Excuse me while I compose myself long enough to write this post. Last year was my first return to Riot Fest since 2006, thanks in no small part to the balls to the wall amazing lineup. In case you missed it, you can read our Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 recaps; go ahead, I’ll still be here when you’re done. I’ll admit, while I was looking forward to this year’s lineup announcement, I had a cautious outlook. After all, last year’s festival raised the bar not only for the festival itself, but for Chicago festivals as a whole. The directors and promoters over at Riot Fest definitely rode the wave from last year’s high crest to ensure their 10th anniversary would be the de facto Chicago music festival this year, but that wasn’t enough.
Earlier today, Riot Fest made one of the hugest festival announcements of the year by announcing their “10 Years. 10 Essential Albums” program. Basically, 10 bands will be playing their most pivotal bands in their entirety from front to back. The bands and their albums announced so far are Weezer (Blue Album), Jane’s Addiction (Nothing’s Shocking), The Offspring (Smash), Slayer (Reign in Blood), Samhain (Initium), NOFX (Punk in Drublic), Descendents (Milo Goes to College), Naked Raygun (Throb Throb), and The Get Up Kids (Something to Write Home About), with another mystery band to be announced. Weezer, Slayer, and NOFX will also be performing their full album sets on the Denver branch of Riot Fest, as well.
Let the speculation for the mystery band begin! The hopeful optimist in me really, really, really wants Fugazi to be added, especially with the prospect of 13 Songs played in full. Adversely, Jawbreaker and 24 Hour Revenge Therapy would be just as amazing. The odds of either happening are ridiculously slim, but a punk in his late-20s can dream, right? If you’re unfamiliar with any of the bands or albums mentioned, I highly recommend checking them out. Weezer’s Blue Album is a staple for indie/pop-punk, Naked Raygun’s Throb Throb represents the debut of one of Chicago’s most pivotal punk bands, The Offspring’s Smash is what “smashed” the door open for pop-punk’s mainstream success in the early to mid-’90s, NOFX’s Punk in Drublic carried Smash‘s wave, Samhain’s Initium introduced the music world to Danzig post-Misfits, Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking set the standard for alternative rock, Slayer’s Reign in Blood goes without any contextual explanation, and The Get Up Kids’ Something to Write Home About represents a more contemporary indie/emo sound.
Riot Fest 2014 is going to be amazing.
