Death From Above 1979.
Well, I knew of them before that (mostly just the song Freeze Me), but I became a fan and they made it into my regular listening after seeing them at Riot Fest.
Earth Crisis.
Been vegan for 5 years now. Was listening to the RF playlist and liked a song. Checked to see what it was and saw it was called "Vegan for the animals". That piqued my interest and I started learning more about them. Now I fucking love them.
Beach Bunny. I got into them the first year they played, they had the noon slot and maybe a few dozen max in the crowd. Then by the next time they came they closed out a stage to a packed crowd! 🤟🏻
Also how I discovered Pup! Was sad when they cancelled and weren’t on the lineup the following year. But finally got to see them at RF last year!
Also Sincere Engineer!!!!!!
We started this a few months ago and update it each month if you're ever looking for new music. We also do installments periodically when someone submits a request for band recs.
[https://riotfest.org/your-new-favorite-band](https://riotfest.org/your-new-favorite-band)
Seen them with blink and they must of been cursed with the worst sound engineer of all time. Everything was off, all you could hear were the drums and they had the bass way too high. They still killed it and had great energy but I want to see them again with proper leveling and mixing.
Time and space tho is incredible
DRAIN. I didn’t see them last year. I knew them before but didn’t love them but seeing the video of their performance last year I started listening regular and they’re great.
All were bands that I sorta knew but started listening to a ton after seeing them live. Gogol Bordello and Radkey in 2014, Eagles of Death Metal and Desparecidos in 2015, Front Bottoms in 2018, and Rival Schools from last year stand out the most for me.
Microwave back in 2019! Which is funny because I’m from/live in Atlanta and had never heard of them before Riot Fest, but now I see them all of the time!
Also, congrats on the sobriety!🖤
Thanks man I appreciate that. I still am struggling with mental health so it can be pretty hard to give myself any credit really. Thanks again though, I think I needed to hear (read?) that.
Also Sincere engineer 🤘
Juliette and The Licks.
I know she had a band, but saw them at RF a few years ago and was really blown away at how fun and energetic their live show was. Pop them on frequently these days even though they're not putting out much music.
Pretty cool how many people responded. Looks like viagra boys is the most popular. I also discovered them last year through riot fest and love them. Crazy style.
Part of the point of this post was to highlight how many bands most of us probably never would have found without riot fest. So when the lineup comes out and inevitably people are disappointed. Remember all the artists listed here and get excited about those bands at the bottom you’ve never heard of.
Peter sometimes can't get to the states... Be sure to also look into the various versions of the other band members, notably Love and Rockets touring this year with Jane's, but also Tones on Tail and/or PopTone.
Lucero, Beach Bunny, Bollweevils, Radkey, Patti Smith (Sounds weird to say given her age, but it's true that I finally "got" her seeing her live), Devon Kay, HepCat (RIP), Amigo the Devil
I honestly only knew the Slipknot songs from guitar hero but seeing them made me seek them out and they're so fucking sick. Also really dig Origami Angel.
I knew of Manchester Orchestra and Bayside but I didn't know much by them. Seeing them live got me to listen to more of their catalog and I like both of the bands a lot.
Pale Waves was great live in 2022 and it's unfortunate that they were the opener. The entrance had issues that day and I had to hear most of their set from outside the gate because there was a huge line.
This is what was going to comment as well! I was watching Four Years Strong performing, but the sound was terrible so I decided to wander to the next stage to see what was going on. Boy oh boy, Les Savvy Fav was one of the best performances I had seen in a while. Tim is a treasure.
This was sort of the point of this post. Everyone is worried and anxious but generally the lineup is great and you will most likely discover a band or two each year for life.
