 Jehnny Beth - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Corey Feldman - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine and Wesley Nott Edited by Fiza Javid Saturday - September 16, 2023 - Douglass Park And so forth comes Day Number Two from the Riot Fest grounds of Douglass Park, and the lineup doesn't disappoint. It starts mellow, from what I chose to cover, and just builds and builds from there. Opening with LA's ultra cool and laid back Warpaint- a band that knows how to blend ethereal dream pop with a modicum of psych rock and mixed with some chill. That they've maintained a cool camaraderie over the years, like sisters one and all, even with long periods of inactivity speaks volumes in shared musical ideas, let alone performing live. In other words, they looked like they were having fun at Riot Fest, which makes us feel like we're having fun. A special band- that is Warpaint. Then off to the races to catch the one and only Corey Feldman at the Rebel Stage. 'Tis a headscratcher- Corey Feldman. Heard many people say about his performance- "it was so bad which made it so damn good", and variations thereof. A psychologist if given the time to catch up with obvious demons running through Corey's poor head- would be troubling to make the attempt. And yet he's a survivor, and you want to root for the guy. But the self sabotaging of his brief half hour set, troubled by a definitely not working large inflatable white screen backdrop, followed by berating of his fellow musicians, and multiple lapses in costume changes for each and every song....question: What was the thought process in all of this? Is anyone in Corey 's camp allowed to voice opinions and say "No" to this, "definitely NO" to that? Apparently not. So, inevitably, trouble ensues, trouble lurks around the corner. And yet there's charm- Corey Feldman charm, followed by dozens (I'm not kidding) body surfers. Didn't matter to the fans. This was a party. The main reason I was mad and frustrated was the overlap between Corey Feldman, the delays with that godforsaken stupid inflatable white backdrop, and missing Jehnny Beth's set.  Corey Feldman - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Corey Feldman - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Jehnny Beth - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Viagra Boys - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  100 Gecs - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Insane Clown Posse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Viagra Boys - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 Talk about a mad scramble over to the Roots stage- and was lucky enough to catch her last song, "I'm the Man". Fine enough for me. A full on participatory mix between fans and stage, a communal gathering where Jehnny has to get one on one, with fierce eye to eye contact, even directly to me, five feet away in the crowd as she surveyed her audience. She pulses with such undeniable power, convincing I might add, even for quarter to three in the afternoon. So happy and relieved that I at least was able to catch one song. And then- watch out people- Viagra Boys are taking the stage. Drenched in beer soaked anger, and a mix of cool aloofness, depending on which band member (minus lead singer Sebastian Murphy) you are looking at. Opening with "Ain't no Thief", which- Sebastian ain't no thief. Followed by "Slow Learner", and as you know, Sebastian is a slow learner. And then comes "Punk Rock Loser", which as you know by now, Sebastian portrays himself as a punk rock loser. Not complicated stuff- all A to B to C, beer anthem righteous party music, lets' all body surf and swig some beers if you can, and body surf some more. Damn it's addicting watching these guys, watching the nutty crowd at Riot Fest watching these knuckleheads in Viagra Boys. And then, you want intense? Mix it up seething intense? Political anger, societal anger, world forsaken anger? Welcome to Death Grips. Like Jehnny Beth, one of the definite highlights of what I was looking forward to at Day Two from Riot Fest. Noise, Industrial, Hip Hop, Punk Rock with pounding drums, courtesy of Zach Hill, and Stefan Burnett providing the biting lyrics and vocal ferocity, mixed by Andy Morin, providing occasional samples and background keyboards. Heavy throughout. Ferociously heavy. Much needed, seeing / hearing / documenting these guys. One of the best sets from Day Two at Riot Fest. Then off to the Radical Stage for 100 gecs- ( Laura Les and Dylan Brady), who know how to mix heavy backbeats with shrill vocals and make things their own, in a genre now known as "Hyper Pop". Chaotic and springboard lifted catchy throughout their hour set, with nary a let up. They let things rip midway through, with of all things "I Got my Tooth Removed", which, the title says it all. Same with "The Most Wanted Person in the United States". A delightful heavy blend of angst. And of course the crowd ate it up as well. Ended the day with Faygo soaked Insane Clown Posse, who started late headlining the Rebel Stage, what with security and roadies draping everything possible exterior wise for the inevitable Faygo soda launch, what with a dozen or so Juggalos coming out two minutes into the first song- "The Show Must Go On"- and spraying everybody (and I mean everybody) with Faygo, Faygo, Faygo. But Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope certainly know how to throw a party, what with the Juggalo faithful heavy in attendance, waiting for their heroes to hit the stage even earlier in the day when Corey Feldman played on the same stage. Some 18 Faygo soaked songs total - what with mainstays "Chicken Huntin", and "Down With the Clown", let alone "My Axe". Insane Clown Posse- not for everybody, sure. But try telling that to this crowd. Fightin' words. So ends Day Two from Riot Fest 2023. Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago Riot Fest, 2023, Chicago, Live Music, Corey Feldman, Jehnny Beth, Viagra Boys, 100 Gecs, Death Grips, Insane Clown Posse, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, JBTV Music Television
