CHICAGO, IL – Are you ready to say goodbye to the Summer? I’m not. I’m not even close to saying goodbye to these beautiful and pleasant
days. In fact, I am in denial that the whole thing is coming to an end because
I just got wind of this new polar vortex. I just got through last winter and I
can tell you that I am not up for another one of those. So here’s what’s what….
If I have to go through another freakin’ polar vortex --- in Michigan no less –
then I am going to get my butt over to Chicago to rock out with some of the
greatest bands in musical history.
I have every intention of wearing myself out and overdoing
it. I am going to pack in about 50 acts in three days and maybe more. Hey, I
might even go to some after hour parties once I get out of the festival. Oh
yeah…. The festival, I got so carried away I didn’t even tell you were I was
going.
I’m going to Riot Fest 2014 in Chicago. This year it is
going to be in Humboldt Park and it is going to have some of the biggest names
in Alternative Rock including The Cure, Janes Addiction, Weezer, Gwar, The
Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, Television, The Flaming Lips, NOFX, The Mighty
Mighty Bosstones, Gogol Bordello, The Murder City Devils, The Picture Books and
the list just goes on and on. As sure as I’m standing here I am going to get as
many acts in as I can.
This year’s Riot Fest is going to happen in three cities
including Chicago, Toronto and Denver. The festival has been around since 2005
and it used to be held inside of selected venues but the number of people have
grown over time. Now this festival is an outside event only and this year they
even added carnival rides.
Here’s my personal
list of bands that I am going to see on this tour……
JANES ADDICTION
THE CURE
WEEZER
THE FLAMING LIPS
SOCIAL DISTORTION
TEGAN AND SARA
THE OFFSPRING
SAMHAIN
PAUL WELLER
CHEAP TRICK
GOGOL BORDELLO
OF MICE AND MEN
DROP KICK MURPHYS
TELEVISION
SUPERCHUNK
BLUE MEANIES
THE MURER CITY DEVILS
THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES
MUDHONEY
HOT SNAKES
THE DANDY WARHOLS
THE GET UP KIDS
CLUTCH
GWAR
BUZZCOCKS
WE CAME AS ROMANS
ALL
DESCENDANTS
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
ANDREW WK
THE PIZZA UNDERGROUND
7 SECONDS
TITLE FIGHT
THE AMERICAN SCENE
THE CROMBIES
BABY BABY
MY GOLD MASK
CHUMPED
NOFX
PUSSY RIOT
PRIMUS
THE AFGHAN WHIGS
THE NATIONAL
RISE AGAINST
BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS
ANTI FLAG
THE PICTURE BOOKS
I’ll be adding bands on throughout
the weekend depending on how I hold up. That’s a lot of sets to stand through.
Who knows maybe I can catch some of them from the Ferris wheel or while playing
miniature golf, (we’re supposed to have a fairground on hand). That will be
nice….
And now, as we get ready for this
amazing event I am going to share with you some of the bands that will be
featured.
THE CURE – PLAYING DAY 3
CHICAGO RIOT FEST 2014: The Cure – In Between Days - Hot Metro Finds
CHICAGO, IL – The Cure – a band that has endured for
decades. They were alternative before the term even existed and lived for years
in isolation and secrecy in dorm rooms and college dance parties. Robert Smith,
the enigmatic band leader with the weird hair, has been creating loud sonic
atmospheric sounds since the 1970’s. This band has crossed over from all genres
including metal, goth, punk and post punk. All the kids love them.
Now, you will get a chance to get up close and personal with
this powerful band on day 3 of Chicago
Riot Fest 2014.
CHICAGO RIOT FEST
2014 - THE CURE – A Night Like This
The CURE might be a little heavy to deal with first thing in
the morning on day 3 of Riot Fest but I think the fans can handle it. This band
has been with us since 1978 I think – maybe earlier. They were always a progressive
thing and not a thrashy punk band. They have been thought provoking and soul
searching. Robert Smith has become somewhat of an alternative rock God over the
years and has set the pace for Goth 101.
CHICAGO RIOT FEST
2014 - THE CURE – FRIDAY IM IN LOVE - Accoustic
THE CURE has given us many albums over the years – and WISH
had some amazing songs on it. What the Cure really does is put us directly in
touch with emotions while creating an atmospheric realm. This is one of their
more poppier songs. Other songs in the Cures catalog are borderline chaotic,
some are filled with dread while others are whimsical. I am looking forward to
their set.
