Riot Fest 2013 Preview

Chicago’s plethora of venues and underground music birthed the Riot Fest there in 2005, with punk acts from DIY to major label playing all across the city. In 2011 it spread to Philadelphia as the one-day Riot Fest East (QRO photos), but it was last year that saw Riot Fest graduate to the big-time with one big, central location in Humboldt Park, along with one-day satellite events in Brooklyn, Dallas, and Toronto. And in 2013 the festival has gone even bigger, with a two-day event in Toronto beforehand (QRO photos) and another two days in Denver afterwards – along with not just a massive three-day fest in Chicago.

So head to the Windy City, Friday through Sunday, September 13th to 15th, to get the best of old & new (including a ton of reunions – like The Replacements!):

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th

Riot Stage Fall Out Boy, 9:45 PM – 11:00 PM Fall Out Boy returns! The band that basically founded emo with 2005’s From Under the Cork Tree took a huge hiatus after 2008’s Folie à Deux, as the various members did various side projects. However, they reunited in Austin at South-by-Southwest earlier this year (QRO photos) and put out Save Rock and Roll (QRO review). And even if they’re not living up to that oh-so-humble title, expect a huge crowd of teens and used-to-be-teens for the Friday headliner.

Atmosphere, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM The DJ/producer and rapper duo hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota (QRO photos in Middle America), has already garnered themselves the reputation of one of hip hops most cacophonous and respected acts. Known for his aggressive and energetic performances, Atmosphere’s set is a definite must-see (QRO photos at a festival).

Yellowcard, 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Pop-punk outfit Yellowcard are more than a few years removed from their hits “Ocean Avenue” and “Lights and Sounds”, but are still plugging away, most recently with last summer’s Southern Air.

Saul Williams, 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM Saul Williams mixes alternative hip-hop and poetry for a captivating presence both on 2011’s Volcano Sunlight (QRO review) and live (QRO live review).

Roots Stage Sublime with Rome, 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM Nineties ska-punk didn’t get much bigger than Sublime, whose “What I Got” was all over the radio. However, then singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose at the height of their fame in 1996, and, other than some posthumous releases, the ride seemed over. But in 2009, bassist Eric Wilson & drummer Bud Gaugh recruited singer/guitarist (and huge Sublime fan) Rome Ramirez and reunited Sublime (QRO photos) – only for Nowell’s family to sue and successfully prevent the band from using the name (which was owned by Nowell). So now they’re ‘Sublime with Rome’ (QRO photos at a festival), and play an after show as well (see below).

Bad Religion, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Riot Fest has recruited a ton of veteran punk acts, and there might not be a more veteran punk act than Bad Religion (QRO photos outdoors). Born in the eighties punk scene of southern California, Bad Religion’s aggressive yet intellectual, and socially minded, punk has inspired/influenced so many bands that those bands are even influencing new acts today. While they peaked commercially in the early nineties with Recipe For Hate and Stranger Than Fiction, guitarist Brett Gurewitz’s 1994 departure only lasted until 2001, and even if they’ve basically been making the same record for years now (most recently this year’s True North), it’s a good record, with singer Greg Graffin’s literate lyrics still on target. Oh, and they founded Epitaph Records, home to big names like Alkaline Trio (QRO album review) and even Weezer (QRO live review).

Also: Smoking Popes, 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM Dessa, 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM

Rock Stage Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM “I love rock ‘n’ roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!” Joan Jett emerged from the seventies glam-rock scene but soon moved into rock with The Runaways (and was played by Kristen Stewart in the movie about the band’s career), produced The Germs’ one-and-only album (GI), but found fame fronting her own Blackhearts and that 1982 hit single. Other hits followed, and Jett helped inspired the Riot Grrrl movement of the nineties (as well as producing lead Grrrl act, Bikini Kill), though took some time off from studio albums until 2006’s Sinner. And she’s still kicking it live (QRO photos outdoors).

