Words and Photos: Emily Sisson/ ESOfficial Studios
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Chicago’s Riot Fest Day 2 was off to a pleasant start with a comfortable heat and recognizable windy city breeze. Day One held a lineup filled with many Punk and Pop Punk acts, and while day three was full of metal, the majority of Saturday’s lineup was filled with acts that were consistent with a slower, calmer, and more indie sound. Artists like Beck, St. Vincent, Beach Bunny, Sir Chloe, and Manchester Orchestra all shared Saturday slots, setting a majority of the mood for the day. However, there were a few heavier acts that would disrupt the pacing of the softer artists, and that’s where we fit in.
Lord of the Lost played as the second act of the day on the Rise stage at 12:45 p.m. Their dark, gothic sound has been compared to bands like Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and (their German brethren) Rammstein. While LOTL’s popularity has mainly been in Europe and their homeland of Germany, their newest release, Weapons of Mass Seduction, released early in 2024, has garnered wide appeal from fans in the US. Following their #1 album in Germany and in the aftermath of opening for multiple Iron Maiden shows in 2023, naturally, Lord of the Lost delivered us a fun, high-energy set. Playing songs like Blood & Glitter and Drag Me to Hell, the band was quick to draw attention to the stage. Their Gothy Road Warrior motif fit in great with the crowd along with drummer Niklas Kahl’s Lord of the Lost merchandise that read “Lord of the Super Super Super Gay Ninjas.” Singer Chris Harms informed the audience that the band’s first ever live performance in the United States was a couple of miles away at Chicago’s “Reggies” 10 years ago! Their set consisted of catchy hooks that had the people waving their fists in the air and singing along throughout the show. They would wrap up the reminder of their first proper American tour on September 28th and return back across the ocean for a handful of shows in the UK.
Rival Sons played their highly indelible set to a large crowd gathered at the Radical Stage in the late afternoon. This was a show I did not want to miss given the draw to their smooth whisky-like rock and the mark they continue to make in music. Their brand of raw, blues-fueled rock was just what this crowd needed. Blasting through hits like Do Your Worst, Tied up, and Get What’s Coming, they left the crowd breathless with each song during their set. Singer Jay Buchanan is quickly becoming one of the most satisfying singers to watch live. As I’ve noticed in past performances, he pulls the mic away from his face and continues singing amplified only by his own vocal chords so stunningly that the first couple of rows are still able to hear him above the band. Adding to that, guitarist Scott Holiday’s fuzz-drenched tone always seems to be the perfect foil for Buchanan’s vocal bombast. All in all, Rival Sons did what they set out to do on Saturday: give the Riot Fest a good dose of scorching rock and a show we couldn’t forget.
This year at Riot Fest, we were introduced to Riot Land, which featured Hollywood-like attractions such as a replica of the Clerks Quick Stop, the world’s first 30-foot statue of John Stamos made out of butter, a freak show, and festival favorites such as carnival rides and the Riot Marriage Chapel. Festival-goers could wander over to the south side of the location prior to Taking Back Sunday or any time during the day they might be looking for a spot less crowded. This year’s festival lineup has been one of the strongest in years following a supposed venue change that was announced earlier in the year and that was heavily unpopular with fans. Shortly before the festival, Riot Fest announced its return to Douglass Park, saving people who had originally booked hotel tickets in October a good chunk of money, but confusing many who had been sold tickets for designated parking at the venue change of SeatGeek Stadium.
L.S. Dunes frontman, Anthony Green, continued the band’s long-standing tradition of having snacks passed up to him from audience members. This year featured a funnel cake from the far back of the crowd arriving to his hands on the stage in record time. More pressingly, the band played their first ever performance of their newly released single, Fatal Deluxe. Earlier in the day for a Riot Fest exclusive, singer Anthony walked around the festival and interacted with festival attendees who were introduced to the song for the first time. The overall praise along with their crowd’s positive and energetic reaction was surely a meaningful response the band was hoping to hear.
NOFX was arguably the biggest Riot Fest draw this year (no offense to any Slayer fans). Singer Fat Mike introduced the band stating “This is our fourth last show…” As they walk away from music, they leave with great pride, knowing they solidified their name. If nothing else, I’m sure they can just retire on T-shirt sales alone. The number of NOFX T-shirts in the crowd for all three days is profoundly telling of the enjoyment this band has brought fans throughout their career. While it’s possible they may have cornered the market on T-shirts to Riot Fest fans, it’s undoubted the impact that band has made to the entire genre that is punk rock. Plus, the clear amount of good vibes and comedy going on stage begs the question “Why retire?” when these guys are having so much fun doing this! But alas, all good things must come to an end, and their 3-day farewell appearances this year at Riot Fest will truly be among the last for the group. Saturday night’s show was a great way for them to give back to their crowd. There was a feeling of camaraderie at the show that I haven’t quite seen at any other. Kind of an “all for one, one for all” attitude as funny as it is for a bunch of punky rejets. Another interesting observation was the amount of families that showed up! People with babies in strollers, people with middle-aged kids, and of course adults who have been around the block once or twice, “Six Years on Dope” to quote the band. The band sounded as rounded as ever and really gave the crowd a proper send-off. Something tells me NOFX will be around for a while in some form or another.
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