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.