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 Code Orange - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Turnstile - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine & Wesley Nott Writing and Editing by Fiza Javid Friday - September 15, 2023 - Douglass Park Riot Fest is back for the 2023 season and ready to cause a scene! The heart and soul of rock n' roll is in this lineup, and JBTV had a chance to cover incredible acts for day one. These photo highlights include: Olivia Jean, Say Anything, Parliament Funkadelic, Yard Act, Quasi, Code Orange, Kim Gordon, Quicksand, The Breeders and Turnstile. There is no doubt that Foo Fighters are an honorable mention as well, with their first return to Chicago since the passing of their drummer Taylor Hawkins, we were ready to show them all the love and support. Olivia Jean, while she is the wife of Detroit rocker Jack White, her roots are grounded in music. Hailing from Nashville, she showcased her badass rockabilly / garage rock vibes with serious swing. Her songs were tight, with songs including "Spider" and "Garage Bat," and her band is genuinely tight knit. It way too short of a set, 30 minutes. Should've been an hour. Next, Parliament Funkadelic. Led by leader George Clinton (Red Hat). George is 82 years old, Imagine that. And still emphasizing all thinks "Funk" , and making all things a "Funk Party", even at 2 in the afternoon. Yard Act is a proto punk indie UK band, with fierce opposition and making a mockery of everything, including their brand of music mixed with jovial and humorous lyrical revelry. Dark humor with crafty beats from a tight band abound through their entire set. They were an absolute blast to watch, and trust got the crowd moving. Quasi was truly an exciting one to unveil this year, led by ex Sleater Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, and her former husband Sam Coomes. For a duo- some fun noisy with emphasis on noisy rock mixed with some electronic rock, and Janet's booming kick drum followed by thunder thwack propulsive drumming. Code Orange were absolute headbangers. Heavy duty metalcore outfits, led by lead vocalist Jami Morgan. They truly got the moshing started. With in your face gigantic moshpit onslaught- the band growing more abrasive with each and every album release, reflecting the mood of the times. Just look at Jami's t shirt for emphasis- "I'm a Librarian". That should tell you lots in regards to where they stand on book bannings, and "woke this, woke that". These guys are angry, with the punishing beats to prove it. The one and only, legendary, Kim Gordon. She came to Riot Fest- she conquered. All on her terms. Drawn from the secular, into the vernacular. Fierce and uncompromising, with moody beats and electronica mixed with drums and sometimes chaotic backbeat vocals, emphasizing restraint, followed by some serious vocal wallops. Again, one of the major highlights from Riot Fest Day One.  Olivia Jean - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Yard Act - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Code Orange - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Code Orange - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Kim Gordon - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Turnstile - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 Quicksand turned Riot Fest on its head with a full Album Play- "Slip". JBTV alumni from back in the day, and still uncompromising, led by guitarist / vocalist Walter Schreifels, with a sound that's still polished and crafty, reminding you of Helmet, with solid melody, all songs, and yet emphasis on LOUD. They were incredible. The Breeders were led by Kim and Kelley Deal, who are twin sisters. Kim Deal is known for her previous band, Pixies. Another Riot Fest Full Album Play- "Last Splash", from 1993, this was epic. The album still holds up, and they're faithful to the original, even down to the fuzzy "old school" mic that Kim occasionally yells into. This album is a cautionary tale, and yet so enduring and relevant to the present day. Looked like they were having lots of fun throughout their set, even with the blazing sun beating down on them. Last but certainly not the least was Turnstile. They are a barn burner of a band, hailing from Baltimore. In it to win it, always, and ready to play, as were the entire crowd witnessing them perform live, yelling and whooping and hollering throughout. Security had their hands full, running this way and that. Lucky we were able to stay in the pit for the three songs- this band is that volatile, led by jumping all over the place Brendan Yates, never losing his vocals, even mid twirl. Day one was overall filled with hardcore sounds, with tight grooves on top of grooves. We couldn't be more excited for day two! Fiza Javid & Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television  Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins - Curt Baran (c) 2023  Dale Crover of the Melvins - Curt Baran (c) 2023 Writing and Photography by Curt Baran Edited by Fiza Javid September 8th, 2023 - Chicago, Illinois "I found grace inside a sound." Buzz Osborne is walking tight circles, stage right side at Chicago’s venerable club Metro. He and his band Melvins have played the space countless times before, but there’s something about a sold out show that helps amp up the energy. His guitar belches out spacious, scuzzy riffs perfectly placed for maximum effect. Now entering their fourth decade as a band, it seems improbable that they still exist. Melvins do not make polite music and there isn’t anything remotely mainstream about their material. Yet, here they’ve found themselves, 40 years later, still rupturing ear