The Struts. While yesterday’s post harkened back to a Lolla, so do the Struts for me. After “discovering” Twenty One Pilots (with 50k others) on Sunday of Lolla 2015 I took my nephew to see T0P at the NorVa. (yeah, Twenty One Pilots at a small venue…almost as crazy as seeing them for free at a Chipotle festival). And the opening band at the NorVa was the Struts. There is almost zero comparison that I can make between the two, but that’s not bad. It was just an odd pairing. One day I’ll figure out the politics of how opening bands are selected (like Masked Intruder for Interrupters?). Anyway, the Struts were great and very memorable. Have a great 70s-eque classic/glam rock sound with a charismatic Freddy Mercury/Steven Tyler like front man. I think they do that sound better than Greta Van Fleet and have wondered how The Struts were overlooked for the Zeppelin copy cats. I think this will be a great show. Could be a top five for Riot Fest. A good aftershow choice too.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 8 – Bloc Party
We’re eight weeks out from Riot Fest 2019. We’ve got an interesting mix this week. From one mecca of music to another.
We’ve “seen” Bloc Party before. Kinda. They were that aftershow at Lolla 2016 at the House of Blues. I vaguely remember it. I have a photo or two so I know I was there. That was a long day with The Joy Formidable, Two Door Cinema, and the Chili Peppers. And I think someone even made a round trip drive between Chicago and Madison that day. Anyway, Bloc Party are good. A post-punk sound that channels Gang of Four’s “Entertainment”. They are a British band that were formed at the Reading Festival by their singer and guitarist.. Who are the only two constant members. How cool is it that they were formed at Reading? Even better, they’re playing their album Silent Alarm in its entity, which is really the only album of theirs I listen to, and really even the first four songs. Would be super happy to see those first four songs (Like Eating Glass, Helicopter, Positive Tension, and Banquet) and move on. We’ll see. If their performance of Banquet is as good as the video below it’ll be tough to walk away. Better catch up on the rest of Silent Alarm.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 9 – Angel Du$t
I had never heard of Angel Du$t before the lineup release. And I can’t find much about them online except to confuse them with a German metal band of the same name (absent the dolla sign). And that I see they are touring with our friends Rancid and Pennywise, which is a great sign of credibility. And I love their sound. Good fun melodic punk. Sounds perfect for Riot Fest.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 9 – Pkew Pkew Pkew
Pkew Pkew Pkew are a new punk band (first record in 2016) from Canada. Never heard of them before Puddles put me onto them on the #puddles50 trip this year. A really fun sound. Like them a lot. Hope for an aftershow at the Cobra. It’s a distinct possibility.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 9 – Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket. These guys make the cut because they’re from Fort Collins. They also claim Laramie, but we’re going with Fort Collins (home also to the Descendents’ Bill Stevenson). Enjoy a Fat Tire or 90 Schilling while you’re watching them. We’ll classify them as “skate punk” for two reasons…they’re on NOFX’s Fat Wreck Records label, and they have a song called “Skate or Die”. Might be a little on the pop punk side but look fun. The Ramones cover isn’t their entire band, but it is too cool to leave off.