Screeching Weasel, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM No band at Riot Fest has had as many break-ups & reunions as Screech Weasel. Ben ‘Weasel’ Foster and John ‘Jughead’ Pierson formed Screeching Weasel way back in 1986, put out a few punk, snotty punk records in the vein of Operation Ivy, and broke up three years later. The pair then reunited only two years later, but Foster later decided he didn’t want to tour anymore, and after recruiting Mike Dirnt of Green Day (QRO album review) for 1994’s How to Make Enemies and Irritate People, the band called it quits again – only to reunite another two years later for Bark Like a Dog (Weasel’s most successful record to-date). And then they broke yet again in 2011, again over Foster not wanting to tour (and Pierson wanting to). That seemed like it, save reissues and a one-off reunion show in 2007 – until Foster once again brought out the Screeching Weasel in 2009, but this time without Pierson (though with some other prior members). This did not go down well with Pierson, and a lawsuit over their past material saw a less-than-amicable split. And then, at SXSW 2011 (QRO recap), Foster punched out a female fan that spat on him, then accidentally the club’s (female) owner, causing the rest of his band to quit the Weasel. Foster recruited another band later that year, and though there’s been no new record (guess who producers blame?…), the Weasel is still loose, in one form or another.

Hatebreed, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM Early nineties metalcore outfit Hatebreed have just kept on going.

The Flatliners, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM The Flatliners hail from Richmond Hill in Ontario – and just played Riot Fest Toronto (QRO photos). Leaning to the humorous ska-punk of labelmates Less Than Jake (QRO interview) and NOFX (QRO album review), they come to Riot Fest with this year’s Dead Language.

Rise Stage Danzig, 9:30 PM – 10:45 PM The metal-horror-rock of Danzig is legendary, now into its third decade. Emerging out of the horror-punk of The Misfits, Danzig most recently toured ‘Danzig Legacy’, playing everything from their songbook and all their associated acts, but return to Riot Fest on their twenty-fifth anniversary tour – and word is frontman Glenn Danzig is working on new material…

GWAR, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM There is no band as unique as GWAR (QRO spotlight on). Somewhere between Motörhead, Tenacious D (QRO live review), George Romero, KISS, and Gallagher, GWAR combines thrash metal with sci-fi/horror spectacle, including massive costumes & massive amounts of stage gore (QRO photos), plus taking on about every taboo there is for one of the most amazing spectacles out there (QRO live review), including at Riot Fest last year. Fronted by the awesome Oderus Urungus (a.k.a. Dave Brockie – QRO interview), the group survived longtime member Flattus Maximus (Cory Smoot) departing to the intergalactic heavens in 2011, recruiting a new scumdog of the universe from the Maximus clan, putting out Battle Maximus right after Riot Fest – nothing will stop the awesome power that is GWAR (QRO photos)!

Andrew W.K., 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM No artist in this millennium has done as many different things, worked with as many different people, while staying true to who he is, than Andrew W.K. (QRO photos). He started as a party-rock impresario with 2001’s I Get Wet and “Party Hard”, but has since built a wide list of accomplishments, from founding his own NYC venue, Santos Party House (QRO venue review), to doing self-help & motivational speaking, his own MTV series (and guest-appearing on Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force), playing with a classical string quartet (QRO photos), hosting the World Snowboarding Championship in Oslo last year (QRO kick-off review), and even bringing I Get Wet back for its tenth anniversary (*QRO live review of I Get Wet* show). The hard-partying, hard-working man comes to Riot Fest on ‘The Party Messiah Tour’ (QRO live review of tour start, earlier in the week*), and plays Riot Fest for the second year in a row – and does an after show as well (see below). Also:* Flatfoot 56, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Rebel Stage Masked Intruder, 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM The Crombies, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM On Your Marx, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Last False Hope, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Gunner’s Daughter, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th

Riot Stage Blink-182, 9:45 PM – 11:00 PM Emerging from the southern California punk scene, Blink-182 (QRO photos) kept things light with their youthful energy and humor, and became MTV mainstays with “What’s My Again?”, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and more. They grew up a bit at the start of this century/millennium’s first decade, before singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge left and the group entered into “indefinite hiatus” (which saw drummer Travis Barker at one time get his own MTV reality series). But Barker, DeLonge, and singer/bassist Mark Hoppus reunited in 2011 for the well-received return Neighborhoods (QRO review), and now are something of an ‘elder statesman’ to all the emo-punk bands at Riot Fest 2013.

Rancid, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM Out of the highly influential Bay Area ska-punk band Operation Ivy in 1991 came Rancid, who helped punk rock break through into the mainstream alongside such local friends as Green Day (QRO album review) and NOFX (QRO album review). Let’s Go and …And Out Come the Wolves launched them into the big-time, and though they’ve never quite matched that level of success again, they want your “Salvation”.

