Riot Fest tore via Chicago this previous weekend with large headliners like My Chemical Romance, the Misfits and Nine Inch Nails — in addition to a slew of different punk and emo acts to spherical out the weekend’s lineup.
Some names had been model new to the competition whereas others had been veterans who’d been there because the starting, however even the rookies had been fast to develop some new core recollections due to the unparalleled punk rock weekend.
Read extra: 10 pop artists who performed Warped Tour
As Riot Fest nears its twentieth anniversary, we requested dozens of artists what their favourite reminiscence or second was from the competition’s 17-year historical past.
What’s your favourite Riot Fest reminiscence/second?
Charlotte Sands
I really like getting to look at a few of my favourite bands and artists carry out over the weekend. I’ve at all times been so impressed by the Riot Fest lineups — this yr particularly — and I’m actually honored to be part of it.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Eugene Hütz (Gogol Bordello)
We have numerous September birthdays in Gogol Bordello — mine and our violinist, Sergey [Ryabtsev], included. So each time we rejoice our collective Virgo birthdays right here, it’s been very satisfying. Imagine taking part in an incredible gig to an incredible crowd, after which working to see the Stooges up subsequent!
Sincere Engineer
Playing it for our first time in 2019 was tremendous enjoyable. Definitely considered one of my favourite moments. Seeing Cap’n Jazz, and the Broadways in 2013 — and at all times consuming too many Monaco [cocktails].
Brian Sella (The Front Bottoms)
We’ve performed Riot Fest twice, and I’ve two very clear recollections of it. The first is from after I was a lot youthful, and I believe I had a bottle of Jack Daniels on stage with me. Then I went down and walked across the viewers with it and was simply hanging out with all people. The second reminiscence is from after we had a bunch of individuals come up on stage and sing “Twin Size Mattress.” It was only a actually good time.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Kyle Fasel (Real Friends)
One of my private favourite recollections from Riot Fest occurred in 2017. My best good friend Tom was within the crowd with a giant signal that requested me to be his best man at his wedding ceremony. The crowd actually received into it as properly. Everyone was pointing on the signal and it was a complete large deal. It’s a fond reminiscence of mine.
Pat Kirch (The Maine)
I really like how various the lineup is yearly. There actually is one thing for everybody, they usually at all times appear to get a band to reunite — which I really like!
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Blothar the Berserker (GWAR)
My favourite Riot Fest second was assembly Merle Haggard’s crew. I used to be sitting there consuming a child leg, and in walks a bunch of hundred-year-old cowboys. I requested them to play (*32*) they usually truly performed it that night time! What I like essentially the most about Riot Fest is seeing so many legends in a single place. I’ve seen Die Antwoord and I’ve seen Jerry Lee Lewis, Television and Wu-Tang. We’ve all shared time within the line for the mushy serve machine.
Skating Polly
Kelli Mayo (vocals/bass): Being on the facet of the stage with Kat Bjelland watching L7. It was fairly wonderful. We had simply toured with [Babes in Toyland] in Europe for the primary time and Kat was like my Riot Fest buddy the entire day.
Kurtis Mayo (drums): My favourite reminiscence from Riot Fest is after I received to look at the Pixies from a Ferris wheel. Also after I smoked weed with De La Soul, after which Cypress Hill got here up and informed me my rolling papers had been too small.
Peyton Bighorse (guitar): My favourite reminiscence is attending to see New Order from the group. I do not often exit within the crowd, however I used to be like “I gotta do it for New Order.”
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Wargasm
Milkie Way (vocals/bass): I used to be actually excited to see My Chem for the primary time — and likewise our set was actually enjoyable.
Sam Matlock (vocals/guitar): I received to satisfy Dan from The Wonder Years final night time — and yeah, I used to be shocked that the group truly knew numerous our shit as we speak. That was superior, since we’re just a few scruffy punks from London.
Together Pangea
Erik Jimenez (drums): My favourite reminiscence of Riot Fest ever was 2016, watching Ween for the primary time. I really like Riot Fest, as a result of there’s extra punk bands that get to play that perhaps would not get to play another competition, so I’m at all times stoked on it.
Danny Bengston (vocals/bass): When we had been on stage throughout our final music as we speak, there was a woman who was crowdsurfing in a wheelchair, and that was fucking superior.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids)
I do not know if it is my favourite, however it’s a memorable reminiscence for me. We did the 20-year Something to Write Home About present, after which we went to go see Hot Snakes play at an after present occasion. John Reis is type of my hero, and we might talked on the telephone about perhaps working collectively in some capability, however it hadn’t ever come round. So we went to see Hot Snakes after I’d been at Riot Fest all day with “beverages,” and I received fearful of him. I stood within the nook backstage and I would not speak to him. He was like “Hey, Matt, how’s it going?” And I used to be like “Nope, can’t do it. I can’t do it. I can’t talk to my hero.”
