Riot Fest 2016 Lineup Flyer

15 Must-See Acts at Riot Fest 2016 Douglas Park Chicago

Riot Fest 2016 is this week! Aren't you excited? Lace up those Docs, put on your favorite NOFX shirt, and remember not throw 'bows in the pit. Are you heading out to Douglas Park but still can't figure out which acts to spend your valuable time skanking and moshing to? Ruby Hornet has you covered as we'll share the 15 must-see acts at Riot Fest this weekend!


Pop Performers Dominate MTV Music Videos

Pop Performers Era of the Late 1990s/Early 2000s

It was a time where pop demanded the attention of young teens, from boy bands to girls groups. Even powerful pop solo performers took center stage during this age. These performers styled baggy jumpsuits and performed coordinated dances that were largely popular in music videos that took over MTV. Let's take a look back at 6 throwback music videos from the late 90s/early 2000s that make us nostalgic: 

“No Scrubs” by TLC —> The groups girl trio performed their music video “No Scrub” in true 1990s fashion. They wore baggy pants and platform shoes with synchronized dance movements in an intergalactic space atmosphere. Although the music video only received 40 million views on YouTube, this 1999 hit was the most played clip on MTV in May of 1999, according to Billboard. The music video performance for “No Scrubs” won several awards. Some of which included two Grammys, for best r&b song and best r&b performance. The TLC song also won an MTV music video award for best group. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLequ6dUdM

“I Want it That Way” by The Backstreet Boys —>  The 1990s started the memorable trend of pop boy bands, like N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys. In 2000, the Backstreet Boys released their hit “I Want it That Way.” Although the song displayed less of the classic boy band choreographed dance style compared to their song “Backstreets Back,” the boys still made some coordinated moves in a matching all white attire. The song was also up for numerous music award nominations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg

“Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears —> This 1998 song features Britney Spears in a choreographed music video with multiple background dancers. In the music video first displayed all over tv screens on MTV, Spears goes from catholic school girl to hip hop girl. These planned out dance moves were a reoccurring theme in Spears’ videos. Over 10 years later, the music video of “Baby One More Time” was posted to YouTube. Since it was posted, the music video accumulated over 200 million views. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4

”Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync —> The well known boy band that monopolized the early 2000s, N’Sync, took over MTV in 2000 with their smash hit “Bye Bye Bye." With all five band members following in suit to every choreographed dance move, from hanging on strings like puppets to dancing on walls. N’Sync perfected the boy band image and dominated the game in 2000 with their “No Strings Attached” album. Their song “Bye Bye Bye” was also awarded for multiple MTV music videos. Some of the awards included the MTV video music award for: best choreography, best pop video, and the viewer’s choice award. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-KmOd3i7s

“Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera —> Aguilera first came into public recognition in the late 1990s with songs like “What A Girl Wants” and “Genie in a Bottle.” Christina Aguilera’s music video for “Genie in a Bottle” moves back and forth between “normal” seeming scenes in which Aguilera is hanging out with friends, to strongly choreographed dance scenes. Although the song didn’t receive any awards, the hit was featured on her self entitled album that led Christina to win a grammy for best new artist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIDWgqDBNXA

“Survivor” by Destiny’s Child —> Before Beyonce went solo, she too was in a girl group known as Destiny’s Child. The fierce trio depicts their strength to survive and showcases powerful, coordinating dance moves in the music video. The group’s 2001 song “Survivor” was awarded for MTV video music award for best r&b video. The music video was also the recipient of many MTV nominations. According to Billboard, “Survivor” was reported as the second most played clip on MTV in March of 2001. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmc8bQoL-J0

Although it is a bit of a cringeworthy period to look back on, these pop sensations represented a strange phenomenon in music history that many of us love to reminisce over. After growing up with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, it’s hard to simply forget all the words that we once memorized. 


The Academy Is... performing at Riot Fest 2015

[RH Photos] Riot Fest 2015

The Academy Is... performing at Riot Fest 2015

Photos by Vanessa Bly

Riot Fest changed the festival game this year in a big way; it’s been the fest’s largest number of one-off reunion acts ever. With The Prodigy, Ice Cube & Special Guests covering Straight Outta Compton, Snoop Dogg playing Doggystyle, The Academy Is… playing Almost Here, The Ataris playing Blue Skies and Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits, L7, The Movielife, Modern Life is War playing Witness, Alexisonfire, Rancid playing ...And Out Come The Wolves and (probably) more, the air this year was nostalgic to say the least.


Rancid Riot Fest photo taken by Geoff Henao

Top 10 Bands to See at Riot Fest 2015

Header by Geoff Henao

As Riot Fest inches closer to it’s biggest and baddest debut, it’s time for you to know what to sing during this year’s fest. Changing the scenery from Humboldt Park to Douglas Park, we hope to catch you at Riot Fest this year to dance with us. Filled with old, new and reunited acts, there is a little bit of everything this year at Riot Fest. With the help of Ruby Hornet contributor, Bridjet Mendyuk, we’ve put together 10 songs that are essential to your Riot weekend. If you haven’t yet, you can still get your tickets here.


FKA Twigs performing at Lollapalooza 2015

[RH Photos] Lollapalooza 2015

Photos by Bryan Allen Lamb.

Lollapalooza 2015: it came, it conquered, and it closed early. But not even Sunday's crappy, unpredictable weather could put a damper on the weekend’s festivities. Packed full of artists of every genre, Lolla brought us the latest and the legendary, once again proving that this monster of an event cannot be tamed or topped. From Friday to Sunday, Lolla-enthusiasts spent their days and nights trekking back and forth from stage to stage across the large and lovely Grant Park. Though my feet are broken and my body hates me, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. But if you did, here’s a recap on my weekend in Lolla land.


Lollapalooza art

Top Artists to See at Lollapalooza 2015

Alright cool kids it’s that time of the year we all look forward to - when summer actually feels like summer (for two weeks) and you can drink booze outside with a couple hundred thousand of your closest friends while Millennium Park is raging with some of the most epic and fresh artists to date for Chicago’s largest annual summer music festival, Lollapalooza.

Lolla is here to take over Chicago once again and it’s coming hard with some hugely stellar acts. Like every music festival ever, there are too many amazing artists to choose from and a few frustrating time-slot conflicts. But no worries, here are a few suggestions to make this weekend worth the heat, crowds, and money you spent on that expensive and lovely little wristband.

Chance the Rapper performing at Pitchfork Music Festival 2015 in Chicago

[RH Video] Chance the Rapper Closes Out Pitchfork Music Festival 2015

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Header by Vanessa Bly, video by J. Frank Visuals

It's been an amazing run for Chance, and his Sunday night-cap performance to close off Pitchfork Music Festival 2015 is just one of the many, many major highlights of his career. Even for just a moment, it felt like Chicagoans in attendance could come together and show support for one of its hometown heroes and ignore every ounce of negativity that has been afflicting the city.

If you couldn't make it out to Pitchfork this past weekend, check out this mini-video recap of Chance the Rapper's AMAZING Pitchfork set, shot and edited by J. Frank Visuals!


Pitchfork Music Festival 2015

Top 12 Bands to See at Pitchfork Music Festival 2015

Once again, Pitchfork Music Festival has returned to Chicago's Union Park. The lineup is as eclectic as ever, featuring some of the music industry's top rappers and electronic artists. With help from Ruby Hornet contributor Vanessa Bly, we've come up with a list of the top 12 bands to see at Pitchfork this weekend. Take a look through the following pages!