Plenty of fans brought their kids along to share the experience of seeing their favourite bands. At first, it felt surreal seeing tattooed and pierced adults pushing babies wearing protective headphones in strollers at a rock festival. It made sense though, a lot of these bands are older and their diehard fan base reflects that. Since it was more family-friendly, the festival grounds also needed a change in scenery. The carnival was still there with a Ferris wheel and rides, but the classic “freak show” attraction had been removed in place of a normal video game arcade. There was also a wedding chapel for those who wanted to get fake married. The festival brought a “Quick Stop” convenience store from the Clerks movie series to life to purchase snacks. Lastly, there was a Riot Fest history museum showcasing posters of past lineups, a shrine honouring John Stamos, and autographed gear from musicians. 

On the first day, the Rise Stage title was briefly changed to “Weird Al Yankovic’s Weird World Stage”. A traffic jam made things more hectic as patrons were trying to leave to see Blink 182 as others crammed in like sardines to see Weird Al. It caused mass hysteria and a struggle trying to see someone play their accordion. Nevertheless, Yankovic took centre stage and quickly played a polka medley of popular pop songs. Afterwards, he quickly disappeared for a wardrobe change with a video package playing an excerpt of his biographic movie, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. After the video clip, Weird Al returned dressed as Kurt Cobain to play his Nirvana parody “Smells Like Nirvana”. It will be the closest most of us will get to seeing Nirvana live, so we moshed in the band’s honour. Weird AL continued changing clothes while displaying video packages such as his history in appearing in animation series and interview parodies. Weird Al is truly a legend, doing this for 40 years, and a pioneer of going viral before the Internet existed. 

The Rebel Stage struggled with noticeable technical audio difficulties. It took the stage crew a long time to diagnose the issue leading to restless fans during Hanson’s set. It was made worse when the Hanson brothers themselves were visibly annoyed that they were behind schedule. Waiting 45 minutes to hear “MMMbop” really wasn’t worth it, but come on Hanson, give the crew a break. That led to Gym Class Heroes session to fall behind as well. What was more heartbreaking is to have Gym Class Heroes being the only hip-hop representation on the lineup. Riot Fest usually has solid rap artists like Wu-Tang, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, and so on, but having no such acts was a letdown. However, the best act at the Rebel Stage was GWAR.

At this point, GWAR is a welcomed mainstay at Riot Fest every year. They put on a hellacious performance with impressive stage production. This year was no different as they caught national attention for slicing the belly of a Trump figure, spraying blood on the poor souls in the front row. This is what GWAR does. They’ve made similar sacrifices to Obama, Hillary Clinton, Elon Musk and other political figures. If you can’t handle it, get out of GWAR’s way!

One big announcement Riot Fest had on the lineup was The Beach Boys. To be clear, this isn’t Brian Wilson’s Beach Boys but cousin Mike Love’s version. Though Love is an original member, he also isn’t the most well-liked member for his political endorsements, atrocious treatment of Brian Wilson and notorious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame speech. However, the hype for The Beach Boys appearance was about seeing the temporary drummer, John Stamos. For years, Riot Fest has prodded the actor to come attend the festival by making him statues, look-alike contests, and selling John Stamos masks. It was a full circle moment seeing the “Full House” star on stage. He thanked the Riot Fest family for keeping him humble and trolling him all these years, but he’s getting paid to perform, so he had the last laugh. The performances themselves were lacklustre as Mike Love mumbled his way through classic hits, “I Get Around,” and “Good Vibrations,” but girls erupted whenever Stamos took centre stage.

One of the best newcomers was Lambrini Girls. The duo of guitar/vocalist Phoebe Lunny and bassist Lilly Macieira immediately impressed with their stage presence. Lilly wasted no time jumping into the crowd, making everyone sit down to acknowledge the rules of mosh pits and helping any fallen fan from injury before hopping back on stage to perform “Bad Company,” “Big Dick Energy,” and “Cuntology 101”. They definitely gained some new fans with their music, but got everyone’s respect when Lilly wore a “Fuck Ice” shirt, giving a brief speech that US citizens need to fight against a fascist government.

