The 13 Best Things About Riot Fest Chicago 2015
Settling into its new home of Douglas Park (after a falling out with prior space Humboldt Park), the Chicago installment of Riot Fest returned this weekend for another triumphant, muddy, eclectic year.
As it was my first time attending, I went in without expectations, and with only a plan to soak up everything I possibly could over the fest's three days and seven stages of constant music. Though trumpeted as a punk event, Riot Fest is so much more, and I found that not only were some of the best parts unrelated to the scene, but also sometimes even non-musical. A “grown up” fest for fans of punk and more with legendary performers both big and small, Riot Fest attracts a community as diverse as its bill. Hearing stories of property destruction in years past, I assumed it might be rowdier. That was not so much the case—though the park was left looking rough after three days of being treaded on by 10s of thousands of feet; here's hoping Chicago understands this time. It was, however, an unforgettable time, and we've recounted 13 best things about Chicago's Riot Fest 2015 below.
THE FULL ALBUM SETS
Last year, Riot Fest celebrated its 10th anniversary by asking ten bands to play their essential albums in full. While this year’s event didn’t have anything quite as ambitious lined up, full album fervor was still in full swing, and a diverse crop of artists opted to play some classic releases (or not, in a certain rapper’s case), at least one as a last-minute surprise.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s certainly how I felt watching The Academy Is… Man, I’ve missed this band. Initially meant to serve as both a 10-year celebration of their beloved debut Almost Here, and also as a farewell show, William Beckett & co. took the opportunity to announce a proper return and accompanying reunion tour. Good thing, too, because all of the feels could not be confined to just one weekend in Chicago. Watching this group of guys effortlessly play these songs again, energized by a hometown crowd, was unreal; it’s like they never left.
Rancid
Aside from The Academy Is…, Rancid’s …And Out Come The Wolves performance was was on the absolute high points of the weekend. Having just turned 20, Wolves remains one of most influential records in modern punk, and, over its sprawling 19 tracks, represents Rancid firing on all cylinders. Older, but no less intense, Tim Armstrong, Lars Frederiksen and the rest of the band proved that nostalgia in no way represents irrelevance. Never sounding fresher, they bridged the gap between some of Riot Fest’s older legacy acts and the younger generation of punks. Their larger than life Wolves backdrop was also pretty epic, and I would like one for my living room immediately please. Oh, and CM Punk showed up before the encore, despite being on the fest's “not allowed” list alongside selfie sticks and Justin Bieber.
Though not initially listed among the full-album sets, Bayside surprised us by playing their sophomore self-titled disc, which turned 10 just a few weeks ago. Bonus!
Plenty of other artists joined in on the full album fun as well. Ice Cube invited along MC Ren and DJ Yella to tackle a remixed version of their N.W.A. classic Straight Outta Compton, perfectly coinciding with the runaway success of their new biopic of the same name. The Ataris kicked off Saturday with a Blue Skies, Broken Hearts… Next 12 Exits set; an album that didn’t get nearly enough attention in its day. Modern Life Is War celebrated 10 years of Witness on an intimate stage. Even Snoop Dogg was scheduled to play his debut Doggystyle in full, but, instead, took the stage over 20 minutes late and still managed to charm the crowd by performing a random smattering of hits; because, you know, he’s Snoop Dogg.
THE AFTER SHOWS
If you like your shows served with a side of more shows, then Riot Fest is definitely the destination for you. All throughout the weekend, and even including an Academy Is… pre-festival outing, Riot Fest’s after shows provided chances to see some of the best bands on the bill in intimate clubs scattered all over Chicago. This year, faves like Taking Back Sunday, Rancid, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, Alexisonfire, and even Drive Like Jehu and The Dead Milkmen took part.
I caught exactly one of these events (but remained profoundly jealous of each) because, you know, sleep. A last minute add-on, Against Me! took the stage at Concord Music Hall just hours after playing one of the best sets at all of Riot Fest. Without the confinement of a short festival slot time, they performed nearly twice as many songs, allowing them to include lesser-played tracks like “Two Coffins” and dust off some older faves like “T.S.R. (This Shit Rules).” After shows are also a great way for fans without festival tickets to take in some great music, and if Against Me!’s packed house was any indication, the people of Chicago took full advantage.
