If you ever paid attention to the name of the authors on P.O.D. you may have noticed by now that I’m “the Rock guy” around here and that should have made you expect me to write up a list of the top 10 acts you just can’t miss at Riot Fest (Chicago) ’13. This is my third Riot Fest in a row, my first covered on this site (in our traditional fan-view way, of course), and I’m already planning for this to be another tradition of mine. We’re just days away from rocking Humboldt Park and without a single note yet to be played, the music festival and carnival is already looking like it may be one of the best they’ve ever organized.
Hit the jump for the Top 10 Artists to see at Riot Fest ’13.
1. Blink-182 (Saturday, 9:45-11:00PM)
This was the easiest pick for this list and the main reason why I’m excited for this year’s lineup. Blink were one of my favorite bands in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and easily one of the most popular bands in American during those years (they used to top TRL, bro). Their brand of Pop-Punk ranges from silly songs like “What’s My Age Again” and serious tracks like “Adam’s Song.” One of my few regrets is having never seen this band in their prime but at least I’ll have the chance to scratch these guys off the limited list of the bands I’m yet to see.
2. Andrew W.K. (Friday, 5:45-6:30PM)
Is his music the stuff of legend? Maybe not. Is he awesome? Definitely. This guy’s whole career revolves around partying and, sometimes, that’s what music is all about. His first album, I Get Wet, was an excellent collection of fist-pumpers including “She Is Beautiful,” “I Love New York City” and the hit, “Party Hard.” This guy will be an excellent way to kickoff Riot Fest on Friday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydG1sAw-rR0
3. AFI (Sunday, 7:00-8:00PM)
A Fire Inside are seasoned vets with over 20 years in the game. Their album Sing the Sorrow is the one that helped them reach the mainstream with songs like “Girl’s Not Grey” and “Silver and Cold.” That album was the one that got me into them in the first place and is actually one of my Top 10 favorite albums of the 2000’s. They have a great reputation for playing live and seeing them perform live will be a highlight of this festival.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoOmvUPtiTc
4. The Replacements (Sunday, 9:15-10:30PM)
Confession time. I don’t know The Replacements. At least I didn’t until I heard that they were reuniting and Tommy Stinson went on the WTF Podcast with Marc Maron to talk about their history. They are one of the seminal indie Rock bands of the 80’s and they are truly one of the most important bands hitting Humboldt Park this weekend.
5. Fall Out Boy (Friday, 9:45-11:00pm)
I’m going to be completely honest with you, I didn’t care much for these guys during their first run. At least that’s what I thought. Now, looking back, I notice that I really liked songs like “Dance, Dance” and “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race,” making these guys one of my guilty pleasures. After a short hiatus and even rumors of a breakup, the local band has made a comeback and even released a new album called Save Rock And Roll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nZ2IfXKpY
6. Sublime with Rome (Friday, 8:45-9:45PM)
Sublime is a Classic band of the 90’s. The old Alternative Rock station, Q101, was pretty much guaranteed to play a Sublime track or two throughout its broadcast on any given day. Their lead singer Bradley Nowell OD’d at the height of their fame, ending the careers of the then-promising band. With a new lead singer, the Ska Punk band will bring good vibes and great tunes to the fest like few others on this lineup can.
7. Taking Back Sunday (Saturday, 8:45-9:45PM)
These guys were in their heyday back when I was in high school and they’re still going strong performing along the likes of Linkin Park and Blink and even playing other major fests like the Reading and Leeds festivals. If you’re into traditional 2000’s Alterna-Punk music, these guys are your band!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKSxe1AMxA
8. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Friday, 8:30-9:30PM)
Joan Jett is the First Lady of Rock. Tracks like “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” “I Love Rock and Roll” and “Bad Reputation” are true classics that can only sound more badass live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R34sPx_giUg
9. Blondie (Saturday, 6:45-7:45PM)
These guys are another one of the seasoned vets at Riot Fest. They were Punk Rock pioneers that, along the likes of The Ramones and Iggy and the Stooges, helped make CBGB a legendary club making them, basically, sort of responsible for this Fest’s existence. They’ve got tons of hits tracks like “Heart Of Glass” and “Call Me” that will surely get the festival-goers jumping and singing along.
10. Public Enemy (Saturday, 7:45-8:45PM)
These guys are Hip Hop legends? How much more needs to be said? They’re one of the most important acts from the period when they were still active and they are a “can’t-miss.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuEkfmBS7V4
Honorable Mention:
GWAR (Friday, 7:30-8:30PM)
These guys are bring some super crazy antics to the stage. If the guys from KISS had even wilder imaginations and crazier costumes. Even if you don’t know of their signature tracks, their bizarre live show will more than make up for that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VP6ekEbW_4
