Riot Fest preview

Riot Fest
Congress, Chicago
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007

First it was two days. Then one. This year it’s two days again. Riot Fest’s organizers are certainly mindful of a riot’s unpredictability — a streak that thankfully doesn’t wreak havoc on the bands they book.

The cuddly, spikes-n-leather gathering marks its tertiary performance this weekend at Congress Theatre. And just when you thought it couldn’t get anymore, um, riotous, there’s a pre-party full of surprise guests at Cobra Lounge (235 N. Ashland) on Friday the 16th, free if you show your Riot Fest tix at the door. No. Way. (There’s also an after-party at Cobra on Saturday night.)

Then Naked Raygun look set to defend their headlining title from last fall, but have some rigid competition with the U.K.’s highly influential Stiff Little Fingers in direct support and an art-damaged, left-field SST band called Bad Brains headlining the second night. Aging punk pandemonium continues with The Casualties, Dillinger Four, 7 Seconds, Nekromantix, The Queers, 88 Fingers Louie spawn Zero To Sixty, The Methadones, and more. For the full outlay, visit riotfest.org, where you can learn about cheap ticket blocks and info on preordering Raygun’s latest offering, What Poor Gods We Do Make. Proceeds from the show will benefit Government Issue vocalist John Stabb (assaulted in July) and the disabled son of producer/ex-Jawbox frontman J. Robbins.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly