Morning Music…
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Category: Music
Something Good Every Day — Dinner
Posted in Music, Something Good
Tonight’s “good” was dinner.
Not some gourmet masterpiece—Blue Apron did most of the heavy lifting—but still, I cooked it.
My wife had a long, chaotic workday, and the rest of her week is going to be just as bananas. Normally, cooking is something I do because… well, I do 95% of the cooking around here. It’s habit. Routine. A task to be crossed off before I collapse on the couch.
But tonight I put my mind in a different place. Instead of treating it like a chore, I treated it like a kindness. A small act to make her day a little softer around the edges.
I put on a fantastic playlist, let the music carry me, and cooked without rushing or resenting or watching the clock. Just chopped, stirred, plated, and felt good while doing it. When she walked in the door to a warm meal after a punishing day, it felt like I’d done something meaningful—even if it was simple.
Not every act of love has to be grand. Sometimes it’s dinner. Sometimes it’s mood. Sometimes it’s just deciding to do the same thing differently.
(And let’s be clear: this new mindset does not extend to picking up the clothes on my side of the bed. That’s a bridge too far.)
Good playlist, good food, good deed.
It’s great to be alive.
My Riot Fest Playlist ’25
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I made a playlist of all the bands I saw at Riot Fest Days 1 and 2. I double checked with setlist.fm to make sure I had only songs that both they played and I heard (sometimes I missed the beginning or end of a band). In that regard, it still isn’t 100% accurate, but it gets the job done.
Riot Fest Day 2 – Finding the Balance
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Day 2 started with Girl in a Coma, a three-piece from San Antonio who set the tone perfectly. They had two guys dancing in front, roping in about fifteen teenagers, and suddenly it was a mini pit of joy. I don’t get in the pits anymore, but it was fun to see a group of kids having the time of their lives. Festivals need that. The band was a nice find early in the day.
Agent Orange
Agent Orange was next, one of the bands I’d circled ahead of time. They didn’t disappoint — though yeah, Mike Palm sounds older (don’t we all?). Toward the end, my wife suggested grabbing food, and I told her, “No, they’ll close with Miserlou and Bloodstains.” Almost on cue, those were the last two songs. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more like a fan. Nailed it.
Surprise Gems: Cribs, Superchunk, Pachiko
Food in hand, we wandered to another stage and stumbled onto The Cribs — an unexpected bonus. Nice set while I waited for Superchunk, who turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. They ripped through their set and ended with “Slack Motherfucker,” my favorite. No complaints. Technically, this isn’t a surprise because I knew and liked the band before.
We stayed put afterward and were rewarded with Pachiko. Different vibe — shoegaze, trippy, layered — and it worked as a cool-down from Superchunk’s frenzy. My wife loved them (and to be fair, she hated almost everything else since punk isn’t her thing; she’s more of an industrial fan).
James vs. The Bouncing Souls
Next up: James. I only planned to watch for ten minutes before heading to The Bouncing Souls, but James reeled me in. They started a little slow, but by the second song, they were cooking. Tim Booth — looking like Ben Kingsley turned monk — sang one song from the crowd and absolutely commanded attention. After a handful of songs, I stuck to my plan and caught The Bouncing Souls.
They were exactly what I expected — fun, energetic, crowded. The bassist wore a “Bassists Against Racism” shirt. So brave (sarcasm). Nobody at Riot Fest is for racism, and when 99% of the crowd is white, it feels like pure virtue signaling. I left after three songs and hustled back to James because I thought I was missing a better set, which turned out to be the right call. They finished with a strong run, closing on “Laid” with a stage full of dancers from the crowd. That’s a moment.
Evening Stretch: Front Bottoms, Knuckle Puck, Dropkick Murphys
The Front Bottoms were… fine. I like the band, but the live show was just okay. I left early to grab a better spot for Dropkick Murphys and lucked into the last 20 minutes of Knuckle Puck. High-energy, great songs, killer frontman — one of those “wish I had seen the whole set” discoveries.
Dropkick Murphys closed my night. They basically played their greatest hits — non-stop, high-energy, exactly what the crowd wanted. They threw in a few new tracks (all good), but everything else was familiar and loud. Ken Casey dropped political comments, but that’s baked into who they are. You don’t go to Dropkick Murphys expecting apolitical pub songs. You take it with the package, and the music was fantastic.
The Wrap-Up
I’m skipping Day 3. I’m tired, the lineup doesn’t hook me, and I could use the time to prep for the work week. After four Riot Fests in the last five years, I’m not sure I’ll keep coming back. Half the bands are nostalgia acts with one or two original members, and age takes its toll. Still, the 50-50 split between nostalgia and discovery has its moments.
