2018
Undercard Preview
R
iot Fest returns for its 14th year in
Chicago to historical Douglas Park
in Chicago (at Ogden & Ashland).
From its humble beginnings in small clubs
to its current incarnation as a classic punk
and hip-hop celebration each Fall, Riot Fest
has a connection to Chicago like no other
festival. Here are some of our must-see
picks for the undercard.
moment of pop/emo and punk that was
recorded in part at the legendary Smart
Studios in Madison, Wisconsin with stal-
wart producer Sean OKeefe.
Kevin Devine
Devine has always reminded us of an
American Billy Bragg. Naturally, he fits
into the Riot Fest mold as a passionate and
emotive wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve
punk/emo singer/songwriter that built
his following through great songwriting
on his best albums Brother's Blood and The
Instigator.
Jerry Lee Lewis
One of the godfathers of Rock N' Roll,
Lewis' appearance seems like an odd
choice for a mostly punk and hip-hop fes-
tival, but like their Merle Haggard booking
in 2015, RF's talent buyers include iconic
left-of-center legacy acts in their 3-day line-
up. Jerry Lee was eclipsed by the shadow
of Elvis and Johnny Cash at Sun Records,
but no one can deny his hillbilly baritone
and the magic fingers that define his
honky-tonk piano.
Johnny Marr
Marr co-wrote some of the most time-
less pre-emo anthems with the Smiths in
the '80s with fellow Riot Fest alumnus,
Morrissey. Though he's partnered with The
Pretenders, The The, The Kills, and Talking
Heads over the years, he's come into his
own as a solo artist on his new album Call
The Comet, taking up the mantle as a time-
ly protest singer yolked with his signature
chiming guitar that has influenced a gener-
ation of guitar players.
Spitalfield
Hard to believe Spitalfield are pushing
two decades as a band. Launched in the
second wave of suburban-punk emo bands
that also spawned Fall Out Boy and Plain
White Tees, they've been chosen to per-
form their classic album Remember Right
Now, which is an amazing feat, considering
the band produced it during their college
years. The album captured a near perfect
20 illinoisentertainer.com september 2018
The Bouncing Souls
Another prototype punk-pop band of
the 1990's, The Bouncing Souls put their
New Jersey stamp on their brand of punk,
powered by the like-minded Epitaph and
Hopeless Records rosters of the Clinton-
era. Like their stints in Asbury Park, Riot
Fest has become a home away from home
for these Garden State vets. Their 2016
album Simplicity is a reminder of the salad
days of the ‘90s.
Calpurnia
Led by Stranger Things actor Finn
Wolfhard, these Canadian indie rockers
mesh C86 ramshackle indie rock of The
Pastels with the more modern pop of
MGMT. Like a singles band of the ‘60s they
have six singles out, but no album. But it’s
coming, and we can't wait!
Riot Fest takes place September 14th, 15th and
16th in Douglas Park, Chicago. For complete
line-up and ticket information visit riotfest.org.