Tom Morello's set at the Vic Theatre was a powerful display of protest music that left the audience feeling energized and inspired. The guitarist, songwriter, and activist has been using his music as a tool for social change since he picked up his first guitar at 13 in his Libertyville bedroom. His music is not just a form of entertainment but also a call to action, urging people to resist the status quo and fight for justice.
The set list was a carefully curated mix of Rage Against the Machine's instrumental tracks, Nightwatchman solo picks, and covers of Woody Guthrie, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and MC5. The music was interspersed with solemn tributes to musicians who have made significant contributions to the world of rock music, including Chris Cornell and Ace Frehley.
The show's true kicker was its final offering, a cover of John Lennon's "Power to the People" that brought together all of the special guests, including openers and new-gen protest musicians The Neighborhood Kids. The song's message of hope and resistance was particularly resonant in today's climate, and it left the audience feeling energized and inspired.
Morello himself is a master showman who knows how to get the crowd involved. He has a way of connecting with his audience and inspiring them to take action. His set at the Vic Theatre was no exception, with the audience singing along to every song and participating in call-and-response chants throughout the night.
One of the standout moments came during "The Garden of Gethsemane," which Morello wrote as a tribute to Chris Cornell. The song featured a large image of the late musician behind Morello on stage, adding an emotional layer to the performance. Later, when performing Audioslave's "Like A Stone," a large image of Cornell was displayed behind Morello and the band.
Overall, Tom Morello's set at the Vic Theatre was a powerful display of protest music that left the audience feeling energized and inspired. His music is not just a form of entertainment but also a call to action, urging people to resist the status quo and fight for justice.
The set list was a carefully curated mix of Rage Against the Machine's instrumental tracks, Nightwatchman solo picks, and covers of Woody Guthrie, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and MC5. The music was interspersed with solemn tributes to musicians who have made significant contributions to the world of rock music, including Chris Cornell and Ace Frehley.
The show's true kicker was its final offering, a cover of John Lennon's "Power to the People" that brought together all of the special guests, including openers and new-gen protest musicians The Neighborhood Kids. The song's message of hope and resistance was particularly resonant in today's climate, and it left the audience feeling energized and inspired.
Morello himself is a master showman who knows how to get the crowd involved. He has a way of connecting with his audience and inspiring them to take action. His set at the Vic Theatre was no exception, with the audience singing along to every song and participating in call-and-response chants throughout the night.
One of the standout moments came during "The Garden of Gethsemane," which Morello wrote as a tribute to Chris Cornell. The song featured a large image of the late musician behind Morello on stage, adding an emotional layer to the performance. Later, when performing Audioslave's "Like A Stone," a large image of Cornell was displayed behind Morello and the band.
Overall, Tom Morello's set at the Vic Theatre was a powerful display of protest music that left the audience feeling energized and inspired. His music is not just a form of entertainment but also a call to action, urging people to resist the status quo and fight for justice.
! I mean, have you seen him perform live? The dude knows how to get a crowd hyped! And his music is more than just entertainment - it's a wake-up call to make some noise and fight for what's right 
. His tribute to Chris Cornell was so emotional, it gave me chills 
. And that final performance of "Power to the People" with all those special guests? Mind blown 
! It's like he's carrying on a legacy of resistance and social justice, and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
he's literally a master at getting ppl pumped up and inspired to make a change 
it was so cool seeing all those special guests come together for the finale, like who's gonna join in on that one 
and i gotta say, morello's tribute to cornell during "the garden of gethsemane"... totally brought a tear to my eye 
the way he weaves music into social justice is just so powerful
the way he got everyone singing along & participating in chants throughout the night was lit 
. And that tribute to Chris Cornell during "The Garden of Gethsemane" was really emotional 
. The whole vibe of the show felt like a call to action, you know? It's not just music, it's a movement 
.
! its so inspiring to see tom morello using his platform to spread messages of hope and resistance 
. like, who else can make you wanna sing along to "power to the people" at 40+ years old? 
but seriously, it's amazing how music can bring people together and inspire us to take action 
. I mean, where's the balance? Can't we have some more uplifting tunes in there too? And what's with all these tributes to other musicians? It felt like it was 90% nostalgia and 10% actual music 
. Still, I gotta give Morello credit, he knows how to work a crowd and get people pumped up 
, he's like the ultimate rock 'n' roll activist 
But at the same time, I gotta say that some of his choices in terms of setlist might've felt a bit predictable to me 
. Like, I know he's gonna play "Killing in the Name" or "Bullet in the Head"... it's like you're trying to be loud and edgy, but sometimes less can be more, you know? 
, but some of those songs felt a bit forced into the setlist. Still, overall it was a sick show and Morello's energy is infectious 
.
. I loved how he got the whole crowd involved, even got us singing along to songs we might not have known 
, I loved how everyone was singing along to every song and participating in those call-and-response chants 
. And can we talk about the tributes to Chris Cornell and Ace Frehley? 
. Morello's a total showman and I'm all about that! 