Category: Riot Fest

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Riot Fest 2021 Lineup Reveal

And predictions revisited

As promised about 75% of my predictions (and hopes) were wrong, getting 6 out of 23 guesses.  However two were no-brainers (GWAR and Andrew WK).  But I got two of the headliners correct with NIN and Devo (though Devo probably won’t rate as a headliner).

Stoked to get both of them as well as NOFX.  Devo fits into Riot Fest’s legacy act slot very well.  NOFX is the 90s punk act.  Nine Inch Nails fills that metal need.  Faith No More is both legacy and metal.  Very well rounded.  Plus some other great adds like the Bosstones, The Lawrence Arms, Dinosaur Jr., Motion City Soundtrack.  More, many more.  Pretty awesome.  I’m already stressing out about conflicts and headliners keeping me from aftershows.

Surprised to miss out on Rise Against (local Chicago band) as well as The Offspring.  I thought they were locks.  Also Dropkick.  Rumors are the promoter of Aftershock (Danny Wimmer Presents) has a non-compete clause keeping bands out of festivals they don’t promote.  Which kinda sucks.  All three of these are at Aftershock.  Same with Machine Gun Kelly but I’m fine he’s not at RF opening up a spot for others.  Though Anti-Flag is playing both, it’s surprising there isn’t more of a rollover, so there may be some truth to it.  Why can’t we all get along?

Frank Turner was a possibility as he’s playing the following weekend in Vegas and he just did an album with NOFX.  And as it’s a solo show he travels pretty easily.  Would not be surprised to see him join NOFX on stage.

There will be more bands announced next week so there may be some hope for some.  And there’s that Thursday preview show which may not include anyone on the poster yet since it’s invite only.

Also note there are four bands from the latest poster that didn’t make this one: L7, Don Broco, Boston Manor, and Chubby and The Gang.  Don Broco and Boston Manor show on their website as a Thursday date for Riot Fest.  This makes it possible they are part of the Thursday Preview Show and will be revealed at that time.  Could be the same for L7, though they were on Aftershock also and have been dropped from that lineup so something else could be going on with them (unless they were dropped from Aftershock because they will be at RiotFest…)

Talking about Thursday, this preview is new so no one knows what to expect….times, how many acts, etc.  It’s possible it’s just the couple listed above.  It’s doubtful it’s a full day’s lineup.  Probable is something in between.  One thought is it will be local Chicago acts and if that’s correct the biggest rumor is the Rise Against will show up on Thursday, which would be awesome (Aftershock conflict set aside for speculation).  They skip Chicago on their current tour which made them likely for Riot Fest and a surprise to not be in the lineup.  Anyway, we’ll probably find out this week as RF has announced daily tix go on sale and they always reveal the daily lineups at that time (not the times and schedule).  We’ll see soon.

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Riot Fest 2021 Predictions

We’re back.  Nearly certain Riot Fest 2021 is going to happen.  And nearly certain the final lineup release is imminent.  It must’ve been quite a different process to book bands this time around.  Some are still not touring.  Some are not traveling international.  And some bands might not have outlasted COVID.  Anyway, the current lineup poster has two missing acts from the top line, one to replace My Chemical Romance and another to join Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, and RTJ.  And six more blanks in the sweet spot on the poster from lines two to five, plus a bunch more below.

Here are my predictions (of which 75% are sure to be wrong) to fill in the poster.

Headliners:

Nine Inch Nails:  Was a headliner in 2017 (and fricking kicked arse), plus is playing two shows with Pixies in Cleveland the week after Riot Fest.  Pretty sure.

Devo: Headlining Punk Rock Bowling the following weekend.  From the Midwest so fit in with Chicago and are the perfect legacy act that Riot Fest likes.  Bucket list for me.  Please.

Misfits: Previously headlined RiotFest, as well as Glenn Danzig has played.  Replaced My Chemical Romance at the Aftershock festival in Sac so replacing them here could happen also.

AC/DC: Willed by our Charlie Brown.  But makes sense.  Riot Fest loves metal (remember Slayer) and Brian Johnson just appeared with Foo Fighters a few days ago.

Lower Lines on the Poster:

The Offspring: New album out, playing Aftershock.  Would be super fun

Rise Against: From Chicago, touring late summer and skips Chicago.

