Rise Against, Divide By Zero, & Fall Out Boy
First Congregational Church of Downers Grove, IL
Saturday, January 18, 2003

First of all, the First Congregational Church of Downers Grove, IL is a real functional church; families are going to mass there tomorrow. Apparently the youth program and the director and some respectful kids can get fucking down without wrecking shit. The show took place in the basement, where the bands performed on the floor, and the kids surrounded them; the painted cinder block walls on the perimeter and the drop down institutional ceiling was in the way, even without a stage. It looked old school and it was packed. I have been to a few really gross shows lately. Thank you to everyone involved here. There are some kids, bands and good hardcore in Chi-town!

Fall Out Boy, who have a record coming out on Fueled by Ramen records, who apparently got a major P&D deal with a larger label, are a little too poppy and predictable for me. Are there any big dudes who play top 40 punk music? Or is it always just little guys?

Divide By Zero played their third show. Formerly Logan’s Loss, they are not new to what’s up in Chicago. I will keep my eye on these guys, as should you. I heard songs.

Rise Against on Fat Wreck Chords was the draw. They really have a traditional hardcore sound and I don’t say that to mean unoriginal; they totally do it their way. They are one of the big three bands from Chicago: them, Alkaline Trio and the Lawrence Arms. Rise Against was really explosive, as were the kids to be with them. I think the room environment, obviously the type of forums this band played in for years before getting any attention…Every VFW or wherever, in every suburb, on the floor, surrounded by kids, inviting them to get down with Rise Against with no boundary between them. Alive and Well was sick and kids bugged and sang with fingers and arms extended at ‘Alive and well!’ in a huge friendly piling around the mic. In the six or seven songs I was able to stay for, I heard one new song and I must say I will be down at Club House Records on release date. Apparently most of the record is done. Rise Against are intelligible, exciting, and passionate. They challenged and put forth young people to seek the truth in the alternative news. Their sincerity was felt, and they ‘brought it’ for the kids, as they “will not be back home for awhile.”