Lastly, the band that brought the high energy was All Time Low. Crazy to think a band we’ve been listening to since junior high is dropping a new album next month. Being on tour for their latest album, Everyone’s Talking, All Time Low have been rocking out for almost 20 years. They did a great job giving fans a glimpse of what to look forward to on the new album with songs like “SuckerPunch” and “The Weather”. However, they knew to balance it with the nostalgic hits like “Dear Maria” and “Remembering Sunday,” taking us back to our youthful days and holding onto the dream. 

Riot Fest is always a great time. Every year, fans look forward to ending the summer with a bang, and the festival always delivers. The Riot Fest crew are always welcoming and helpful in every way. The lineup is usually a mix of punk rock or those who have made it to mainstream. This year was a celebration of the festival’s 20-year existence. While it didn’t feel as hectic as past years, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The bands and fans were more mature. The leaves room for new bands and fans to take over and shake up the scene.

Can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring.

The post Riot Fest Chicago celebrating 20 years of bringing music to the masses appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Without a doubt, Riot Fest is the biggest rock festival to take place in Chicago every fall. It was great seeing a slew of fantastic bands make a return back to Douglass Park. The event also does a solid of incorporating hip-hop acts in the lineup giving the show a wider range of variety. This time around the festival extended to four days making it a long week of listening to loud instruments and being a part of dirty mosh pits.

Thursday was a chill day, more of a preview show for those who had 3-day weekend passes. Joyce Manor rocked the stage as they performed their first album Constant Headache. What made Joyce Manor’s set a little extra special is how they ended it – by performing My Chemical Romances “Helena.” It was a solid cover that eased people’s heartaches as MCR had earlier announced they were pulling out and not returning to the festival until next year.

Joyce Manor Anthony by Linh Nguyen

Alkaline Trio Timoty Hiatt

Crowd by Anthony Nguyen

Later in the day, it was also a warm homecoming for Alkaline Trio, as they made their way to the stage. They played favorite songs from the early 2000s like “Armageddon” and “Help Me” while the crowd came together to help a man in a wheelchair crowd surf. The friendly crowd quickly turned vicious when the band asked them if they were ready to see Morrissey with the response being a deafening “meh”. Most left the field before Morrissey went on as they were preparing for the rough weekend ahead.

Riot Fest Friday was definitely the place to be, showcasing perhaps the best sets of the entire weekend. Things got in motion quickly with Circa Survive kicking ass performing tracks like “Get Out” and “Act Appalled”. Anthony Green’s signature high pitch voice was astonishing, the way he sang the lyrics with such pain and control is mesmerizing.

Circa Survive by Jason Pendleton

Beach Goons by Anthony Nguyen

Another band that deserves recognition is Beach Goons, being a fan of the boys from Cali it was great to see them live. Lead singer Pablo Cervantez wore a green/red windbreaker jacket in honor of Mexican Independence. As they tunned their instruments, I drunkenly shouted out “Viva Mexico Cabrones!” which got my people cheering and the band smiling and throwing up thumbs up. They perfectly played the two songs I wanted to hear: “Chunti” and “A.M.”  ending the set with a surf punk rendition of Ritchie Valens “La Bamba” which naturally, created a mosh pit.

