Filed under: John Doe | Tags: Angels & Kings, Ben Clarke, Bobby Bare Jr., Chicago, Congress, Crobar, Dark Wave Disco, Darkroom, David Vandervelde, Debonair, Disappears, DJ Kamar, DJ Qbot, Double Door, Elbo Room, Electric Six, Enclave, Evil Olive, Girl Talk, Glitterguts, Local H, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, Metro, Model Stranger, Neo, New Years Eve, Rehab, Salud Tequila Lounge, Schuba's, Subterranean, The Apartment, The Jesus Lizard, White Mystery
Currently listening to: Pure Reason Revolution – Les Malheurs
We’re approaching the end of the year, and with New Year’s resolutions halfway out the window already, it’s time to focus on what we’ll be doing when the clock hits midnight. Since I have yet to determine what I’ll be doing in the windy city, I thought I’d compile a list of possibilities, shows and the not.
If you know something I don’t, comment and I’ll meet ya there
Evil Olive: $60 premium open bar 9-1
Salud Tequila Lounge: $85 premium open bar 9-2, food buffet
Metro: $61 The Jesus Lizard, Disappears
Elbo Room: $61 Model Stranger
Darkroom: $15 Rehab vs. Dark Wave Disco
Congress: Girl Talk [SOLD OUT]
Crobar: $50 open bar 8-whenever it’s time for you to leave…
Debonair: $66 open bar 8-2
Schuba’s: $20 Bobby Bare Jr, David Vandervelde, Ben Clarke
Enclave: $100 9-1:30 Alice in Wonderland themed, paparazzi
Angels & Kings: $85 open bar 9-2, snack bar
SubT: $40 Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s, ball drop, champagne toast
The Apartment: $69 8-12, buffet 8-10
Neo: $20 Atomic New Wave Dance Party w/ DJs Qbot + Kamar, champagne toast, Glitterguts photography
Double Door: $65 Local H, Electric Six, White Mystery. Open bar includes draft beer, well drinks, wine, water and soda
The Other Side: $50 open bar 9-2 (different package options)
Party hard and don’t forget your camera!
Filed under: Reviews, Show | Tags: Alkaline Trio, Alternative Press, Beat Kitchen, Chicago, Congress Theatre, Liars Club, Metro, Peg Boy, Riot Fest, Screeching Weasels, She Likes Todd, Subterranean, The Arrivals
Riot Fest is a 5-year old Chicago and Los Angeles based music extravaganza that rocks [Chicago] for five days across five venues. This year’s lineup featured Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Screeching Weasels and Polar Bear Club (among 35 other legends). Gracing the presence of the Congress Theatre, Metro, Beat Kitchen, Liars Club and Subterranean, I decided to swing by for the Congress’ October 11th show to check out Alkaline Trio, Screeching Weasels, Peg Boy, The Arrivals and She Likes Todd.
Thanks to the Chicago Marathon blocking off half the city’s public transportation, I ended up getting to the show just in time for Pegboy (unfortunately I missed The Arrivals and She Likes Todd). Two performances in, there was still a line outside the venue to get in; mohawk after leather jacket after pint, the show vibed with punk rock.
While I was slightly dissappointed I missed part of the show, Pegboy’s performance put everything back into perspective. The Chicago-based band was jumping around like it was 1990 and to be honest, even watching them made me tired. Regardless of the fact vocalist Larry Damore was out of breath after song one, they continued on without losing steam. At the end of their set, Damore had his young son come out to flick off the audience, and that was that.
Next up was Screeching Weasels. Though I was almost certain they’d be the headliner, this did not affect the group’s set. Like Pegboy, these older gentlemen refused to let time ruin their sound and energy — they were fast, fierce and exactly what every fan wanted to see. Other than the low bass and slightly poor sound quality due to the size of the venue, they sounded great.
With beer in hand and banners lowering, Alkaline Trio took the stage. They ignited with We’ve Had Enough and the push-pit resumed. Again, the vocals were almost inaudible, but the fans made up for it by belting the lyrics for them. Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano kept the audience alive, until the end of the set when they ended very unusually with Blue In The Face (full band, not acoustic). Luckily, Alternative Press was there to hand out swag and snap a picture of the setlist. Though the crowd acted according to code by relentlessly chanting for an encore, the show ended without one and everyone dispersed, heading to the nearest bar or blue line.
The entire vibe of the show was amazing. There were no spin-kicks, no brass knuckles and no bad energy. The mass was stoked, drunk and ready to rock. I can’t wait to see the lineup for next year.
