Julien Baker Week descended on New York City with a flourish, the rush of which resembled the city itself. With three sold-out nights at Webster Hall, tickets were highly coveted. This was even reflected in the line prior to doors, as fans began to line up around 2-3pm, gunning for the first row.
On the second night, however, Baker suffered from a stomach bug and had to end the show after 40 minutes. Thankfully, she added a date to make up for the shorter set, this time at Brooklyn Steel, where she has played three times in the past. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the show was added last minute, Baker didn’t have a second opener. She then enlisted her Boygenius bandmate, Lucy Dacus, to do a short interlude after singer/songwriter Katie Malco’s set.
As Lucy Dacus took the stage, armed only with her acoustic guitar, the ear-piercing screams that greeted her would have had one convinced that she herself was the headliner as opposed to Baker. The crowd sang along, providing enthusiastic accompaniment. Dacus was smiley and chatty, joking around between songs and telling stories, even debuting a brand-new song. Ending with “Night Shift,” Baker and her band joined in to do it electric, mimicking the exact feeling of the night.
When Baker took the stage, the energy shifted to one of quiet reverence. After her band played the intro to her second LP, Turn Out the Lights, “Over,” Baker began to sing “Appointments,” the opening track. Performing songs from each of her records, 2015’s Sprained Ankle, 2017’s aforementioned Turn Out the Lights, and 2019’s Little Oblivions, the setlist covered the span of her career, including some of her EPs, such as tracks like “Tokyo” and “Red Door.” She also played two new songs, “Middle Children” and “High in the Basement.’ Further, Baker excitingly rearranged some of her songs, giving them a new emotional pull. She also had her band backing her up (which has only occurred on the Wild Hearts tour) as opposed to her earlier shows with only an acoustic guitar.
Baker next heads to San Francisco and LA, where she is playing a 3-show residency in each city. After, she will fly to London for a 4-show residency.
If Spiderman is yelling at you and insulting you right before you go on stage, what is your response? Punk rock band The Vandals chose to have a discourse with the front-row troll shortly before their set on Sunday, and then proceeded to show him — and a giant crowd — that they were still entirely as full of vim and vigor as they were when they started in 1980. Epic performance by an incredible band.
Setlist Take It Back Cafe 405 It’s a Fact Urban Struggle Live Fast Diarrhea N.I.M.B.Y. An Idea for a Movie The Legend of Pat Brown People That Are Going to Hell Anarchy Burger I’ve Got an Ape Drape And Now We Dance Oi to the World My Girlfriend’s Dead I Have a Date
The headline says it all. Riot Fest 2024 was an absolute blast, but the Laura Jane Grace and Catbite set on Sunday was a highlight. The two incredible acts teamed up to bring their musical prowess to a crowd that was ready and capable of belting out endless Operation Ivy songs. (Twenty-three, to be exact.)
We grabbed some incredible photos of their mid-day set – during, truly, the most beautiful part of Sunday – below.
Setlist Knowledge Sound System Jaded Take Warning The Crowd Bombshell Unity Bankshot One of These Days Gonna Find You Bad Town Smiling Caution Freeze Up Artifical Life Room Without a Window Big City Missionary Here We Go Again Hoboken Tellin’ in My Ear Healthy Body Officer
laura jane gracelaura jane gracelaura jane gracelaura jane grace
Indie musical project Waxahatchee brought their soothing sounds to the stage at Riot Fest 2024. As a nice night two nightcap for many, they helped to bring the pace to a slower place, regulating nervous systems across Douglass Park. With a name that comes from lead singer and brainchild Katie Crutchfield’s beloved Waxahatchee Creek adventures from childhood, you already know you’re going to be in good company with this band and their fanbase.
We were thrilled to witness the magic of this act on such a beautiful evening in Chicago.
Setlist 3 Sisters Evil Spawn Ice Cold Can’t Do Much Problem With It (Plains cover) Right Back to It (Dedicated to Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes) Burns Out at Midnight Bored Crowbar The Wolves (With band intros) Hurricane (Plains cover) Lilacs 365 Tigers Blood Much Ado About Nothing Fire
Supergroup L.S. Dunes brought their high-octane energy to the stage on day 2 at Riot Fest 2024. Having wandered the grounds earlier in the day with their new music, lead singer Anthony Green (Circa Survive/Saosin/The Sound of Animals Fighting) drummed up some excitement around their set.
This was the only set we caught in its entirety of the festival. Crowd participation was noticeable, and a larger audience was drawn throughout their performance as people began to notice the artistry on stage. We overheard new fans gushing about the performance on public transit after Saturday wound down.
Setlist 2022 Bombsquad Like Forever Grey Veins Benadryl Subreddit How Dare You It Takes Time Permanent Rebellion Past Lives Fatal Deluxe
Indie rock outfit Spoon may have been dazzling stages with their talent since 1993, but Riot Fest 2024 is where they really brought their shine. In the heat of a bright Saturday afternoon, they stared directly into the sun — and a crowd of thousands — as they regaled us with bangers from every one of their eras. From “The Way We Get By” to “My Babe” and “Inside Out,” through covers from The Natural History and The Cramps, they kept the energy high as the crowds continued to hydrate.
We captured some quick photos of the beginning of their set for you.
Setlist Got Nuffin My Mathematical Mind You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb The Hardest Cut The Way We Get By The Underdog My Babe Wild Inside Out Don’t You Ever (The Natural History cover) Do You I Turn My Camera On TV Set (The Cramps cover) I Summon You Rent I Pay
Los Angeles-based punk rock outfit NOFX has embarked on a far-reaching farewell tour that helps the band honor their decades-long contribution to music. They brought their quintessential energy — and, at times, fully childish behavior — to all three days of Riot Fest 2024. Through sunshine and heat and endless rain in Douglass Park, Chicago, the guys sang from a catalog that would impress most, with love from fans emanating throughout the aptly named “NOFX World.”
We were lucky enough to capture some magic from night 2.
Saturday, day 2, at Riot Fest 2024 was one of the most uncomfortable days at the fest in recent memory. While the staff did what they could to keep everyone hydrated and happy, the near-90-degree heat had a lot of people feeling faint. The lineup kept people energized, the bands paid attention to their fans and brought help when necessary, and the alternative community of Chicago and beyond really showed up for each other on Saturday. We got some photos so you can relive the end of summer heat with us.
There is no other word for it. Sweet Pill took the stage during some of the hottest moments temperature-wise at Riot Fest 2024, and they absolutely dazzled everyone. The stage banter, the outfits, the edge, the poise… somehow everything this band did struck us as charming and unique, though they fit right in with the crowd and the vibrant energy of the day. The crowd begged them to continue playing, and lead vocalist Zayna Youssef admitted they’d love to, but the set cutoff times pulled them off stage much sooner than everyone was ready for.
Setlist Starchild Chewed Up Where the Heart Is Blood Cut Eternal Sympathy High Hopes Diamond Eyes Dog Song
