Check out these 5 Chicago artists at Lollapalooza. Whitney, Noname, Kweku Collins, The O'My's and Chance The Rapper
Let’s dive into the incredible lineup at this year’s Lollapalooza. Chicago artists came to represent at one of the largest music festivals in the world. The talent to tough but their Chicago breed artist standout in a big way. Below let’s visit five artists that call Chicago their home that you absolutely can’t miss at this year’s Lollapalooza!
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Whitney
Indie-rock band Whitney will represent the Chicago indie scene well. The young band will have the perfect match of blended tunes and heart wrenching lyrics. Their debut album Light Upon the Lake is one of the best pieces of work coming out from Chicago in the past few years. Seeing them rock the stage at Lollapalooza will be a great experience for the young band. It definitely won’t be the last time on the Lollapalooza stage.
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Noname
After an incredible year of appearances at Saturday Night Live, Bronzeville native Noname will be making her Lollapalooza debut. The spoken word artist made the past year her own with her soulful and honest approach to storytelling that we hear in her latest protect, Telefone.
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Kweku Collins
Closed Sessions rapper Kweku Collins will bring his poetry and melodic rap sound to life at Lollapalooza. Making his Lollapalooza debut, the Evanston (close enough) native will represent the young label well. He will be rubbing shoulders with some heavyweight rapper while making a bold appearance at Lollapalooza in his own right.
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The O’ My’s
Rock meets soul back again when the O’ My’s return at Lollapalooza. Showing early support in their career to the likes of Chance The Rapper, the O’ My’s will receive a long overdue warm welcome. Seeing Maceo Haymes taking the stage with Nick Hennessey, Boyang Matsapola, Baron Golden, Erick Mateo will bring the longtime Chicago favorites to new heights. If you haven’t already do yourself a favor and check out their EP, Keeping The Faith.
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Chance The Rapper
This one goes without saying. If you’re from Chicago, you have to come through and support Chicago’s biggest name in the business. Chance The Rapper just a few short years ago performed at the smaller BMI stage. This year, Chance The Rapper will headline August 5 on the main stage expecting his biggest crowd to date.
After a number of incredible accolades for the young 24-year-old artist, Chance The Rapper will bring it all home at Lollapalooza. After his three well deserved Grammy wins, donating over 1 million dollars to the Chicago Public School District and widely praised third released mixtape Coloring Book, Chance’s set will be one to remember for years to come.
4-Day Passes and single day passes are currently sold-out, VIP passes are now at Lollapalooza.com.
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!
[Review] 'Green Room' an unforgettable punk rock horror film
Independent director Jeremy Saulnier brings this twisted unforgettable tale of a momentous punk rock attitude crashing into the world of shock and uncertainty in Green Room.
Inspiring and struggling hardcore punk rock band members Pat (Anton Yelchin), Tiger (Callum Turner), Sam (Alia Shawkat), Reece (Joe Cole) are delusional punk rockers named the Ain’t Rights.
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Low on funds with an itch to perform, the Ain’t Rights make their way to a back of the woods hardcore punk rock club. Unaware of its usual crowd the Ain’t Rights find themselves performing in front of REAL hardcore punk rockers who just so happen to be Nazi skinheads.
Leaving the show, Pat sees something he wasn’t supposed to see. Caught in the middle of a bad situation turned worse Pat and his band mates are thrown into a dark world of drugs and murder from the hands of the ruthless club owner and his no moral limit henchman.
Green Room
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Rating: R
Release Date: April 22, 2016 (Chicago), April 29 nationwide
In Green Room we see these young inspiring punk rockers go through hell trying to make it out alive. This real human reaction leaves a unsatisfying feeling of unpleasantness because of the unfamiliar future of what may happen next.
This in your face cut throat style of story telling leaves urging questions of what’s going to happen next. Focusing and centering the green room located backstage of the bar they just performed in visual director Saulnier uses every inch to paint a haunting picture of no escape.
Amber (Imogen Poots) and Pat (Anton Yelchin) stood out as both unsuspecting untraditional figures. All the characters in the film go against what we’ve seen in past horror thrillers which also creates a surprising momentum of story telling.
Music fans will also enjoy this film for it’s taste and showcasing of music from artist like Corpus Rottus and Battletorn as well as original music from the films band the Ain’t Rights.
A huge standout moment of the film is how Patrick Stewart emerges as a complete terror and haunting villain with no human remorse. As the leader of white skinheads, Stewart’s soft spoken portrayal is truly menacing.
Stewart’s portrayal alone is reason enough is see this film but definitely not its only one. In Green Room we see a captivating story that leaves us wanting more every second. This thriller is one that many will talk about for years for it’s original take and its brilliant delivery.
Check out the interview with producer Jeremy Saulnier.
[RH Photos] 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.
[Review] Antarctigo Vespucci: "Leavin' La Vida Loca"
At first, Leavin’ La Vida Loca by the indie folk-inspired punk duo Antarctigo Vespucci seems less reminiscent of Chris Farren and Jeff Rosenstock’s main projects (Fake Problems, Jeff Rosenstock) and more of Antarctigo Vespucci’s first EP, Soulmate Stuff. Establishing Antarctigo Vespucci as their own, vibrantly disparate sound than their alter-egos, the duo have proved to be just as a part of one act as they are another. That’s especially true with their sophomore record, Leavin’ La Vida Loca via Really Records and Quote Unquote Records.
