Riot Fest East 2011 Preview

Descendents, 9:50 PM, Riot West Stage

Amid the plethora of indie reunions in the twenty-first century, one of the most welcome was that of Los Angeles’ own Descendents (QRO photos at a festival).  One of the seminal punk bands of the eighties, singer/research biochemist Milo Aukerman left the group in 1987, with which the rest of the Descendents recruited a new singer and became All, but Aukerman returned in 1995.  The group went on hiatus again in 2004, but 2010 same them return, again – so see where today’s punk is Descended from (QRO photos from the night before in New York).

X, 9:10 PM, Riot East Stage

Another hugely influential punk band playing Riot Fest East is X.  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.  They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles – and come to Riot East playing their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety.

Dead Milkmen, 8:30 PM, Riot West Stage 

The definition of humorous punk, The Dead Milkmen are another welcome return in the twenty-first century, having come back in 2008 (QRO photos at their only show that year, a festival).  They’ve kept it up since then, including this year’s The King In Yellow – expect Punk Rock Girls (and boys) out in force.

Hot Water Music, 7:50 PM, Riot East Stage

Northern Florida is home to many punk acts of the nineties & later; one of the more successful has been Hot Water Music (QRO photos).  They went on hiatus, and then permanent break-up, when singer/guitarist Chuck Ragan left to care for his family 7 pursue a low-key solo career, but got back together only two years later.

Plow United, 7:10 PM, Riot West Stage

The pop/thrashcore punk mix of Plow United head up the Delaware River from Wilmington for Riot Fest East.

Suicide Machines, 6:40 PM, Riot East Stage

Straight outta Detroit, Suicide Machines were one of the first acts of the nineties to successfully marry ska and punk.  The group shifted away from that sound, and then back towards it, before their abrupt 2006 break-up.  The group has still managed the odd festival or benefit performance since then, so catch ‘em while you still can (QRO photos from the night before in NYC).

Naked Raygun, 6:10 PM, Riot West Stage

Hailing from the home of Riot Fest, Chicago, the melodic hardcore of Naked Raygun mixed in working class influences through the eighties and up to their break-up in 1992.  Reunions since then were sporadic, but have been more solid in recent years, including a series of seven-inches on Riot Fest Records, and an upcoming full-length, their first in two decades.

7 Seconds, 5:40 PM, Riot East Stage *fff009

Reno, Nevada’s 7 Seconds helped start the straight edge scene in the eighties.  Their shift to more complex music wasn’t well received, and they’ve since moved back to their bread & butter punk rock.

Excitebike, 5:10 PM, Riot West Stage

Riot Fest East welcomes Delaware’s Excitebike, named after one of the coolest original Nintendo games ever.

Samiam, 4:40 PM, Riot East Stage

One of the few bands at Riot Fest East who’ve never broken up, Berkeley punks Samiam are coming off of a set of South American shows last December.

Weston, 4:10 PM, Riot West Stage

Hailing from just to the west in Bethlehem, Weston toiled through the nineties before a major label debut in 2001 that flopped, leading to their break-up.  But, like so many acts at Riot Fest East, you can’t keep a punk band down, and they’ve since reunited.

The Menzingers, 3:40 PM, Riot East Stage

Coming from the home of The Office & Joe Biden, Scranton’s ska-punks The Menzingers are one of the younger acts at Riot Fest East.

Also:

Shot Baker, 3:10 PM, Riot West Stage

The Holy Mess, 2:40 PM, Riot East Stage

Larry & His Flask, 2:10 PM, Riot West Stage

Population Zero, 1:40 PM, Riot East Stage

The Claw, 1:10 PM, Riot West Stage

Brothers From Another, 12:40 PM, Riot East Stage

Lionize, 12:20 PM, Riot West Stage

The Heels, 12:00 PM, Riot East Stage