Category: riot fest 2013

Chicago is great. I love my city, probably in the same way that you’re passionate about a place that you’ve lived for the majority of your life. You probably wouldn’t have lived there for so long unless you liked it…or your parents forced you into it during your childhood. Anyways, What I was getting at about Chicago is how incredible it is when one of our sports teams does well and suddenly “fans” start to come out of the woodwork and claiming they’ve been supporting the team all along. Sure you have, just because you watched a part of that game that one time because the bar you were at had it on. But yes, it seems the fairweather fans have descended for the rest of the NHL season now that the Blackhawks are in the running for the Stanley Cup. Nevermind the fact that I’ve spent quite a bit of time cheering for the team this season straight from its abbreviated post-strike start at the beginning of 2013. But this also isn’t a sports blog, and I don’t like using this time to complain. But I bring this up because in the middle of one of the longest games in Stanley Cup history earlier tonight, something amazing was announced that relates to music in Chicago. Okay, and Denver and Toronto too. What is this amazingness I speak of? Well, it seems that The Replacements are officially back, and have announced three shows that will be among their first in 22 years. All three of the currently announced shows will be in the form of headlining slots at all three Riot Fests taking place in 2013 in the cities I’ve just mentioned. The Toronto Riot Fest takes place August 24-25, the Chicago version takes place September 13-15 and the Denver ones goes from September 21-22. As a life-long Chicagoan, of course I’m most excited about that show. Chicago is also a notable place in the history of The Replacements, because the band officially broke up on July 4, 1991 in the middle of a show at the Taste of Chicago. So now they’ll be making a grand return, and suddenly my Twitter feed deviated from hockey commentary for a bit to report the exciting news. As for the lineup of The Replacements, at this point it’s going to be Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, and the rest of the band will be announced later. Want to hear something even better? Before the festival kicks off in mid-September, I’ll be giving away a pair of 3-day passes to this year’s Riot Fest in Chicago. Beyond The Replacements you’ll be able to see the Violent Femmes, Blondie, Rancid, Public Enemy, Guided By Voices, The Dismemberment Plan, Dinosaur Jr. and many more. Tickets can currently be purchased for either $150 for a regular 3-day pass or $250 for a VIP 3-day pass. It wouldn’t surprise me if the festival sold out this year, and rumor has it single day ticket sales are on the way too. But yes, if going to this festival for 3 days in mid-September in Chicago sounds like a great plan to you, keep an eye on this site for your chance to win some free passes. Now then, let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison. There’s some strong tracks in the set today from Holley Maher, Inch Chua, Joey Bada$$, Leftover Cutues, Missing Monuments, Run the Jewels (Killer Mike + El-P) and Speedy Ortiz. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Arp, Freddie Gibbs, Smith Westerns and Zero 7’s remix of Ultraista.

Caged Animals – Cindy + Me (Billy Dub Remix)

Glitches – Only Time Will Tell (Tom of We Have Band Remix)

Havilah Tower – Out to Sea

Holley Maher – Whispered Words

Inch Chua – Artful Dodger

Joey Bada$$ – 95 Til Infinity

Kris Menace & Douze – Wall of Love

Leftover Cuties – One Heart

Maps – A.M.A. (Susanne Sundfor Remix)

Missing Monuments – Answer the Call

NOVI – Make A Scene

Run the Jewels – 36″ Chain

Shine 2009 – Eurozone (CFCF Remix)

Speedy Ortiz – No Below

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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.

A Grave With No Name – Aurora

Bad Cop – Light On

Blank Realm – Working on Love

Building Pictures – Come of Age

Candace Bellamy – Johnny

Dillon Hodges – The Proof

English Singles – Ordinary Girls

Lawnmower – Team Spirit

Mirage – Let’s Kiss

Mordecai – Runner

Pharaoh Ivan – Relax Your Mind (ft. Murph Watkins)

Quasimo – We’ll Manage

Radiation City – Zombies (G_Force Remix ft. TxE)

Rotimi – Only Human

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