Concert Review: Rise Against Ignites Philadelphia on the Ricochet Tour

15 hours ago

2 min read

Punk rock titans Rise Against brought decades of their music and message to Philadelphia on their 2026 Ricochet Tour. The Chicago-based band, formed back in 1999, is known for fusing melodic hardcore with urgent, politically charged lyrics that has earned them a massive worldwide fanbase with over seven million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. Their influence stretches across generations of punk fans, and albums like The Sufferer & the Witness and Appeal to Reason routinely land on best-of-decade lists.

Walking into The Fillmore this past Sunday night felt like being dropped into a packed basement show from your high school days. Everyone squeezed shoulder to shoulder, with the kind of energy that makes you forget it’s not the weekend. The crowd was restless and ready to let loose the minute the lights dropped.

To kick off the night, Teen Mortgage, a punk rock duo from Washington, D.C., wasted no time grabbing the crowd’s attention, unleashing raw energy on stage that easily set the pace for the night. I actually had not listend to them before this show and was pleasantly surprised by their all-around American punk style, while also having a unique sound reminiscent of The Misfits. They played their songs like "Tuning In" and "Falling Down”, with my personal favorite being their new single "Democracy Manifest”.

Next on the bill was the band Alkaline Trio. Pioneers of the late '90s and early 2000s punk scene, the group is known for their darker lyrical themes/ distinctive sound, and they brought all of that to the stage. As a longtime fan, seeing original member Matt Skiba back on stage with Alkaline Trio after last seeing him live during his stint back with Blink-182 was definitely a highlight. Their set included classics like their newly revamped "Private Eye," "Calling All Skeletons," and "Radio," which cranked the room’s energy even higher and set the stage for what everyone knew was still to come: Rise Against’s headlining set and the promise of an unforgettable encore.

Rise Against played an outstanding hour-long set, showcasing their technicality and messages with songs like "Nod" off of their latest album “Richochet”. Most of the setlist featured classics such as Satelite, I Don't Want to Be Here Anymore, and Re-Education (Through Labor). Lead vocalist Tim McIlrath paused mid-set to thank their sound technician, a Philadelphia native, for always making them sound so good live in the US and abroad. The heartwarming moment no doubt resonated with the crowd, which was followed by the deep, slow acoustics of their song “Hero of War”. The energy wuickly picked back up with t

As the final chords of the main set faded, the band barely had time to catch their breath before chants for one more song filled the room. The lights dimmed again, and Rise Against returned for the encore, saving the biggest singalong for last with Savior, a track that turned the Fillmore into one giant, unified voice.

The Ricochet Tour is halfway through its run and I’d highly recommend catching a show if you can, don’t miss out!