FLAG, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM As The Sex Pistols were the definition of seventies punk rock, Black Flag was the definition of it in the eighties. Their tours across the country might have been hated by the likes of the LAPD, but helped established punk scenes in cities from coast-to-coast. While the singing slot rotated amongst the likes of Keith Morris (also of Circle Jerks – QRO live review – and more recently OFF! – QRO photos), Ron Reyes, and most notably Henry Rollins, the core was always Greg Ginn on guitar (he also founded/ran their seminal punk label, SST). In 2013, the world has been given two differing Black Flag reunions. Ginn has broke the Black Flag name back with Ron Reyes, while Morris has reunited with Black Flag alumni Chuck Dukowski, Bill Stevenson, and Dez Cadena (as well as Stephen Egerton of Descendents & ALL on guitar) as ‘FLAG’ – which has of course prompted a lawsuit from the notoriously difficult to work with Ginn…

Pennywise, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Hermosa Beach punks Pennywise came up in the nineties interest in skate-punk, and have kept on going, despite suicide of bassist Jason Thirsk in 1996, singer Jim Lindberg’s departure in 2010, and new singer Zoli Téglás being sidelined by back injury after the release of their most recent record, last year’s All Or Nothing – Lindberg just rejoined…

The Selecter, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM Along with friends The Specials (QRO photos at a festival), The Selecter helped found Britain’s two-tone ska sound in the eighties (though they broke up in 1981). The latest reunion has been confused by differing claims to ‘The Selecter’ name, which original rude girl Pauline Black won the rights to in 2011.

Also: T.S.O.L., 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Mephiskapheles, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Roots Stage Violent Femmes, 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM The New Wave that acts like The Talking Heads ushered in back in the eighties saw a number of ‘geek rock’ outfits grab the listening public, from They Might Be Giants (QRO live review) to Violent Femmes (QRO photos), who hit it big in 1983 with the self-titled debut and singles such as “Blister In the Sun” and “Kiss Off”. Follow-up records didn’t find the same success, and the band went on numerous hiatuses/break-ups. Drummer Victor DeLorenzo left in 1993 only to return in 2002, but the biggest split was between singer/guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie over Gano selling the rights to “Blister” to be used in a Wendy’s commercial in 2007. A lawsuit ensued, and this break-up seemed to be for good, but this year they’ve somehow reunited again for another run at the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival).

Blondie, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Among all the veterans at Riot Fest, perhaps the most veteran is the one-and-only Blondie (QRO live review outdoors). Deborah Harry and Chris Stein helped found American New Wave in the seventies and early eighties, before Harry went solo. But in 1997 the group (QRO live review) reunited to great success (including induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame) and new albums, most recently this summer’s Ghosts of Download.

Guided By Voices, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Among the influential alternative music acts of the nineties was Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices (QRO photos at a festival). Centered on the ultra-prolific Robert Pollard (QRO album review), GBV drew on nearly every rock sound, as well as being one of the pioneers of today’s lo-fi and neo-garage sounds. In 2010 Pollard revived the retired GBV moniker and reunited with the original, 1993-1996 ‘classic’ line-up for label Matador Records’ 21st anniversary bash in Las Vegas – and have kept it going since then, not just on the road (QRO photos at a festival), but of course with many, many releases – last year saw Let’s Go Eat the Factory (QRO review), Class Clown Spots a UFO (QRO review), and The Bears for Lunch (QRO review); this year has been relatively low-output with ‘only’ English Little League (QRO review).

Dinosaur Jr., 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM Back & better than ever is Dinosaur Jr. (QRO photos at a festival)! In the late eighties and early nineties, one of the biggest & best bands in the punk-grunge revolution was Dinosaur Jr. (QRO live review), combining a hippie-punk ethos (and artwork) with feedback-driven guitar from the legendary J Mascis (QRO solo album review). The trio (QRO live review) was also characterized by Mascis’ controlling tendencies, leading to the departure first of bassist Lou Barlow (QRO solo album review) for his Sebadoh (QRO live review) and eventually even beloved drummer Murph (QRO photos at a festival without Murph), with Mascis retiring the ‘Dinosaur Jr.’ moniker in 1997. But then the band reunited (QRO live review outdoors) – with original line-up! – to tour their re-release of old, Barlow-era records (QRO photos at a festival in St. LOUis). And they kept going (QRO photos at a festival), putting out three new records that are some of their best yet, Beyond (QRO review) and Farm (QRO review), with I Bet On Sky coming out last fall (QRO review). So revel in the glory (QRO photos at a festival) that is Dinosaur Jr. (QRO photos), who come to Riot Fest after playing Riot Fest Toronto (QRO photos) – but bring your earplugs, because J’s ‘circle of amps’ is a force to be reckoned with (QRO photos at a festival).

X, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Another hugely influential punk band playing Riot Fest is X (QRO photos). Begun back when punk begun in 1977, fronted by the likes of Exene Cervenka & John Doe, they achieved only limited mainstream success, but have since been hailed as possibly the best live band ever (QRO live review). They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles (QRO photos at a festival in Los Angeles) – and have been playing their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety (*QRO photos of X playing Los Angeles* at 2011 Riot Fest East**).

Surfer Blood, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Shooting up very quickly in indie-circles was West Palm Beach’s Surfer Blood (QRO live review), who were gaining tons of fans (QRO photos of a packed house) long before acclaimed debut Astro Coast (QRO review) finally hit the shelves (or whatever you say in today’s digital age…). Surfer Blood (QRO photos at a festival) then signed to Warner Brothers, so at least one major label is hoping that they the first wave of a new ‘South Florida Invasion’ (QRO photos at home). However, QRO called them way back when (QRO photos at a festival), before they played a million-and-one festivals (QRO photos outdoors at a festival). They come to Riot Fest (QRO photos at a festival) after moving to L.A., and are touring this year’s less-special Pythons (QRO review).

Rock Stage Public Enemy, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM Before rap was mainstream and became today’s highly successful commercial product, Public Enemy (QRO photos outdoors) broke the doors open by combining modern civil rights activism with the then-unknown music of streets, hip-hop. Chuck D & Flavor Flav (before he descended into VH1 ‘celebreality’, from which he seems to be clawing his way out of) shocked America with such records as It Takes a Nation of Millions and Fear of a Black Planet (which has since been inducted in the Library of Congress!?!), with seminal tracks like “Don’t Believe the Hype”, “911 (Is a Joke)”, and “Fight the Power”, which had the most charged controversial line since the Vietnam War, “Elvis was a hero to most / But he never meant shit to me / You see, straight-up racist that sucker was simple and plain / Mother-fuck him and John Wayne!” You know what time it is! (QRO photos at a festival)

Glassjaw, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM One of the founders of the post-hardcore scene was Long Island’s Glassjaw.

The Devil Wears Prada, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Mixing melody, metal, and Christianity is The Devil Wears Prada (QRO live review) – maybe divine intervention has kept Lauren Weisberger from suing them over their name… (QRO photos at a festival)

Also: Memphis May Fire, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Nativ, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Rise Stage Taking Back Sunday, 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM It’s all come full circle. Though the line-up for Amityville’s emo-rockers Taking Back Sunday (QRO photos) has changed since 2002 debut Tell All Your Friends, it returned to the original line-up for 2011’s self-titled album – as well as last year’s tenth anniversary tour Tell All Your Friends (QRO live review).

The Lawrence Arms, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Out of The Broadways (who are reuniting at Riot Fest ’13 – see below) came Chicago’s own punk rockers The Lawrence Arms, who return to Riot Fest (and play an after show – see below).

DeVotchKa, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Somewhere between the eclectic folk emanating from Gypsy caravans and Latin salsa coming up from south of the border lays the unique DeVotchKa (QRO photos). Employing instruments like the tuba and the sousaphone in addition to your usual guitars & drums, this Denver band (QRO photos) has created a stable place for themselves since breaking through when they did the soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine, following that up with A Mad & Faithful Telling (QRO review), 2011’s 100 Lovers (QRO review), and last year’s soundtrack for Ruby Sparks.

The Lillingtons, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Even Wyoming’s has had some pop-punk, as Dick Cheney’s native state gave birth to The Lillingtons, who are ending their second break-up to play Riot Fest (and a special Sunday brunch show – see below).

Stars, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM 2008’s In Our Bedroom After The War marked a proverbial fork in the road moment for Montreal’s own Stars (QRO photos). While the band was still pumping out high quantities of admirable, very layered pop songs like “Banquet”, their swooning ballads were a little too close to becoming overindulgent and underwhelming. With 2010’s The Five Ghosts (QRO review) and last year’s The North, the band took the road less traveled, proving their pop relevance and then some (QRO photos). Known for the powerfully energetic shows (QRO live review), Stars are set to mesmerize festivalgoers (QRO photos at a festival).

