Wednesday night, while many Americans sat in front of their televisions seething about the presidential choices (or lack thereof) on display at the “Commander-in-Chief Forum,” a lucky crowd of music lovers had their righteous anger majestically elevated at “Rage Rocks.”
Featuring three-fourths of the original Rage Against the Machine in addition to Chuck D, DJ Lord (of Public Enemy) and B Real of Cypress Hill, Prophets of Rage is a supergroup in every sense of the word. Their Red Rocks show on Wednesday represented the best of what a supergroup can be, merging genres and origins to create a cohesive, powerful musical experience and message.
Perfectly timed to draw attention to the current widespread despair at the state of American social and political affairs, Prophets of Rage channeled the righteous anger that each of these acts has been expressing for decades into a furiously focused set of greatest hits that sounded as relevant today as when they were released. It was a set list of dreams for fans of the group’s parent projects, providing surprisingly even coverage of the strongest elements of each band’s catalogs.
Original Rage vocalist Zack de La Rocha is known for his explosive stage presence as well as the searing anger he communicated vocally.
In his place on the Prophets stage were emcees Chuck D and B Real, who make up for what they lack in youthful intensity with a powerfully grounded aura of authority. Chuck D is no newcomer to the game of socio-cultural critique and Public Enemy has been challenging their listeners to “Fight the Powers that Be” since they exploded onto the nascent East Coast hip-hop scene in the early 1980’s. While Cypress Hill hasn’t always been recognized for their political messaging, their music, like their 1991 debut single “How I Could Just Kill a Man” channeled the urban angst of the post Regan era.
Aside from their political leanings, both Chuck D and B Real have vocal qualities that fit nicely into the Rage formula. B Real’s signature high-pitched, nasal sound has mellowed a bit with age but was an excellent stand-in for de La Rocha’s vocals. Chuck D brings the bass, and his hoarse vocals communicate a distilled rage tempered by his years.
Guitarist/activist/homeless advocate Tom Morello provided the wickedly unique guitar magic that has always been front and center in the Rage equation. Morello took the mic late in the set to explain to the crowd: “This is the ‘Make America Rage Tour’ and our message is a simple one. The world is not going to change without standing up for what you want. How do you do it? Stand up against injustice wherever it raises its ugly head — in your home, your school, your neighborhoods.”
Morello explained that the band was doing their part by donating a portion of the proceeds from every show to local homeless advocacy organizations; their Red Rocks contributions are headed to the Food Bank of the Rockies. The interesting “Fight the Power”/”No Sleep Till Brooklyn” mash-up featured a searing solo of guitar noise from Morello, who lifted his guitar to play with his teeth, revealing a handmade “Nobody for President” sign taped to the back of his guitar.
Critics like charge that Prophets of Rage is merely another reunion act timed conveniently to capitalize on public despair about the current state of American political affairs. I didn’t witness any similar response at Red Rocks last night. Rather, the enthusiastic crowd spent their night reveling in the righteous anger and equally righteous sounds of Prophets of Rage.
Set list: Prophets of Rage, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 09/07/16
- “Prophets of Rage” – Public Enemy
- “Guerilla Radio” – Rage Against the Machine
- “Bombtrack” – Rage Against the Machine
- “She Watch Channel Zero” – Public Enemy
- “Miuzi Weighs a Ton” – Public Enemy
- “How I Could Just Kill a Man” – Cypress Hill
- “Take the Power Back” – Rage Against the Machine
- “Rock Superstar” – Cypress Hill
- “Testify” – Rage Against the Machine
- “Hand on the Pump” – Cypress Hill
- “Can’t Truss It” – Public Enemy
- “Insane in the Membrane” – Cypress Hill
- “Bring the Noise” – Public Enemy
- “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” – Cypress Hill
- “Welcome to the Terrordome” – Public Enemy
- “Jump Around” – House of Pain
- “Sleep Now in the Fire” – Rage
- “Bullet in the Head” – Rage
- “Shut Em Down” – Public Enemy
- “Know Your Enemy” – Rage
- “The Party’s Over” – Prophets of Rage
- “No Sleep Til Brooklyn”/”Fight the Power” – Beastie Boys/PE
- “Bulls on Parade” – Rage
- “Killing in the Name” – Rage
