???Prepare to swing life away as one of punk rock's most prolific acts graces the stage of Alumni Arena on April 25.
???Political post-hardcore giants Rise Against have been announced as the headliner for this year's annual Spring Fest, illuminating a lineup built on diversity and hard rock.
???Like previously announced act Brand New, Rise Against use evocative lyrics while utilizing violent riffs, ensuring a high-energy live performance sure to rile up the undergraduate population.
???"They give a lot of energy. Most people who listen to Rise Against love Rise Against. There's going to be a lot of fist pumping, a lot of energy," said Julia Szprygada, a senior health and human services major.
???On their three latest releases, Siren Song of the Counter Culture, Appeal to Reason, and The Sufferer and the Witness, lead singer Tim McIlrath uses his raspy vocals to promote change and political movements that include everything from human rights issues to government affairs.
Fat Mike, legendary punk singer for NOFX, named Rise Against as "the best punk band on the planet." Now the punksters prepare to prove that at their local collegiate debut.
???"Rise Against is awesome... I'm pretty stoked," said Kenny Rhodes, a junior geology major.
???Also announced were pop-punk juggernauts Cartel. Infamous for their embarrassing stint recording an album inside a bubble, the band is back and ready to prove they have much more to offer than a carbonated gimmick.
???Sugary sweet hooks alongside lead singer Will Pugh's angelic pipes add a noticeable pop taste to the Spring Fest lineup. The band is currently in the studio working on their third full-length album and will most certainly be debuting quite a bit of their new material in Buffalo while amping up the crowd for the main attractions.
???With the Spring Fest lineup completed, Framing Hanley and Brand New already signed on, a majority of students are more than excited for the rock extravaganza.
???"This is exciting...[Rise Against] makes me really want to go," said Chris Morrison, a sophomore Asian studies major.
???Although many are thrilled with the announcement, the lack of a major mainstream rock act is leaving some students in the dark.
???"I heard Incubus might have been coming, but since they're not, it's kind of disappointing," said Stefan Truex, a freshman geology major.
???Intent on bringing a true rock concert for Spring Fest, the UB Student Association has concocted a diverse lineup featuring four eclectic acts that will shake the seats at Alumni Arena.
