Rise Against: New Music, Deep Cuts and Gratitude on WMMR [Interview]

Before Rise Against stepped back onto the Franklin Music Hall stage last month, Tim McIlrath made a confession to Pierre Robert backstage: "There's at least one moment in the day where I think to myself, what makes me think that I can do this?, forgetting that I've done it a million times!"

Imposter syndrome can take hold of even a seasoned songwriter like Tim, but by the time Rise Against arrived in Philadelphia, the band had settled into a touring rhythm that felt right. That said, he's still been "kicked out of his comfort zone" by shaking up the song selection each night, but seeing fans' reactions to the deep cuts is enough to make any leftover nerves completely dissipate.

In that backstage conversation with Pierre on WMMR, Tim was optimistic when speaking about his passion for activism and his belief in a brighter, more inclusive future. Climate change, the importance of voting, equity and mental health are just some of the causes that Rise Against are passionate about, with many of Tim's frustrations - and hopes for the years to come - embedded in his songs.

Fans who are challenging the status quo find solace in the band's music, and in some cases, these songs have saved lives. Tim explains that when he hears stories of survival, "You're just so grateful that you wrote the song, and grateful that it found people at the right time in their lives. It's really overwhelming... you're grateful that the song put water where the fire is."

A favorite track of Pierre's is "House On Fire" from their 2017 LP Wolves, and it made its live tour debut later that night. (Being able to add in requests is certainly a benefit of staying flexible with the tour setlist!)

As for new music? "It's mostly in the can," Tim says. "We're putting together all the finishing touches on it, and we hope to have it out as soon as humanly possible."

Listen to the MMaRchives Podcast to find out the name of the song that Tim hopes will be the band's next single...

Year after year, we say the same thing: "This was the best MMRBQ ever!" And every time, it's true. WMMR's annual party keeps raising the bar, and you, Philly, turned out for an epic closer of a legendary concert season at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion.

This year's festival lineup rocked the main stage on Saturday, September 21st starting at 1pm in "Camdedelphia". The bands included:

Philadelphia was well represented in this year's lineup. Jersey Calling, this year's Local Shots opener, kicked off the day as ambassadors from the Garden State. Silvertide blew us away with their first area performance in over a decade. Hometown heroes Halestorm showed us why we keep coming back for more, with a career-spanning set that included a drum circle, a couple covers and even round of shots (cheers!). Lzzy Hale and the boys showed WMMR and the Philly crowd lots of love between songs, shouting out the fans who've been with them since their early days gigging on South Street.

The Preston and Steve side stage gave our insanely talented listeners a chance to say they shared a festival lineup with some of their favorite bands. Backed by Musician Impossible, we were wowed by their live karaoke renditions of Kiss, Alice in Chains, Queen and more. Jacky Bam Bam kept the rock spinning live between sets. PrestonandSteve.com will have more of the action posted there.

The MMRBQ concert t-shirt sold out in record time on Saturday. But, some good news if you missed out: the t-shirts have been restocked! If you want in, you must place your order by Sunday, September 29th. Visit the MMR Rock Shop to add it to your festival gear collection.

Big thanks to Bill Raymond and Digital Noise Mag for helping us capture the on-stage action in the photos below. Keep an eye on MMRBQ HQ for more recaps and interviews, and check MMR's official Concert Calendar for more shows. Plus: see if you can spot yourself in our recap on Instagram. We'll meet you back at the "FM Center" in 2025 for another 'RBQ!