rocha, was pumped and clearly filled with energy and ran around the stage with prose and purpose. The lyrics and theme clearly being political and personal cooped up for two years and finally full release. Rabble yells calling for action present throughout the nights performance against corporate American greed, human rights and civil rights all on the table. “Abort The Supreme Court” stamped across the stage.

Morello showed off his guitar skills with his trusty light blue Strat copy with stickers and hand written messages he’s had since the early 1990’s. Something he’s talked about in great detail on its cheapness, but worthiness. He played it behind his head like Hendrix. Filtered it through numerous effects peddles and used various tools to create sound through it.

Sometime during, “Bullet in The Head” the running around on stage slowed down and de la Rocha could be found crouching and sitting on stage left near Morello with his leg and foot raised. We’re not sure what happened, but it seems he did some damage as he sat out the rest of the night. But that didn’t stop his message, passion or rage he came to preach. The show must go on, and after just a slight delay, it did and the band ripped through 16 songs ending with, “Killing In The Name” which kept the crowd jumping and seats shaking. This was one of the most active crowds I’ve witness since pre pandemic audiences congregated.

Other songs that still ring strong today included; “Wake Up”, “Know Your Enemy”, “Freedom” and a first for the band live, “Down Rodeo”. The Supreme Court, Presidents (current and past), CEO’s and foreign relations all target for Rage proving there is still room for political music and social injusts in our society.

Not sure how the rest of the tour is going to play out with ZDLR seemingly down as he was carried off stage at the end, but we’ve seen other musicians get hurt on stage, and with a little support from a boot or throne, see them continue. de la Rocha passion is still there. I can’t imagine him staying down for long if he has anything to do with it.

Zack de la Rocha still so passionate about the causes he champions. There’s still much to do. Rage Against The Machine are back to keep us in check. Challenge our leaders. Make real change. Call out the ones doing in just to humanity. If this concert and rock n roll sermon don’t make your blood boil and want to fight for change, nothing will. I know I felt pumped, energized and ready to make changes in our current political situations. And so should you.

For more on Rage Against The Machine, click here

For photos from the show at United Center, click here

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Setlist: Rage Against The Machine live in Chicago at United Center 07-11-22

1. Bombtrack
2. People of the Sun
3. Bulls on Parade
4. Bullet in the Head
5. Testify
6. Tire Me
7. Wake Up
8. Guerrilla Radio
9. Down Rodeo
10. Know Your Enemy
11. Calm Like a Bomb
12. Sleep Now in the Fire
13. War Within a Breath
14. The Ghost of Tom Joad
15. Freedom
16. Killing in the Name

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