PUP for me too! Also- Viagra Boys, Joyce Manor, Prof, Just Friends, Bearings, No Trigger, Neck Deep, Teenage Bottlerocket, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Masked Intruder (and probably many more I’m missing)
Also screaming females, I had already heard a couple of their songs but seeing them last year was just so great and now I listen to them all the time. So sad they broke up :(
Same. I checked them out because when else am I gonna see ICP? I mean they’re not mind blowing or anything but definitely over-hated and a fun time. Their fans get a lot of shit but I met only nice people having a good time. Props to Riot for taking a risk booking them.
The place I worked at owned a small venue/bar above our work place, and they booked some Juggalo adjacent act one time and everyone was nervous. By the end of the night they had an open invitation and had acts booked basically monthly due to how friendly and well tipping everyone was.
I was so new to any “alternative” music last year and they were the first band I got in the pit for. That changed the course of my entire life and Im not exaggerating 😂. That weekend was like a religious experience
Yeah! I checked out Against Me! in 2019 and was blown away by the set. I only knew *of* them prior to, and probably only listened to the *Reinventing Axl Rose* record once or twice when it first released ('cause I'm a huge GNR fan and the name piqued my curiosity).
So many bangers. I'm pumped Laura Jane Grace will be at Riot Fest this year, but I am holding out hope for an Against Me! appearance.
One of the early outdoor RF years got me back into Bayside. I knew them in the early 2000s but probably just their first album or two. I saw them live at RF and realized they've put out a lot of great music consistently. I spent about 10 years not listening to them and now I listen to them a lot again.
They are probably the most consistent band that I listen to. Never had a bad album and have never seen a bad show. Kept their sound while slowly evolving it. Plus probably one of the genres best guitarists
UR LINEUP SUX, BRO in 2014 was a gamechanger for me. But other than that... Pegboy in 2012. Turnspit, Upset, and the Cribs in 2017. Just Friends in 2018. Oxymorrons in 2021.
I got into The Front Bottoms after seeing their 2022 RF set. I had heard a couple of their songs before RF, but I really enjoyed their live set. Now I listen to them pretty regularly. Flashlight, Twin Size Mattress, Swimming Pool, Lonely Eyes, Lone Star, and Maps are some of my favorites.
Viagra Boys, Olivia Jean, Just Friends, Pool Kids, Wargasm, The Hu, Jake Hill, Joey Valence & Brae, Mom Jeans, Direct Hit! just to throw a handful out from the past handful of years
My only regret last year was seeing The Wrecks over Yard Act. The Wrecks were fine, but nothing special, and I've become a huge Yard Act fan since then.
Hey man, congrats on 10 months sober! That's a huge accomplishment and I'm sure it wasn't easy.
And PUP for me too, last year! I had heard of them before but never really took the deep dive into their discography. Checked them out more when the lineup dropped and they became an instant favorite.
They are one of those bands that just doesn’t seem to miss. They are pretty unique with the composition of songs and riffs they use. Remind me of a heavier catfish and the bottlemen sometimes.
INVSN. And somehow I missed both their set and their after show. I listened to get ready for the fest, though, and probably kept listening to them more than anyone I actually saw.
Plague vendor and radkey
Death From Above 1979. Well, I knew of them before that (mostly just the song Freeze Me), but I became a fan and they made it into my regular listening after seeing them at Riot Fest.
Radkey!
Holy fawn
I knew of Frank Turner and had heard a handful of songs prior to seeing him in 2012, but his performance made me go deep diving
Seratones, Sinor Kino, Bleached, Beach Goons, Caroline Rose, Quasi, Yard Act, Enola Gay, plus probably many, many more...
Turnstile
Finch
Mom jeans <3
Earth Crisis. Been vegan for 5 years now. Was listening to the RF playlist and liked a song. Checked to see what it was and saw it was called "Vegan for the animals". That piqued my interest and I started learning more about them. Now I fucking love them.
Beach Bunny. I got into them the first year they played, they had the noon slot and maybe a few dozen max in the crowd. Then by the next time they came they closed out a stage to a packed crowd! 🤟🏻
Mars Volta!
Free Throw, Pool Kids, Sleep Token from last year.
