Great Park Live, Irvine ยท October 23, 2026
Standing next to a giant lightning rod is very punk rock! Leaving the venue when warned, not as much. The venue announced inclement weather, but a few thousand punk rockers stood their ground. At least until security insisted.
The rain was present, almost, from the beginning of the performance. The minute that flashes of lightning became visible, the Irvine Police and Orange County Fire Authority advised the venue to evacuate. Or, at least that’s who was blamed. Teen Mortgage, the Washington, D.C., duo of guitarist and vocalist James Guile and drummer Ed Barakauskas, had only just gotten going when the sound of thunder forced them to stop. The metal scaffolding of the stage put the band and the crowd at risk of a lightning strike, and all of those cables and lights weren’t helping. It was bordering on deep disappointment, but standing in a giant electrified puddle would have ruined the evening far more than a postponed set.
It was not apparent that the venue would reopen, and there was much grumbling on the way out. Nobody wanted a refund. We came to see the final show of the Ricochet Tour, and rain would not dissuade us. People started to line back up as soon as the thunder portion of the storm passed. The crowd wasn’t overly salty about it, we just really wanted to see these bands play.
When the venue did reopen it took time to admit the entire crowd and rescan every ticket. That put everything further behind schedule.
Chicago’s Alkaline Trio began playing to a weary crowd that only a short while ago thought that the evening would end prematurely. That didn’t last long. Vocalist and guitarist Matt Skiba, bassist and vocalist Dan Andriano, and drummer Tosh Peterson easily warmed the crowd back to the point of concert frenzy. Attendees soon forgot the storm as the band brought their A game to the stage. The set went off without further hitch.
Excitement had mounted as fellow Chicagoans Rise Against took the stage by force, closing out the tour for their 2025 album Ricochet with Tim McIlrath on vocals and guitar, Zach Blair on guitar, Joe Principe on bass and Brandon Barnes on drums. The energy was peak; however, the banter was cut short. Strict noise ordinances in the city of Irvine meant that time was limited, so there was not as much in the way of narrative during the set, though Tim still acknowledged Teen Mortgage from the stage. That did not affect the rhythm of the show in the least. The energy built as the band played one hit after another from their catalogue. The music crashed over the crowd like waves. Emotions were high as the band segued flawlessly between songs. It was no time at all before the crowd surfing began, and we had the proper punk vibe going strong.
Big fans, small fans, short fans, tall fans. What a great crowd. Seniors in high school to senior citizens, smaller people who should probably have been in bed, and photographers with wet feet. Drinks were poured, food was served, and we all stood in the rain for an amazing show.
Tim McIlrath is always engaging, but he kicked it up a notch when he climbed the barrier to meet fans for this show. Security must not have received the memo, because I saw clear signs of panic at first. Large men bolstering other large men against the barrier surge. The excitement was incredible. High fives, hugs, and singing … so much singing. What an amazing display of crowd work. True appreciation of fans by an artist. The poor stage engineer crouched like a superhero feeding Tim cord for the mic. Yes, the microphone was corded! It stretched all the way across the photo pit, and into the crowd. These are the moments that all concertgoers hope to experience, and after the roller coaster of near disappointment it really hit home.
Seeing Rise Against is completely worth it. Photographing music is like shooting the trees to prove the wind. You have to experience it with all five senses. If you pay close enough attention, you might notice that Tim has one blue eye and one brown. Such an amazing band.