Show Review: Rise Against, Microwave, and Spiritual Cramp at the Salt Shed in Chicago, IL

October 21, 2024

Kicking off the night with a joyride of addictive rock’n’ roll, Spiritual Cramp brought their blend of punk, surf rock, and hardcore creating a groovy and light-hearted sound that is reminiscent of other genres incorporating the best elements of each. In the same lane as bands like MSPAINT, Militarie Gun, and Turnstile, Spiritual Cramp hail from a hardcore/punk background, having their sonic roots in said genres, but wanted to broaden their palettes and horizons, creating a melody-driven sound that is as addictive as it is good. With cool riffs and catchy hooks, Spiritual Cramp may often be the odd ones out on many at many of their shows, but they embrace it, allowing them the opportunity to stand out from the pack.

A down-to-earth performance, Microwave don’t over-embellish or over-do anything. Instead, they focus on the music, making their set feel more like a small venue or DIY show rather than inside a massive space. Filled with mid-tempo and bouncy riffs, Microwave tie everything together with great choruses and even a few breakdowns getting the room moving and energized. You would think much of the room came for Microwave, demonstrating how dedicated of a fan base Microwave have grown over the years, and it’s no surprise as each note hits harder than the last.

Seeing a huge band in their home city is always a special treat, and Rise Against are no different. I was able to catch them during one of the nights of their Metro Residency for a bit more of an intimate gig, but whether it’s in a mid-sized space like the Metro or a large-scale venue like the Salt Shed, every Rise Against show in Chicago has a special energy about it.

The epitome of everyone’s middle and high school playlist, Rise Against are still crushing it all these years later with consistent sold-out shows every tour in some of the biggest venues each city has to offer, all due to their fiercely loyal and dedicated fan base. Whether they were the up-and-coming band when you were young or you discovered them through Tony Hawk video games, Warped Tour, Guitar Hero/Rock Band, or any number of early to mid-2000s video game soundtracks, Rise Against are the voice of the youth, even if the youth aren’t the youth anymore because Rise Against aren’t one of those musical acts that are a quick fad. While it may not be the hey-day for them anymore, Rise Against continue to be at the top of their game, putting out quality tracks and putting on incredible performances.

Hitting all the fan-favorite songs, I was glad to be catching Rise Against with this setlist, as during the Metro residency shows, they spread their material out across three nights. Instead I soaked in the full Rise Against experience rather than a small snippet. Playing the smash hits and the deep cuts, this is one of those tours where fans get the full experience and then some with the large-scale production behind it. Old fans and new, all joined in unison throughout the night singing and moshing along to their favorite songs. Even young kids could be seen on top of shoulders rocking out not even realizing they were experiencing core, pivotal, life-long memories. A non-stop rock fest from front to back, Rise Against consistently deliver a high-quality, memorable gig that keeps fans returning time and time again.

Rise Against