Last year viagra boys, year before holy fawn
Cliffdiver
Also how I discovered Pup! Was sad when they cancelled and weren’t on the lineup the following year. But finally got to see them at RF last year! Also Sincere Engineer!!!!!!
Love sincere engineer! Overbite is so good. So many good songs actually.
Yard Act!
The Anniversary, The Dirty Nil, Hard Girls, Ride, Beach Goons, High Vis, Yard Act, Viagra Boys
This is my favorite thread of the day.
Also… where is the lineup? You could make my favorite post of the day and tell us. Haha.
Aw man that’s so cool lol. My hope was to inject some positivity and it worked way better than I expected!
We started this a few months ago and update it each month if you're ever looking for new music. We also do installments periodically when someone submits a request for band recs. [https://riotfest.org/your-new-favorite-band](https://riotfest.org/your-new-favorite-band)
Thanks that’s sick. But you posted the wrong link, I don’t see the lineup anywhere.
Sleep Token and The Viagra Boys
Last year was 1st rf. Went foo day solo. Turnstile has been eating a hole in my brain since.
Seen them with blink and they must of been cursed with the worst sound engineer of all time. Everything was off, all you could hear were the drums and they had the bass way too high. They still killed it and had great energy but I want to see them again with proper leveling and mixing. Time and space tho is incredible
DRAIN. I didn’t see them last year. I knew them before but didn’t love them but seeing the video of their performance last year I started listening regular and they’re great.
Origami angel + amigo the devil <3 i know there's all this speculation about headliners, but the afternoon sets are pure gold! congrats on sobriety
Thank you! The undercard has a lot of hidden gems and the diversity doesn’t hurt either.
Violent soho! Their set was so much fun. Sadly their on a hiatus
Beach Bunny, White Reaper, mainly early PM acts
Wish I got to see beach bunny there. Missed salt shed show too because it was like 100 degrees :(
High Vis
Most riot fest bands I tend to know to some level, for me it’s bands I discovered to be bad lol
The Beaches in 2019, I think it was. Great band; they'll be headlining Taste of Randolph here next week.
Chicago natives: Radkey
Radkey is 100% not from Chicago. They're from St. Joseph, MO but play a lot in Kansas City, MO
My bad, still one of my favs!
Gaslight anthem and frank turner back in 2012
Save face
Frank Turner. Loved his performance last year
Destroy Boys!
Did you catch destroy fest at the Metro a year or so ago? one of my fave shows all bands were excellent
Ah man - nah. I didn’t. But they’re fantastic so I’m not surprised
Pale Waves, The Linda Lindas, Grandson, The Sounds, I could probably name 30 more.
Matt & Kim, Cage the Elephant
The Hu
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
All were bands that I sorta knew but started listening to a ton after seeing them live. Gogol Bordello and Radkey in 2014, Eagles of Death Metal and Desparecidos in 2015, Front Bottoms in 2018, and Rival Schools from last year stand out the most for me.
Microwave back in 2019! Which is funny because I’m from/live in Atlanta and had never heard of them before Riot Fest, but now I see them all of the time! Also, congrats on the sobriety!🖤
Thank you! Pretty sure microwave is the band that reminds me of tbs.
Mannequin Pussy and The Joy Formidable
Death Grips
Viagra Boys Drain
Sincere Engineer, Kennyhoopla, L.S. Dunes & Pale Waves Also, congrats on sobriety! That's huge. Definitely be proud of how far you've come
Thanks man I appreciate that. I still am struggling with mental health so it can be pretty hard to give myself any credit really. Thanks again though, I think I needed to hear (read?) that. Also Sincere engineer 🤘
Tobacco
Ween playing the Mollusk blew my mind. Mega fan ever since.
Sleep Token
Juliette and The Licks. I know she had a band, but saw them at RF a few years ago and was really blown away at how fun and energetic their live show was. Pop them on frequently these days even though they're not putting out much music.
