Descendents – Suicide Machines – Leftover Crack – Strike Anywhere – Flatfoot 56 – Menzingers – Flatliners – Shot Baker – Larry & His Flask – The Copyrights – Cheap Girls – at Congress Theatre – Chicago, IL

Saturday at Congress Theatre was set to be the longest day of Riot Fest, with doors opening at 2 p.m.  The first band, Cheap Girls, took the stage as the masses lined up around the block. The crowd started filling in as The Copyrights were playing; they responded with cheers and The Copyrights delivered an excellent set.

It was when Larry & His Flask played that the real party kicked off. People either loved them, or were consternated at the fact that a bluegrassy-punk band was playing. At this point, the crowd had filled up the large space at Congress Theatre rather nicely and the humidity associated with a large crowd of moving bodies crept in. (Seriously, it was so hot and muggy I thought I was in the deep-south in August, and not Chicago in October.)

Shot Baker took the stage and brought the Chicago attitude we had been waiting to see with them. The restless crowd started to pit and space became tight as people either jumped into the pit or jumped out of its way.  Canadian band, Flatliners, kept energy going. But it was Menzingers I liked the most, with their sound being straight up punk, and they kept the audience's attention from start to finish.

About midway through this long day, Flatfoot 56 took the stage and I moved closer to get a better view of it from inside the pit. As they played, the pit became a scene of movement, but no belligerence. This was a difference from the Strike Anywhere and Leftover Crack pits later in the night, where anything went.      

Suicide Machines played "The Real You" "Keep it a Crime" "Hating Hate" as well as some surprising covers including "Wasted" and "Fix Me". They totally brought the house down as the fans skanked and danced carelessly about. (Photographers note: as our intrepid writer stated above that Menzingers was her favourite of the night, I admit it was a toss-up for me between Larry & His Flask and Suicide Machines.)

Finally, the long awaited headliner was about to take the stage. Milo went to Riot Fest and when he did, he destroyed. The Descendents brought the crowd an hour long set that truly, truly satisfied. They played all of their hits, including "Suburban Home", "I Like Food", "Coffee Mug", and doing two encores. It was definitely a Descendents show for the history books.

We attempted to see the Smoking Popes show at Double Door that night, but sadly we hit our wall and stumbled back to the hotel for some much needed rest, while "Suburban Home" played happily in our heads.

 

Descendents set-list:

Decedents
Hope
Rotting Out
Silly Girl
I Wanna Be a Bear
I'm the One
I Don't Want to Grow Up
Van
Talking
My Dad Sucks
Sour Grapes
I Like Food
Pervert
All-O-Gistics
Nothing With You
Weinerschnitzel
No! All!
Clean Sheets
Myage
When I Get Old
Suburban Home
Coffee Mug
Lucky
Everything Sux
Get the Time
I'm Not a Loser

 

Encore:

Bikeage
Thank You
Coolidge
Kabuki Girl
Catalina

                   More photos of the show can be seen HERE


      -Desire G.-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 

 

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