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LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW AT RIOT FEST 2018, DAY THREE

Mom Jeans kicked off day three of Riot Fest to get the sluggish crowd moving with a fun set including sing-alongs and emo vibes, before Calpurnia showed the crowd these kids have some serious chops with a riotous garage punk set that included diverse covers from The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” to Twin Peaks’ “Butterfly.” JD McPherson played one of the most boring sets of the weekend that entertained no one except maybe the parents there with their kids, while Fear and The Avengers trafficked in fiery punk nostalgia that vindicated the obscure pairing as two of Riot Fest’s more inspired bookings. Blondie’s Debbie Harry donned a green wig for a set that, while certainly not as tight as the old days, delivered with the same characteristic cool and hits like “One Way or Another.” Alkaline Trio put on a career-showcasing set that was heavy on Chicago love and short on theatrics, before Father John Misty strutted the stage in a white suit (a move he quipped was pretty punk) with the backing of horns and strings that felt out of place only to those unfamiliar with his shtick. Late addition Run the Jewels closed out the festival with the same raucous energy that has made them festival kingpins in recent years, mixed in with some very 2018 reminders to keep your hands to yourself and call suicide prevention hotlines if you’re feeling depressed — reminding us that while music and festivals are certainly a fun escape, the wider world is never too far away. BY JOHN KURNAT–PHOTO BY JASON PENDLETON
Previous: Riot Fest Day Two

LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW AT RIOT FEST 2018, DAY TWO

Three songs into Wolfmother’s set and frontman Andrew Stockade has screamed three “Chicagos!” (thank you, I know where I am). It’s cool to see Chicago’s Bruce Lamont wail away on his saxophone on the opener “Lazy.” My biggest fear hearing Twin Peaks at a festival have come true as the nuances of the band’s music are lost. It sounds muddy, and it’s such a bummer because it appears the band is performing well. Killing Joke is tearing through a set of their greatest hits. Drummer Paul Ferguson, at age 60, is destroying the kit with his fills and cymbal work and basically stealing the show. It’s fun to stumble upon Elvis Costello & the Imposters playing one of their biggest hits. They’re stampeding through “Peace, Love and Understanding,” and Costello himself is ripping it up on his guitar. I figure Jerry Lee Lewis is here and I’m here, so I might as well catch a glimpse of the rock ’n’ roll pioneer. After winding around a huge crowd to see the stage, Lewis is not up there but his backup band is smoking through standards. Four songs later, Lewis himself ambles onto the stage, sits at the piano and works hard to get through a couple of songs before I leave. Meanwhile, The Jesus Lizard is in top form. They sound great, they’re playing well and they look like they’re having a ton of fun delivering what could be the set of the night. Finally, can a band really be as slick as Beck’s backing band? It seems antiseptic from the sounds coming from the stage combined with the intense light show. It’s good, but it also screams “Super Bowl Halftime” show. BY CASEY MOFFITT–PHOTO BY ANTHONY NGUYEN
Previous: Riot Fest Day One—Next: Riot Fest Day Three

LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW AT RIOT FEST 2018, DAY ONE

Following a nightmarish lead-up to Riot Fest’s 2018 edition which included the festival’s ticketing agent being hacked and excruciating delays that led to the lineup being finalized mere days before the event, things started to turn around for Riot Fest the minute it started. Mother Nature gave the fest a much-needed stroke of fortune with three picture-perfect days, and the bands continued to prove why Riot Fest remains one of the most vital music festivals in America. It was strange to see Liz Phair on stage for such an early set on Friday afternoon, but the Exile in Guyville queen did her part to entertain the crowd with a solid if slightly mellow set that included an invitation to ride the Ferris wheel with her. A characteristically defiant Pussy Riot took to the stage with a sign screaming “We Will Punish Those Who Poisoned Peter Verzilov” (a nod to the band member’s poisoning just days before the fest) and ripped through a snarling if brief set featuring calls for political disruption and weird dancers in ski masks. Hobo Johnson’s affable spirit and palpable joy proved infectious as he delivered a wholly unique set before Digable Planets took their 25th anniversary rendition of Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) to new heights with a healthy dose of experimentation. Matt & Kim played about as loud as anyone all weekend, while it was hard to find fault with Bleachers’ polished festival-perfect sound. Young the Giant covered Blink-182’s “All the Small Things” in a similarly radio-friendly set, before Weezer took to the stage to rip through hit after hit from opener “Buddy Holly” to covers including “Take on Me” and “Africa.” BY JOHN KURNAT–PHOTO BY ANTHONY NGUYEN
Next: Riot Fest Day Two

Lineup Announced for Inaugural Red Bull Music Festival Chicago

A successor of 2017’s Red Bull-sponsored 30 Days In Chicago, the inaugural Red Bull Music Festival Chicago will take place November 3-30 at multiple venues across the city. The festival kicks off with a G.O.O.D. Music showcase at Wintrust Arena featuring Nas and Pusha T on November 3, before concluding on November 30 with a performance by Jamila Woods at Harold Washington Cultural Center. Additional Red Bull Music Festival Chicago events include Vic Mensa at Saffron Rails Nov. 8, Cupcakke at Thalia Hall Nov. 10, and Black Monument Ensemble at Garfield Park Conservatory Nov. 15. The festival will also feature live radio broadcasts, interviews, and genre showcases from progressive jazz to Latinx. For more information, visit the festival website.

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