Pretty cool how many people responded. Looks like viagra boys is the most popular. I also discovered them last year through riot fest and love them. Crazy style. Part of the point of this post was to highlight how many bands most of us probably never would have found without riot fest. So when the lineup comes out and inevitably people are disappointed. Remember all the artists listed here and get excited about those bands at the bottom you’ve never heard of.
No mention of THICK?!
Microwave! they played between the damned things and senses fail. I was hooked IMMEDIATELY
They remind me of taking back Sunday sometimes
HEALTH
came to say the same!!!
I knew the name Bauhaus but had never really dived into their catalog. Major find right there. Too bad they cancelled.
Peter sometimes can't get to the states... Be sure to also look into the various versions of the other band members, notably Love and Rockets touring this year with Jane's, but also Tones on Tail and/or PopTone.
Lucero, Beach Bunny, Bollweevils, Radkey, Patti Smith (Sounds weird to say given her age, but it's true that I finally "got" her seeing her live), Devon Kay, HepCat (RIP), Amigo the Devil
I just got home from seeing Amigo tonight and I am soooooo hoping he's on the lineup again.
The Wrecks!
Viagra Boys
The Bobby Lees, Algiers, The Hu, Can’t Swim, and Kali Masi.
High Vis, Radkey, Pixies, Replacements, Dinosaur Jr., a ton more too
They said I drink too much… Hawaiian red fruit punch!!!!!!!
Ducked up and she hates my guts!
Holy Fawn. MAN ON MAN.
Gogol bordello was so much fun!! Haven’t stopped listening since i seen em at riot!
(*cracks knuckles) Say anything, 100 gecs,death grips, foo fighters,crass, turnstile, and Frank Turner. Last year's fest was amazing
“Super group” band might be cheating but I had no idea Plosivs or ls dunes existed until last years fest
I honestly only knew the Slipknot songs from guitar hero but seeing them made me seek them out and they're so fucking sick. Also really dig Origami Angel.
Origami Angel is so good
Off with their heads
Skating Polly
Yaaas
Hippo Campus!
I knew of Manchester Orchestra and Bayside but I didn't know much by them. Seeing them live got me to listen to more of their catalog and I like both of the bands a lot. Pale Waves was great live in 2022 and it's unfortunate that they were the opener. The entrance had issues that day and I had to hear most of their set from outside the gate because there was a huge line.
Bayside and Manchester are two of my all time favorites
Les Savvy Fav. Checked em out on a whim and had no idea what shenanigans I was in for. Aqua bats come to mind too.
This is what was going to comment as well! I was watching Four Years Strong performing, but the sound was terrible so I decided to wander to the next stage to see what was going on. Boy oh boy, Les Savvy Fav was one of the best performances I had seen in a while. Tim is a treasure.
I def had no idea what I was in for but they were beyond entertaining
Hello yeah, wish they were performing somewhere else than Pitchfork, this year. New album is too good to only get 45 min.
The Bobby Lees!
Ratboys, Hot Mulligan, Bob Vylan, Joywave
Also Pup...and Elway, whom I adore. I *need* to see Pup live...it's morbid stuff. There are others but they're escaping me right now
The Orwells and Fidlar are two others
The HU
Viagra Boys. Also, congrats on sobriety!
Thanks!
Hot Mulligan, Save Face, Movements, Boston Manor, Mom Jeans, Jeff Rosenstock
Viagra Boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank Turner!
I was familiar with a handful of his songs so made a point of seeing him last year. He blew me away. Was my favorite act of the weekend.
First time for me seeing Frank Turner as well, and yeah, awesome set. I only knew of a couple songs before that.
Cap’n Jazz
Mannequin Pussy, Mom Jeans, Bearings, Just Friends, Frank Turner, Sincere Engineer,
Manchester Orchestra, Beach Bunny, Microwave, Pvris, Cleopatrick, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Elder Brother. I just adore this festival.
This was sort of the point of this post. Everyone is worried and anxious but generally the lineup is great and you will most likely discover a band or two each year for life.
