Riot Fest 2021 (September 17-19, Chicago IL) Tour • Page 125

That’s why I love seeing bands like that! That is part of why I still love seeing Less Than Jake even though I have seen them a ton, but don’t feel strongly about seeing Reel Big Fish again even though I have only seen them a few times.

 

I realized over quarantine that even though they’re not even in my top 15 favorite bands, Less Than Jake is probably the one band I most miss seeing live. They’re just so much fun (especially in a festival environment)

 

Yeah, Less Than Jake is another one that is fantastic about switching up the set lists.

I'll put Goldfinger and the Offspring in the category of "same set and bad jokes every time" along with Reel Big Fish. It's still fun, but I will never go out of my way to see them because of it.

So much fun live in any setting, haha. I'm stoked for them to get back on the road and would love to see them at Riot Fest. However unlikely that may be.

 

Went there one time with my car and it was a nightmare. Took a train the next time and it was super easy.

 

He's performing with the Ravinia Orchestra, so that is going to be an amazing show especially if Saturday night brings the weak sauce... also the Metra train ride is free if you have a ticket

 

I saw 311 once ten years back and it was such a fun show. I haven’t really listened to them on a while but I’m down (no pun intended) to see them again

I’d love to catch an LTJ headline set too. I’ve seen them 5 times. 4 out of those 5 were at festivals or Warped Tours, so I’m itching for a full, one hour, LTJ set

 

“More to come” this makes me think Riot is more possible (unless Perry’s making them play Lolla again)

 

Ya know, despite being a fan and attendee of Lolla, I've never given Jane's Addiction much of a listen. Worth getting into?

 

I’d say so! Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual are two of the best alt rock albums of all time, IMO

I personally think JA doesn’t get the recognition they deserve. They basically innovated the alt rock genre

 

They're pretty great! I'd suggest starting with the "best of" album, and if you enjoy that checking out "Nothing's Shocking" and "Ritual De Lo Habitual." Those are the only two studio albums of theirs that matter, IMHO.

I think it's worth noting that they are a major influence on Circa Survive (and specifically, Anthony's vocals) too.

EDIT: @ALT/MSC/FAN beat me to it! Haha.

Yeah, that's making it feel pretty likely. Could also just be other random outdoor shows too. But that makes me feel better about my guess that they'd be a headliner. Though, at this point, would they be top three or just a stage closer?

Too: Has Riot ever blatantly booked two "totally 90s" acts as a headliner before? I'm gonna head and say that Weezer/Beck in 2018 doesn't count because Weezer was a replacement.

 

Fun fact: my uncle was their drum tech in the early 90s and apparently filled in on drums at a few big shows. I’m not a fan but it’s always fun listening to him talk about it.

 

Woah, that’s insane!

 

Nine Inch Nails & Jawbreaker


i'd probably count Blink 182 & Bikini Kill too, since Blink played an entire album from 1999

 

Does the Ween/Flaming Lips coheadliner in 2016 count too?

 

I meant as far as like, 90s radio is concerned. Artists that people see the name of and immediately go "Oh! The 90s!" Jawbreaker and Bikini Kill don't really fall into that category. Same with the Flaming Lips and Ween (though I think this one is definitely more debatable). Blink-182 is more associated with the 2000s overall, I think.

But Jane's Addiction and the Smashing Pumpkins are definitely in that camp.

 

I appreciate the help! Lineup depending I might actually do that!

 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says COVID-19 restrictions will loosen May 14, with the goal of fully reopening the state on June 11

Looks like we have flipped from "we need something really big for Riot Fest to actually happen this year" to "we need something really big for Riot Fest to not happen this year".

 

Looks like Nine Inch Nails are playing Cleveland with the Pixies on 9/21 and 9/23. This might put them in the mix for a Riot Fest headliner.

Could also just be a one-off with the Pixies opening because they were nearby at the time.

EDIT: Nevermind. The tweet says it's their "only headline shows of 2021." So. No. Not playing Riot Fest.

 

I'm leaning towards not expecting a big #1 headliner this year. It's tough to do that with so much up in the air still. And if they DID book MGK early and then MCR had to postpone until 2022, why not bump him to #3 and call it a day? I doubt RF knows how well the tickets/singles will sell regardless of lineup. Some may pass this fall out of an abundance of caution.

Oh, and I've followed you all back. Pretty obvious who I am :) (hint hint....my name!)

 

Arguably, 2019 didn't have a huge #1 headliner either. Blink-182 is a big name but they've dipped a bit in popularity and they were expected to play anyway. Headliner speculation is far too challenging for me, at this point. Haha.

But I really don't think ticket sales will be a concern. People are super eager to get out and see shows... And the majority of people that I know who are vaccinated/planning on getting vaccinated are feeling confident about everything.

Further, if MGK is on the bill, that will pretty much guarantee that single day sells incredibly well. Pretty sure the rest of that tour is completely sold out already except for the expensive VIP tickets.

 

I'm still very interested in who they get to play alongside MGK. I'm just imagining they get a bunch of acts like him to make his fans satisfied, as mentioned previously, and not just come to see him only, camp at his stage just for him, and then leave. Who those acts are is the million dollar question.

 

If that's the approach Riot takes, I will be incredibly underwhelmed and disappointed in the festival. Most of those acts are carbon copies of one another. That would be the first real instance of Riot simply chasing a trend in pop music rather than sticking to what they do.

That being said: I highly doubt this is the approach that Riot Fest takes. We might see another act or two in that general style, but I highly doubt it would be an entire stage worth.

 

Trying to decipher this - the proximity of the dates puts them in prime position for playing Riot, but the wording of this probably rules them out because I can't imagine a world where they wouldn't headline their night. Unless they're excluding fests. IDK.

 

Yeah I wouldn’t consider a festival a “headline show”

They could still be at Riot

 

I would be inclined to feel the same way, except that they have consistently listed one of the “????” bands ahead of Smashing Pumpkins. I know we were all way more focused on MCR, but don’t forget that the Smashing Pumpkins are one of the biggest bands riot fest has EVER had. If there’s a headliner listed above them on the lineup, they either need to be bigger or rare as hell.

Ok, I understand that having 2 big headliners after not doing the fest last year means they probably can’t afford a third big one. And I know MGK sold out his tour and is the thing everyone’s talking about (good or bad) right now. But those shows he sold out are only at 4-6k cap small amphitheaters and he’s not popular among riot fest regulars. I could see him closing out a side stage or playing a late slot on the main stage, but having him as the main headliner for a night would be really disappointing and probably a mistake. Even with what we already have of the lineup, I’d think he’s gotta be billed behind RTJ and Pixies.