Ending the night two Chicago icons were performing at opposite stages. Those who love 90’s rock went to see the Smashing Pumpkins. But while I do respect Billy Corgan and crews’ legacy, I had to be at the opposite end to see Lupe Fiasco perform The Cool. It is an album that most casual fans know Lupe by so it was great hearing him perform the entire record, taking some of us back to high school. (Side note: I bought The Cool album on release day to meet Lupe and he refused to sign my copy or my friend’s skateboard making me hate him for years. However, he did eventually sign my copy of Tetsuo & Youth so all is forgiven.) It can be easy to forget how many bangers Lupe had on that album but rapping the tracks out of order it was refreshing to go down memory lane. As he did “Superstar” it began to drizzle which made the song feel somehow more impactful. After powering through with “Paris, Tokyo” he lead into “Hip Hop Saved My Life” but before beginning the track he shared a powerful statement: “Rest in peace to everyone who got killed by gun violence in this city. Every rapper, every trapper. From the police to those living in the streets”.  

Lupe Fiasco by Timoty Hiatt

Fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa [cover image] kept the hip-hop vibes going on Saturday performing tracks that put him on the map like “U Mad” and “16 Shots”. He then perform several songs off his Innanetape mixtape including “Orange Soda,” reflecting on this almost decade-old project and how important it was for him as an artist to grow. Towkio graced the stage for “Tweakin” and the duo threw out pre-rolled joints to the crowd before ending with “FistFight!”. This Chicago rapper is still living his dream and while his crowd wasn’t at all that full, the fans who did show up showed continued dedication and support.

However, if we’re talking about rapping juggernauts then that easy has to go to Run The Jewels. In recent years the duo of Killer Mike and El-P have collaborated on albums reinvigorating both artist’s careers for the new generation. Fresh off their fourth collective album RTJ4, the pair of rappers performed a handful of classics to remind y’all why they’ve earned the respect and fame they now carry with careful pride.

Run the Jewels by Anthony Linh Nguyen

Sunday was a slow start leading up to the main events. There were plenty of activities to enjoy at the festival besides witnessing live music including the classic carnival rides, games, and even shopping. While some attendees were enjoying the sunset from the Ferris Wheel I went shopping for cassette tapes to add to my collection. In the background, you could hear early band performances like Andrew W.K. and GWAR. Even wrestler CM Punk came on stage introducing Living Colour who performed his entrance music “Cult of Personality.”

The main events once again divided people into two different camps: hardcore rockers at Slipknot and modern pop-rock fans at Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). Being somewhere in the middle I saw a bit of both. Fans have been waiting for years to see Slipknot and with the recent loss of band member and legendary drummer, Joey Jordison they were eager to mosh and let out energy in his honor. The smell of sweat, dirt, and body odor filled the air as people rushed the stage during “Wait and Bleed”, “Surfacing,” and “Duality”. At this point, the intensity of the madness was too much so I went to see MGK [last image]. In comparison, his performance was tame and pretty lame. He did crowd favorites like “Jaw Breakers” and “Bloody Valentine” before doing an unreleased song “Paper Cuts” that will be featured on his new album titled Born With Horns. However, MGK said the dumbest thing possible when he said: “Let me see who chose to be here instead of with all those old weird dudes with masks”. While there’s legitimate beef between the two parties, I left shortly thereafter.

Slipknot by Pendleton Jason

Riot Fest was one hell of an experience. It was disappointing to hear about bands like My Chemical Romance and The Pixies pulling out of the show but seeing other artists that have come through, like Beach Goons and Lupe Fiasco, was worth it. There were 5 different stages so unfortunately, it would be impossible to see all bands but it was dope seeing so many fans in one space and being friendly to each other. Even during the chaos of the moshpits, people would help those that were knocked down or offer a lift so that others could crowd surf. Hopefully, next year more big-name headliners will return so we can get wild again.

Machine Gun Kelly by Anthony Linh Nguyen

The post Fans put the “riot” into Riot Fest this festival season appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Both Tarrus Riley and Morgan Heritage paid tribute to the reggae artists that paved the way for them at the halfway point of each of their hour-long sets, including Peter Tosh, Third World and Gregory Isaacs. Both Stephen and Damian Marley paid homage to their late father during their respective performances, as they always do, as their way of carrying on his legacy.

