2019
Undercard Preview
R
iot Fest returns this fall for its his-
toric 15th anniversary, once again in
Douglas Park (Ogden & Ashland).
From its humble beginnings in small clubs
to its current incarnation as a classic punk,
indie rock, and hip-hop celebration, Riot
Fest has a connection to Chicago like no
other festival. Now in its 15th year, the
fest has become a crucial fall event and one
of the year’s best music values. Here are
some of our must-see picks for the under-
card.
The Beaches
Toronto’s all-female quintet have made
waves in their home country winning a
JUNO award as Breakout Band of 2018.
Their singles "Money" and "T-Shirt" show
they know how to write a catchy single in
the vein of Patti Smith and The Primitives.
Usually, this isn’t the path an indie band
follows, but Beaches has the attitude and
hooks like they don’t give f*ck.
The Selecter
The Selecter are co-founding originators of
England’s historic 2-Tone movement that
brought together ska and reggae musicians
of all colors for the love of the game; name-
ly R&B and rock steady beats. Fronted by
the angular Pauline Black, the band didn’t
achieve the more significant successes like
their Coventry hometown mates The
Specials, but their early music was just as
crucial, including “Three Minute Hero”
which perfectly captures the spirit of the
late ‘70s, where punk and ska collided to
form a lasting multi-generational genre.
The Get Up Kids
The Kansas City-based second-wave Emo
giants signed a new deal last year with
Polyvinyl records - a perfect home for their
sometimes reluctant pop/punk sound.
They’ve run away from the emo label for
years, which has puzzled both fans and
critics, but they finally seem to be at peace
on their new label, where they can plant
their flag with undeniable results.
20 illinoisentertainer.com september 2019
Anti-Flag
Pittsburgh’s punk giants are a band we
need in the current orange political climate
more than ever. Being on an indie or major
label doesn’t matter for a group that has
always stood for righteous causes and pro-
human organizations - including anti-fas-
cism, Greenpeace, Amnesty International,
and many more. “You Can Kill the
Protester, But You Can’t Kill the Protest” is
one rock’s all-time great protest anthems.
Elder Brother
A spin-off of The Story So Far and
Daybreaker, Elder Brother have in some
ways eclipsed the musical benchmarks of
the bands they've temporarily left behind.
Their latest album Stay Inside takes a
stripped-down and dour look at heroin
addiction. After three albums, EB has
established themselves as one of indie
rock’s top bands ready to break out.
Riot Fest takes place September 13th, 14th and
15th in Douglas Park, Chicago. For complete
line-up and ticket information visit riotfest.org.