The Dear Hunter, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Providence’s The Dear Hunter (QRO photos) use a wide range instruments in their experimental post-hardcore style (QRO photos).

Kitten, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM At just eighteen years of age, Chloe Chaidaz fronts Kitten (QRO photos).

Rebel Stage The Implants, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM The Interrupters, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM New Beat Fund, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Radkey, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM The Sidekicks, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Environmental Encroachment, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th

Riot Stage The Replacements, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM When the Pixies (see below) reunited at Coachella in 2004, we couldn’t have known how far and how great the trend of alt-rock reunions would become in this century/millennium. There’s been Dinosaur Jr. (see above), Pavement (QRO live review), and now The Replacements! The band basically originated/defined ‘college rock’ in the eighties with classic albums on local indie imprint Twin/Tone (QRO deluxe edition reviews), before graduating to major label status for the second half of their impressive discography (QRO deluxe edition reviews). They called it quits in 1991, well after members like guitarist Bob Stinson and drummer Chris Mars had left, with only singer/guitarist Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson remaining from the original line-up. Westerberg went on to a successful solo career, while Tommy Stinson (QRO solo photos) has managed to be the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll utility player, working in such outfits as Soul Asylum and even Guns n’ Roses (QRO photos at a festival), plus doing his own solo material (QRO solo album review). Bob Stinson unfortunately passed away in 1995, and more recently his ‘replacement’ Slim Dunlap was hospitalized from a severe stroke – which led to tons of musicians who were influenced by The Replacements to do a series of special, limited edition seven-inches in Dunlap’s benefit. And most recently, Tommy teamed up with Westerberg and Mars for the Songs For Slim EP (QRO review) – and now a full-fledged reunion (though Mars seems to prefer the life off the road – or just still can’t work with Westerberg…)! It was over twenty years ago that The Replacements were one-by-one replaced by their roadies at the band’s final concert in Chicago’s Grant Park (famed as the ‘It’s Not Over ‘Til the Last Roadie Plays’ concert), and now they return to that stage for Riot Fest (after their first reunion show, at Riot Fest Toronto – QRO photos). Even if you’re too young to have caught ‘The Mats’ in their heyday, catch ‘em now, ‘cause you don’t want to be like Art Brut (QRO interview), “How have I only just discovered The Replacements?!?” (now if we can only get a reunion from ‘other’ great band from Minneapolis, Hüsker Dü – QRO spotlight on* – Riot Fest does have Bob Mould – see earlier in this day on the Riot Stage…)*

AFI, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Has it really been over twenty years for AFI? The band has evolved from their early snot-punk Bay Area roots (full-length debut Answer That and Stay Fashionable was produced by Tim Armstrong of Rancid – see above – and featured “High School Football Hero” and “I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won’t Let Me Get On)”) to hardcore and then post-hardcore, a dark romantic sound and style that saw them attain mainstream success. The band comes to Riot Fest before next month’s release of their ninth studio album, Burials.

Rocket From the Crypt, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM The Replacements (see later in this day on the Riot Stage) may be getting the lion’s share of the reunion attention at Riot Fest, but how about another Reunion-with-a-capital-R, Rocket From the Crypt? The punk outfit broke out of San Diego just as punk was breaking worldwide in the early nineties – MTV VJ Kennedy had a tattoo of their logo on her ankle, and what’s more early nineties than ‘MTV VJ Kennedy’?… The group underwent some line-up and label changes before breaking up in 2005, but was reunited six years later on Yo Gabba Gabba! (singer/guitarist John Reis, more recently of his own Night Marchers – QRO photos – plays ‘The Music Swami’ on the show, who introduces each episode’s musical act). It took another couple of years for the group to get a full reunion tour, but 2013 has seen it with first a European & Asian tour, and now they come to Riot Fest for their first American show in eight years (after playing their first North American show in eight years at Riot Fest Toronto – QRO photos).

