Riot Fest 2023: Day Two Photo Review

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.

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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.
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So ends Day Two from Riot Fest 2023.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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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