Mom Jeans’s blowup has been pretty crazy. The first time I saw them in 2022, they opened for Motion City Soundtrack. Now both of those bands are opening for Jimmy Eat World later this year and MCS is playing before MJ
Mom Jeans. could also be doing a Best Buds set for the 10 year of that album, no way they don't do a tour for that one
Twin Peaks might actually be underbilled on here…they just played like 10 sold out shows in a row here at Thalia Hall
I’m still really thrown off by TOP being one of the headliners tbh. I’m still of the opinion that they don’t really fit the Riot vibe. Also, looking at the rest of the lineup, I’m kind of struggling with pairing bands that would play whichever stage they’ll headline. I’m probably thinking about this too hard (what else is fucking new lol) but I have a weird theory that TOP was actually a backup booking and someone else was supposed to be in their spot but dropped out at the last minute.
If it wasn't a yearly tradition with my friends at this point I don't think I'd make the trip from Minneapolis, but we've also almost always had more fun seeing the afternoon bands than the headliners so I'm sure we'll have a great time since the mid/undercard is solid. But like others have said, I've seen most of the bands I wanna see multiple times (including at Riot Fest) so there's not a ton of wow factor. Still a good amount of stuff to be stoked on and I know it'll be a great weekend. Prob gonna hold off and try and win tickets/grab resale closer to the fest, though.
Need to digest this a bit more but overall, I'm feeling "cool but not essential" for me. Just ran through my high priority bands and it's mostly ones I've seen multiple times (and will be seeing later this year in several cases). So I think I might sit this one out... Not sure I can justify the hotel/flight on this one, unfortunately. Priority: Social Distortion, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Descendents, Elvis Costello, Pup, Less Than Jake, the Suicide Machines, Brian Fallon, Sincere Engineer, Good Riddance, Haywire, Dead to Me,, the Flatliners, Foxy Shazam, Panic Shack, Strike Anywhere, Soul Glo, the Iron Roses Want to See: Nas (partial), All-American Rejects, the Format, Iggy Pop, the Pixies, Sugar, Gogol Bordello, MCS, the Beths, Afroman, ICP, Chat Pile Would Watch: Alanis Morisette, Rise Against, Taking Back Sunday, Pennywise, Bright Eyes, Mom Jeans, Joey Valence, Bayside, 3OH!3, Fleshwater, Mariachi El Bronx, the Paradox, Murphy's Law
Can’t wait for Reddit cornballs to organize the annual corny mosh. I’m certain it’ll be for Afroman this year
Stereogum really asked "Is All American Rejects a bigger draw than Morrissey?" as if one of these artists hasn't been selling out pop-up shows day-of while the other cancels more shows than he plays
i hope they give rise against the weird al/nofx treatment and let them curate the rise stage. they dont really fit with any of the headliners
outside of local area bands to douglass park that they add later i doubt there will be anyone else added. there's 100 artists on the lineup
Not disputing your point, but those pop up shows have been free lol Still a very effective strategy that has given AAR more buzz than they’ve had in a very long time lol
Feel like AAR has hyped themselves into a very good stage placement. Maybe right before Twenty One Pilots? I really don't know how that stage gets curated from this lineup.
Just realized Hawthorne Heights didn’t make it on the lineup either. Weird considering their IOYWL anniversary tour didn’t hit Chicago at all
Oh man now THAT is a huge bummer I wish you hadn't pointed that out. Feels crazy considering how vocal Anthony has been about loving this fest
The Michigan date was $10 at the door and $30 for a carload at a drive-in, but I get the point for sure.