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.