Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Riot Fest ’22 – The Aftershows?

If history proves correct, we’re close to getting out Riot Fest Late Night (aftershows) lineup.  And as we’ve seen before it can be a game changer; from discovering new bands to seeing someone in a more intimate setting to compensating those dreaded scheduling conflicts that are bound to occur.  Every year there’s a pretty stout slate of shows.  And they’re at some of the coolest venues…Cobra, Reggies, Bottom, Concord.  But what are the shows you’re hoping for?  And no, you’re not gonna get Nine Inch Nails at the Cobra.  And this year we have a sure fire bet for Friday or Saturday.  It would take a great lineup for both.  And for Sunday…we’re talking Green Day at the Metro kinda show.  Here’s what I’d like to see.  These are sure fire we’ll make it work:

  • Descendents
  • Jeff Rosenstock
  • Marky Ramone
  • Bad Religion
  • The Front Bottoms
  • The Joy Formidable

These are would be great if no other options:

  • Rocket From the Crypt
  • Wonder Years
  • Boston Manor
  • Menzingers
  • Skating Polly
  • The Maine
  • Real Friends
  • Bombpops

Of course there are others that would be good but I’ll need to do some research.  These are top of mind knee jerk.  And also the venue has a lot to do with it…is it close…does it have late night Mexican food right down the block….does it have a rooftop bar…does it have pinball?

Posted on

Aftershow Ideas

100% the aftershows have been some of the best times at Lolla and RiotFest.  But this year there isn’t anything that jumps out from the official aftershow schedule.  There is one that is a little interesting on Friday and another unofficial aftershow on Saturday.  Read the options and let me know what you think.

Friday

Motion City Soundtrack at the Concord.  Motion City Soundtrack are a pop punk/emo band straight away.  Which means guitars and melodies.  They play earlier on Friday at Riot Fest.  Why should we see them?  They’re good.  They’re at the Concord which is the site of the famous Kyle-sadface-with-key photo at the Violent Femmes.  Why shouldn’t we?  We probably want to stay to the end of Smashing Pumpkins on Friday which may make it tough to get to the Concord, however they probably won’t start until midnight.  BTW, the Concord is about 2 miles directly down Milwaukee Ave from our Airbnb.  Tickets are $34.

Saturday

This one needs some explaining.  Every year for the past 5 or so years there has been a “Pop Punk Pizza Party” on the Saturday of Riot Fest.  A couple of local bands play plus one surprise band shows up.  The surprise is a lower tier Riot Fest band that they can’t market because of conflicts with Riot Fest.  But it’s popular band. What it has going for it?  Saturday with Run The Jewels doesn’t seem to be a night we’d stay late.  Admission is only $24 and includes a free slice of pizza and a bunch of hot sauce samples.  And it’s about a mile from our Airbnb right down Milwaukee Ave.  It seems like we might already be roaming for pizza at that time anyway.

Here’s the website: https://dice.fm/event/qm3mx-pop-punk-pizza-party-with-super-secret-band-18th-sep-chop-shop-chicago-tickets?pid=bb159b4e&_branch_match_id=963526725337063478

And cut and paste from the site:

Welcome to Pop Punk Pizza Party VI - The People's Pizza Party! We're back with a vengeance at Chop Shop for a bigger, better, spicier rager to celebrate all things Soothsayer. Pizza? Check. Pop punk? Check. High fives? Always. Partying for a good cause? You betcha. This year we'll be donating all ticket proceeds to The People's Pizza Party, an incredible direct action group formed by some of the best people Chicago's punk scene has to offer, who provide food and supplies to the houseless community. After we pay the bands and delivery guy, of course. Each ticket will include a full slice of pizza (vegetarian, vegan, and carnivore options) and unlimited hot sauce tasting. Additional slices will be made available for purchase after 10pm, with all proceeds continuing to benefit the amazing work of People's Pizza Party. Come happy, come hungry, and come to party.
  • SUPER SECRET BAND
  • SECRET BAND
  • MAX STERN (FULL BAND)
  • THE BURST AND BLOOM

Anyway, what are your thoughts?  Friday or Saturday or both or neither?

Posted on

Riot Fest 2021 Preview – PUP, Devo, K. Flay

We’ve got 18 weeks until Riot Fest.  And a shitpot of bands to preview.  Not sure how I’ll do this going forward but here are a few to get started.  A couple soon to be your faves and a legacy act the deserves our attention.

PUP

A Canadian punk band (which means they rage but are very polite about it).  All original members still and really hit their stride in the mid 2010s touring with Modern Baseball and Menzingers and playing festivals like Lolla and Warped Tour.  Really like their sound and energy.  In that sweet spot between pop-punk and screamo hardcore.  One of my top bands to “discover” here.  By the way, PUP stands for Pathetic Use of Potential; of which I can relate.

Devo

Do we really need a preview for DEVO?  Prolly not but I bet if you get past Whip It and Girl You Want in their catalog you’ll find they were more punk that you thought.  Should have gotten in the Rock Hall of Fame this year.  Will one day so consider them a future Hall of Famer. 

K. Flay

Hip Hop maybe.  Alternative maybe.  Super fun and very good. She’s from the Chicago area which could be great news for us.  Sure to be a fave of KJ, but probably all of us.  She just released an EP of Offspring, Green Day, and Limp Bizkit covers.  Don’t know if she’ll do any but it may be the closest we get to The Offspring.

Posted on

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.

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress