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excerpts from Rise Against Wish Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco Would Educate Crowds:

While it's OK to spend hours discussing Pete Wentz's naughty Sidekick photos or to listen intently while Panic! at the Disco explain the proper way to coordinate spats and ascots, remember that there was a time when the term "punk rock" actually meant something.

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath remembers that time and the bands that epitomized the era — sociopolitical acts like Fugazi, Earth Crisis and Los Crudos. They're the reason he started playing music in the first place, and their legacy is why he's not ashamed to say he plays punk rock.

"I come from the real, viable punk-rock world, where the bands ask a lot from their audiences," McIlrath said. "I used to go see Los Crudos in abandoned buildings, or in a basement in Evanston, Illinois, and it was eye-opening. I'd listen to them talk about the conflict in East Timor, and it was incredible. Or I'd go to an Earth Crisis show, and learn about animal rights. And I wasn't being taught any of that stuff in high school. So I'd go to these shows not just to be entertained but to learn something."

[...]

And with a prime slot on this summer's Warped Tour, Rise Against will reach even more people. Of course, it'd be nice if they had help from more mainstream "punk" acts. But for the time being, McIlrath is content to go it alone.

"I wish more bands like Fall Out Boy or Panic! at the Disco would try to show kids what's going on, since they have their ears. But I guess there's a place for their music. I'm not gonna sit here and say I didn't listen to Screeching Weasel or the Queers when I was a kid," he laughed.

"But I think what's frustrating is when there's more of those bands then there are bands like us or Anti-Flag or Bad Religion. And the funny thing is, when I was at those Los Crudos shows, Pete [Wentz] was right there with me. We were in a band called Arma Angelus together. I know he has it in him. But again, this is a battle, and it's not going to be won over night. Even if we have to do it ourselves, we're gonna win."

tim has a point. and relatedly, i really like rise against's new album.

it's wrong that this makes me want (to write) tim/pete fic, right?


also! i finally have arma's "the grave end of the shovel" ep. hooray for internet downloads!