Rise Against Unleash Two New Singles, “Katy Bar The Door” and “Living Undercover” Ahead of 2026 U.S. Headlining Tour
- Jaimie Cubitt
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Chicago punk rock veterans Rise Against are once again turning their frustration with the world into music. Today, the influential quartet has released two brand-new singles, “Katy Bar The Door” and “Living Undercover,” delivering a pair of politically charged and deeply reflective tracks that tap into the band's longstanding tradition of challenging authority, questioning the status quo, and giving a voice to those who feel unheard.
More than 25 years into their career, Rise Against continue to channel the urgency that has defined them since their earliest days. Rather than looking backward, however, these new songs find the band confronting the realities of the present, exploring themes of political unrest, hidden truths, social division, and the increasingly fragile state of democracy.
“Katy Bar The Door” takes its name from an old expression used to signal that trouble is coming and that all hell is about to break loose. For vocalist and songwriter Tim McIlrath, the unusual phrase provided the perfect starting point for a song reflecting the current moment.
“I don't know where I came across this expression, but I immediately was taken with it,” McIlrath explains. “While an obscure reference now... I liked the idea of resurrecting it for this song, and that it sort of fits what it feels like to be alive in 2026.”
That feeling of uncertainty is central to the track. “Katy Bar The Door” was written in the aftermath of some of the most violent ICE raids in Minneapolis, giving the song a particularly immediate and confrontational edge. Rather than treating the events as an isolated moment, McIlrath places them within the broader history of governments, institutions, and individuals reckoning with abuses of power.
“This is not the first time in history we have reckoned with abuses of power,” McIlrath says. “Bearing witness to the fragility of democracy is a scary thing, and it demands a response.”
That sense of urgency has long been a defining element of Rise Against's music. From their early punk releases to their later, politically focused albums, the band has consistently used songwriting as a way to process the world around them. “Katy Bar The Door” continues that tradition, transforming contemporary anxiety into a rallying cry.
While “Katy Bar The Door” looks directly at social and political turmoil, “Living Undercover” takes a more mysterious and introspective approach. The new track examines the things people conceal, both from others and from themselves. McIlrath describes the song as being about the things we hide in plain sight and the different reasons people choose to keep parts of their lives behind closed doors.
“Sometimes it's because we're building something beautiful behind the curtain, other times we're hiding some kind of darkness,” McIlrath says. “I like the cloak and dagger feel of the song that ties into its central theme.”
That ambiguity gives “Living Undercover” a different identity from its companion single while still fitting naturally within Rise Against's broader creative world. Where “Katy Bar The Door” feels outward-facing and immediate, “Living Undercover” turns inward, exploring secrecy, identity, and the complicated line between what people reveal and what they protect.
Together, the two tracks showcase different sides of the band's songwriting while maintaining the intensity and emotional weight that fans have come to expect from Rise Against.
Both singles were recorded at The Blasting Room, the legendary Fort Collins, Colorado recording studio that has played an important role in Rise Against's history. For the band, returning to the studio was about more than simply stepping back into a familiar recording environment. The Blasting Room has become something of a second home for Rise Against, and its familiar surroundings allowed the group to reconnect with a space that has been part of their creative journey for years.
“The studio there is a home away from home, and we know those rooms like the back of our hands,” McIlrath says. “It'd been a while since we worked at the studio, and it was good to be under their roof again.”
The choice of studio also connects the new material to the band's roots, reinforcing the sense that even after more than two decades, Rise Against remain committed to the raw, direct approach that helped establish their reputation.
The release of the two new singles arrives as Rise Against prepare for a major U.S. headlining run this fall. The band recently announced a series of dates across the United States with fellow punk rock favorites Alkaline Trio joining them as support. The tour officially kicks off September 22 in Dallas, Texas, at South Side Ballroom before making stops throughout the country.
The extensive run will take Rise Against to major markets including New York City, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Seattle, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles area, among others. The band will also perform at some of the country's most recognizable venues, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on October 12 and The Masonic in San Francisco on October 22.
Before beginning their U.S. headlining run, Rise Against are currently overseas, supporting Jimmy Eat World on their UK tour. With two new songs now available and a major tour on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be another significant chapter for Rise Against. More than 25 years after their formation, the band continues to prove that punk rock can still serve as both a reflection of the times and a vehicle for confronting them.
“Katy Bar The Door” and “Living Undercover” offer two different perspectives on a complicated world, but together they reinforce what Rise Against have always done best: turn uncertainty, anger, fear, and hope into something loud enough to demand attention.
Tickets for the band's upcoming U.S. tour are available through the band's official website.
RISE AGAINST — 2026 U.S. TOURw/ Alkaline Trio
September 22 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
September 23 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
September 27 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
September 30 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17
October 3 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
October 4 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
October 6 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
October 7 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
October 9 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove
October 10 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
October 12 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
October 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
October 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
October 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
October 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
October 20 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
October 22 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
October 23 – Irvine, CA – Great Park Live
