A Rage Against the Machine concert is still a special thing, in part because even now, no band has managed to outdo the Angeleno agitators on their own terms. No doubt some of the reason for Rage's enduring dominance is that, on paper, the rap-metal-politics triad looks bad -- anyone attempting it would almost certainly be doomed to ham-fisting the endeavor. At this point, the band themselves would be forgiven for sounding like a weak blurt from a bullhorn whose batteries ran out over a decade ago. But that's the other thing that makes a RATM concert special in 2011: They actually sound better now.

The band's set was the greatest thing about L.A. Rising, but the day's best moment came during "Know Your Enemy" from 1992's eponymous debut. Tom Morello wrapped the ferocious track with one of his trademark guitar-as-turntable, whammy-bar freakouts before turning the spotlight over to Zack de la Rocha. The lights went up as the Castro-maned vocalist repeatedly roared a cappella: "All of which are American dreams!"

The view of the Coliseum floor was as heartening as it was terrifying: tens of thousands of faces contorted by their own answering screams, eyes bleary as they shouted down the enemies and injustices they otherwise felt powerless to halt. That the message of this song -- not to mention "People of the Sun," "Testify," and "Killing in the Name" -- felt as fresh as it did when it was written is both a testament to RATM's art and a depressing indictment of our national politics.

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