Locals Cobra Khan put on a solid performance as opening act, blasting their way through songs from their debut album 'Helgorithms' including single 'Wrapped in Plastic'. While the Powerstation was only at half capacity during the first half of their thirty-five minute set, Cobra Khan put on a solid performance, suitably warming up the soon-to-be sold out audience for the band everyone was there to see. As Tim McIlrath, vocalist of Rise Against, pointed out later in the evening... our local bands are the most important thing and we certainly are lucky to have bands of Cobra Khan's caliber right here in our own backyard.

Having not played in New Zealand since Taste of Chaos in 2007, New Zealand was well overdue for a Rise Against show and the excited anticipation of those in attendance was proof of this. Kicking off their ninety minute set with 'Drones' off their 2006 release 'The Sufferer and The Witness', immediately the intensity of the crowd increased, shaping the mood for the entirety of Rise Against's performance.

Skillfully working their way through an extremely varied set spanning the entirety of their catalogue, every lyric sung by McIlrath was met with the sound of the entire audience singing straight back at him. Given the smile he held on his face for much of the performance, it’s safe to say that McIlrath and crew were stoked to be playing in front of such an appreciative audience.

“Some of us came here for different reasons tonight… some came here as it’s the only place where they truly feel at home. Rise Against fans are a community, it’s a family.”

Expertly playing their way through songs such as 'State of the Union', 'Survive', 'Injection' and 'Collapse', the band left the stage for a short intermission. As expected at concerts these days, the crowd started up the somewhat compulsory ‘encore’ chant, lasting for a good few minutes before McIlrath appeared on stage armed with just an acoustic guitar and a microphone. Playing their acoustic track 'Hero of War' off their latest release 'Appeal to Reason', the venues walls echoed with the voices of the crowd. Going straight into crowd favourite and Rise Against staple track 'Swing Life Away', it was at this moment where McIlrath's talent and powerful voice really shone brightest.