Heather Baron-Gracie (Pale Waves)
Well, there are numerous emos right here as we speak, which I actually love and respect. The style is wonderful. Plus, we had essentially the most wonderful pizza yesterday. It was deep-dish and fried with this thick pound of cheese on it. It was very low cost, and it was unimaginable.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
No Trigger
Tom Rheault (vocals): Maybe that is egocentric, however we simply performed, and that was one of many fucking most strong reveals we have ever performed — like a ten/10 No Trigger present. There’s not a lot of them, however we simply did it. The crowd was nice. The sound sounded so good. It was simply excellent.
Jon Strader (guitar): It’s additionally as a result of it is an honor to be on the listing of bands taking part in Riot Fest itself. It’s very unique from what we perceive, so to be included is good.
Mothica
My favourite second at Riot Fest was when a mosh pit opened as much as my saddest music, “Forever Fifteen.” Normally, persons are crying, however there was a small mosh pit off to the precise this time.
L.S. Dunes
Frank Iero (guitar/My Chemical Romance): Well I believe simply having the ability to play our first present right here was loopy. The solely factor I don’t like is that we will’t play two years in a row.
Anthony Green (vocals/Circa Survive): I’ve by no means had a nasty expertise right here, so yeah, we’re discovering a option to play subsequent yr. I believe Taking Back Sunday does it yearly, so we will too.
Travis Stever (guitar/Coheed and Cambria): Last yr, [Coheed and Cambria] performed right here and there was an enormous storm behind us. It nearly seemed like we employed somebody or paid the Earth to do this. I believe Circa Survive was truly the primary band I received to look at play stay final yr, and that was an incredible second too.
Joshua Fiedler (The Juliana Theory)
I received to see Sunny Day Real Estate, which is considered one of my favourite bands. I’d by no means seen them earlier than. They get so many bands from all of the scenes, so it’s only a excellent competition for me.
The Joy Formidable
Matt Thomas (drums): There was this one yr we had the cats right here…
Ritzy Bryan (vocals/guitar): No, we did not have the cats right here. But I keep in mind it was highly regarded and sunny one yr. It was a really fast set — type of like as we speak — however stuffed with power. Then we left straightaway, which is commonly the case with festivals. You’re type of out and in, however you’ll love to remain round and see some stuff.
Rhydian Dafydd (bass): I believe numerous our recollections are these instances that you just simply wish to stick round. But as we speak, we had a lovely crowd.
Bryan: It was such a stunning crowd. I really like taking part in stuff off the brand new report, which feels actually particular as a result of it got here out through the pandemic. So this is among the first festivals the place we have truly been capable of play a few of that stuff stay. As a normal level, it is also very nice to see different music nonetheless being represented. Sometimes you’re feeling prefer it’s nearly separated out, however right here it’s actually every kind of genres coming collectively.
Thomas: I do have one lasting reminiscence. This one yr, this rain cloud got here in when the Foo Fighters had been on they usually had been getting pelted with rain. But the craziest factor was that we had been attempting to get out one way or the other, however the entire website was simply flooded. We needed to construct stepping stones out of highway instances, and we had been all simply attempting to get across the stage. That was enjoyable.
Jim Ward (Sparta)
I went to Riot Fest in Denver as soon as and watched Modest Mouse and Drive Like Jehu. I truly needed to run away when Drive Like Jehu began taking part in as a result of I spotted I did not need to see considered one of my favourite bands with this large cloud of mud and pot smoke from behind the stage. I actually fucking ran away proper then.
Holy Fawn
Evan Phelps (guitar): My favourite was in 2016 or 2018 when Modest Mouse headlined one of many nights and I used to be like three rows from upfront. That was my first time seeing them, and it was like a bucket listing magical night time.
Austin Reinholz (drums): Just fucking attending to play the competition was unimaginable. It exceeded my expectations. It was numerous enjoyable.
Ryan Osterman (vocals/guitar): One factor I used to be actually trying ahead to was seeing Anthony Green’s new venture, L.S. Dunes. But it ended up being proper across the identical time we performed, so I missed it and was actually unhappy about that.
