Another killer line-up took to the seven stages of Riot Fest in Chicago at Douglas Park. The weather finally held out a bit and while the festival grounds were greatly covered in mud, and it was the first real taste of fall midwesterners were experiencing, the crowd was all in to check out their favorite bands. American Nightmare, formerly known as Give Up the Ghost, got thing started early in the day at the Roots Stage. Pennywise frontman, Jim Lindberg, looked like he came straight from a SoCal skater bar. The Academy Is reunited and it felt so good, riling up all the teenage girls in the audience, and The Lawrence Arms (Chicago natives) killed it like always.
Conner Oberst took a break from all his other bands (Bright Eyes, The Faint, self-titled) to reconvene with political and societal scrutinizing (but in all the best ways) via his band Desaparacidos. Their first new album in 13 years is out, Payola, and just in time to combat all the political B.S. currently flooding media.
Lastly, we’d like to talk about Riot Fest’s closers-on-closers amazingness. The one and only Iggy Pop took to the Rebel Stage, and absolutely owned it, giving one of the best performances of the weekend. Only to be followed up by System of a Down, where the audience was so stacked, that festival managers actually had to close the photo pit due to safety concerns.
All Photos: Derek Georgevich.
Riot Fest Recap: Day 2
Iggy Pop showed the young guns at Riot Fest in Chicago what's up with his impressive set at the mud & talent filled festival.
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American Nightmare
Wesley Eisold, lead vocals, of American Nightmare.
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American Nightmare
Wesley Eisold,also of Cold Cave, onstage with American Nightmare (formerly Give Up the Ghost).
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American Nightmare
Band members American Nightmare take to the Roots stage early in the day.
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American Nightmare
Wesley Eisold
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American Nightmare
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Desaparacidos
Connor Oberst on lead vocals.
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Desaparacidos
Deaparacidos on-stage at Riot Fest, performing tracks from their new album, Payola, the first album released in 13 years.
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Desaparacidos
Conner Oberst and Denver Dalley on stage.
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Desaparacidos
Oberst taking a break from other highly successful bands, among them The Faint, Bright Eyes, self-titled, to tour with Desaparacidos.
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Desaparacidos
Denver Dalley on lead guitar.
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Desaparacidos
Conner Oberst and Denver Dalley rocking the afternoon set.
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Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms, Chicago natives, impressed the hometown crowd.
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Lawrence Arms
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Lawrence Arms
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Lawrence Arms
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Lawrence Arms
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Pennywise
Jim Lindberg of Pennywise looked straight from so-cal.
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Pennywise
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Pennywise
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Pennywise
Jim Lindberg on lead vocals, Pennywise.
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Pennywise
Fletcher Draggee of Pennywise on lead guitar.
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The Academy Is
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The Academy Is
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The Academy Is
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Iggy Pop
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Iggy Pop
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Iggy Pop
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System of a Down
Photographers weren't allowed to get near the stage for System of a Down due to security concerns.
