Category: Riot Fest

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Riot Fest 2022 Final Preview

Here we go…less than a week away….here’s a curated youtube walkthrough of what the weekend may hold.  A couple of conflicts to still work out.  Maybe this will help.  Plus not a lot of time built in for rest and refreshement.

Friday

1PM LS Dunes (I know we won’t make them but this is a great way to start)

130 Boston Manor

215 Wargasm

305 Lagwagon

315 Anberlin

4PM Jeff Rosenstock

515 Descendents

545 The Wonder Years

7PM Portugal. The Man

730 Bleachers

8PM Marky Ramone

830 My Chemical Romance

Saturday

2PM The Joy Formidable

250 Fear

3PM The Get Up Kids

425 7 Seconds

515 The Menzingers

615 The Front Bottoms

620 Bad Religion

725 Gogol Bordello

730 GWAR

830 The Misfits

Sunday

12Noon The Bombpops

1PM The Linda Lindas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLfKSLXi_I

2PM Jawbox

320 Less Than Jake

325 The Lunachicks

4PM Coolio

415 Polica

5PM Jimmy Eat World

605 Sleater-Kinney

710 Yeah Yeah Yeahs

815 Nine Inch Nails

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Saturday Preview – Bauhaus

Classic.  It can be argued who invented Goth…Siouxsie, Bauhaus, or even Joy Division.  But you can’t argue that Bauhaus did it best.  It’s not a halloween without Bela Lugosi’s Dead.  Broken up long ago for Peter Murphy’s (Cuts You Up) solo career while David J and Daniel Ash did the Love and Rockets (No New Tale to Tell) thing, they are back together for quite the reunion.  And likely the last time to see them.  Who knows what stage show they’ll have.  Peter Murphy entered Coachella (for their first reunion) hanging upside down like a bat to Bela Lugosi’s Dead.  In the Douglass Park dusk, could have a Lolla Ghost-like show.

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Saturday Preview Battle – 7 Seconds versus Alexisonfire

Decisions and conflicts.  Here’s a choice to make for Saturday.  7 Seconds or Alexisonfire.

7 Seconds is an old school American hardcore punk band formed in 1989 in Reno.  Though their sound changed many times since then.  Many of the current bands were influenced by them.

Alexisonfire is a Canadian melodic hardcore or screamo band.  Yeah, Canadian so they’re polite about it. 

Can’t say I’m a fan of the screamo. Or Nena covers. So which one to choose….

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A Weekend of Music in Chicago, curated.  Riot Fest 2022

Alright.  We have the schedule.  And as almost always there are conflicts.  And almost always, there’s at least one big one.  It also leaves us with a couple other questions.  And some decisions.

First, the big conflict puts my #1 act against my #3 act.  I’m still scarred by Rancid vs. Descendents conflict or 2019.  How can you put two acts against each other with probably the same fan base?  This one isn’t as egregious, but Front Bottoms (#1) vs Bad Religion (#3) hurts.  And I’ll choose Front Bottoms. 

Another ponderous sin is that The Joy Formidable set is only 30 minutes.  That’s crazy for an established act.  I know they are short because of the Ukraine Tribute.  But still….

Anyway, here’s a curation of the weekend activities.  Guaranteed to go astray for time to fetch refreshments or a cool shady spot.  But it’s a start.

Friday

  • 1pm: LS Dunes (probably too early to make but this supergroup’s first show will probably be one to remember)
  • 305pm: Lagwagon (alternative is Anberlin at 315pm)
  • 4pm: Jeff Rosenstock (bucket list will not miss this)
  • 515pm: Descendents (can’t miss also after getting a drink or two after Jeff R)
  • 615pm: The Wonder Years (last half of set)
  • 730pm: Bleachers (first half of set)
  • 8pm: Marky Ramone (on the small Drakulas stage with everyone under the age of 40 at My Chem)

Saturday

  • 2pm: The Joy Formidable (gotta be there)
  • 230pm: Ukraine Tribute
  • 250pm: Fear or 3pm: The Get Up Kids…a decision to make.  Both with full album plays.  Flip a coin or see both.
  • 425pm: 7 Seconds.  Possibly a look at Alexisonfire.  Not a bad choice
  • 515pm: The Menzingers
  • 615pm: The Front Bottoms.  Gotta be there.  Start memorizing lyrics for the sing alongs.
  • 725pm: Bauhaus.  Classic.  Never will be able to see them again.  At dusk.  Must see
  • 730pm: GWAR….but we may need to see the last half of GWAR.
  • 10pm: Jimmy Eat World aftershow at the Metro

Sunday

  • 1pm: The Linda Lindas.  I know it’s early but listen to them.  They sound great!
  • 2pm: Jawbox
  • 325pm: Lunachicks
  • 415pm: Polica (and maybe check out Coolio and Ganster’s Paradise)
  • 5pm: Jimmy Eat World (or others depending on how good they were the night before)
  • 605pm: Sleater-Kinney
  • 710pm: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  • 815pm: Nine Inch Nails.  Such a strong live show.  Can we make it this late on the final day?  Especially if we start early?
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Friday Preview – Jeff Rosenstock

So I only know of him by reputation.  He’s the former leader of a punk band, Bomb The Music Industry!, and he went solo to do the punk-folk-esque thing.  That thing that I so enjoy with Frank Turner and Dave Hause, though Jeff may have a bit of a ska twist.  He’s been a mini-bucket lister for me for a while.  A couple of interesting things, perhaps….he rerecorded his last album, No Dream, as a ska album called Ska Dream, which he’s playing in its entirity at the Bottom Lounge soldout Sunday aftershow.  His record label, Quote Unquote, was the first donation-based label with all releases through a pay what you want model (Radiohead most famously did this with one album, In Rainbows).  Oh, Jeff is from Long Island.