With a new album slated for release in 2020, Surfer Blood is as fresh as ever with their latest EP release, Hourly Haunts. Finishing up a tour with a performance at Riot Fest, the band took time out of their schedule to answer a few quick questions about their upcoming album and give advice to budding musicians.

Sarah Thomas: How would you say this new EP differs from 1000 Palms?

JP: That’s a good question. It’s not very technical. It’s just three-chord songs, played really fast, and that’s it. That’s what we’re trying to do now. 

ST: Can you speak on that a little bit about being self-produced…

JP: The good news is that Micheal and I are both very into the engineering thing, and we’ve been working on it for years. Recording ourselves is great.

Micheal: We definitely took our time with this record. We didn’t have to worry about paying an hourly fee and we kind of just explored what we thought sounded cool and different. We just took our time and had a lot of fun with it on this record. 

ST: So what’s some advice for being a good musician in general? 

Lindsey:  You gotta love it. All of the musicians that I love the most don’t necessarily have like all of the technical abilities that some of the greats surely do, but they have soul. And all of my favorites are just in love with the music and that’s what comes through.

JP: Work hard, play shows outside of your hometown, and don’t worry about merch or t-shirts. Like if a band is playing their first show and they have like five different t-shirts.

L: Yeah, lower your overhead.

JP: Also, never forget it’s an art form.

Micheal: Never think you know it all. When you think you’ve learned it all and done it all, just keep honing your craft and learning. Learn the insides and outs of everything you love. 

Tyler: If there are dishes in the kitchen and you’re staying at someone’s place and it’s not that weird, you can politely wash them. That’s something nice to do.

M: It’s the little things.

ST: Who’s your favorite artist and song as of right now?

L: My favorite song right now is a New York artist named Gemma, and the song is called “Keep on Dancing.” It’s so good, I’m obsessed.

JP: Ultimate Painting, it’s a British band. The song is called “Woken by Noises.”

M: I’m like the classic rock dad playlist guy in the band, but I do appreciate hearing new stuff. What do I play all of the time? I feel like my friends know me better than myself.

JP: The Eagles, “Take it Easy” !

M: Oh yeah! The original “Take it Easy.”

T: That’s a hard question actually.

ST: How about favorite karaoke song?

TJ: Oh! Roy Robertson’s “Crying.” It makes me feel alright.

ST: Awesome, thank you and good luck with the set!

The post Surfer Blood shares sage advice and new album details in a quick interview appeared first on Quip Magazine.

For 2019, Blink-182 made a comeback as Friday’s headliner, naturally, the crowds were large by 6 pm, surging with the after 9-5 crowd. Nearly everyone was sporting all-black attire was peppered with brightly colored hair that was a nod to Riot Fest as the destination for punk and alternative music.

The sun was just beginning to set by the time that Glassjaw stepped out onto the Rebel Stage. People stood on tiptoes trying to see the band over the crowd as they began the set promptly at 7:30 pm and the crowd immediately began to sing along. This came as no surprise,  the band has been around since the early 2000s, playing a part in the development of the underground music scene in the states. The crowd did not miss a beat with lyrics, latecomers were eagerly pushing their way to the center of the fold, it was clear that Glassjaw was high on the list for many attendees. Friday came to a close with the crowds growing thicker by the hour, making for a tough time to get from one end of the park to another, especially with limited lighting.

But the Friday crowd would prove to be no match for Saturday’s when the park began to fill early with people on a mission to see Slayer’s last Chicago show. Slayer shirts were nearly everywhere you looked, with fans all over the age spectrum and a few toddlers to boot. Saturday was like a clear reminder of why Riot Fest is often called, “Warped tour for adults” – the mood was rowdy but never out of control while the sun beat down on the park. 

In keeping with the laid back vibe, Lando Chill chatted with friends before beginning his set at the Radicals Stage as one of the earlier performances. With a smoothness to match the relaxed crowd, Lando crooned, “You feel that? That’s your purpose calling” at one point, encouraging the crowd to vibe with him as he rocked to the rhythmic bass of the music.

Surfer Blood took it up a notch at the Rise stage. Their fans showed up in earnest while they played some of their biggest hits.”Can we get a little more haze up here?” JP asked before launching into “Island”, a song he called, “spooky”. With lively shows and a dedicated fan base, it was no surprise to see some folks make their way from the back of the crowd to the front of the stage, with one being rewarded with a guitar pick at the end of their set. 

“Dedicated fans” was a theme for Saturday while the crowd for Microwave was like a wall of people. They wasted no time hyping the crowd up, and the response was a mosh pit and shouting the lyrics back at the band. The crowd’s enthusiasm must have reached the stage because the band played a large selection of songs which according to some festival-goers is not a common thing, “They never play this one live anymore!” pointed out a fan near me before “The Fever” put everyone under a spell.

Leaving Microwave’s set, the crowd at Riot Fest became thick with Slayer shirts. Almost functioning like calling cards, people nodded at and high-fived each other after glancing down at one another’s band shirts. As Saturday came to a close, shouts of “Slayer!”  could be heard periodically as fans made their way to the exits. 

After some rain, Sunday left the park with large patches of mud. Entry was delayed for about 15 minutes before everyone was able to dash to the stages to see the early bands. Ultra Q was one of them. Formally known as Mt. Eddy, Ultra Q is fresh off their recent rebranding and just as fresh on stage. The guitar-forward group kept the crowd going through their energetic and punk-influenced sounds. The lead singer, Jakob Danger, thanked everyone for coming out early as the crowd grew steadily in size. 

After a high-energy morning, It was time for a different kind of energy. Playing at the radicals stage, Ganser’s moody tones was a great change of pace for Sunday. With Riot grrl vibes and repetitive lyrics, the Chicago based, post-punk band was a breath of fresh air after the power chords of the week. 

Despite the wet and muddy weather Riot Fest ended on a high note. The festival grounds remained full and the beer flowed freely. With artist bookings that reflect the commitment to diversity, Riot Fest holds its own as one of Chicago’s must-do festivals yet another year.

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