Alex Rieth (bass): Honestly, the vibes have simply been fucking enjoyable. Everyone right here is so good. Everyone may be very chill. The climate’s nice, and the timber and every little thing. We’re from the desert, so something inexperienced will get us excited.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Destroy Boys
Alexia Roditis (vocals): My favourite reminiscence from Riot Fest is simply being shocked on the magnitude of this competition and the way large every little thing is. The scale of the entire thing is simply completely absurd to me — and I additionally love the open bar for the artists.
Narsai Malik (drums): Everyone’s been very nice to us. We’ve seen some cool new bands. We’ve seen some outdated mates already. It’s only a actually lovely park to have this competition.
Violet Mayugba (guitar): I really like My Chemical Romance a lot, and Frank [Iero] has been very good to our band. So to be right here with them taking part in… I really like that, and it is also only a nice punk rock competition.
Cliffdiver
Briana Wright (vocals): We did not know what to anticipate as a bunch of youngsters from Tulsa, Oklahoma, however the quantity of people that had proven up by the tip of our set was wild to me. I’ve at all times needed to return to Riot Fest as a result of it is chock stuffed with my favourite bands, so for my first Riot Fest to be taking part in to that crowd was one of many highlights of my life.
Joey Duffy (vocals): We’ve received to satisfy so a lot of our favourite bands — like Taking Back Sunday and the Wonder years — and each of them had heard of our band. That made me fairly emotional. I used to be like “Oh, holy cow. You know Cliffdiver?” This is all I’ve ever needed to do my entire life. These are the bands I noticed and dreamed of taking part in reveals with. It’s been a giant blow to my imposter syndrome.
Dony Nickles (saxophone): I believe experiencing the group singing our vocals again to us for this primary time even being right here was simply mind-blowing. I did not know if anybody would know the phrases, however they had been screaming them and chanting in a circle.
carolesdaughter
Playing on the identical stage as MCR was just about a dream come true for me. I’ve at all times liked Riot Fest as a result of it is only a place for all of the emos and punks. Everyone is dressed so loopy, and it makes you actually really feel like punk is just not lifeless.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Bad Religion
Brian Baker (guitar): My favourite Riot Fest reminiscence was in Denver the place I noticed the very first Misfits reunion live performance. They would not let anyone on stage, however one way or the other I knew some man and received on stage, and I used to be carrying white pants, so their total vibe was blown. I noticed pictures from the entrance of home, and it seems to be like every little thing’s all black and grim — besides some fool in white pants blowing it. That was me. I used to be the fool within the white pants.
Jay Bentley (bass): My favourite reminiscence from Riot Fest is the dinosaur I noticed within the pit. Anytime you see that, you may’t cease laughing from the stage.
Jamie Miller (drums): The Denver one [Baker was] speaking about was the primary one I’d executed. I’d simply joined the band, and we bumped into Taylor Hawkins backstage. He knew the outdated drummer, Brooks [Wackerman], and he was like “Where’s Brooks?” Jay was like “Brooks isn’t here anymore…” and Taylor was like “Oh, that’s right. You got Jamie from […And You Will Know Us by the] Trail of Dead!” I used to be like “How the hell do you know who I am?” We grew to become buddies after that. Rest in peace, my good friend.
Mike Dimkich (guitar): I gotta go along with the Denver one as properly, when the twister got here in. They stopped the present and carted your complete viewers to a highschool for shelter — after which they put us in a barn and everybody simply frolicked. Then we went on tremendous late and I fucked up the intro to “Fuck Armageddon… [This Is Hell]” so badly that Jay checked out me and goes “I don’t know how you’re gonna explain that.”
Greg Graffin (vocals): I’m from the Midwest, so it was at all times an important day to return down right here and go to the museums or go downtown from 60 miles north in Racine, Wisconsin, the place I grew up. It’s at all times felt like a hometown competition to me. A favourite second for me was a pair instances in the past right here in Chicago after we performed with Joan Jett. We shared a dressing room along with her, so we had been in a position to hang around with the legend herself.
Boston Manor
It feels prefer it’s a reasonably prestigious competition at this level, even within the UK. Europe is fairly large on festivals, so there’s not a complete bunch of them within the US which might be on the British scene’s radar, however that is undoubtedly considered one of them. It additionally made me change my thoughts about deep-dish pizza. I hated it for a very long time, however I had it once more on this journey and it was actually scrumptious.
Bob Vylan
I really feel prefer it was lengthy overdue for us. They put the Bob-Signal within the air, so we noticed it from London and mentioned “They need us over in Chicago.” So we did every little thing we needed to do to recover from right here yesterday and reply to the Bob-Signal.