THE BUZZCOCKS – DAY 2
This classic UK punk band goes back to 1976. This year we got the original
members Peter Shelley and Steve Diggle and I expect nothing less than
perfection. These guys always put on an incredible show. I was fortunate to see
them at the Metro when I lived in Chicago and they brought the house down. Their
name comes from the noise they make while the “cock” part refers to English
slang as buddy or friend. They have been bounced around on different labels
throughout the years but have always kept this high pop sensibility in their
music. Classic songs include, “Ever Fallen In Love”, “What Do I Get?” and “Orgasm
Addict”. Get ready for an all out blast.
** They are also coming to Saint Andrews Hall in Detroit,
Michigan right after Riot Fest so you can catch them again… if you’re still
standing.
JANES ADDICTION – DAY 1
CHICAGO RIOT FEST – JANES ADDICTION – Been Caught Stealing
JANES ADDICTION – RIOT FEST – These guys
are still going at it. I say GREAT…. I have never
seen them but I will this time you can bet on that. In fact, they kick off the
festival and
its going to be a hoot and a half. I’m not too picky about what songs they play
just as long
as I get a chance to see them.
I
remember I couldn’t wait for these guys to get their first record deal. I had
no idea what
they even sounded like but I already knew I liked them. There was a write up in
Rolling Stone
about their first meeting with their record label and they sounded so off the
wall. I also
knew they were trouble which made me even like them more.
THE DESCENDENTS - DAY 2
THE DESCENDENTS – this is the one band that got away from
me back in the day. I saw just about everybody else.But these guys escaped me.
Then I graduated college and thought Milo did too, ( no pun intended) and I move
to Chicago and Im sitting in my apartment bathtub… true story… and these guys
come on the radio and hit me with a new track !!!
I dry off as fast as I could and ran down 8 flights of stairs to
Reckless Records. Yes I lived right above Reckless Records, how cool is that?
And I grabbed the last copy of EVERYTHING SUCKS.. and grabbed a 12 pack of beer
and rocked out. I cranked it up loud and I was literally in Heaven.
Descendents - Milo Goes to College
Don’t let the plain graphics fool you because
this is a classic album. It’s aged well and became the staple go to album for
thrashers, punks, and fans who like their music good and loud.
Descendents – ALL
WEEZER - DAY 2
BUDDY HOLLY LIVE – Can you get much better than this? THIS IS ROCK boys
and girls.
Weezer
is playing at this years Riot Fest in Chicago. This is what you need. This is
what I need.
This
is what everybody needs quite frankly. This is going to be the last big outdoor
shindig before
Winter
hits…. and we are going to out with a bang.
Now this is what I like to see.
Contemporary bands giving the nod to other contemporary bands. The Who did it
for the Rolling Stones and well… Weezer is doing it for Foster The People. This
sort of instant acknowledgement for your colleagues
gives relevance for the fans. It gives the whole cultural experience some
depth. As a fan it lets me know
that IM ALIVE in this very moment, space and time.
THE FLAMING LIPS – DAY 2
Did you seriously ever think you would
still be listening to the Flaming Lips in the year 2014 back in the 90’s? Some
of you say yes. And some of you, if you’re honest, will shake their head no. So
much good music came out of that time period that it was hard to get a grasp on
who would be staying long term and who would be fizzle away. Wayne Coyne and
the boys have continued to crank out thought provoking music over the years and
even a documentary released on Shout Entertainment DVD.
Now
they are taking on, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in its entirety. A
few of those songs are leaking onto Youtube.com and they are nothing short of
fantastic. The Flaming Lips have taken the framework of the classic Beatle
songs and have elevated them into the higher stratosphere.
Looking
forward to seeing their set at this year’s Riot Fest Chicago 2014!
GRAB A TICKET AND MEET ME IN THE FRONT ROW >>>>>>>
THE LINE UP AT RIOT FEST 2014 - Is Ridiculous !! See The Full Band Line Up Here.... >>>>
CASEY KASEM: The Lost Tapes......We Get Lost In The Funhouse..... |