NOFX: Backed out of Punk Rock Bowling, but are playing.  Riot Fest would be a great rebound gig.  They’d be fun just don’t take them seriously, Karen.

Descendents:  Played 2019 but are filling in for NOFX in Vegas so they are touring. 

All:  Are 75% of Descendents, where Milo plays, All are never too far away.

Wolf Alice:  Big wishlist for me.  And could almost headline if RiotFest was in the UK.  Have a new album, that’s all.

Menzingers: playing other festivals

Jeff Rosenstock: just because he’s cool and I want to see him

Frank Turner: just because he’s cool and I want to see him

Dropkick Murphys: New music

Bosstones: New music out, played in 2017

Body Count: playing other festivals and fit in the Riot Fest legacy act scene

Teenage Bottlerocket: another Charlie Brown wishlist, but they are playing other fests.

Streetlight Manifesto: We’ve never been to a Riot Fest without them.

Spanish Love Songs

Wonder Years

Machine Gun Kelly: just from message boards.  Not a fan but this one is pretty much assured.

GWAR: always plays RiotFest

Andrew WK: always plays RiotFest

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Are you ready!!!! Riot Fest 2021!!!!

After our Glasto-like festival fallow year of 2020 I thought I’d look ahead to 2021.  And one of our go-to festivals has already announced the beginnings of their lineup.  Riot Fest 2021 is encouraging.  The first wave was just announced, and it satisfies and leaves excitement for the second and final wave releases.

The headliners are absolutely perfect.  They are solid enough to foreshadow some great bands for the second and final wave releases.  But they set me up to be able to leave early and avoid the clusterfuck of Uber lines and get to an aftershow or Lou Malnatis.  Two I’ve already seen enough times and don’t need to see them again, and two are interesting but not gonna keep me late.  But that’s okay.  I’ve heard it said before the strength of a festival is on the third line of the poster.  I have to admit that Run The Jewels might be the one I’m most interested in seeing. Before you doubt me, remember that Rage tapped them to open their reunion tour. In Zach and Tom I trust…

Below that first line it gets better.  There’s the token mix of emo/pop punk that Riot Fest will always have and that’s great.  The bands that learned the guitar to Dookie or Enema of the State.  Taking Back Sunday, The All-American Rejects, New Found Glory, Simple Plan, Mayday Parade.  They all are sure to be fun live, though I may not be able to tell them apart.

There’s the stoner ska punk rock of Sublime and Dirty Heads.  All we need is 311 and Pepper to be added for the second and final waves to complete the Chuckie quinella.

There are a couple acts sure to be a favorite of KJ’s.  K.Flay, Meg Myers, Best Coast, and Beach Bunny.  Especially Meg Myers.

There’s some legacy acts.  Legacy is a nice way of saying we’re old.  Acts that were popular in our youth.  Circle Jerks reunion is a big deal and seeing them is almost a necessity.  Old school punk from my high school days.  Living Colour.  I just want to hear Cult of Personality again.  Vernon Reid on guitar and Corey Glover in his Body Glove wetsuit (from the video…I hope he’s not wearing it still).  L7 were another of the sounds of the 90s.  They kinda follow Bikini Kill in the Riot Grrrl vein, though I think they’re more grunge than punk.  I saw them with Rancid a year or so ago and they still bring it.  And Toots and The Maytals.  Toots is probably 80 years old, so we won’t have this opportunity long.  They had songs covered by The Clash and The Specials, two of my all time favorites.  Need to see Toots just to kiss the ring and offer respect.  And Hepcat and Fishbone.  Fun sound.  One cool and calm and one cool and frenetic.  And there’s a place for both. I didn’t enjoy Fishbone at 2017 Riot Fest, but I’ve seen them since they reunited the original six and they’re so much more fun.  And Jawbox harkens back to the hardcore punk scene of DC in the 80s.

