Riot Fest – Day 2
Basement, Manchester Orchestra, Taking Back Sunday, Pavement and more!
Douglass Park // Chicago, IL // September 20-22,2024
Photos and review by Casey Lee
Beach Bunny
Despite many a Friday night prayer, Friday’s weather did not relent for Saturday, to the dismay of (likely) every person who walked through the festival gates that afternoon. And also probably to acts like Sir Chloe, who took to the stage in a maroon suit, as singer and guitarist Dana Foote, accompanied by the rest of Sir Chloe, played a nine-song set, pulling from Party Favors and I Am the Dog.
Sir Chloe
Also taking the stage in suits, as is tradition, Swedish garage rock band The Hives (and their techs) who, as all would expect, performed in suits. Stealing a show at 2:55 in the afternoon may sound hyperbolic, but if anyone can do it, it’s The Hives. A torn ACL could not stop Pelle Almqvist, though by his own admission, it likely did slow him down at least a bit. But he kicks, running back and forth on stage, using every millimeter they possibly could? That all still happened.
The Hives
Then, the most unexpected of musical left turns, if you weren’t already familiar with the bands on the lineup, at least, was HEALTH. Music festivals are inherently loud (please, wear hearing protection). The bass that emanated from the AAA stage between 3:40 and 4:20 on Saturday was something else entirely. Shake your chest, pulsatingly loud. It was magical. The band’s industrial sound came as little surprise to those camped on the barricade, but to those leaving The Hives set, it might have been a bit of a shock to hear the industrial/noise of HEALTH. The Los Angeles trio thanked the crowd for watching and listening, admitting that some of the songs weren’t exactly straightforward, before closing out their set.
HEALTH
But generally, that was it for the genre/sound whiplash for the day. Manchester Orchestra performed COPE on the Cabaret Metro Stage, the primary of the two main stages. Playing the album front to back, with “All That I Really Wanted” the acoustic version off of Hope, before ultimately closing with “The Silence” from A Black Mile to the Surface.
Manchester Orchestra
Pavement would close out the AAA stage, drawing together a collection of gen-x and gen-z (as well as the millennials in between) to take in what was described by some music critics as the best band of the ‘90s. Fronted by Stephen Malkmus, the band, on their second return from hiatus, played a set that nestled in well with its surrounding St. Vincent and Beck sets, while being distinctly different from both.
Pavement
Jumping back in the day, and to the Radical and Rise stages, saw English band Basement fought through some technical difficulties, with stage power being lost twice before ultimately being resolved, to play a highly anticipated set. If you hadn’t been there for the false starts, you’d have never known they happened as the band carried on through their set as if they hadn’t just been fighting to play their first song. Playing a set predominantly composed of what could best be described as their quintessential album colourmeinkindness and Promise Everything, as well as one song off of I Wish I Could Stay Here and a yet-to-be-released track, those in attendance were rewarded for their patience.
Basement
L.S. Dunes has become a Riot Fest staple. Now on year three of performing at the fest, and every time getting bigger and better (and later in the day). The New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia quintet took to the stage as if it were theirs and theirs alone. Opening their set just as they closed it in 2022 at their Riot Fest debut with “2022,” Dunes was immediately bringing the high-energy show they have quickly become known for. But, when you’re looking at a band comprised of Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin, The Sounds of Animals Fighting), Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), Tim Payne (Thursday), Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria), and Tucker Rule (Thursday), that’s to be expected. And, for the third year running, Dunes delivered. With one full-length record under their belt currently, much of the set was comprised of songs off of Past Lives, but also included singles and the live debut of “Fatal Deluxe.”
L.S. Dunes
Closing out the Rise stage was another group of East Coast Riot Fest stalwarts; Taking Back Sunday. In the midst of tours promoting their new record, 152, the band played an expectedly 152 heavy set, with tracks like S’Old and Lightbringer, but never ones to shy away from a bit of crowd service, Cooper, Lazzara, and Nolan loaded in songs from Louder Now, Tell All Your Friends, and Where You Want to Be as well.
Taking Back Sunday
Sincere Engineer
