Friday Preview – The Wonder Years

Pop punk or emo or alternative or whatever (you get the point….right in the Riot Fest wheelhouse) band from the Philly area.  While I reserve the right to change my mind later, right now they remind me of Cold War Kids.  Which is great enough.  Super popular in the generation behind mine.  Favorite band of a friend who also recommended The Front Bottoms and Tiny Moving Parts.  That’s an endorsement.

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?

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.

Sunday Preview – Lunachicks

Late 80s punk band from NYC. At one time had the former Beastie Boys drummer in the band, Kate Schnellebach. They broke up for most of the 2000s but reunited for Punk Rock Bowling last year. This should be a fun show. Too bad they aren’t at the Cobra for an aftershow as that would fit perfectly.

Saturday Preview – The Get Up Kids

This is a repost from 2019’s Riot Fest. I missed them then but any band getting this much love by Riot Mike deserves out attention.

An emo (they don’t like that term) or pop punk band from Kansas City, The Get Up Kids formed in the wake of Dookie and Smash blowing up in the mid-nineties.  I’m seeing a pretty common theme about how many of these bands started in 1994/5/6.  Another potential conflict band amidst the heavyweights on Friday.  Give them a spin and see if they’re worthy.