Pick Your Poison: Wednesday 5-15-13

Because Chicago has so many more music festivals than just Lollapalooza and Pitchfork every summer, sometimes it’s nice to explore other options. If you don’t have anything going on the second weekend in September, specifically Sept. 13-15, perhaps you might want to find your way to Humboldt Park for Riot Fest 2013. The fest is in it’s 8th year and has grown exponentially in the last couple. It was never held outside before until last year, when two of the three days were in Humboldt Park and the other day was at the Congress Theatre. This year, all three days will be at Humboldt Park, and the lineup is set to be larger than ever. The first wave of bands was just announced, and oh my is it an eclectic mix that some will view as divisive. Then again, for a punk carnival like Riot Fest, their lineups have almost always been a bit split down the middle. Last year, one day featured Rise Against, The Offspring, Coheed & Cambria, Alkaline Trio and more, while another day featured Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Jesus and Mary Chain and a bunch of legacy and indie acts. I suspect there will be a similar organization with how this year’s fest shakes out. Anyways, here’s a few of the acts at Riot Fest 2013 so far: Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, Violent Femmes, Motorhead, Rancid, AFI, Sublime with Rome, Blondie, Public Enemy, Brand New, FLAG (aka Black Flag), Guided By Voices, Bad Religion, Atmosphere, The Dismemberment Plan, Dinosaur Jr., DeVotchKa, Against Me!, Bob Mould, Best Coast, Bad Books, Mission of Burma, Stars, Peter Hook (performing Joy Division), Maps & Atlases, Surfer Blood, Saul Williams and many more. Have a full look at the acts announced so far. There’s one more headliner yet to be announced, which I’m betting will be a classic, legacy act to counter the Fall Out Boy and Blink 182 headlining sets on the other two days. A bunch more bands will be announced too in the coming weeks. Three day passes are on sale now at a very modest price of $99.98, but once that allotment sells out the price goes up by $10 (and later another $15), so if you like what you’re seeing with this lineup and can clear that time in September, maybe now’s a good time to buy. Just sayin. I’m pleased to say that I will be giving away a pair of three-day passes to Riot Fest coming up soon, so keep an eye on the site for your chance to win and go for free! Now then, let’s talk Pick Your Poison. I’m pleased to recommend tracks today from A Grave With No Name, Bad Cop, Blank Realm, English Singles, Lawnmower, Mirage, and G_Force’s remix of Radiation City. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new stuff from Barbarossa, Big Deal, Movement, When Saints Go Machine and Baauer’s remix of Disclosure.