I believe it will take me all summer to get fully prepared for the lineup that Riot Fest announced last week. It is such a robust bill that I can't even complain that they didn't take any of my late-breaking suggestions from a couple of weeks ago.
So I would like to take a moment to talk about a local band in the middle of the bill that intrigues me. Young vampire hunters, The Orwells, are from Elmhurst, IL.
I happened to catch their appearance on David Letterman earlier this year, and I think it was something truly special in the land of television:
Now, if you watched that video all the way to the end, you are undoubtedly left with a question or two: Are they high? Did the singer suffer a concussion? Were David & Paul mocking them or were they geniunely moved by the performance?
Whatever questions you may have, it really doesn't matter what conclusions you arrive at. The performance was anything but safe and ordinary. And their youthful exuberance comes through - this was their big television debut and it was string-snappingly sloppy.
Their debut LP, Disgraceland, comes out in two weeks on June 3rd. And this goofy song is on it. I have heard it on the radio three times already so hopefully things are moving in the right direction for them.
For the record, I personally believe that David Letterman and the Late Night band were duly impressed by the passion on display.
Somebody else was so moved by the performance that they made a claymation homage to it.
Another indication that I will dig this band if I investigate further is that when I traveled to their Instagram I encountered this:
PBR2-D2? Pure Genius!
Yesterday, Riot Fest made the first lineup announcement for Toronto.
This has sparked a lot of discussion among my peers - how many of these acts can we expect in Chicago?
Unlike last year, I am completely in the dark & believe it or not, I am kind of happy about that. The anticipation is building! I still get occasional glimpses into all the blood, sweat and tears that pour out behind the scenes of this festival, so I am rooting for the organizers like they are family.
What I do know about Riot Fest Chicago is what everyone knows, we have one more day than Toronto AND a bigger park which means more stages, which means many more bands.
So let me be clear: this is NOT a post where I am suggesting to the good people of Riot Fest to take my advice and book headlining acts that I just thought of on a whim. I have to book just one benefit concert a year and I can't stand when someone rolls into my office and suggests I contact Neil Young or Aretha Franklin because, well hey...you never know, right?
Because they do know; they know what they are doing and they know who is "get-able." So, the major draws are their responsibility because they have earned their reputation and have my respect.
But they DO have a lot of stages to fill for three whole days. They are working around the clock to book bands. So, I have been asking around to friends who they would like to see at Riot Fest and this is what has come up.
Consider this post to be a festival organizer version of Fantasy Football; how do you round out the team after the several rounds of draft picks have gone by?
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Dem suggested Future of The Left and the Jim Jones Revue and I gotta say both are great live acts.
I recently joined Dem to see the Jim Jones Revue at Schuba's and they are amazing performers. Punk Boogie swagger done to perfection.
G$ suggested The Spits and Radar Men From The Moon and I have to second those two choices as well. You give The Spits a 30 minute set and you are going to get a lot of punk rock!
Claire wanted to see the Flaming Lips and since they are on the Toronto bill our fingers are crossed.
I have a few bands to add, of course:
Doomtree - last year Dessa kicked off Friday at Riot Fest, why not bring the whole fun-lovin' crew? They have a bit of a punk rock ethos, their fans are fervent and it is short drive from Minneapolis to Chicago. Last year, fans were treated to the mighty Public Enemy and Saul Williams. We need some agitprop hip-hop to carry on that tradition in 2014.
Danko Jones - Danko delivers arena sized hooks regardless of the size of the venue he is playing. In a world of unsalted rice cakes, Danko Jones is cheese fries. I have dragged a LOT of people to see Danko perform over the years and they all leave the show forever in my debt. Discovering Danko is like tripping over a briefcase full of cash.
Yes, that video features the acting talents of Mike Watt and Lemmy! Not to mention Elijah Wood and Selma Blair. Danko Jones has a million friends who would probably pretend to be his enemy in a video if he asked them.
Killing Joke - I know this band has Visa issues now and again and that Jaz Coleman goes missing from time to time. But hand to God, this band is worth the potential headache because they deliver the goods. Their sound and schema are as relevant today as ever.
Is Jaz Coleman batshit crazy or the sole sane man in a world gone mad? I will leave that up to the listener. I just want to see him do his Perry Farrell as Frankenstein lurch in front of thousands of people.
Godflesh - kinda along similar lines to KJ, Godflesh would bring us older people out. I saw them at the Metro in April and I have no doubt that nearly every person at that show would pay good money to see them again so soon.
Beaches - So, when I saw on the Toronto announcement, The Beaches were playing I hoped that it was a typo and that it was this quintet from Australia but that really doesn't make sense. I mean, that shit gets proofread, right?
So please consider Beaches my first entry on the wishlist for 2015 because that would be too cruel to put a band called Beaches on a lineup with another band called The Beaches. UNLESS they got together and agreed that one group of Beaches would put stars on their bellies so we could tell them apart. Then I am sure that Dr. Seuss would approve.
Savages - This last one kind of goes beyond the concept of "get-able" because I am sure they are taking a much needed break after touring the globe. But hey, the title of this post is Riot Fest Wishlist.
So have you seen this video that came out a couple of days ago? I realize they played Pitchfork just last year but still...god damn! They are amazing. I actually went and saw them the Monday night after Riot Fest last year even though I just wanted to soak in a tub of Ben Gay. Not only do I not regret it that decision, it was one of my favorite shows of 2013.
Well, this was fun. What do you think? Who would you like to see at Riot Fest Chicago 2014?