And then there’s the “odd”, not that there’s anything wrong with that.  Riot Fest does “odd” very well. And Gogol Bordello is odd. At one of our Lollas.  They have the Russian lead singer, accordion player, and almost seem like a Cirque De Soleil meets punk act.  Would be super cool as an aftershow or up close.  We were way far away at the bandshell at Lolla and it didn’t do them justice.  Another “odd” one is Coheed and Cambria.  I’ve never listened to them but recognize their name showing up on many festival lineups.  Reading about them and listening to them takes me to Rush’s 2112.  The sound isn’t Rush, though the singer does have a little Geddy Lee in his voice.  But they’re kinda prog rockish.  Their songs are based on a science fiction comic book that the lead singer writes.  I can’t explain it.  You just need to hear it.  Wouldn’t be surprised if they have a great show.

And there’s some newer punk.  KJ and I saw SWMRS open for our friends FIDLAR at the Metro.  I thought they were better than FIDLAR, and FIDLAR was great.  Billie Joe’s son plays drums.  PUP are Canadian Punks (oxymoron?) with a great sound. They are on the rise and should be seen. 7/23/20 UPDATE. SWMRS is cancelled maybe for good. And for good reason. Google “SWMRS” and “Joey Armstrong” and “Regrettes”. Basically, SWMRS made a big deal about being all inclusive and supporting women and then a story gets published where Joey (at best) sexually harassed the underage singer of the Regrettes. They’re done. And deservingly.

And there are more…and there will be more for the second and final wave announcements, which will lead to revisit my wish list post and an update. Speaking of soon, is it too soon to talk about September 2021. Maybe not. I need to get out of the house. The QuarantineFest was only good for four or five plays through….

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Riot Fest 2019…Musings, Observations, and Lessons Learned

Freaking exhausting.  That’s my first reaction to Riot Fest 2019.  But that’s not a bad thing.  It’s actually a complement.  Pretty much non stop pounding driving punk-like music from the drop on Friday to late Sunday.  It wasn’t my best festival experience, but it was a pretty damn good way to spend a weekend.  But it was exhausting.  Maybe time for a Glasto-like fallow year.

Crowded.  It was.  My best times were getting there early to enjoy some smaller bands with just a few folks.  Drakulas, you’re welcome.  The most exhausting times were those after dusk sets trying to navigate around the throngs of folks to find my way to the next stage.  While pondering did Riot Fest oversell this venue a bit?  I’d pay 50% more to have 50% less people.  Of course I’d like to pick which 50%.  But the people of Riot Fest…the best festival goers.  Maybe it’s the lack of the bros or fashionistas from Coachella, but everyone was in a great mood.  Though Riot Fest grass isn’t Coachella grass, as a wise man once told me.

And the musical highlights.  I will forever be stoked to see Rancid’s “Journey to the End of East Bay” and Pennywise’s “Bro Hymn”.  And this time was not any different.  Calling out a few “Oi, Oi, Oi’s” with my similar coiffed brethren Cock Sparrer.  Being on the rail seeing Bob Mould lay into “Flip Your Wig” to open his set is a bucket list moment for a kid that grew up on Husker Du.  And though from a little distance, how cool is Patti Smith, especially doing a Midnight Oil cover?  And Drakulas, you’re welcome.  Well done.  And Frank Iero and The Beaches and The HU?  Dandy.  And seeing the side project of Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman up close on the small stage…quite a show of guitar mastery.  And OMG for Manchester Orchestra.  I love that sound and the way they do the quiet LOUD quiet thing (shout out Pixies) so well.  What a great place to be seeing them up close.  And because I never saw Queen, the Struts made me feel what it may have been like to see Freddy M and friends; in a Rancid-makes-me-feel-like-the-Clash way.  And, as I type this I know this is a redundant statement but, Jack White and the Raconteurs are pure awesome Rock and Roll.  What amazing musicianship.  Plus they had a nice shout out to Patti Smith with the snippet of Gloria, btw.  Without question we always end up at a killer aftershow, and Violent Femmes at the Concorde was no exception.   A perfect place to see them.  Too bad for anyone that had tickets that didn’t make it.  Hope you had a soft bed to sleep on instead. 

