Starting in 2005 as a multi-venue Chicago based festival, Riot Fest has since grown to a multi city festival showcasing current and past Punk, Rock and Hip Hop Acts.
It has long been a POD favorite thanks to the outstanding lineups, and the excellent crowd atmosphere that can sometimes be missing from larger festivals like Lollapalooza. This years’ lineup boasted the likes of Rob Zombie, Nas, Morissey, The Flaming Lips, and the first reunion of The original Lineup of The Misfits in nearly 20 years.
Friday was the perfect kick off to the festival, with an excellent mix of punk/hardcore standouts as well as indie favorites, it had something for everyone.
Somos brought their smoldering emo jams to the rock stage, providing music to zone out and to mosh too. Meanwhile Turnover brought their laid back form of emotional jams to the Rebel stage.
Other standouts on Friday included Julian Marley playing his father’s music from Exodus, as well as his some of his own solo work. All Time Low put on a pyrotechnic filled show that got the crowd of 18-20somethings jumping. Jimmy Eat World also came to remind everyone that they continue making music after Bleed American, in the form of their new album Integrity Blues. They rocked the crowd with a little old and a little new.
The Flaming Lips put on an amazing performance as the headliner on Friday. Their set included giant baloons, thousands of LED lights and a seemingly infinite supply of giant costumes. To no surprise, yet much avail, Wayne Coyne rolled out over the crowd in his giant bubble, making sure everyone was truly in the moment. The performance may have been different from the usual Riot Fest show, but I guarantee almost everyone walked away still humming along to “Do You Realize?”.