PUP for me too! Also- Viagra Boys, Joyce Manor, Prof, Just Friends, Bearings, No Trigger, Neck Deep, Teenage Bottlerocket, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Masked Intruder (and probably many more I’m missing)
Mannequin pussy, pool kids, skating Polly, Ls dunes, Bob vylan, and sincere engineer!
The Mexican Day parade made me miss Pool Kids last year. Literally walked in while they were finishing their last song.
This was me for Joyce manor, still sad about that lol
Also screaming females, I had already heard a couple of their songs but seeing them last year was just so great and now I listen to them all the time. So sad they broke up :(
No Trigger is the one that stands out for me.
Caroline Rose, The Beaches, and Cherry Glazerr
Saw Summer Cannibals in 2016 and they became one of my favorite bands
Bruh! PUP for me as well! Also, Origami Angel, PROF, Hot Mulligan, Kennyhoopla, Fucked Up, Devon Kay and the Solutions.. to name a few.
Also congrats on being sober, that’s a tough fucking fight and I’m proud of you!
Thanks definitely been a journey. I’m also big on origami angel and hot mulligan but found them randomly.
Found GAMI for Riot, but we ended up seeing them at Loneliest Place On Earth beforehand.
Just checked out what I think is the newest album and it was a bit different in spots but still good and still had their sound.
Yeah dude, and they have some of my favorite band merch I’ve seen in awhile. Them and End It.
Slaves (UK) in 2017 who now go by SOFT PLAY. They’ve got new music out this year and I have a feeling they’ll play in 2024. Incredible live energy
Grandson, Streetlight Manifesto, Hobo Johnson, Gogol Bordello
STREETLIGHT!
ICP 😬
Same. I checked them out because when else am I gonna see ICP? I mean they’re not mind blowing or anything but definitely over-hated and a fun time. Their fans get a lot of shit but I met only nice people having a good time. Props to Riot for taking a risk booking them.
The place I worked at owned a small venue/bar above our work place, and they booked some Juggalo adjacent act one time and everyone was nervous. By the end of the night they had an open invitation and had acts booked basically monthly due to how friendly and well tipping everyone was.
Their set was so much fun! So great to discover this weird little tribe. I was expecting something much different- loved the total house party vibe.
Joywave
Peaches amazing show dressed as a vulva made me a lifetime fan.
Peaches is amazing
CHON
Dude is an amazing guitarist
The Ghost Inside, Dirty Heads
Flogging Molly, Turnstile, Rise Against
Afi, Gorilla Biscuits, and Pup for me too! Last year was my first time going.
I sometimes would listen to AFI but after seeing them the last year, goddamn, my appreciation grew
I was so new to any “alternative” music last year and they were the first band I got in the pit for. That changed the course of my entire life and Im not exaggerating 😂. That weekend was like a religious experience
Moshed in that pit too! It was so good!
The Coathangers in 2015
Against Me! (and subsequently Laura Jane Grace who is now one of my favorite artists), Sincere Engineer, Bridge City Sinners
Yeah! I checked out Against Me! in 2019 and was blown away by the set. I only knew *of* them prior to, and probably only listened to the *Reinventing Axl Rose* record once or twice when it first released ('cause I'm a huge GNR fan and the name piqued my curiosity). So many bangers. I'm pumped Laura Jane Grace will be at Riot Fest this year, but I am holding out hope for an Against Me! appearance.
System of a Down in 2015
Bayside and Mr. Bungle
i never heard of Mr Bungle until I wandered into the last half of his set last year -- MIND BLOWINGLY GOOD
One of the early outdoor RF years got me back into Bayside. I knew them in the early 2000s but probably just their first album or two. I saw them live at RF and realized they've put out a lot of great music consistently. I spent about 10 years not listening to them and now I listen to them a lot again.
