Riot Fest 2021 Preview – GWAR

Only one preview this week. Mostly because it’s almost impossible to pair them with anyone. They stand alone in style and music for sure.

GWAR – Saturday

The story of GWAR is carved across the history of this barren and hopeless planet, but GWAR themselves are not of this world… their story begins in the deepest reaches of outer space. Long ago, the beings who would become the rock band GWAR were part of an elite fighting force, the Scumdogs of the Universe. For eons, they served as thralls to a supreme being known only as the Master. But one by one, each future member of the band earned a glaring reputation for being an intergalactic fuck-up. And so, they were banished, sent away on a fool’s errand to conquer an insignificant shitball floating in a dark corner of the universe; the planet Earth. Once here, GWAR shaped the face of the globe, destroying and rebuilding the natural world, and giving rise to all of human history. Aliens to some, gods and demons to others, our erstwhile Scumdogs fucked apes to create the human race, and this fateful unplanned pregnancy would prove to be truly disastrous!

Riot Fest 2021 Preview – Dinosaur Jr., Skating Polly, Joywave

Dinosaur Jr. – Friday and Saturday Aftershow

They were at one of our Coachellas but we didn’t get them enough attention.  Really a pioneer of alternative music and on a heavy play rotation on HFS in the early 90s.  You may hear some grunge but they are way more than that.  An early signee of SST Records that included Black Flag, the Minutemen, Sonic Youth, Bad Brains, and Husker Du.  Great company to keep.  They deserve our attention just to pay homage.  Plus their lead J Mascis is just cool.  And their drummer gets drunk with KJ.

Skating Polly – Sunday

Riot Grrrl or Punk.  Dunno.  But they freaking rock.  Step sisters from Oklahoma have never been so punk (plus little bro on drums).  Their big break happened when the met Exene Cervenka from X and she became a fan and produced their second album.  They fit that loud quiet loud (and then louder) sound that many of us like.  And again, they freaking rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US0uJI2GfZE

Joywave – Saturday

Alternate Electro Pop?  That’s what it sounds like.  An outlier at RiotFest but could be a great break from some of the harder acts.  From upstate New York.  They collaborate with a lot of others in typical electro fashion.  You may be familiar with Big Data’s song Dangerous (a Coachella act of ours).  They were on that.

Riot Fest 2021 Preview – Thrice, Anti-Flag, The Sounds

Thrice – Friday

Post-hard core.  Melodic hard-core.  Somewhere in there.  From the OC and cite Bad Religion as one of their influences.  They’ve recently released on Epitaph and their bassist was in Angels and Airwaves for a moment (but so were a few bassists…Tom doesn’t keep them around long).  Looking at their c.v. they deserve our attention.  I like them and am surprised I haven’t seen them before.

Anti-Flag – Friday

Good old punk from Pittsburgh.  Been at it since the late 80s.  Pretty political and it’s safe to say they didn’t vote from Trump.  Giuffre would refuse to see them.  You got to love a lead singer with the name Justin Sane.  The last video is unrelated but I ran across it looking for Anti-Flag videos and just had to post it.  Cyndi Lauper doing Black Flag!

The Sounds – Friday with Saturday aftershow

Could be super interesting.  They’re Swedish.  They’re indie.  And if Wikipedia is correct their sound is somewhere around Blondie, Missing Persons, and The Cars.  Why not?  Check them out.  They have an aftershow at Reggies on Saturday and an opener hasn’t been announced yet.  Something to consider

Riot Fest 2021 Preview – Knuckle Puck, White Lung, Radkey

Knuckle Puck – Sunday

We’ve saw them at Riot Fest 2017 on the Rise stage.  Pop punk/emo akin to last week’s post.  But probably my favorite.  They sound a little different.  Plus their name came from a hockey term in the Mighty Ducks movie.  And they are Chicago locals.

White Lung – Sunday

Canadian punk RiotGrrrrl.  From Vancouver.  Good.  Very good.  Three piece (no bass).  Their singer, Mish Barber-Way moved to LA and is married to the singer of the stoner rock band Saviours.  She’s a journalist and is the executive editor of Penthouse.  Jimmy probably reads her all the time if he’s not just looking at pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-bYEeSFmwA

Radkey – Friday

Punk version of Hanson.  Brothers from the Radke family.  And they freaking bring it.  Also will be at Lollapalooza so making a return trip to Chicago a few weeks later (they’re from the midwest).  Maybe we’ll get a scouting report from our Lolla friends.

Riot Fest 2021 Preview – New Found Glory, Motion City Soundtrack, Simple Plan, Mayday Parade

We’re going four wide this week with Pop Punk/Emo. All are good but sometimes that formula feels like it’s on repeat. Love the guitar rock and all deserve attention. Just that many don’t differentiate themselves. Yes, my dad said the same thing 40 years ago about The Clash and The Ramones.

New Found Glory – Sunday and a Saturday aftershow

Pretty much the epitome of Pop Punk.  Good Pop Punk.  If Pop Punk had a Biggie vs Tupac East Coast vs West Coast, NFG from Florida would be Biggie and Blink would be Tupac.  But I don’t think they were in a turf war.  And Blink hasn’t had a hologram at Coachella.  Anyway, probably the biggest name on the bill for the generation behind us.  Well worth our attention.

Motion City Soundtrack – Friday

Simple Plan – Sunday with a Saturday aftershow

Mayday Parade – Saturday