We had a pretty good idea of what we were getting into when we covered Riot Fest Chicago last year. The progressive-minded alternative festival isn’t quite punk rock dad (i.e. Punk Rock Bowling) or a whiskey social (Gainesville’s The Fest), and partially because it’s an advocate for fun, friendships, and blasting your headspace with chords. Friday’s start at Chicago’s Humboldt Park (September 12th) followed suit but Mother Nature crashed the party as the overwhelming amount of mud and rain scrapped any plans to explore the ferris wheels and haunted house. Instead, ponchos and dirty Chucks were provoked to actually take in bands and watch the likes of Title Fight, Plague Vendor, Senses Fail, From Indian Lakes, Pity Sex, Red City Radio, and Pianos Become The Teeth simply kill it in all sorts of ways. GWAR and Pussy Riot held their own as well with fresh blood and panels but they were only a fraction of the intimate bliss that ensued. It was muddy bliss – to be honest – but hey, it’s Riot Fest. Check out Joel Pilotte’s live stills from Day One.
TITLE FIGHT at ROOTS STAGE
PLAGUE VENDOR at REVOLT STAGE
SENSES FAIL at ROCK STAGE
NOFX at ROOTS STAGE
WE CAME AS ROMANS at RISE STAGE
PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH at REVOLT STAGE
JANE’s ADDICTION at RIOT STAGE