[Photo by Ryan Bakerink]
Anberlin
Christian McAlhaney (guitar): There are numerous bands right here we have toured with prior to now, so the entire weekend is nearly hanging out and watching bands that we all know. This is essentially the most thrilling present for us to all catch up — particularly after COVID.
Nathan Young (drums): It’s the primary yr we received requested to play it, and we simply put out an EP, so it was actually good timing throughout the board. It seems like we’ve at all times been watching from afar with envy going “Man, that’d be awesome to play.” We love Chicago. We’ve at all times had a good time within the metropolis, so the power to play this competition is an honor.
Jordan Hastings (Alexisonfire)
Last time Alexis[onfire] performed, I believe it was about six years in the past when the Misfits had been taking part in with Danzig once more. That was fucking large for me, as a result of I grew up as a punk child within the suburbs of Toronto listening to the Misfits and taking part in Misfits covers in highschool. Plus, Dave Lombardo from Slayer was taking part in drums — as he did once more this yr — so, as a drummer and a giant fan, that was large for me.
Concrete Castles
It’s been so cool to see a continuing circulation of bands taking part in all through the entire day. Seeing these new up-and-coming bands like ourselves sharing the stage with the legends which might be at this competition is so cool. It was superior to see such a crowd come out and see how supportive they’re of the entire competition and everybody on it.
Reece Young
I got here in early this weekend simply to see My Chemical Romance, in order that’s simply been my best reminiscence. But I’m simply glad Riot Fest offers pictures to little guys like me to play like me. They requested me to play on the [main] stage, which was fairly cool as a result of I’ve by no means actually performed a giant competition like this earlier than. I used to be simply stoked to be right here, and hopefully I’ll get invited again.
Jen Pop (The Bombpops)
It should have been 2011 or 2012 after we performed a Riot Fest late night time present with Dead to Me and Sundowner. We confirmed up in Chicago and stayed at Atlas Studios, and it was the day that the Menzingers had completed wrapping On the Impossible Past. They had been staying there, and I believe Teenage Bottlerocket might need been staying there as properly. Anyway, I’ll always remember that rooftop occasion at Atlas Studios from that yr. Then, in 2018, we had been watching GWAR after which ran to a different stage to look at Jerry Lee Lewis. I keep in mind having a little bit of an existential second the place I used to be like “I exist at a time when I still get to see Jerry Lee Lewis, but GWAR is also a thing.”
Kevin Singleton (Night Spice)
Just having the ability to be on the stage and share that second with my band members and my family and friends. We’re native guys, and it was actually cool to see all people right here. This is a competition that I’ve been going to yearly it’s existed, so it was actually particular to lastly be capable of be right here taking part in it.
Midtown
Gabe Saporta (vocals/bass): This is an actual story that simply occurred.
Tyler Rann (guitar): All of the trailers have an indication in entrance of them with the band’s title on it, however the one subsequent to ours did not have an indication. So we assumed that was additionally our trailer, as a result of clearly a band of the caliber of Midtown in 2022 deserves two trailers. So we made ourselves comfy in each trailers. Then any person knocked on the door, got here in, checked out Gabe and was like “Mr. [Ice] Cube, is the catering to your liking?” Gabe checked out him calmly and coolly and answered “It’s OK, just call me ‘Ice.’”
Saporta: OK, that half’s solely about 60% true.
Jimmy Eat World
Zach Lind (drums): The first time we ever performed Riot Fest, Girls Against Boys was taking part in on the identical stage. I hadn’t seen them play for most likely 20 years at that time, however after we had been beginning out, they’d come round Phoenix and had been at all times one of many best stay bands. It was superior to see them once more. They had been so good.
Tom Linton (guitar): My favourite Riot Fest second is watching Ween from out within the viewers. They additionally put on an incredible present.
Rick Burch (bass): I simply at all times love reconnecting with bands and folks we have met and develop into mates with through the years. It’s at all times like a rock ‘n’ roll reunion. But a reminiscence that stands out for me is when this ripping reggae band was taking part in — it would’ve been Damian Marley — and I received caught on high of the Ferris wheel.
Jim Adkins (vocals/guitar): Quite a lot of the opposite bands taking part in and the individuals working with the opposite bands taking part in are individuals we have recognized for 20-plus years. I don’t know when you might file it underneath a “Riot Festival moment,” however it’s simply at all times superior to see all people and be a part of the expertise collectively. There’s no different scenario the place these individuals would hang around all collectively without delay, aside from this.
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