Tarrus Riley, son of reggae artist Jimmy Riley, has been in the music business for a little over ten years, and his opening set on Sunday is indicative of the successful future he has in reggae music. Riley performed some of his older music as well as some of his newer music and one can see, from his performance, that he is passionate about what he does. One of the highlights of his show was his tribute to and impersonation of dancehall and reggae musician, Buju Banton.

Although performing without sister and band member, Una Morgan, Morgan Heritage took the stage following Tarrus Riley and through their music, reminded fans as to why they were fans of “the Royal Family of Reggae” to begin with. Having been in the business for over twenty years, Morgan Heritage have amassed quite a musical catalogue and during their hour-long set, they entertained attendees with songs both old (like “Tell Me How Come”) and new (music from their new album Strictly Roots). Their vocals meshed well with their instruments, neither one drowning out the other, and they appeared to genuinely have fun onstage and with their audience.

With his smooth vocals and demeanor, Stephen “Ragga” Marley played a very memorable set, which included guest performances from his eldest son, Jo Mersa Marley and his nephew, Skip Marley – both of whom are a part of the Ghetto Youths Crew and are continuing the Marley family legacy of making meaningful music. His hour and a half set included many of his original songs like, “No Cigarette Smoking” and “Break Us Apart”, as well as his father’s iconic music: “Lively Up Yourself” and “Pale Moonlight (How Many Times)”. For those fans yearning for a performance from Bob Marley & The Wailers, this was as close as they would get.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jimmy Cliff was the penultimate performer whose set began with his band members beating songs on African drums, before the 67-year-old took the stage for what was to be an electrifying show. With upbeat songs like, “I Can See Clearly Now”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “The Harder They Come”, it was hard for the crowd not to dance along with Cliff (who has quite the dance moves). Cliff was fun to watch and he was just as excited to see the fans having a good time, as they were to see him. Cliff sang with passion and excitement, while moonwalking and air kicking all over the stage for the duration of his hour-long performance.

Closing out the Catch A Fire Tour’s Riot Fest stop was the youngest son of Bob Marley, Damian Marley. Anyone who has ever seen the youngest Marley perform live knows that they are in for an incredible treat, as the Jamrock singer and his band always put on amazing show. With visuals that were nothing short of amazing, Marley kept the crowd engaged with his strong stage presence, backup singers (who were also background dancers) and the sound of his notable voice singing and rapping some of the most meaningful lyrics over recognizable and remixed beats. The crowd sang along as Marley sang, in their entirety, some of his greatest songs: “Ghetto Youths” and “Love & Unity”. And like his older brother, Stephen, Marley paid tribute to his father, with his own renditions of “War/No More Trouble” and “Exodus”. Halfway through the hour and a half performance, Marley was joined by his brother Stephen and the two Marley brothers commenced their joint set, which lasted for about 15 minutes. The joint set concluded with Tarrus Riley, Morgan Heritage, Jo Mersa, and Skip Marley joining the brothers onstage for an impressive group performance of “Could You Be Loved”. Marley closed his performance with “Road To Zion” and “Welcome To Jamrock”, just as artists had completed a life-sized portrait of Bob Marley to the left of the stage.

Nothing negative can be said about what took place on the Roots Stage on Sunday. Bob Marley would have been proud.

photo by Kris Lori Fuentes Cortes

The post Catch A Fire Tour at Riot Fest Chicago appeared first on Quip Magazine.

This year’s Riot Fest was different than previous years. Traditionally it is a punk and metal festival, however, with festivals like Lollapalooza returning to their rock roots, Riot Fest organizers capitalized on the lack of hip hop acts this music season by booking some of the biggest names (and up-and-comers) in hip hop and reggae. An incredible lineup, on seven stages, along with its non-music related attractions, made Riot Fest delightfully overwhelming and memorable. Here are some of the weekend’s notable performances.