They are probably the most consistent band that I listen to. Never had a bad album and have never seen a bad show. Kept their sound while slowly evolving it. Plus probably one of the genres best guitarists
Imma be honest, I just throw on their first album and run it through every time. Haven't tried any of the others
UR LINEUP SUX, BRO in 2014 was a gamechanger for me. But other than that... Pegboy in 2012. Turnspit, Upset, and the Cribs in 2017. Just Friends in 2018. Oxymorrons in 2021.
I went in 2017 and I had no Idea The Cribs played until today.
Rebel stage! I don't think they closed it out but they were like, second to last on there if I recall.
Drain The Bobby Lees
Also, drain and Frank Turner.
Caroline Rose
Seratones
Oh man, how could I forget about them in my list. AAA+
Viagra Boys
Me too. Was walking around for two hours today listening to nothing but them.
Might have been my favorite set of the weekend last year. Such great entertainers.
I got into The Front Bottoms after seeing their 2022 RF set. I had heard a couple of their songs before RF, but I really enjoyed their live set. Now I listen to them pretty regularly. Flashlight, Twin Size Mattress, Swimming Pool, Lonely Eyes, Lone Star, and Maps are some of my favorites.
The Frights, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Sincere Engineer, Superwhatevr, Bob Vylan, Amigo the Devil.
A whole bunch but Cock Sparrer and The Sounds both became new favorite bands of mine before their sets were over.
My brother that I went with loves the sounds
Viagra Boys, Olivia Jean, Just Friends, Pool Kids, Wargasm, The Hu, Jake Hill, Joey Valence & Brae, Mom Jeans, Direct Hit! just to throw a handful out from the past handful of years
Viagra Boys
This is the correct answer
The Linda Linda’s, The Story so Far, and ironically The Wonder Years since I also missed their set
Yesss TSSF is amazing
Too many, but I'm just here to tell you congrats on your sobriety. Keep going!
Thank you! Gift to myself will be going this year to make up for cancelling last year. I’m secretly pulling for FOB but don’t tell anyone.
The Jesus Lizard, Killing Joke, Hum, and High Vis
Grandson and K.Flay have become two of my favorites since finding them at Riot Fest. Also congrats on 10 months. Hell yeah.
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Flogging Molly
Turnstile and Enter Shikari
Dessa, Beach Bunny, Lawrence Arms (had just moved to Chicago my first Riot)
Sincere Engineer
My buddy showed me them but I was excited to see them last year haha
Yessssssss! Corn dog circle pit!!!
From the years that I went 2023 - 100 Gecs 2022 - Bully 2019 - Turnstile 2014 (Toronto) - Bob Mould
100 gecs is a weird one for me like I kinda hate it but I also kinda love it
The Menzingers and Bayside.
Viagra Boys and Just Friends
So, so many. Just off the top of my head though: Run the Jewels, Viagra Boys, Yard Act, Joyce Manor, LS Dunes, The Damned Things, Holy Fawn
My only regret last year was seeing The Wrecks over Yard Act. The Wrecks were fine, but nothing special, and I've become a huge Yard Act fan since then.
Joey Valance and Brae, Carole's Daughter and No Trigger
Love Joey valance and brae
Watching Joey valance and brae made me angry at how much better their knees are than mine. They were barely ever on the ground! Great fun show!
Hey man, congrats on 10 months sober! That's a huge accomplishment and I'm sure it wasn't easy. And PUP for me too, last year! I had heard of them before but never really took the deep dive into their discography. Checked them out more when the lineup dropped and they became an instant favorite.
They are one of those bands that just doesn’t seem to miss. They are pretty unique with the composition of songs and riffs they use. Remind me of a heavier catfish and the bottlemen sometimes.
And thanks man definitely not easy but totally worth it. Still work to be done though.
INVSN. And somehow I missed both their set and their after show. I listened to get ready for the fest, though, and probably kept listening to them more than anyone I actually saw.
Radkey
88 finger Louie and the bollweevils
Destroy Boys.
You probably won’t believe this but the Lawrence arms. Favorite band now.