On a chilly Toronto Tuesday, March 10th hosted a trifecta of rock at History that stretched out to the corners of hardcore, punk, and everything in between. Also linked with a throughline of energized melodies and messaging around the current state of the world, the night felt purposeful yet loose, allowing the crowd to enjoy uniting over good music that you could get behind with drinks in hand and bodies ready to mosh out. Forming in 1999, the Windy City’s Rise Against has always been known in the zeitgeist to have this consistent identity run deep in their music and lyrics especially since the emo boom of the mid to late 2000s, and this tour feels nothing short of different when it comes to what the band wants to share with fans both new and old. Announced in early December 2025 just in time for the holidays, this North American tour follows their latest full-length Ricochet from back in the summer leaving fans something to look forward to in the new year, and even more so for those that couldn’t catch them on their co-headlining tour with Papa Roach the year before. They made it easy for Canadians as well offering two nights of shows in Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg making it hard to find an excuse if you called those cities your home.
Night One in Toronto saw New York’s very own Koyo getting things started with a set that felt perfectly suited to warm up a Rise Against crowd by fusing melodic hardcore with a strong taste of nostalgia that leans into those early 2000s influences. Their songs carried a mix of wild urgency and emotional weight, and even for those unfamiliar, it didn’t take long for the room to start moving. It’s hard not to get into a band that uses the entire stage and then some. It also doesn’t hurt that they featured a Toronto Blue Jays themed hat at their merch table showing support for the team’s deep run last season – a good way to tug at the city’s heartstrings. With that said, there’s also just a sincerity to their sound that translates well live, and they made the most of their time by keeping things tight, loud, and honestly engaging without overcomplicating it. The first band always has an important job and the boys in Koyo checked every box.
Destroy Boys followed with a noticeably sharper edge, bringing a punchy, punk-driven set that immediately raised the intensity in the room. The 4-piece from Sacramento had a mix of gritty riffs and unapologetic attitude that gave the crowd something a little more chaotic to latch onto, and Toronto’s response reflected that shift – even cheering on their drummer after pointing out that it was their birthday the day before! There’s just a rawness to their performance that feels packed with intention rather than unpolished which carried through their entire set and set the stage well for the emotional and energetic balance that Rise Against would bring later in the night. Another incredible opener and one to keep an eye on.
The lights eventually dimmed again at History to welcome the night’s headliner with the band entering to flashing blue lights as they got into a powerful intro of their signature driving sound and to recorded narratives which included inspirational words from Howard Zinn that really set the stage on the messaging and energy for the rest of the show. If the openers were a kick in the crotch, Rise Against came out like a punch to the face immediately opening with The Good Left Undone — still one of the most effective tone-setters they have. They even doubled-down in the bridge where they made it clear that they not only wanted to “celebrate being alive” with the audience, but also send a message of working together to build hope when it feels like it’s short in supply. It’s a bold choice pulling from The Sufferer & the Witness from 2006 this early but it did immediately lock the crowd in, especially as they followed it with Worth Dying For and Satellite, stacking early and mid-career staples in a way that felt motivated. The first stretch balanced haste and familiarity, with Satellite in particular hitting as one of the night’s first true explosion points, and a song that feels like it’s just become a bigger and bigger live moment over time. From there, newer material like Prizefighter and Far From Perfect slid into the set without breaking momentum, showing how the band continues to develop while still anchoring everything in that recognizable melodic punk/hardcore drive. It should be pointed out that Prizefighter was the only Ricochet song that night too, highlighting further that the purpose of the tour wasn’t to promote their latest album, but something more.
The middle of the set leaned more reflective, both musically and chronologically. After frontman Tim McIlrath said that this was their first time at History, it was a funny and “terrible segue” going right into I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore from 2014. Going from this song and into Audience Of One slowed the pace just enough to give the night some emotional weight, while Wolves and Wait For Me bridged their 2010s era with their more recent output. This part of the set really showcased even more how RA have shifted over time, from the raw, politically charged aggression of their early records to a more expansive, anthemic sound. That transition hit its peak with Hero Of War and Swing Life Away, two of their most recognizable acoustic-leaning tracks, both of which turned History into the most cathartic karaoke night with a full singalong from the downtown audience. These were easily among the biggest moments of the night because of how completely the crowd took over as these songs just pull on the nostalgia of long time fans. Toronto was also treated to a fun fact that apparently was never shared before about how the band refers to 2008’s From Heads Unworthy as “From Heads University”.
Closing the main set with Savior felt unavoidable and completely earned from there. It’s their biggest song for a reason, and caused another full-room release after the more restrained moments that came before it. When the encore came around, the band kept things interesting by digging deeper, with The Great Die-Off and Hairline Fracture pulling from different eras once again and rewarding longtime fans before ending on the ever familiar Prayer Of The Refugee. That final song was a knockout punch that tied everything together, bringing the energy back to the essence and lessons of their mid-2000s peak. Give It All was a highly missed track though after talking to some fans but based on the two Montreal sets the week before, Night 2 ticket holders had that RA classic to look forward to. But overall, the setlist moved fluidly between eras, never feeling stuck in one moment of their career, and showed a band that understands exactly how to balance legacy, evolution, and crowd connection. It felt like a carefully paced walk through their entire catalog and fans can continue to feel confident that Rise Against would never lead them astray as they’ve always done with their headstrong identity and music.
Keep up with the latest on their Instagram and Website.