Together for almost a decade now, Chicago’s Rise Against are at the crux of the recent revival of melodic hardcore. They produce a pleasing blend of bands such as namesakes Born Against and Minor Threat, while adding a sharp modern rock edge. With the impending release of their fifth album Appeal To Reason, bassist Joe Principe takes some time out ahead of their busy touring schedule to answer some questions about the group.
He is refreshingly cheerful as he awaits for equipment to be delivered in preparation for a rehearsal session which will see the band ready themselves for a scheduled four-month tour of the US and Europe. “We haven’t played in a little while. We did play a radio show in Phoenix, Arizona the other day though. It wasn’t an official part of the tour, but it’s helped kick it off. It was really cool – we played with NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Thrice and a few others. It was a lot of fun.”
Despite the lack of live performances of late, the band feels ready to take their upcoming tour head-on. “We’re definitely ready for it. We’re really looking forward to getting out there and playing again.” As one of only two members in the band (the other being vocalist Tim McIlwrath ) that have been with the group since its inception, which will be nine years in January, surely it must be difficult to stay motivated to continue creating music and performing at times?
“Not really, no,” he replies simply. “I love what I do. It’s still a hobby as well as a job, although the bigger you get, the more pressure you’re under. That’s the difficult part. Sometimes you don’t feel like being creative, but you have to be, but that’s part of it all so it’s okay. We never take it for granted.”
Even though Principe is still enthusiastic about creating music, is his future still with Rise Against, or are there side projects that he may be dedicating his time to? “I’m happy just with Rise Against. If I was to start a side project it’d just be for fun. Maybe like a straight-up hardcore band, y’ know? Actually when we practise we basically play that style anyway, so it kinda fulfils that side of me. Besides, I’d hate to give a good song to a side project.”
With his loyalty well and truly assigned to Rise Against, what musical influences lead Principe to form the band? The answers are obvious, but I had to ask. “I’ve been listening to punk rock since the fifth grade. Some of the bands I loved back then are still my favourites simply because of their sheer aggression. There’s so much emotion when they write and play. I really feel everything from the fast chord progressions to the lyrics of Minor Threat, and our sound is definitely influenced by Bad Brains and Bad Religion. Bad Religion was actually my first punk rock show – it was mind-blowing. We like to bring that sort of feel to our show when we play too. I’d be lost without punk rock.”
So no signs of the band coming to an end any time soon? “Definitely not. We still have a lot to offer. I think when bands start going through the motions, y’ know, then it’s probably time for them to stop. But with us I feel like we can still create something fresh.”
With the new album, the band may have indeed achieved that, as lead single Re-Education (Through Labor) bursts with driving energy, and the rest of the album seems to follow suit. “It’s really a natural progression from The Sufferer & The Witness. It’s the fifth album now, and normally when bands get to this point they either begin re-hashing or making a progression, being organic, y’ know? I think we’ve really accomplished a progressive sound, and we’d never want to re-hash our old material ‘cause that’s just short-changing the fans.”
The band’s followers will be happy to know this, and Australian supporters will be even happier knowing that the group plan on touring Australia within the next six months. “We’ll probably be there early next year. We have no specific dates as yet, probably around March.” With the band’s current tour schedule ending on March 6 next year, you can expect the trip across to our nation should be following that date soon afterwards.
On a final note, as such a politically-charged group (they are punk after all), I had to enquire about Principe’s thoughts on the current US presidential campaign, which by the end of it Principe apologises for being “so long-winded”. Like I didn’t expect it. “I’ll be voting Obama for sure. I think it’s gonna take a little time to get the country out of the slump and at the moment people are reacting on fear. They’ve just gotta have a little faith. I don’t think we live in the best country in the world, but I don’t want to appear on my high horse – no one likes to be force-fed anything. We’re very privileged living here in the United States, and while I’m ashamed of the government’s actions, I still love the country.”
Although the band loves their home nation, they also have the same feelings for Australia. So when the group makes their return to our shores, let’s make sure we show them the same fondness.
Appeal To Reason is out now through Universal.