Bob Mould, 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM Few even at Riot Fest (QRO photos at a festival) have been doing it as long as Bob Mould (QRO live review). From the seminal Hüsker Dü (QRO spotlight on) in the eighties through the nineties’ successful Sugar (QRO deluxe edition review) to his solo work and today’s Bob Mould Band (QRO live review), Mould has been crafting great record after great record, most recently with 2008’s District Line (QRO review), the following year’s Life and Times (QRO review), and last year’s Silver Age (QRO review). Last year he toured playing Sugar’s amazing Copper Blue (QRO live review) for its twentieth anniversary, but comes to Riot Fest (QRO photos a festival) with his whole impressive discography in tow (QRO live review) on a festival circuit tour (QRO photos at a recent festival) – including recent surprise appearance with Portlandia’s Fred Armisen in Portland (QRO coverage)!

Quicksand, 1:55 PM – 2:35 PM New York post-hardcore outfit Quicksand (QRO photos at a festival) looked poised for major label success in the nineties with albums Slip and Manic Compression, but didn’t break out, so instead broke up, with singer/guitarist Walter Schreifels going the solo route (QRO tour review). But Quicksand got back together for a one-night-only performance earlier last year that has led to an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – and have kept on going.

Peter Hook & The Light, 12:45 PM – 1:25 PM Two years ago, Peter Hook recruited a new band, The Light, and toured first the U.K. (QRO live review) and then America (QRO live review), performing the two records from his seminal original band, Joy Division, in Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Those two early eighties albums basically defined New Wave, a sound that has more than come back around in today’s acts (think Interpol, think Editors…). They have also always been shadowed by tragedy, in the suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, which brought that seminal band to its end. Now, Peter Hook & The Light (QRO photos in a cathedral) are touring the first two records from the band that came out of the ashes of Joy Division, and which basically defined electronic dance music in the eighties, New Order, in Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies. The shows (QRO live review) will include both records, in full – and singles & b-sides (such as the early, post-Division “Ceremony” and “In a Lonely Place”, as well as the breakthrough hits that came between the two albums, “Temptation” and “Blue Monday”). After a few select dates in his native Britain (QRO review), Hook & co. come to North America (QRO photos from start of U.S. tour) for a fifteen-city cross-country tour (QRO tour preview), which includes both a U.S. exclusive Joy Division set at Riot Fest (QRO photos at a festival) and a New Order after show (see below).

Also: Chuck Ragan, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM – QRO photos

Roots Stage Pixies, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM Riot Fest 2013 has many reunions of eighties and nineties greats, but the band that set the alt-reunion standard was the Pixies (QRO live review). The group had some of the strongest records of those two decades, like 1989’s Doolittle (QRO twentieth anniversary live review) and songs such as “Gouge Away” (QRO video) & “Nimrod’s Son” (QRO video), but broke up just before alternative music got successful. The members went on to various other projects, most notably singer/guitarist Black Francis reversing & Anglicizing his name into ‘Frank Black’ (real name: Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) for his solo career, and singer/bassist Kim Deal teaming up with her sister as The Breeders for the very successful Last Splash (QRO twentieth anniversary live review). But the hatchet between those two was buried in 2004, when Frank/Francis, Deal, guitarist Joey Santiago, and drummer David Lovering reunited at Coachella – and began this century/millennium’s alt-reunion tradition. Admittedly, the reunion was strictly a nostalgia one (QRO live review), as the Pixies didn’t make new music, just toured the old (QRO live review), while Frank continued to put out solo work (albeit back under his Francis name – QRO live review) and Deal reunited with her sister for the unimpressive Mountain Battles (QRO review). But eventually both dams burst: out came the new song “Bagboy”, and out went Deal (again). The Pixies recruited Kim Shattuck (The Muffs, The Pandoras) to pick up the bass & female vocals, and are back out on tour, with now new material as well as old.

Brand New, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Long Island’s Brand New (QRO photos) were getting bigger & bigger, like with 2009’s Top Ten release, Daisy, but have since announced a sonic shift for the long-awaited follow-up, so who knows what to expect at Riot Fest?

The Dismemberment Plan, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM The Dismemberment Plan blasted through around the turn of the millennium with three post-hardcore records, only to break up. But you can’t keep a good Plan down, and the D.C. band reunited two years ago – Riot Fest happens the month before the release of their first post-reunion record, Uncanney Valley.

Against Me!, 2:35 PM – 3:20 PM Northern Florida’s given the world a lot of punk, some of it good, some of it not so much, but on the more positive side is Against Me! (QRO photos). Fronted by Tom Gabel (QRO interview), and including Tom Weinberg on drums (son of E Street Band/ex-Conan O’Brien drummer Max), Against Me! (QRO photos) successfully made the jump to major label without losing their edge on 2010’s White Crosses (QRO review). They did make major news last year when Gabel announced that he was transgender, and undergoing the process of transition to becoming a woman. Yet the group (QRO spotlight on – which also left the majors and started their own label for last year’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues) has continued to rock (QRO photos).