I'll admit, the record wasn’t much to bump a pulse as far as the two’s wide range of projects go at first; oh how wrong can a person be. After a few plays, I realized the record is beachy, warm, mature and melancholy. It’s like watching the finale of your favorite show - it’s bittersweet. While the two have always been keen on bad breakups and lost love, this record is set apart because of their acceptance of the bad. The songs, “Hooray for Me,” “Save Me From Myself” and “Losing My Mind” show the two are more comfortable fighting with their own inner struggles (or lack thereof) in a lighthearted way.
“Crashing Waves” strengthens the aforementioned beachy element of the record (this would be the soundtrack to a montage of two punks walking along the beach) with lines like, “I was ready to go as soon as I arrived,” accurately describing the duo’s social anxiety they address in their various musical endeavors, and Antarctigo Vespucci is no exception. “No Bad Memories” is the most upbeat song with brash electric guitars and a folky twist, while “I See Failure” holds the summary of the record as the closer. The lyrics describe a failing relationship and resonates through younger audiences by the line “When I pretend I’m not feeling well so I don’t have to hang out with your friends in a crowded bar of idiots” as the melancholy couple grow apart - or more so, one partner away from the other. Relatable and rough, Anarctigo Vespucci has definitely established their own sound with Leavin’ La Vida Loca.
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Riot Fest 2015 Lineups Revealed
It's been a busy month for Riot Fest organizers as they went from facing problems with Humboldt Park to being named USA Today's top summer music festival to eventually relocating to Douglas Park for their flagship Chicago festival. Finally, after incessant badgering on Twitter, the first wave of the Riot Fest 2015 lineup has been revealed. Some of the announced headliners are a bit surprising, considering the festival's typical M.O. However, it just further illustrates how large and popular the festival has grown over the past few years.
Riot Fest Chicago highlights include a few bands performing full albums like Rancid playing ...And Out Come the Wolves, Snoop Dogg playing Doggystyle, Ice Cube (and guests) performing NWA's Straight Outta Compton, The Academy Is... performing Almost Here, and The Dwarves performing Blood Guts and Pussy. Other musical highlights include No Doubt, Tenacious D, Modest Mouse, Motorhead, Less Than Jake, Modern Life is War, Lifetime, Cypress Hill, and local acts like Alex Wiley, Into It. Over it., and Psalm One.
Riot Fest Toronto highlights include Alexisonfire, Wu-Tang Clan, Tyler, the Creator, and Coheed and Cambria.
Riot Fest Denver highlights include Modest Mouse, Iggy Pop, Flogging Molly, Alkaline Trio, and Pixies.
Pre-sale tickets are already sold out, but you can still find 3-day passes for Chicago, Denver, and Toronto.
Riot Fest Chicago is Moving to Douglas Park
The dust has settled and the official verdict is in: Riot Fest is saying goodbye to Humboldt Park and hello to Douglas Park.
Mike Petryshyn, co-founder of the recently named Best Music Festival in the US, released a statement about the festival's move to North Lawndale:
In my very first meeting with Alderman Cardenas, I was happy that we were discussing logistical details and how we could enrich the community. Quite frankly, I was silently ecstatic. He gets it and it was genuine. Our goal has always been to leave a positive impact in the community we call home by helping local independent businesses, hiring ward residents and making an impact year-round. We did that in our previous home and plan to do the same — if not more — in the community surrounding Douglas Park and the 12th Ward.
As soon as we started discussing community, it was refreshing to see George get up from his desk and start pointing on the ward map to the local businesses we need to meet and have a formal introduction. He was excited and so was I. To have an an elected official see clearly how we can bring good things is humbling. To be appreciated for who we are—as people running an indie company and a festival—by the him and all of the supporters has been inspiring.
The strife between Riot Fest organizers and Alderman Maldonado of the 26th Ward (where Humboldt Park is located) has been well-noted since last year's festival that left the park with thousands of dollars in damages. And while the festival is committed to repairing the park, Maldonado and other Humboldt Park residents were vocal with their opposition to the festival's return despite overwhelming support that resulted in over 8,000 signatures (ours included) to keep the festival in Humboldt.
Riot Fest also announced the lineup for this year's festival will be released next week, ensuring a busy Riot Fest-related news month ends on a high note.
You can read the festival's official announcement here.
[Interview] Toby Jeg (Red Scare Industries Founder)
This year marked the 10th anniversary of Chicago's Riot Fest, but it's not the only Chicago punk rock establishment celebrating the decade mark in 2014. Red Scare Industries, one of the most popular and critically-acclaimed punk rock labels still in existence, has played host to an amazing catalog of punk bands, including The Falcon, Cobra Skulls, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Methadones, and more. To commemorate the label's 10th year, I had the chance to exchange emails with Toby Jeg, Red Scare founder and all-around awesome dude. Click along to read about his relationships with the bands, why he moved the label from San Francisco to Chicago, and what's coming up next for the label.
If you want to get involved with the festivities, you can make your way to the Northside for a trio of amazing punk shows. Friday at the Gman Tavern will feature acoustic sets from Nothington and Elway, a set from Dan Vapid, and some secret guests (tickets can be purchased here). Saturday is an all-day affair at the Metro with Reaganomics, The Brokedowns, Elway, Direct Hit!, The Holy Mess, Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Sidekicks, Enemy You, Masked Intruder, The Methadones, The Lillingtons, and THE FALCON all performing. Trust me, the price is worth it for The Falcon's reunion set alone (tickets can be purchased here). The party returns to the Gman Tavern Sunday night for a special Brendan Kelly solo set, an acoustic Cobra Skulls set, and more (tickets can be purchased here).