Riot Fest is the last splash of Chicago’s summer festival season, and music fans packed Douglass Park all weekend despite two days of rain. The festival has been delivering nostalgic punk and rock acts since 2005, and the 2023 lineup drew old school punks, emos at heart, and Juggalos alike.
The festival featured full album plays, musical anniversaries, and rock royalty. Festival attendees skated the half pipe and tried their luck at carnival rides to the soundtrack of artists like Kim Gordon and Turnstile.
From mosh pits to punk rock reunions, check out our favorite moments from Riot Fest 2023.
Quicksand
Having artists play a full album all the way through is one of Riot Fest’s hallmarks. NYC post-hardcore quartet Quicksand turned back time three decades as they played through their 1993 debut Slip Friday on the Roots Stage. Launching into “Fazer,” every member of the band was having as much fun as the crowd. They played in lockstep, offering an equally joyful and powerful set. “If I had known I’d be here all these years later I’d say that’s crazy,” said frontman Walter Schreifels.
The Breeders
The Breeders delivered another 30th anniversary album play. In a glow of late afternoon sun, Kim and Kelley Deal led the band through their 1993 alt-rock classic Last Splash. The set included “even the slow songs that are too weird to play live,” according to Kim. She crouched for the signature mic check and feedback that kicks off the iconic “Cannonball,” and all were blissfully transported to the ‘90s.
Braid
Friday afternoon’s third full album play was the youngest at only 25 years. Fans of Braid’s Frame and Canvas proved that it was equally beloved. The emo quartet incited a circle pit of fans at the Rebel Stage who may not have been born yet when the album debuted in 1998, but screamed every lyric nonetheless. The band matched their energy, with frontman Bob Nanna dropping to the stage floor to deliver part of “Never Will Come For Us” on his back.
Foo Fighters
“Without you I don’t think I’d be doing this,” Dave Grohl thanked the massive crowd assembled for the Foo Fighters’ headlining set on Friday. Grohl reflected on seeing his first rock concert in Chicago, “That shit changed my life forever.” The band captivated the crowd from the first riff of “All My Life,” through extended takes on tracks like “The Pretender,” sing-alongs “Times Like These” and “My Hero,” and deeper cuts like “Breakout” and “White Limo.” They departed after one final sing-along for “Everlong.”
Viagra Boys
“We’re Sweden’s third worst band,” announced frontman Sebastian Murphy before launching into Viagra Boys’ “Ain’t No Thief.” He lost his shirt and swayed with the mic stand to “Slow Learner,” a cigarette dangling from one hand. All six musicians in the post-punk outfit put on a show, from Elias Jungqvist playing the keyboard in short shorts to Oscar Carls vamping on guitar and sax while smoking. Murphy spit Bud Light while singing “Punk Rock Loser” with dark humor, witty lyrics, and satire of toxic masculinity. “Sports” started a crowd-wide dance party—complete with pushups onstage.
100 Gecs
St. Louis natives Dylan Brady and Laura Les entered the stage in wizard robes as 100 Gecs, the internet’s favorite “hyperpop” duo. Their Auto-Tuned voices launched into “Dumbest Girl Alive” over crashing drums and glitchy blips. “We’re in our 1,000 Gecs era,” said Les before singing “Stupid Horse” to the glee of the headbanging teenage crowd.
Insane Clown Posse
The Juggalos that flooded Douglass Park on Saturday were curiously young. Chanting “I-C-P,” they awaited baptism by Faygo. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope appropriately stormed the stage with “The Show Must Go On” with the bravado of those commanding a legion of face-painted disciples. “Hokus Pokus” was up next, and ICP’s horrorcore spectacle was a welcome dramatic display at the festival.
The Postal Service
After an afternoon Death Cab for Cutie set, the Postal Service played Give Up in its entirety. The crowd celebrated the album’s twentieth anniversary by bopping along to indie-pop hits like “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” and “Such Great Heights.” Gibbard swapped duty between guitar and drums, and Jenny Lewis stole the show with every vocal. After the album play, they closed with an encore of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.”
The Black Angels
The psych-rock sounds of the Black Angels were well suited for a music festival afternoon. Kicking off with “El Jardin,” the Austin quintet packed as many songs as possible into their thirty-minute set on the Roots Stage. Featuring groovy guitar, tambourine, and Stephanie Bailey’s backbeat, the band cast a psychedelic spell that ended too soon.
Flogging Molly
“I’m Irish Catholic and it’s Sunday, so we’re going to have a good time,” said Flogging Molly frontman Dave King after opening with “Drunken Lullabies.” Guitarist Dennis Casey cracked open a Guinness before high kicking during “The Likes of You Again.” The Celtic punk party was complete with an accordion, banjo, violin, and tin whistle. Before starting “Swagger,” King tossed a can of Guinness into the crowd saying, “I’m 62-years-old and I don’t give a fuck.”
Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits transformed the Rebel Stage into a hardcore club on Sunday afternoon. Fans packed the stage to watch the NYC band play their 1989 album Start Today in its entirety. Frontman Anthony Civarelli denounced violence, racism, and homophobia, “This is about love… more love less hate.” He showed fans a lot of love, jumping into the photo pit and scaling the barrier to sing among the crowd several times as crowd surfing bodies passed by his head. Civarelli turned things over to the fans, tossing the microphone into the crowd and urging them to sing before catching it back onstage. Ahead of “Hold Your Ground,” he implored fans, “Fight for every inch that this music and this festival has given you. Don’t do it once a year. Do it every day and hold your ground.”
The Cure
“I’d rather sing to you than talk,” Robert Smith admitted during the Cure’s headlining set on Sunday night. The band’s music did the talking for over two hours. Their set was flawless, from hits like “Close to Me” and “Friday I’m in Love” that had the crowd jumping up and down to sweeping soundscapes like “Endsong” and “A Forest.” Sporting an Amy Winehouse T-shirt Smith joked, “I can’t believe it’s been 44 years—ouch,” while introducing “Boys Don’t Cry.” He dedicated the song to “all of the bands who have played all weekend.”
This post originally appeared on Third Coast Review. Read the full recaps from Riot Fest Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
