At the start of day two in Chicago near Humboldt Park, my friends and I found a wallet full of cash, cards, and license. Through some sleuth work, we actually found the owner who was incredibly relieved to have everything returned. The previous night, I was jumped by some teens—and if it weren’t for a stranger driving by to get out and call the cops my camera could very likely have been gone. Moral of the story: Pay it forward. Always help others when you can. This is a theme that I saw at Riot Fest. Bands looking out for crowds, singers professing the need for equal rights, and friends taking care of one another. It’s the Riot Fest way.
Bully was the first band I photographed. Singer Alicia Bognanno and the band released Sugaregg in the late summer of 2020 during the pandemic. For many, this was the first time hearing the tracks live. Being an early start in the day did not deter fans from arriving early. Cheers emanated the anticipation as instruments were tuned. Bognanno burst into “Feel the Same” from 2017’s Losing and all were singing the chorus in ecstatic unison.
Rushing over next to the Rebel stage, THICK were bracing for a big day. They were playing the stage that would later host some of their heroes and their proud excitement added to the enigmatic set. Their live show is an uplifting one, even as a 2 pm set it felt like a party with a purpose. The lyrics of “Your Mom” poke fun at the suffocating life rhythms handed down, “Have a baby! Have a career! You’re always late! And don’t be gay!” Their songs are honest, humorous, and encouraging.
One of the bands THICK was thrilled to share the same stage with on Riot Day Two was Surfbort. The fellow Brooklyn punks wasted no time, immediately storming the stage. Lead singer Dani Miller exudes the emotion of the lyrics, with each expression being an over-acted work of art. Guitarist Alex Kilgore was fully embracing his Point Break aesthetic with a most excellent Hawaiian shirt and mustache. It is a look he pulls off well. Miller frequently was in the crowd, at one point judging an impromptu dance-off. The band also embraces honesty. While singing “FML” off their forthcoming album Keep On Truckin’, Miller sings, “I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. Might as well go die.” She finished the open track about suicidal thoughts by encouraging people to, “get in the pit, be with your friends, don’t kill yourself.”
Across the great fields of Douglass Park, 7 Seconds were beginning their hardcore gems. I would make a joke that by Day Two the fields were littered with Riot Pop, but thankfully the Riot Fest teams were doing an incredible job of keeping things tidy. Kevin Seconds yelled out to the crowd with bliss and love as the band played classics like “Definite Choice.”
On my way to the next set, I had the great pleasure of seeing Gwar members and Fear lead singer Lee Ving sharing a moment. What a sight. Be sure to scroll down to find that visual. Arriving at the Rebel stage once more, War on Women was performing. The Baltimore band is visceral and empowering. Shawna Potter performs with the visible rage that is felt by so many in our turbulent, scattered times. As the day became another Chicago afternoon of sunny heat, the band played through—powerfully expressing their dissent.
Two more bands off of Epitaph Records’ roster began as the day turned over to the evening. The Menzingers bounced and blitzed the audience full of crowd surfers with a fast, fun setlist focused on On the Impossible Past. The album is at a decade milestone, and the reactions of the fans in the crowd showed how truly and deeply they have held it close.
The other Epitaph band to play … or rather the Epitaph band was Bad Religion. The band that has been around as long as its label is by no means short on prowess. Each musician in the band is wildly talented, tight live, and carries their legacy aside from the monicker band. When you stop and think about it, it’s insane. Guitarist Brian Baker alone has been in Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, and the newly formed Beach Rats to name a few. Lead singer Greg Graffin is also an accomplished college professor with a Ph.D. in Zoology from Cornell. As he sings, his hand gestures are reminiscent of a course lecture. His syllabus from the stage is some of the greatest thoughts to be had.
Gogol Bordello had made a brief appearance earlier in the day to perform traditional Ukrainian music as the Fest nodded in solidarity with the country under attack. The support and pride rose further as the full band took the stage for their set. With a large blue and yellow banner behind them declaring, “Solidaritine KYIV” the band pounced from speaker to speaker to dispel some of the collective sorrow of injustice.
Around the corner, Sunny Day Real Estate began. The band is in the midst of a reunion tour. Having formed thirty years ago and being founders of the emo genre, fans looked forward to hearing one of the rare sets. They’ve parted ways three times before, and this time without the addition of founding member Nate Mendel. His bass parts were dutifully handled by Chris Jordan.
Wrapping up the evening, were the original Misfits. Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, and Doyle were joined by Acey Slade and Slayer’s founding drummer Dave Lombardo to perform 1982’s Walk Among Us in its entirety. The literal classics were blistering and left Danzig out of breath at times, but he made a good point about his feelings on lip-synching by declaring, “I would kill myself before I do some shit like that.” True, I’d rather hear the actual live musician any day as well. They followed up the comment with “Hybrid Moments” and a collective endorphin rush swarmed the audience. Danzig made several jokes about not letting our parents know where we all were even though it was clear the median age was 35. His ghoulish chuckles during “Halloween” and elsewhere made the odd Dad jokes extra endearing. Closing the second day with these icons was a real treat. View Day One here.
