Rise Against, Rancid, Billy Talent. July 21, 2009. House of Blues, Orlando, FL.

First off I'd like to say that all three bands were amazing. Completely, and utterly amazing. The amount of energy that was in each set was mind blowing, there was truly never a dull moment.

Okay, to begin with, my dad and I live on the opposite side of the state than Orlando. The drive isn't terrible, a little under three hours. So, we drove there, my dad said he knew where we were going. We ended up at City Walk, which is part of the Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure theme park. We walked nearly a mile from the parking lot around City Walk, only for me to realize that the House of Blues is in Downtown Disney. WOW. So, we drove back across the city and got to Downtown Disney about two hours before doors opened.

At HOB they have this thing that if you buy an entree in the restaurant or spend fifteen dollars in the giftshop you can be bumped to the front of the line. So, my dad and I ate dinner in the restaurant before joining the line.

When doors opened we got in and got a spot on person from the barricade. And it was all kind of ironic considering we'd driven to the wrong place.

Anyway, we had to wait another hour for the first band, Billy Talent, to take the stage.

Now, I'd listened to Billy Talent before, and I wouldn't say that I really enjoyed their music. But live I really like it, a lot. They truly are good musicians that put every ounce of themselves into their shows. There were only a handfull of people near me that knew the music, the guy standing behind me was pretty much jumping all over me while singing, but hey, I'd be doing the same if it were my favorite band on stage. My dad and I only recognized one song from their set due to a show we'd seen called Beyond Warped which was from the '04 tour.

Anyway, after Billy Talent was Rancid. Now, let me compliment you Rancid fans, you're dedicated, that's for sure. There were people who'd come from Costa Rica to see them! If that's not dedication, well, I don't know what is.

It seemed that the moment the four musicians took the stage I was shoved into the people infront of me while all the people in the back pushed as close as they could to the front. It was insane. I've listened to Rancid before, but I don't know any of the words, so I was just jumping (which kind of wasn't voluntary.haha) along with everyone else while trying not to be crushed to death. My dad on the other hand was holding onto the barricade for dear life, which is pretty funny. He's been to so many metal shows, been in so many pits, yet the moment these people start pushing he turns into a big baby. Haha.

Towards the end of Rancids set, during the song Time Bomb, a fight broke out between two fans, then security. Their guitar tech jumped off the stage and was trying to pull the security guard off the fan, but the security guard turned around and started fighting with the tech. By this point Tim Armstrong hands off his guitar and jumps down into the pit and tries to help the tech. Meanwhile, the tech's being pulled away by three huge security guards. Eventually they let him go back on stage and Tim got back up as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGVwcKmF5PY <Theres video of what happened, you can't see it, but you can hear what Lars said before the song, the song, and then after the fight.

It was all pretty sudden and didn't last that long, but it confused the crap out of me because I had no idea what had sparked it at the time!

I guess the ironic thing is that Lars, Rancid's lead guitarist, had just finished a mini-speech about how at a Rancid show, or punk rock show for that matter, we're all equals, and that we're a family. After that Tim announced that they only had six minutes left and they'd play a song by request, they ended up playing the first song off of their first record, Adina, then played one more song before closing the show.

At this point I'm drenched in sweat and water, and not all of it was my own. I seriously felt like I'd just jumped into a pool. But, it didn't matter, because everyone smelled like ass too.

So, finally after another twenty minutes of waiting Rise Against took the stage. Now, I've seen Rise Against before, but not like this. I was one person away from the barrier and standing right infront of Tim McIlrath. Everything about the entire bands performance is intense. They truly do Give It All.

I don't remember what song they opened with, or what order they were in, or all of them for that matter, but the one's I do remember are:

• Collapse (Post Amerika)
• Long Forgotten Sons
• Re-Education (Through Labor)
• The Dirt Whispered
• Kotov Syndrome
• The Strength To Go On
• Audience of One
• Hero Of War
• Savior
• Ready To Fall ((Final song they played))
• Under The Knife
• Prayer of the Refugee
• Drones ((I Think))
• The Approaching Curve ((I Think))
• Worth Dying For
• Behind Closed Doors
• Roadside ((I Think))
• The Good Left Undone
• Survive
• Give It All
• Paper Wings

They may have played more, but I barely remembered those. Haha.

But the moment they stepped on stage someone threw a full glass bottle of beer and it hit my dad in the back of the head, and since I happened to be looking at him, it spilled all over my face. It managed to go up my nose and it stung! At first I was freaking out because I thought it was pee. GROSS. But I was completely distracted by the music. I kind of forgot about it and sang along.

My dad left me in the pit a few songs in because he couldn't handle all the pushing, I stuck it out until about 3/4's of the way through when I nearly fell because some girl HAD to get to the front. A guy behind me asked if I was trying to get out, and after I said yes he pushed a path for me all the way to the back, through the moshing though, so, whoever you were, thank you.haha.

I pretty much got stuck in the mosh pit (Gosh, I swear I nearly lost my glasses fifteen times!) for a good ten minutes before I got out and found my dad. I then stood at the back with him and sang and jumped around for the rest of their set.

They were completely amazing. The energy is nx as well as the intensity at which they play. Tim's voice is completely amazing live, he never falters and it never changes, it just stays strong the entire way through. Gosh, I loved it all so much!

The show ended around 11:15 and my dad and I pretty much ran out of there, I didn't want to run, my legs were so sore! But he made me. The poop. Anyway, when we got into the car I realized how badly I really did smell. OMG, it was terrible. I had some body spray with me so I pretty much poured that on myself. It didn't help.

And on the drive back we hit traffic, and it was pretty much stop and go for a good half hour. BUT, while we were stopped a huge 18 wheeler pulled up and it was from Wentzville! Haha, I wanted to take a picture but it moved farther ahead than us.lol.

All in all the show was more than amazing. I'd say it was one of my top five favorite concerts to date.

And now, only three days until Warped! :D