Against Me! is on the road, currently opening for Silversun Pickups, including a show at the Ritz Ybor in Tampa last Friday night. It seems as if the local wonder could be doing a headlining tour as Against Me! is very popular in Florida, but opening allows the band to reach new people and grow. As the opening act, the band exposes fans of another band to their music.

Story and Photos by John Davisson

The venue was packed by the time Against Me! came on and although it was obvious that a healthy dose of Against Me! fans were in the venue, the crowd was still more subdued than usual. There was less of the fist-pumping and singing along with the anthems, but it was still an enthusiastic response.

A problem with opening, however, is that there is usually less effective lighting. But that wasn’t a problem. Against Me!’s performance featured the band’s standard white lighting, with light trees behind the bandmates, in addition to led lights behind a white backdrop that diffused and spread the light evenly. It was the perfect match for the band’s political anthems that often take on a black and white tack.

They played a nice long set with more than a dozen songs. The setlist was heavy on the latest album White Crosses, including the title track, “I Was a Teenage Anarchist,” “Rapid Decompression,” “High Pressure Low,” “Bamboo Bones” and “Suffocation.” Their new drummer, George Rebelo, played fine and the addition of Franz Nicolay (from the Hold Steady) on keyboards fleshed out the sound without being distracting.

 

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

against me performs at the ritz ybor in tampa fl on june 18 2010

Can't get enough of Against Me!? Check out these articles:

• Bonnaroo
• Interview with Tom Gabel of Against Me!

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