When Tom Morello first picked up a guitar at the age of 13 in his Libertyville bedroom, it was his original act of rebellion. The guitarist/songwriter/activist has been raging against the machine ever since, producing material that fights the power and speaks to injustice. Whether it’s Rage’s “Killing in the Name,” The Nightwatchman’s “One Man Revolution” or his latest rally cry for immigrant rights, “Pretend You Remember Me,” all of it conjures protest music turned up to 11 — especially live.
The thing about Morello is he doesn’t just write protest songs, he lives by them. I witnessed this firsthand seeing Morello and his Prophets of Rage bandmate Chuck D throwing up fists and poster boards like common folk during a 2017 protest at LAX decrying Trump’s “Muslim travel ban.” Just a few weeks prior, Morello, Prophets of Rage and Audioslave led an Anti-Inaugural Ball at the LA’s Teragram Theatre. From picket lines and the Democratic National Convention to defiant marches and concert stages at critical times, Morello has shown up and given voice to the resistance.
“Welcome to the last big event before they throw us in jail,” Morello proudly asserted during his powerful show at the Vic Theatre Thursday night. Wall-to-wall fans (many wearing red “Make America Rage Again” caps and jackets with “Destroy Fascism” patches) hollered in solidarity, followed by crowd chants of “F— ICE” and “Free Palestine.”
Jokes aside, Morello’s carefully curated set list — a mixed bag of Rage Against the Machine zingers all done instrumental (no one could possibly do justice to the ferocious vocals of Zack de la Rocha), Nightwatchman solo picks and covers of Woody Guthrie, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and MC5 — have historically been fodder for censorship, blacklisting and FBI tracking. Not that it silenced Morello.
“It’s a historical fact there’s never been a social movement in America without a good soundtrack,” he declared, citing countless examples from “We Shall Overcome” to Rage Against the Machine material he said could be heard on the streets of Chicago during anti-Trump rallies.
“Every act of art is an act of resistance. Every truth spoken is a beacon of light in the gathering darkness and every song sung is a trumpet of hope to the future heroes who will undo this madness,” he proclaimed. “This is not a time to be comfortable. But we can take comfort in our decision to be counted among those who care. We are living in a time where ideas are a crime, where lifestyles are a crime, where skin color is a crime. And so by entering this hall tonight, I, Tom Morello, officially deputize each and every member of this congregation as anti-fascist crime fighters.” What a pulpit is to a preacher, a stage is to Tom Morello, and he uses it well.
The night, billed as “Tom Morello & Friends,” lived up to the hype, with a number of local, like-minded comrades adding to the anthemic feel. Ike Reilly, a working-class troubadour and Morello’s childhood friend from Libertyville, joined for a rousing take on Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” that put the song’s controversial lost verses back in. The onstage ensemble (also including Morello’s touring band) led the crowd in jumping and singing the chorus in a moment that felt like pure civic duty. Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath appeared later for two covers: a pensive delivery of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and a powerhouse punch of MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams.” Other special guests included Jakeim Hart and Billy Rude, two cast members from Morello’s new musical “Revolution(s),” which was just extended a second time until Nov. 22 at the Goodman Theatre. “I’d like to thank the city of Chicago for making [it] such a success,” Morello said.
Interspersed with the political spirit of the night, there were also some solemn tributes.
“I’d like to congratulate a band by the name of Soundgarden for getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Morello shared, referencing last weekend’s induction ceremony that commemorated the Seattle band and its late front man Chris Cornell, also Morello’s bandmate in Audioslave.
“[He] had one of the most beautiful and ferocious voices in the history of rock music. What a pleasure it was to stand beside him on stage and in the studio for all those years and to watch that humble friend and rock god at work,” Morello added to introduce the bereft “The Garden of Gethsemane” that he wrote in homage to Cornell. Later, Morello and band performed Audioslave’s “Like A Stone” as a large image of the late musician was displayed behind them.
Ahead of a set-ending cover of KISS’ party anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite,” Morello had another tribute as he flipped over an electric guitar decorated with duct tape that spelled out “Ace Frehley 4Ever,” in remembrance of one of Morello’s guitar idols, who passed away in October.
The night’s true kicker though was the penultimate offering, a cover of “Power to the People” that joined all of the show’s special guests (including openers and new-gen protest musicians The Neighborhood Kids) in a defiant showdown.
As it wound up, Morello had one last bit of parting words: “Are we in this together, people?” he prodded, eliciting a slew of cheers. “Tomorrow I want you to go out and kick ass for freedom and justice.”
Soldier In The Army Of Love
One Last Dance
Testify / Take the Power Back / Freedom / Snakecharmer (Rage Against the Machine instrumental medley)
Let’s Get the Party Started
Hold the Line
One Man Revolution (Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman)
The War Inside (with guests Jakeim Hart & Billy Rude)
Secretariat
Cato Stedman & Neptune Frost
It Begins Tonight (Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman)
Keep Going
The Last Rung on the Ladder
The Garden of Gethsemane (Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman)
This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie cover with guest Ike Reilly)
Pretend You Remember Me
Bombtrack / Know Your Enemy / Bulls on Parade / Guerilla Radio / Sleep Now in the Fire / Bullet in the Head / Cochise (Rage Against the Machine & Audioslave instrumental medley)
Like A Stone (Audioslave)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (Bruce Springsteen cover with guest Tim McIlrath)
Kick Out the Jams (MC5 cover with guest Tim McIlrath)
Killing in the Name (Rage Against the Machine)
Power to the People (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band cover with all guests)
Rock and Roll All Nite (KISS cover with all guests)