Things finally started to settle in on Saturday as the grounds became more familiar, the crowds felt a little more manageable (despite the daunting idea that they'd be even bigger on a weekend day) and I was just as excited to see what music this fest had in store next. This was the day I could take in legendary acts that really drew me into this lineup to begin with: Gary Numan, Elvis Costello, and Jerry Lee Lewis. While I have mixed feelings about that last one, it was still incredible to witness artists that have had such a profound effect on the state of music today. Awesome, in the truest meaning of the word.
Something else I didn't expect was the huge jolt of Seattle love that came throughout the weekend. Digable Planets on Friday (check out my Day 1 review for some shots), Twin Peaks' guitarist donning a Seahawks cap, and the joy of Reignwolf returning to melt some faces on Saturday, and finally Father John Misty donning his classic swagger all over the stage on Sunday. Sometimes it takes stepping outside of the Pacific Northwest festivals to realize how much of our music permeates the rest of the country. How lucky we are to have talent dripping from every corner of our city. Whether that means well-established artists making a living locally or big names traveling the world on year-long tours. It's incredible to realize what we have in Seattle and sometimes it's really difficult to appreciate it when you're so entrenched. So, instead, I'll enjoy these moments when they come and otherwise hope I take advantage of this privilege, this honor of seeing live music all year round in our beautiful little hamlet.
Once again, you'll find some mini-reviews below along with a huge load of photos to satiate your hunger for Riot Fest deliciousness in this second installment. Be sure to check out Day 1 and keep your eyes peeled for the final day wrap up. It was so much fun, I'd hate for you to miss it!
Gary Numan is a legend in my book. He may not be a household name like some of the other artists lower down in this post, but he is forever seared in my memory for having the absolute best set at Bumbershoot 2016, hands down. That's really saying something considering The Breeders, Death Cab for Cutie, MGMT, and Tegan and Sara, Matt and Kim, and !!! were all in the mix (among a ton of others). His Riot Fest set was just as satisfying as he wound his way back and forth across the stage donning rag-like attire adding to the mystique and showy set that I've come to know and love. His music is always dark and moody, almost tactile as he leans in with his microphone and slithers around contorting himself into the rhythm. There are no signs of him slowing down even a little and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.
It seemed as if Reignwolf had completely vanished from the public eye after his swift departure to LA from Seattle a few years ago. It left us in the Pacific Northwest reeling and wanting more for ages afterward. When his name appeared on the bill, I made sure nothing would stand in my way of seeing his raucous, gritty guitar-filled, black leather-clad performance. As he emerged from the cloud of vapor pouring out of a smoke machine nearby, it was like time had stood still and I was back in Neumos' newly-minted basement venue Barboza for Capitol Hill Block Party 2013. It was so packed we couldn't move and he thrust himself back and forth on the stage, jumping from his bass drum nearly causing a domino of fans to fall at his feet. I snap back to 2018 Chicago as he and his two bandmates start in on the first song. That familiar gravelly thrum of the guitar rang out and I couldn't stop a smile spreading across my face. With a new album on the shelves since June, he's been throwing himself back into the tour life, so make sure you check out a show if he's coming to your neighborhood. You'll find yourself swaying, dancing, and sweating to the lusciously dirty beats and his gruff voice just like I did.
Admittedly, Twin Peaks hasn't been on my radar until I caught their show at Riot Fest. Ever the showmen, the first song on the roster was "What Up Dog?", complete with a band member/hype man dressed as a dalmatian crawling across the stage to grab a beer, pull his costume's head off to guzzle it down while singing along in the mic, only to drop to his knees and do it all over again. I may have to sit with these guys a bit and listen to an album or two because I enjoyed the set, but the mosh pit and crowd surfing was beyond out of control the entire time they performed. This tells me, they were more than just mediocre fans, they were insane for these fellas. Singing, screaming, dancing, dodging, the crowd was nuts and it was so much fun to experience it all; I was taken completely by surprise as they spread their punk-love across the sea of people.
This man, this legend, was on my "must see" list. I had photographed him at Sasquatch 2013 (damn, that was a good year for Pacific Northwest festivals!), and I was hooked. Every song, every smile, from the smart tip of his hat to the sharp lines of his pinstriped suit, I just couldn't stand to walk away from his set that year. Despite the bad news about his health a couple months back, the love of his fans, of performing and just guitar is what seems to drive him. If I could have stayed from beginning to end of his performance I would have, but I had to head off to another legendary act. Folks were starting to spread out along the grounds, with different fans hitting up different acts, but I hope he knew from the showing at his stage that he is loved and cherished. The smiles I saw across the board were some of the most joyful I'd seen all weekend. He is just a great showman and his music is the happy kind that you can always put on if you want to forget about the lousy junk surrounding us every day and just dance your face off.
I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture and experience Jerry Lee in action. While he is older and needs the help of a cane to walk on stage, his influence on some of my favorite musicians, hell the entirety of music as an industry, is unfathomable. As I try to consolidate that with the man out of the limelight, it's a little touchy to say whether or not I love him as a performer and a human. It's interesting how we can love the music but not the man? I think it's something you tend contemplate as you watch someone like Jerry Lee take the stage, especially since he's spent most of his 82 years as an idol, icon and musical mentor to so many. Despite the conflict going on in my head about him, it was really really cool to hear "Chantilly", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", and "Great Balls of Fire" performed live by the man who wrote and popularized them. Such incredibly iconic songs blaring across the field as swing dancers spun, skirts flying and toes tapping, to the music. Unexpectedly, though, there were also circle mosh pits and a ton of crowd-surfers raging within the front-half of the audience. I guess mosh pits and legendary pianists really do mix? This set, this music, this moment, is something I won't soon forget.
KEXP volunteer Morgen Schuler reports back from the Riot Fest Music Festival in Chicago, IL. Check out photos and reports from Day One of the fest with Digable Planets, Speedy Ortiz, Cyrpress Hill, and more!
