Any thoughts on album plays this year? Trapped Under Ice Big Kiss Goodnight 15 year would be sick and is totally doable Sat. or, more reasonably, Sun. with Turnstile and Angel Dust schedules.
Skimming the 20 year anniversaries in my iTunes, roughly in order of how likely I think they are: Underoath - Define the Great Line Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake / Digital Ash (2005 but they're celebrating it this year) Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely Boys Like Girls - Boys Like Girls Manchester Orchestra - I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child Saosin - Saosin Cartel - Chroma (though they'll be pushing new music, I guess) The Early November - Triple album or whatever version of it they did on the tour this spring Moneen - The Red Tree Angels and Airwaves - We Don't Need To Whisper Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness (they'll play but almost certainly won't do an album) The Killers - Sam's Town Billy Talent - Billy Talent II
So... It's gotta be next week, right? I feel like they're always in the mix, hah. Gotta be honest though... If we wind up with the Killers and Tool that would feel like a pretty "festival starter kit" headliner set unless the third were somebody relatively unique/more Riot-specific. Haha. Would be a great get, regardless and the undercard could more than make up for it!
I know they’re playing Chicago at the start of May, but They Might Be Giants announced another leg of their 2026 tour today which starts in Milwaukee a few days after Riot. They typically have longer gaps between tour dates too. So maybe they’re in the running?
Not that insane. Coachella tends to suck up all the air in the room. Makes sense to wait, regardless of whether there's line-up overlap or not.
Pretty sure they did exactly this last year. Made sense considering Green Day headlined and they did Coachella
I know Tom seems 100% committed to Blink now but for some reason I feel like there will be shows for that Whisper anniversary. Feels perfect now with Atom being a free agent.
Looking at the Fest lineup, and two more album plays I didn't include but should have: Punchline - 37 Everywhere Signals Midwest - At This Age
Two that I am hoping for that probably won’t happen are: Descendents - Everything Sucks Alkaline Trio- From Here to Infirmary Edit: also Reel Big Fish’s Turn the Radio Off has a 30th anniversary but I assume that their first shows back in years (it it is happening) won’t be for an album play.
The more I think about it, I'm actually feeling like Alkaline Trio won't be on the bill because they played last year (and it's before that tour starts). But it wouldn't be the first time Riot booked a band two years in a row... And an album play would justify it. Everything Sucks actually does feel like it has a decent shot at an album play! They've been playing nearly half that album n recent setlists, anyway... Wouldn't be surprised if they ramp it up a bit later this year anyway. And Reel Big Fish doing an album play would be one helluva way to come back. Probably a better paycheck on their end too. So I wouldn't rule that out if they're coming back! Y'know what? They did! Bieber confirmed! Even if they don't share any major artists, though, Coachella is a juggernaut. It dominates the news, social media, etc. for the week between. Just makes sense that they would wait. Gotta be real here. And I say this as a Small Brown Bike fan... I don't know that enough people care for this to be warranted at Riot. Still, though, I kinda hope they play some shows for this one other than Fest! Album is awesome.
Rise Against and Alkaline Trio both at Louder Than Life in Kentucky the day before Riot Fest on Thursday, 9/17. I think Rise Against is a lock, but Alkaline Trio is also in the area.