For me, Riot Fest is less about the headliners and more about stumbling onto bands I didn’t know or didn’t expect to like. This year that meant Shonen Knife, Loviet, Girl in a Coma, Barbarians of California, and Knuckle Puck. Throw in stalwarts like The Hold Steady, James, Superchunk, and Dropkick Murphys, and maybe 50-50 is worth it after all.
Riot Fest Day 1 – Notes from the Field…
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I kicked off Riot Fest the way a lot of Chicagoans probably did — on the Pink Line, crammed in with band t-shirt–wearing festival-goers. Unfortunately, my ride included one Annoying CTA Lady: an old punk who spent the whole trip monologuing about politics. Apparently, she’s less interested in what songs Jack White, Stiff Little Fingers, or Green Day might play, and more into hoping they deliver anti-Trump sermons. The irony of preaching “tolerance” while spewing hatred was lost on her. Luckily, the rest of the car was filled with people happily comparing setlists and band tees — the way it should be.
Shonen Knife & the Warm-Up Acts
First stop was Shonen Knife, my festival opener. Three Japanese women, smiling, having fun, and blasting pop-rock. It was the perfect antidote to CTA Lady. From there, I wandered into Loviet’s set, half-expecting filler. Instead, she crushed it — strong vocals, great energy, the kind of surprise that makes a festival worthwhile. Bookmark that name; she’s going places.
Then came Mac Sabbath. Imagine a metal band in full McDonald’s cosplay. It’s a one-joke act, and I stayed for exactly one joke (one song) before moving on. The real find was The Barbarians of California — good old hardcore punk with a frontman who looked like David from Mythic Quest. Raw, fast, loud, and fun.
Brats & Punk “Consistency”
Food break: Publican’s cheddar brat, because sometimes you need fuel more than another band. Here’s an aside: it took me 90 minutes at Riot Fest to see a single Black attendee, and another 90 to see a second. Punk, for all its “we’re so rebellious” branding, has become largely a gathering of white folks shouting about systems — but only the ones they don’t control. The old spirit of hating all government has shifted into selective outrage. I’ve stayed consistent: I don’t like any of it.
Back to the music. I ate lunch while The Tossers played their Pogues-inspired Irish tunes. Then came Shudder to Think, my first miss of the day. Not my taste — vocals flat, maybe the mix, maybe the style, either way, I bailed. Camper Van Beethoven, on the other hand, delivered exactly what I expected: older, sure, but still tight. And The Hold Steady? Craig Finn sounded fantastic, expressive, and enjoying himself. Highlight of the day.
Evening Highlights & Weird Al Close
By the time my wife arrived, I was ready to wander. We landed at Senses Fail, where I caught the first true political rant from the stage (again, incoherent). Music was decent but not for me, though I’ll give them credit — closing with “Twist and Shout” complete with marching band, Ferris Bueller cosplay, and a baton toss? That worked.
Then came the band I’d most looked forward to: Alkaline Trio. I’ll be honest — meh. The live set didn’t capture what makes their studio albums pop. Short vocals, just not clicking. Contrast that with Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley): her voice matched her records perfectly, strong and clear. That’s the difference live music makes — when the vocals don’t land, I’m out.
We closed the night with Weird Al. He always delivers, and he did again. Only problem? The endless sea of cell phones blocking the view. Folks, take a photo, maybe 10 seconds of video, and then enjoy the show. Nobody behind you paid to watch your screen.
Wrap-Up
Day 1 delivered the full Riot Fest experience: surprises (Loviet, Barbarians of California), nostalgia (Hold Steady, Camper Van Beethoven), letdowns (Alkaline Trio, Shudder to Think), and a classic Weird Al finish. Annoying CTA Lady aside, it was a solid kickoff. Back again today for more.
Things I Like…
Korean Dramas
Beyond the Bar – Netflix
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty – Netflix (same actress as King the Land)
TV Shows
Below Deck (all of them) – sad to say, it’s trash, but it turns the mind off for an hour.
Gilded Age – HBO Max
Fisk – Netflix (Australian)
Comic Books
Lazurus Fallen – Image
We’re Taking Everyone Down With US – Image
What’s the Furthest Place From Here – Image
(get it, I like Image comics. Superhero comics, not so much.
Books:
Wizard’s First Rule – Terry Goodkind
Pariah – Dan Fesperman
Music:
The Warning Live at Auditorio Nacional
The Interrupters – ALL OF IT.