Rise Against and Alkaline Trio release new split record ahead of fall tour

Punk rock bands Rise Against and Alkaline Trio released a new split record yesterday, September 18, where each band covers a song by the other. This release precedes their joint fall tour, which includes a stop in Clearwater on September 25.

On the two-song project, Rise Against performs Alkaline Trio’s “Private Eye,” while Alkaline Trio delivers their rendition of Rise Against’s “Re-Education (Through Labor).” This collaboration marks a significant moment for fans of both bands, who emerged from the late 1990s Chicago punk scene.

Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath highlighted the deep-rooted connection between the two groups. “The connection between Alkaline Trio and Rise Against actually pre-dates both bands’ inceptions,” McIlrath stated. “So we’ve all been there for both the awkward first steps and the flashes of promise. We have an understanding and appreciation of each other’s bands that could only come from being from the same scene.” He added, “To still be standing this many years later is a testament to the fertile Chicago musical soil we come from and are proud to represent. We had so much fun sinking our teeth into their legendary song ‘Private Eye’.”

Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba echoed this sentiment, describing the project as a full-circle moment two decades in the making. “It’s so much fun and such an honor to be swapping cover tunes with a band we’ve known personally and loved since we both formed and came up from our shows at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago,” Skiba shared. He continued, “To see Rise Against become the band they are today has been a blast to track and to be a small part of through the years. To reconnect with this band and these people once again the way we are via tour, and this release feels the way it did when we first started: it’s almost completely for the love of each other and each other’s band. It feels like a tradition we started decades ago that naturally comes back to us; we are grateful to say.”

The joint tour begins on September 22 in Dallas, Texas, and includes a Florida performance in Clearwater at The Baycare Sound on September 25. Other Florida dates include St. Augustine on September 26. The tour continues through October, concluding in Irvine, California, on October 23.

Residents interested in attending the Clearwater concert can find ticket information through official vendor websites. This tour brings two influential punk bands to the region, offering a chance for local fans to experience their music live.