Mission of Burma, 1:25 PM – 1:55 PM This decade/century/millennium has seen a lot of great alt-reunions, but one of the finest has been one of the first, Mission of Burma (QRO live review). The art-punk act was forced to break up over twenty-five years ago, due to singer/guitarist Roger Miller’s tinnitus, they reunited in 2002, seemingly not missing a beat, including putting out four new records & counting, like 2009’s The Sound, The Speed, The Light (QRO review) and last year’s Unsound (QRO review). Though those records aren’t as good as the classics, their live shows these days (QRO live review) do naturally tend more towards the post-reunion material, like “1001 Pleasant Dreams” (QRO video) & “Man In Decline” (QRO video), but they still do throw down great ‘oldies’ like “Trem Two” (QRO video) and, yes, “That’s When I Reached For My Revolver” (QRO video). But protect your ears, as Miller, singer/bassist Clint Conley, and drummer Peter Prescott – along with ‘new’ tape-loop man, Bob Weston (who replaced original looper Martin Swope when the band reunited – but still uses early-eighties electronics to create the band’s signature live looping) turn it up to eleven & beyond (QRO photos outdoors), especially outdoors (QRO live review outdoors).

Also: Maps & Atlases, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO photos outdoors at a festival

Rock Stage Pierce the Veil, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM From the San Diego punk rock scene came Before Today; from Before Today came the post-hardcore outfit Pierce the Veil (QRO photos), centered around brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes (QRO photos), who play Riot Fest behind last year’s major label debut, Collide With the Sky.

All Time Low, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Baltimore’s All Time Low (QRO photos at a festival) started covering Green Day (QRO album review) & Blink-182 (see above), and have found similar mainstream success, such as with last year’s Don’t Panic (QRO album review).

Saves the Day, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Saves the Day (QRO photos) is one of the bands that basically founded and invented the emo sound, and frontman Chris Conley (QRO solo photos) has kept it going, with their latest, self-titled release out right before Riot Fest (though QRO’s editor thinks they were better with long-time guitarist/kid he grew up with Dave Soloway…).

Bad Books, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM One of the more interesting alt-rock pair-ups has been Bad Books (QRO live review), which combines singer/songwriter Kevin Devine (QRO photos) with Manchester Orchestra (QRO live review) drummer Benjamin Homola.

The Wonder Years, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM The Wonder Years (QRO photos at a festival) mix pop-punk with melodic hardcore, and are no strangers to festivals (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: Hostage Calm, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Rise Stage The Broadways, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM While other reunited bands come to Riot Fest as part of their reunions, Chicago’s own Broadways make their reunion at Riot Fest, with their first show in fifteen years!

Suicidal Tendencies, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM One of the first successful hardcore acts, the line-up around Mike Muir that forms Suicidal Tendencies has changed over the thirty years, but what hasn’t is the fury.

Best Coast, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Los Angeles’ Best Coast (QRO live review) is a practical veteran at the still-new garage-scene (QRO photos at a festival), but a goodie (QRO photos at a festival), combining surf, garage, indie, and pop for a sound (QRO photos) that’s sure to be sweet coming from frontwoman Bethany Cosentino (QRO live review) outdoors (QRO photos outdoors). They come to Riot Fest after playing Riot Fest Toronto (QRO photos) & outdoors in NYC as well (QRO photos), behind last year’s simplistic The Only Place (QRO review).

Bayside, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Queens’ emo-punks Bayside (QRO photos) come to Riot Fest (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: Reggie & The Full Effect, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Deal’s Gone Bad, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Rebel Stage White Mystery, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM All weekend, Riot Fest’s Rebel Stage showcases great local punk acts, and one of the best is the wild White Mystery (QRO mp3 review), who play Riot Fest for a second year in a row.

Touché Amoré, 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM Post-hardcore outfit Touché Amoré (QRO photos at a festival) come to Riot Fest behind this year’s …Is Survived By.

Off With Their Heads, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Minneapolis punk rockers Off With Their Heads (QRO photos at a festival) play Riot Fest for the second year in a row.

Also: Twin Peaks, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Peelander-Z, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – QRO photoshoot at a festival The Silks, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Pet Symmetry, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM