DAY THREE OF RIOT FEST CLOSES OUT WITH PERFORMANCES BY GYM CLASS HEROES AND GREEN DAY
Photos by Kayla Moreno
Three-day festivals are a hurdle, but one I enjoy jumping over. By day three, my feet and joints are aching while my heart is full. Riot Fest was, actually, the exception to the exhaustion. By its final day, I was only hoping for more — and thankfully, I received my wish. Admittedly, the last day of Riot Fest was the one I was most excited about. Namely, the Rebel Stage lineup stood out to me, as a fan of most of its music. I had made a plan months ago to camp out there, hoping to hear “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” the way it was originally written. However, I knew there was more to explore, too, so I kept myself a bit open-minded despite having a clear agenda for my festival plan.
Footballhead kicked off the stage that day — some familiar faces to start things off. The group’s Chicago roots made the noon performance more intimate, as friends filled each corner of the viewing area, even so early in the day. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Footballhead before, albeit on a much smaller stage in Los Angeles. This time, the group’s dynamic kicked things into high gear, transforming from shy, gaze-y garage rockers to absolute pros. They performed old songs and new songs alike, making it an exciting set for fans like me who’ve caught them before. Notably, frontman Ryan Nolen’s stage presence has opened up tremendously. Perhaps it was the birthday buzz he was feeling (the crowd did sing for him), or perhaps the sea of familiar faces helped him acclimate to such a huge production. Regardless, Footballhead’s growth is inspiring as a creative — a reminder to all that projects unfold the way they should, and not typically in the way you expect them to.
I came back later to catch The Ataris, a group I had familiarized myself with from the 2010s onward. Though they actually formed in 1996, I just took a bit more time to catch up to them. Their unmistakable pop-punk sound pioneered the subgenre, making way for the music that graces my playlists today. Surprisingly, I knew a majority of their set but had a great time discovering new-to-me songs along the way. They are phenomenal performers with tons of experience under their belt, emphasizing both skill and charisma throughout their afternoon slot. Catching their set was a happy accident — so much so that I went back to see them again at Cubby Bear on Monday night before I left Chicago.
Admittedly, I attended Riot Fest with a rather pointed agenda. I was so excited to see Gym Class Heroes after being a fan for so long. They’ve always been a part of my life; many of their records assisted me through serious growing pains. Something about Travie McCoy’s presence is grounding, in ways I can’t quite capture in words. He’s just as wonderful behind the scenes, but his performance is purely captivating. It helped knowing all the songs in his set, but there’s something cathartic about seeing a favorite artist of yours for the first time. At this stage of adulthood and in my career, I haven’t had one of those moments since the Cobra Starship reunion kicked off. They’re few and far between, yet the magic of it all is something I’ll eternally be grateful for. Bias aside, McCoy is a phenomenal musician. His ability to mix pop catchiness with hip-hop lyricism and rock melodies has certainly allowed him to withstand the test of time. A Gym Class Heroes set is significantly different from a Travie McCoy DJ set. I recommend catching both if you can.
After Warped Tour, I had a solid idea of where Cobra Starship’s set would go. Opening with “The Church of Hot Addiction” was an incredible nod to fans like me who have been there through it all. There was something new in each performer’s energy this evening, though. Sure, it was mostly the same set as the one they prepared for Warped Tour, yet something was different about it. I think everyone in the room understood that we were witnessing history in real time. This was the first moment in years that the “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” vocalists were together to perform the song. The energy had been buzzing all day; I had heard whispers throughout the grounds about the song, even in unexpected places. I was not the only one who flew out to see it. Sadly, technical difficulties around Hanson’s afternoon set cut the song a bit short — but everyone’s mission was ultimately accomplished. The camaraderie between Saporta, McCoy, and The Academy Is… frontman William Beckett is truly magical in and of itself.
Friendships come and go, but some become family over time, physical distance notwithstanding.
Next, The Academy Is… returned to the stage after hard-launching new music at Concord Music Hall on Saturday night. Their setlist was nearly identical to their Aftershow set. However, The Academy Is… somehow manages to offer audiences a different show, even if they saw them perform the same material the night before. It’s never the same twice; everyone on stage has an inherent chemistry that sparks varied antics nightly. Perhaps they’re also giddily anticipating their Almost Here anniversary tour. Regardless, the way the band interacts with not only each other but the crowd makes them a treat to see every time. I could easily go to multiple of the same show, knowing that it will be slightly different each time, and those small differences will stick with me. The new songs (“2005” and “Miracle”) lean on the nostalgia surrounding the band without overdoing it, seamlessly blending into a set that leans heavily into Almost Here.
Beckett spent time in the crowd post-set, greeting everyone at the barricade, myself included. I witnessed fans reveal deeply personal things to him, as he earnestly hung onto every word. He was in no rush to leave either; some got several minutes of warm embrace, whether literally or metaphorically. Sure, Beckett is an inspirational performer, but even more so as a person once the curtain closes and the spotlight fades.
The technical difficulties offered a bit more magic as the festival came to a close. Admittedly, I felt like a kid at a sleepover, hiding from my mom in the morning so that maybe I could stay for just a few more minutes. Fans at the Rebel Stage got a rare treat; Green Day’s set overlapped with The Academy Is…, giving us the most ambitious mashup of all time. Seriously, I never thought I’d hear “Jesus of Suburbia” at the same time as anything from Almost Here, but I did — and I think that’s beautiful. One thing I had contemplated all weekend was that I managed to feel at home thousands of miles away. The Riot Fest team curated an environment purely operated on good vibes, a rarity in festival culture. So, as these two worlds of mine properly collided, I felt as though I had faded into a trance. From here at home, I could throw a pebble at Green Day’s hometown or take public transit to venues they grew up playing — and I often do. Yet, there I was, at the center of a Venn diagram I never thought would properly overlap.
Cheesy? Sure! But real.
I’d already seen Green Day perform a festival set earlier this year. However, much like The Academy Is… (who would be thrilled to be compared to Green Day), the legacy band offers a completely different show each time, even if the setlist is technically the same. Green Day has an astounding number of hit songs, enough for thousands of people to be singing along to every word. As always, my favorite part of any Green Day set is their audience participation. From the appearance of an eerily familiar-looking Punk Bunny to fans performing onstage with Billie Joe himself, each Green Day show provides plenty of pixie dust to its crowd. Truthfully, every time I see Green Day I become a bigger fan, and every time, the tipping point is the moment a fan gets to go up on stage with their heroes. That night it was Argyle, who had just separated from their mom while they celebrated their sweet 16.
While I have since shed my fangirl image, some aspects of the self never fully disappear — they only transform into something more grounded and tangible.
That said, Riot Fest was worth every sleepless night and Chicago-style hot dog.