drums and free of apologies. Both Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have remained the only constant members, yet somehow the band’s aesthetic has rarely changed. Bass player Steven Shane McDonald held down the menacing low end during “It’s Shoved,” “Ligature” and “Your Blessened.” He even brought a sense of showmanship, dropping a handful of requisite rock posses. Underneath it all, for the entirety of the evening, was Crover, hitting his cans with what sounded like fireplace logs. Over the course of a tight and profoundly ugly set of 11 songs, Osborne and his droogs were a sobering reminder that sometimes there’s an audience out there for everyone. Curt Baran - JBTV Music Television The Melvins, Buzz Osbourne, Dale Crover, Metro, Chicago, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine Edited by Fiza Javid The Salt Shed Chicago - Night Number Two Thursday - 8/31/23 Walking in during the intro, to The Beatles song "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"- They all begin to settle into their respective places. Opening with "Cecilia Ann" (a Surftones cover), then into "You're Such a Sadducee", and then into the song "Tame", which was anything but. Just let it rip man- let it rip. Have to say how rambaffling this all is- almost a completely different setlist than from night one the night before, just some switching up and burying of certain songs to fit the mood, what if a full on Blue Moon rising from the east, some five songs into their set. And they make note of that on night number two from The Salt Shed as well, with the imperial nugget "There's a Moon On". So as the night unfolds, it's full on electric, full on rabid vocals from the push and pull of Black Francis, making it known two songs in when he tightly rolls up his sleeves that we're headed to some heavy heavy. The aggressive songs demand it- what with the Pixies having over the years refreshed their dynamic between "Quiet and Loud", with some more "Quiet and Loud". The formula works, never ever getting stale, never ever getting boring. My take is Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Paz Lenchantin wouldn't tolerate it. Pixies remain whipsmart, live badass. Minimal set and backdrops, just some fancy strobes old and new encompassing the back of the stage. Music counts, the band commits, their audience of oh so many years commits. Wicked smiles are seen from them, when something catchy and jagged in the interplay catches their ears and eyes, as only solid improvisation can ensue when paying attention. No fancy clothes, like coming out of a cab from Elston, head a bit east into the venue, strap on instruments, and away we go. A tried and true formula, with contemplative and wacky songwriting intermixing with some twisted humor, and electrifying full on noise. Indie as all get out, the Pixies, not beaten down and held hostage by A&R men wanting hits and catchy this and that. The thought of that would repel them to the point of taking a shower. Better still, as a middle finger fuck you, you most likely would enter their universe, and not on a positive note, but rather buried in a song like a casket going six feet underground. They have their menacing and enlightening ways, like Isaac Brock in Modest Mouse, where everything holds fodder, especially when paying attention to the outside world, and bizarre newspaper clippings that catch your eye. From the biblical to the fanatical, to the humorous to the comic book comical. All of it is welcome news to both bands, with sinister pop and the hard and heavy offering thrills and chills.  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023  Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023 This review- It doesn't matter really about song selection, and this and that. It matters greatly that Pixies still want to play together, and let it be known they know what the hell they're doing, having some damn outright fun, and even if they don't, and mistakes are made, no matter. That can be entertaining as well. Such a blast- such a downright energetic set from these guys. Same with Modest Mouse, even though the sun was kinda still out setting to the west. 15 songs total, with catchy and quirky beats throughout. After the three songs from the pit, I roamed around the main floor a bit, catching the crowd taking it all in, especially along the rail riverfront of The Salt Shed. It was there that I found a batch of Modest Mouse diehards, a bit older, like in their fifties, dancing a style similar to the Grateful Dead and their shows back in the day. And dancing not in a humorous way, but serious / sweaty shit. Multiple songs, until they got plum tuckered tired out. Dancing like around a campfire listening to a jug band, and spot on to the beats. Fascinating stuff, elevating the mood in my head in what Isaac Brock and Modest Mouse means to so many people. Here's another songwriter, like Black Francis, who has his eyes and ears to the ground, noting the what the fucks when attempting another song to create, from the mystical to the mythical to the fanatical to the comical. You know his heart's in it - Isaac is a sweaty mess right after song three, spitting out words fervently at his mic. Also cool to note that he was wearing the same satin jacket that Cat Power came out with, the logo of Cat Power ever evident on the back for all to see. Support thereof, with all three bands. A solid lineup as all get out. Look man, there's some eleven or so dates left on this tour as it heads west- I highly recommend you check them out- all bands- and get their early for Cat Power- she's awesome as well, embraced with a tight knit band. Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago Pixies, Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, Paz Lechantin, Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine, Chicago, Live Music |
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