Day 2 at Riot Fest was filled with another line up of clingers as bands took to the six stages lining Douglas Park on Chicago’s southwest side. Attendees filled the area, mostly coming in on Ubers or bikes (the few gluttons for punishment in cars) as local neighborhood homeowners sold parking passes for unrestricted parking streets. In all fairness, can you blame them? For three days out of the year, the entire area gets overwhelmed with approximately 160k fans. Fortunately for 2016, the weather held off, and it looks like the park made it through respectively unscathed.
One of the toughest decisions to make in the day was whether to check out Brand New, or who Brand New recommended you check out, The Descendents. We made it to both. Other favorites included The Hives, the most dapper dressed guys on the scene (as expected), Method Man & Redman who took us into dusk, and the unexpectedly really impressive, Death Cab for Cutie.
Also: Nostalgia Reigns at Day 1 of Riot Fest
But of course, the final show of the night was the one most sought after – Morrissey taking the stage. Of course, he didn’t do so until after showing a thirty-minute montage of… stuff. To all those back to back fans who attended last year, I would like to take a second to remind you that Snoop Dogg showed up 45 minutes late for his set, and then rallied the audience to complain as he was going to be ‘kicked off.’ And it worked. Meanwhile, 365 days later, Morrissey – who apparently does this to weed out the inauthentic fans, received extensive trash talk.
Maybe the fans were just hungry. After all, Morrissey required that during his set, for 2 hours, no meat be sold at the festival. We applaud him. Requiring action for what you stand for isn’t any easy feat. But when you’re Morrissey, you get to do just that. He’s earned the right to demand change. The fact that people were surprised by this behavior from him was honestly quite surprising.
All Photos: Derek Georgevich.
Riot Fest | Day 2 Recap
Morrissey acts like Morrissey to the shock and dismay of his Chicago audience, plus more from Day 2 at Riot Fest.
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The Hives
The Hives had Ninja's as their guitar techs, pretty bad ass.
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GZA
GZA dropping classics from Liquid Swords.
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Redman & Method Man
The ENERGY that Red & Meth have on stage together is unreal.
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Brand New
Brand New took a cue from Faith No More's headlining appearance last year and decorated the stage with amazing floral arrangements.
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Brand New
Jesse, of Brand New, belting out some emotion.
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Death Cab For Cutie
Death Cab doesn't play that often these days, take my advice do whatever you can to see them next time they're in your town.
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Redman
"Everybody just scream!" - Red
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Redman
Reggie aka Redman.
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Redman & Method Man
Brick City's Finest & Shaolin's #1 Son
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Method Man
Meth throwing up the 'W'
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The Descendents
Milo and Stephen of the Descendents, who were arguably one of the best sets of Riot Fest.
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The Hives
The Hives wardrobe is always something else.
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The Hives
It just wouldn't feel right it there weren't multiple high kicks when The Hives played.
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The Hives
Hate to say I told you so!
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Redman & Method Man
Everybody just bounce!
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Redman
Redman under those "city lights"
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Brand New
I don't know who put more emotion into Brand New's set tonight, the fans or Brand New?
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Nas
Nas, still the greatest rapper alive.
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Nas
Nas, speaking to the crowd in between songs.
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Morrissey
Well worth the 30 minute wait through random videos for Morrissey.
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Morrissey
Ending the night in the most epic way with Morrissey.
