Last night I went to see Rise Against, Anti-Flag and The Flobots in Manchester. A two hour journey from where I live in the depths of North Wales, but as always it was well worth it. The first band playing was the Fobots. Although it seemed that hardly anybody knew any of their music, they put on a good show. By the last song, which was handlebars every one was singing along. Just like a lot of people there I knew that song off by heart because of the amount it was on the radio when it came out as a single. Before I saw them I wasn't really sure what to expect from them, I was glad that they where good and worth watching,
Next up was Anti-Flag, now from these guys I knew what to expect, and that was greatness. And they definitely didn't disappoint. They came on stage after what seemed like for ever. The moment they walked on the crowed surged forwards, leaving everyone feeling like sardines, but happy excited sardines I guess. The way they played, if you hadn’t known better you would have thought that they where the main band and not just a support band. They had the crowd eating out of their hands every song the crowd went crazy for, every word that was said was answered by hundreds of screams and fists in the air. A great performance, a mix of old and new songs, the only song I felt was missing from the set was 'Die for your Government'.
Then the final band, the band of the night. Rise Against . They walked on stage, the crowd surged forwards, again. I hoped with all my heart that theses guys where going to be as good as they are recorded. They where better, so much better. They put on a great show, I simply couldn’t take my eyes off of the stage. When they left the stage, the crowd chanted continuously until they came back on. This time armed with acoustic guitars and played hero of war from their new album after that they played Swing Life Away, now that was amazing, at one point Tim McIlrath, the lead singer, stopped singing but the singing didn’t stop, everyone in the crowd sung the words in unison.
It was amazing, all three bands put on a great show .It was well worth the two hour trip from north Wales to Manchester. I would definitely pay to go see them again. I just wish that they would play closer to where I live, but hey beggars can't be choosers.