THE GIRL POWER
L7
There’s been a lot of backlash lately about the lack of women on festival lineups, and, while most everyone could stand to up the ratio, Riot Fest included, the ladies still had a strong showing this year in Chicago. Bands like L7, Against Me!, Babes In Toyland, Speedy Ortiz, The Joy Formidable, Cayetana, Skinny Lister, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Coathangers, Barb Wire Dolls, Skating Polly, Foxtrott, Alvvays, and Twin River made for an extra memorable Riot Fest. And, of course, the biggest band of the whole weekend, No Doubt, are fronted by one of the most iconic women in music: Gwen Stefani.
Against Me!
THE HEADLINERS
Some weekend fests impress in the headliner department, but miss the mark with their undercard acts. Others bag plenty of exciting up and comers, but buckle under the pressure of trying to schedule headliners with universal appeal. Riot Fest excels in both departments, and this year’s crop of top-billed acts in Chicago spanned an impressive spread of genres without ever feeling like pandering.
No Doubt
For the ska and pop fans, No Doubt closed out night one with a hit-filled, sing-along ready show chock-full of modern classics, while Ice Cube and friends relived the glory days of N.W.A. and Motörhead rallied to bring the rock after a recent string of cancelations.
In one of the worst scheduling conflicts of the weekend, System Of A Down performed a turbocharged Saturday set while Taking Back Sunday made their triumphant return to the main stage. Meanwhile, proto-punk legend Iggy Pop, one of the weekend’s oldest, most influential performers, catapulted back to Riot Fest sans Stooges to deliver a ferocious blast of his biggest hits, in a way no other performer can match. Seriously, Iggy Pop could technically be my grandfather, and I think he has more energy than I do.
Modest Mouse
Sunday really showed off Riot Fest’s diversity, showcasing festival closers Modest Mouse for the indie kids, The Prodigy for fans of classic electronica and alternative dance music, and Damien Marley for the, uh, stoners? With constant music coming from every corner, it was hard not to find something to like at any given moment, and especially on the festival's biggest stages.
THE RETURN OF SOME SCENE PIONEERS
Moreso than any similar event, Riot Fest has the pull needed to coax bands out of retirement, The Academy Is… being this year’s biggest festival-specific comeback. Plenty of other recently-reunited or largely less active bands lined the bill as well though, and getting to see them all in one place felt like punk rock Christmas.
There were seminal, influential, older acts like Drive Like Jehu and L7 (back after a 14 year breakup).
The Movielife
Integral parts of the northeast scene off the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, like Long Island’s The Movielife, out for their first string of shows since 2011.
American Nightmare
Boston’s American Nightmare, who’ve reclaimed their old moniker after spending a decade as Give Up The Ghost.
Lifetime
Lifetime, whose reunion has been ongoing for a decade, but who are long overdue for another album.
Thrice
And even somewhat newer, but just as fiercely missed, artists like Thrice picked back up without skipping a beat.
Alexisonfire
The top billed act at this weekend’s Riot Fest Toronto, Alexisonfire put their busy schedules on hold to reconvene for a festival lap this summer. Chicago’s Riot Fest marked their first show in the U.S. in years.
THE PUNK ELDER STATESMEN
Though not exclusively a punk fest, punk is still what Riot Fest does best, and the amount of influential, classic talent (read: the reason this crowd skews older than similar outings like Warped Tour or Skate And Surf) is kind of unbelievable.
The Dead Milkmen
Weirder, niche acts like The Dead Milkmen and Dwarves might normally play to small club crowds, but at Riot Fest, they're main stage performers.
Echo & The Bunnymen
From the other side of the pond, '70s and '80s punk legends like Billy Idol, Steve Ignorant (Crass), goth punks The Damned, and post-punk pioneers Echo & the Bunnymen provided a real life lesson in musical history.
And, of course, Iggy Pop, Tommy Stinson (the Replacements, Guns N' Roses), and home town heroes 88 Fingers Louie helped make Riot Fest the most authentically punk experience of the year.
AND THE FRESH BLOOD TOO
Just because Riot Fest is rich with the old, doesn't mean there's no room for the new. Plenty of AP faves made the cut, and a respectable mix of bands like Real Friends, Superheaven, Beach Slang, Knuckle Puck, Foxing, FIDLAR, Chon, Have Mercy, and more, absolutely delighting with earlier sets and on smaller stages, were a glimpse into the sure-to-be-leagacy-lineup of fests to come. Seriously, sign me up for the position of curmudgeonly old critic at Riot Fest 2035.
Real Friends
Superheaven
New Politics
