Rage Against the Machine unleashes explosive set

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
Updated August 27, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.

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Photo by Javier Manzano © The Rocky

The Coup raised the energy as several bands, inlcuding the main show, rage against the machine, were part of a large organization, headed and organized by "Iraq veterans against the war". The Coup, another music band will head a protest to Civic Center Park after the concert.

Video: We talk to the Denver Police Chief and a concert goer outside the Rage Against the Machine concert at the Denver Coliseum. Watch »

Photo by Preston Gannaway © The Rocky

The Flobots perform at the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday in Denver.

DENVER COLISEUM -- The Iraqi Veterans Against the War took the stage and read an open letter to Barack Obama demanding he solidify his commitment against the war as the crowd chanted "U.S.A! U.S.A!"

Then Rage Against the Machine came onstage, gave the vets a military salute and burst into the explosive set that has made their live shows legendary. Kicking off with "Guerrilla Radio," the band blasted through crowd-pleasers like "Bulls On Parade."

Wayne Kramer of the MC5 soon joined them for the anthem "Kick Out the Jams." Before they started, Kramer reminded everyone why they were here.

"Forty years ago we went to Chicago to protest an illegal war we were lied into. Today we're in Denver to protest an illegal war we were lied into," he told the crowd.

The Coliseum is sweltering at this point in the midday heat and filled with the smell of sweaty bodies dancing and moshing to the music.

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