Hello! If you read the Aftershock posts, this will be very similar. This is a different kind of Music Tuesday post where I review all of the bands I know that are going to a certain festival that I am also going to, and then I review them again after I attend the festival to see how many of my opinions have changed.
This post is going to be about the Riot Fest festival, which is taking place in September in Chicago. I’m super excited to go to this festival, and it’s definitely going to be a different experience than the previous festivals I have gone to. This is mainly because this is less of a metal/rock festival and more of a punk/indie/pop festival. I still like this kind of music, but it is not the kind of music I am usually listening to.
There are 88 bands going to this festival, and right now I am at least a little bit familiar with 19 of them. That is currently not a very good ratio in my opinion, and I hope it will change between now and after the festival. Compared to Aftershock, I know a lot less bands that are going to this festival than to that festival.
Here is the full lineup for the whole festival if you wanted to look at it:
Without further ado, here are the reviews for all of the bands that I have heard of (in alphabetical order):
Anberlin – I do think I have heard one song from this band before, and I really liked it. I never listened to any other music of theirs, but I would really like to. I really like the one song I do know of theirs and I do listen to it pretty frequently. I would also really like to see them in person since I think it would be a really fun show.
Bad Religion – I really like this band. I have listened to a lot of their music, and I would really like to see them live again. I do think I have seen them live before, probably at Warped Tour in 2019, but I am not super sure about that right now. This reminds me that I have to make a list of all the bands and shows I see in order so I can actually remember them when I get older. Anyhow, I do really like this band, but I don’t really listen to them super frequently, so I will have to brush up on their music before the festival.
Descendants – I see this band on shirts all the time and I know a lot of people like them. However, I don’t think I have ever listened to a single one of their songs. I do think I should listen to them, since they are so popular, and I really hope I like them. I also honestly have no idea what kind of music it is anyways, so it’ll be a surprise.
Destroy Boys – I really love this band as well. I saw them at Aftershock last year, unexpectedly. Another band dropped out at the last minute, and Destroy Boys were able to fill in, also at the last minute. They had a really fun show, and they have a really good message that they try to convey. I’m really excited to see them this year, and I hope I get to. I also think I should listen to more of their music before then, but I’m not sure if that will happen or not.
The Front Bottoms – I only heard about this band a couple years ago, which seems like less time than it is while I’m writing this haha. I haven’t listened to much of their music, but I do know that it is similar to the music that I usually like. A friend recommended them to me after they found out what music I listened to, so I do want to listen to more of their music before this festival.
GWAR – If you know me at all, GWAR is my favorite band of all time. I would see this band over any other band at this festival, and I am so excited to get to see them yet again. I feel so lucky to have been able to see them so much, and I am really looking forward to it. They are going to come out with a new album between now and Riot Fest (actually in about a week), so I am super excited to hear some of their new songs live, along with older songs as well. However, I know that festival sets are a lot shorter than normal concert sets, so that is a little sad but I am still so excited to see them. I also hope they play at night because that is when the show looks the best, but they are usually in the daytime because they are not as popular as the other bands attending. I am so so excited to see them.
Ice Cube – Everyone knows Ice Cube. I probably know a lot of his music, but I can’t really name any songs off the top of my head. I am not super into his music, but I do think it would be cool to see him live. However, if there is another band I want to see more playing at the same time, I would choose them over him.
Jimmy Eat World – I really only know a couple of songs from this band, but I do really like them. I’m excited to see them in person, and I hope nothing interferes with it haha. I do want to get more into them, or at least explore more of their music and see how I like it.
Lagwagon – I have listened to this band a bit in the past, and I do like them. They are not my favorite, but I do enjoy their music. They remind me a little bit of Bowling For Soup, who I really like. I think their show would be really fun so I am going to try and see them at Riot Fest.
Less Than Jake – I keep getting this band mixed up with Dance Gavin Dance, who I am not that into. However, I do not think I have listened to many, if any, songs from Less Than Jake. I do want to listen to them some more, even if it’s just to separate them in my mind from Dance Gavin Dance. I think it would be fun to see them live, but I don’t really know what their music is like yet.
The Maine – My mom and I actually saw this band unintentionally before when we saw a Depeche Mode cover band in Las Vegas. They were really good, and I really liked one of their songs, so I would like to see them again live for sure. I do want to listen to more of their music before I see them, but we will see if that happens or not.
Misfits – I do know a whole bunch of this band’s songs, but they aren’t really my main vibe. I did see them live with my mom last year at Aftershock, and they did not put on a great show. It was a little disappointing, and I know a lot of people even left the festival before they even played. I do think I would like to see them again, just because I know my mom likes them and I do know a lot of the words to a lot of their songs, but if some other band is playing at the same time, I would choose that band over this band.
My Chemical Romance – I really do like all of this band’s mainstream music, but I do not think I know any of their other music. I do know that they recently cam eout with a new song, and I did end up listening to it. I didn’t like it that much, but oh well. I do think it would be really cool to see them live, since they are so popular and then I would get to say I saw them live haha.
Nine Inch Nails – I will admit that I have not listened to a lot of their music, but I do really like them. I know my dad really likes them, and I would really like to get more into them. I would also love to see them live, and I know it would be a really unique experience. I’m not sure if I have even listened to one of their songs, but I’m sure if I heard some of them, I would recognize them.
Portugal the Man – If I am being completely honest, I only know one song from this band and I no longer like it. It was played on the radio so frequently that I am now just sick of it. I would still like to see them live and get to know some of their other music, just to try it out. I don’t want to say I dislike them just because I am sick of the one song I know. I will hopefully be listening to more of their music before the festival.
The Story So Far – I do think I have heard at least one song from this band, but I can’t think of it off the top of my head. I do think that I liked it, and I will definitely be catching up on more of their music before the festival. I’m excited to see them, and I have known about them for years.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – I have not heard any of this band’s music, but I do believe I have heard of them a few times. I would like to listen to more of their music, even though I have a little inkling that I will not like it that much. I do think my mom might like them, so I do think we will end up seeing them.
Yellowcard – I really love this band, I’ve been listening to one of their main songs for several years, and I am so excited to finally see them live. I know their most mainstream song, Ocean Avenue, is super popular and a lot of people know it. I also listened to a bunch more of their songs recently, and they sound pretty similar to that one. I like most of their songs and I do think I’ll end up getting more into them soon. I really hope they do Ocean Avenue when we see them.
Yungblud – I really like Yungblud. He is a really good person, and the message that he is trying to spread is good. I also like his music, but haven’t listened to much lately. I have seen him before, and I would really like to see him again.I also really need to brush up on his music, since there is a lot I haven’t listened to.
These are all of the opinions that I have for right now, so thank you for reading my very long post! I appreciate you all, and I hope I can continue to make entertaining posts for a very long time. Please leave any suggestions or anything else you have to say in the comments, I respond to all of them!
VitalVan 