Post Malone: Texas-born rapper and musician, Post Malone only has a handful of songs, but the “White Iverson” rapper has a loyal and growing fan base. Malone took the Radicals Stage on Friday night for his 30-minute performance, which included a 10-minute DJ set with producer and frequent collaborator FKi. After enthusiastically breezing through “White Iverson”, with his cigarette in-tow, Malone took a quick, onstage wine break and went into “Too Young” and “TEAR$”. Post Malone had the tough job of performing on the Radicals Stage as Ice Cube was beginning his set on the Roots Stage (which was quite the walk). But knowing how huge it is to perform at Riot Fest, Malone took it all in stride.

Lee “Scratch” Perry: It wouldn’t be a Lee “Scratch” Perry show unless the man himself showed up tardy to his own show. Backed by his band, the Subatomic Sound System, who kept the crowd entertained during the wait, Perry finally took the stage, twenty-five minutes after his set began, and it was worth the wait. With his red beard and donned from head-to-toe in a very colorful and eye-catching costume, the 79-year-old reggae legend and dub music pioneer performed some of his most popular songs while persuading the crowd to dance along with him – which they happily did. For longtime fans, it was a privilege to see that this reggae great is still touring after such a long and successful career, and at this age.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band: Saturday’s lineup was metal and punk heavy, but the Mothership Connection did land in Douglas Park on Saturday evening and after a 10-minute technical delay, its passengers, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, were allowed to unload. With his band members dressed as astronauts and the bass rattling the souls of the thousands of funk fans in attendance, Bootsy, known for his over-the-top costumes, graced the stage dressed after his band warmed up the crowd with “Ahh…The Name is Bootsy Baby”. During his set, Bootsy Collins promised that “We’re going to funk you up” and that he did. He began to pay homage to the band that kickstarted his career, Parliament-Funkadelic – simply known as P-Funk to their fans – with “P-Funk Wants to Get Funked Up”. During a brief wardrobe change, the Rubber Band kept the crowd entertained by performing “(Not Just) Knee Deep”. Upon returning to the stage donned in all red, Bootsy went into an extended version of “I’d Rather Be With You” and closed the set with “Flashlight”. From his amazing bass guitar solos to his charismatic (and comedically dirty) speech, to coming out into the crowds dressed in his Chicago Blackhawks jersey, Bootsy Collins took home top highlight honors at Riot Fest’s halfway point (day 2).

Riot Fest’s third and final day was reggae and hip hop heavy (a rarity for the festival) as the likes of De La Soul, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Damian Marley and Stephen Marley took center stage. For the hip hop heads, the Rock Stage was the place to be as the day’s hip hop performances all took place there, while the day’s reggae shows took place on the Roots Stage. Crowd participation was at an all-time high during Sunday’s performances as many fans (both old and new) had been looking forward to this final festival day for months to experience these legends of hip hop and reggae.

Honorable Mention: Sunday’s honorable mention goes to Toronto-based MC, Jazz Cartier, who had the daunting task of performing in a 12 p.m. timeslot to the few festival attendees who managed to get out of bed early enough for his set. Cartier, who has a knack for throwing open water bottles out into the crowd, (he threw nine of them during his set) is very animated and full of energy. Cartier’s energetic performance gave life to the early crowd that started out small, but had swelled to a few hundred towards the end of his set.

He released his mixtape, Marauding in Paradise, earlier this year and performed just about every song during his show including, “New Religion”, “Holy Shit”, and “Dead Or Alive”. In addition to wetting his fans, Cartier enjoyed walking on the stage speakers, climbing the stage pillars, and starting mosh pits, without missing a beat on the microphone. Needless to say, Cartier gave his all at Riot Fest, built his fan base, woke everyone up, and prepared them for the remainder of the day.

Riot Fest Chicago came and conquered, and now as the traveling festival heads to its final stop of 2015, Toronto, with some lineup changes, it is safe to say that festival-goers are definitely looking forward to next year.

photo by Kris Lori Fuentes Cortes

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