Bad Religion, Sunny Day Real Estate and Yellow Cards Highlight Day 2 of Riot Festival

Influential LA punk act Bad Religion has taken a socially conscious approach to punk rock for over 40 years. Forced to celebrate their once-unthinkable 40 years amid the pandemic-quarantine lockdown in 2020, the group will return to tour this weekend to perform at Chicago’s Riot Fest.

“You don’t predict the future. That’s what we’ve always strived for,” singer Greg Graffin said backstage before the group’s festival performance. I didn’t panic, but it wasn’t very fun, I was really worried if I could do it all over again, so it was liberating to be out there and I felt like I didn’t lose a step. increase.”

With their 17th studio album, Bad Religion has a unique ability to assess the world and deal with uncertain times. the age of absurdityGraffin, who continues to write alongside Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph Records owner Brett Gurewitz, is also preparing to release his latest book. punk paradoxnow a memoir Pre-order available Ahead of November’s release.

“We have always been driven to write music that is relevant. I think the relevant headlines of the day are not what we respond to. I want to look at the problem, that’s what Bad Religion has always been successful in. So these are good current events to point to humanity’s failures. “It’s something we’ve always been interested in,” the singer said. One thing I can say is that the pandemic has given me a chance to reflect, and it takes a lot of time to make a story.This is a story.It’s a story. No, it’s the story of my life.”

Bad Religion, returning to Riot Fest for the first time since 2016, kicked off with 1993’s “Recipe For Hate” and played an hour-long set on the Riot stage.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been at Riot Fest, and I’m sharing similar news because these are still the Dark Ages,” Graffin said on stage, introducing a “new Dark Age.”

“Have you seen Fear’s Lee Ving?” asked the singer in the Chicago crowd, referring to the LA hardcore punk act that played their 1982 debut album. The Record early afternoon. “That’s what we grew up with,” the singer said, setting up “Suffer.”

Through cuts like “21st Century (Digital Boy)” and “Infected,” Graffin made the importance of live music clear on Saturday nearing the end of his Riot Fest set.

“I think it’s always been such an honor to be able to bring the community together around music,” he said. It always changes every year, and there is permanence in that there is a tradition of not only bands like ours, but many bands that have served as a kind of foundation for the community. We take it seriously and appreciate the privilege of being able to do it.”

Joining the festival at the last minute, Welsh alternative rock trio Joy Formidables were an early highlight in Chicago on Saturday. Their latest single, “Csts,” is a song about honesty and authenticity.

“Ring the gongs!” drummer Matthew James Thomas playfully mocked the fan’s request while looking back at the gongs behind his drum kit. “Don’t worry, we’ll have more gongs. It’s coming!” , rotated the spinning dervish.

Nashville-based alternative act Bully performed simultaneously across the park from The Joy Formidable. His two strongest acts of the day hit the stage at exactly 2pm, a very unlock-and-roll time. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Alicia Bognanno knelt down on her guitar her pedals and ripped a lilting take on “Where to Start.”

“It’s kind of wild playing these songs I wrote in high school. But here we are. The world is strange,” singer-guitarist Matt Pryor says on “Michelle With One ‘L’.” The Get Up Kids wrapped up their seminal emo debut with a full performance. Four Minute Mile when you turn 25.

In addition to Fear and The Get Up Kids, The Menzingers (about the impossible past) and the Headliner Act Yellow Card (Ocean Avenue) and Misfits (walk in us).

Sci-fi thrash act GWAR, the only act to perform at each of Riot Fest’s open-air festivals, closed on the Rebel stage on Saturday night.

“There has never been a time in the history of this planet more built for GWAR than now. This moment. When people are ready to believe absolutely anything. When disease spreads,” said singer Blöthar. the Berserker said in evaluation of the group’s new album. new dark age With a little sarcasm.

In June, we released a new batch of Ragnarök Rye, a collaboration with Virginia distillery Catoctin Creek, as well as a graphic novel that perfectly encapsulates the savage mythology that defines the band’s humorous and always entertaining story. Announced.

“First of all, it’s very graphic. Tell me about it. If GWAR makes a graphic novel, you know it’s going to be graphic,” said Blöthar. Drummer Zizmak da Gusha added, “I can’t believe many novels have so many pictures.” “It’s a bit confusing because most novels have words. But that’s GWAR.

Fighting against Soundbleed opposite New Jersey rock band Bad Religion, we ran through a very challenging hour-long set on the Radicals stage.

An almost folk-influenced take on punk rock shone in the warm breeze in Chicago on Saturday, with “Hello World” and “Jerk” being early highlights.

But the reunited Sunny Day Real Estate stole the show in Chicago on Saturday.

“Hello. I’m going to play some songs,” singer-guitarist Jeremy Enig opened the set with a perfect take on “Seven.” “Thank you guys. You’re beautiful,” he said, and the band transitioned perfectly into “In Circles,” crowdsurfers storming the stage and the Seattle emo act moving forward on “One.” .

Elsewhere on Saturday, when the Misfits made their 1982 debut, the oft-quoted Glenn Danzig said wisely about Chicago. It’s fitting to play in Chicago,” the bloated singer said, laughing as the once-unthinkable reunion entered its sixth year as the album slowly progressed.

In contrast to the horror punks, Yellowcard had a humble and uplifting experience in their headlining performance up close.

“Thank you!” singer William Ryan Key referred to fans who traveled to Chicago from as far afield as South Africa, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, roaring wildly during the group’s first performance since 2017. “Normally what we try to do is the culmination of energy at the end of the show, but it’s about to happen,” the singer said, before giving the set’s biggest hit on “Ocean Avenue.” ‘s hit song was performed third. 2003 albums in order. “I want to see energy like the end of the show. This song is why we’re here.”