With fans queueing eagerly outside O2 Academy Brixton – a queue which was wrapped the whole way around the venue I might add, the atmosphere felt less like your average gig and more like a movement of its own.
L.S. Dunes were the night’s special guests, featuring star-studded lineup from My Chemical Romance, Circa Survive, Coheed and Cambria, and Thursday. —They have had such a sudden rise and fans held the barrier of the venue for them alone with a part of the audience made up of their own fanbase also. Their sold-out tours and magazine covers contrast with last gig here where tickets were still available on the night.
Lead singer Anthony Green’s Freddie Mercury-inspired warm-up was a bold and commanding opening, his declaration of “We Came to Rock” was swiftly validated as the band tore into ‘Permanent Rebellion’. Lyrics took a backseat to sheer energy, as Green, catapulted himself across the stage as the crowd watched in awe.
With only a 40 minute set, they masterfully took songs from their debut album and their latest release Violet. With Tucker Rule’s drumming and Frank Iero’s unmistakable vocals, they kept the momentum surging. By the time they wrapped up their set, one thing was clear: these size venues and beyond are their future. For any L.S. Dunes fan seeing Anthony Green not diving headfirst into the pit was a rare sight, but seeing them command the O2 Brixton stage, however, felt so right.
Then came the headliners. Rise Against wasted no time launching into ‘Satellite’, Tim McIlrath’s signature fury surging through the speakers as the crowd sang along. The set then continued with ‘Under The Knife’.
From there, the night was a whirlwind. ‘Ready To Fall’ and ‘Behind Closed Doors’ turned the venue into a sea of flying bodies as crowd surfers came in their masses. This wasn’t just a crowd—it was a movement.
During ‘State Of The Union’, with McIlrath’s words: “We’re going to give you our state of the union right now: there are no more adults in the White House—only total fucking lunatics. And it’s not just America. This can spread worldwide like a cancer if we’re not vigilant.” The crowd cheered and roared further cementing the rallying with the state of global politics.
As the energy surged once more with ‘Nod’ and the timeless ‘Prayer Of The Refugee’, the night raced toward its climatic end. Rise Against closed with ‘Make It Stop (September’s Children)’ and the anthem of defiance itself, ‘Saviour’. Every lyric, every note, every scream from the crowd reinforced the evening’s theme—a shared refusal to stand by in the face of injustice.
By the final moments, it wasn’t just a gig. It was a testament to music’s power to unite, to inspire, and to fight back. A night of rebellion and community—long overdue, but so well worth the wait. With street crew handing out leaflets advocating for global unity along with Rise Against badges, It was a night where music, politics, and a shared sense of purpose collided in a whirlwind of frustration, defiance, and an undying glimmer of hope.
