LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW AT RIOT FEST, DAY ONE
Cloudy skies and a light drizzle set the scene for the kickoff of Riot Fest 2016, with Diarrhea Planet rolling out of bed just in time to deliver a riotous set of ballsy guitar-driven bangers. Dillinger Escape Plan assaulted eardrums with one of the loudest, most obnoxious sets in recent memory that made the escape to a nearby stage to see the criminally underrated reunion of Girls Against Boys just as the skies began to part all the more worthwhile. Despite rarely playing and advancing in age, the band looked and sounded much tighter than expected with an all-pro set before a way too sparse early afternoon crowd for a band that clearly deserved a later time slot. But there wasn’t too much to be upset about once Julian Marley took the stage, sounding exacting like his father in an Exodus-spanning set littered with Marley classics including “Jamming” and “Waiting In Vain.” The Specials ran through a workmanlike set that felt a little dated but was hard to find fault with, but the surprise set of the day was taking place in the tiny StubHub tent where Dan Deacon was setting up for another trademark electronic freakout that included audience danceoffs and had smiles plastered on the faces of everyone packed into the virtual sweat lodge. Ween played one of the most disappointing sets of the fest, starting out strong with “The Golden Eel” and “Baby Bitch” before devolving into a boring set of sleepy slow jams that succeeded in little besides sapping all the energy out of the park. Luckily, Flaming Lips were there to pick it back up with another colorblasted orgiastic explosion featuring giant blow-up centipedes wearing king’s crowns, Wayne Coyne surfing the crowd in his trademark bubble, and all manner of trippy stage theatrics that had the crowd rubbing their eyes to make sure this was real. A cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” felt especially apropos, while set closer “Do You Realize??” had festivalgoers leaving the park feeling warm and happy. TEXT & PHOTO BY JAY GENTILE
Next: Riot Fest Day Two