The let downs?  Not a lot, but a few.  The aforementioned crowds and the navigation at night.  While not high on my list of must sees (but you still have to see them, right?), Blink’s sound was atrocious, with a capital WTF.  Another sound Debbie Downer was the sound bleed between the stages.  Because of the proximity of the stages it was noticeable…did anyone at Bloc Party really hear anything other than Slayer?  Did Hot Snakes really need to Spinal Tap it and turn it up to 11?  I was fully supportive of that call as an aftershow (I even listed them as a hopeful aftershow), but knowing we could’ve seen Descendents or Cock Sparrer instead made it worse.  Of course if it was more than a 2.5 mile walk to a different aftershow we still might be missing someone.  Speaking of Descendents, them conflicting against Rancid doesn’t meet any logic I know of.  While there weren’t many conflicts, this one was unforgivable.  And it will always be a Riot Fest issue, but the exit and getting a ride afterwards is brutal.  Makes me want to disregard the headliners and get outta Dodge early each night.  Especially if the daily openers (Pkewx2 and Masked Intruder) are so good. Where are Don and Sue when you needed them most?

Drakulas, you’re welcome.

Each day was different.  Good Friday was the Surf City Blitz resurrection with a lot of time at the Radicals Stage.  Wouldn’t trade it for any day.  While Saturday had a metal feel (with Anthrax and Slayer) I spent a lot of time at the Rise Stage with Cherry Glazerr, Surfer Blood, The Struts, and Manchester Orchestra.  And Sunday, well let’s just say Village People and B-52s give it a particular feel, was different.  But posting up at the Roots Stage to see Bob Mould, Patti Smith, Raconteurs, and Bikini Kill was about awesome.

So a pretty good weekend.  Saw some old faves…Rancid, Pennywise, Violent Femmes….checked off some bands I’ve wanted to see (including a bucket lister)…Cock Sparrer, Bob Mould, Manchester Orchestra…saw a hall of famer and a future hall of famer…Patti Smith and Jack White…saw some amazing guitarwork with Jack White, Scott Ian, Fletcher Dragge…saw Butter Stamos…and discovered some super cool new music and have a few new favorites….Angel Du$t, Frank Iero, The Beaches.  And of course…

Drakulas, you’re welcome.

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Riot Fest 2019 Countdown – The Finale

One freaking week away. One long week until what looks like a great weekend. We’ve done a lot of previews. Some better than others. There’s a lot of music out there. Efforting to make previewing a little less cumbersome, here’s links to previously posted previews. All in one spot. Look through them. Click away. Also, at the bottom is a link to a youtube library with all of the videos (or most….there’s 129) in one place if you want to put it on shuffle and repeat. See you next week.

Friday

Pkew Pkew Pkew 11:55 AM
The Garden 12:30 PM
Anti-Flag 1:30 PM
Hot Water Music 2:20 PM
I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME 2:30 PM
Senses Fail 3:10 PM
Hot Snakes 3:20 PM and Saturday at the Cobra
Angel Du$t 4:00 PM
The Get Up Kids 4:15 PM
Neck Deep 4:25 PM
Cock Sparrer 4:40 PM
Violent Femmes 5:30 PM and Friday at the Concorde
Pennywise 6:10 PM
H2O 6:20 PM
Dashboard Confessional 6:35 PM
Descendents 7:15 PM
Glassjaw 7:30 PM
Rancid 7:40 PM
Jawbreaker 8:45 PM
Blink 182 8:45 PM

Saturday

Masked Intruder 12:15 PM
The HU 1:05 PM
Cherry Glazerr 1:45 PM
Drakulas 2:00 PM
Surfer Blood 2:45 PM
The Selecter 3:25 PM
Turnover 4:45 PM
The Struts 6:00 PM
Senses Fail 6:15 PM
Manchester Orchestra 7:15 PM
Rise Against 7:25 PM
Bloc Party 8:45 PM

Sunday

Save Ferris 12:45 PM
Skating Polly 1:00 PM
White Reaper 1:40 PM
Frank Iero 1:45 PM
The Beaches 2:25 PM
Less Than Jake 3:00 PM
Ride 3:10 PM
Streetlight Manifesto 4:15 PM
Dave Hause 4:50 PM
Bob Mould 5:15 PM
Teenage Bottlerocket 6:00 PM and Sunday at the Cobra
Patti Smith 6:20 PM
The Starting Line 6:45 PM
The Raconteurs 7:25 PM
The Ergs 7:30 PM
Taking Back Sunday 8:15 PM
Bikini Kill 8:30 PM

Riot Fest 2019 YouTube playlist