Alternative/indie trio Princess Goes had an early afternoon slot on day two of Riot Fest 2024 in Douglass Park. Their unique brand of goth-tinted rock helped to set a moody glow across the field as the midday sun entered everyone’s lives. Hall’s vocals were clear — scratchy at times — drawing a crowd as the set went on at the AAA Stage. This was a wonderful — and often mellow — way to welcome the second day of an epic festival weekend.
Douglass Park in Chicago is stunning on an everyday basis. But during Riot Fest? It’s glorious. Littered with photo booths, games, food and drink vendors, shopping experiences, and more surrounding the five stages, Riot Festival does what it can to make sure the attendees are comfortable and part of a grand adventure together. With the Riotland installation — featuring a marketplace, museum, carnival rides, NWA wrestling, the Hellzapoppin Freak Show, and more — this festival provides epic experiences you won’t find elsewhere.
Here are some Day 1 landscape and fan photos to enjoy.
The best way to spend the sunset during Friday’s Day 1 at Riot Fest 2024 was at the Radical Stage at 7:25 pm. The legendary Cypress Hill took the stage to an absolutely insane crowd. It was our first set in the pit, since we came in on a train earlier in the day and took longer to adjust than expected, but it was a phenomenal way to start our Riot Fest weekend.
Cypress Hill treated fans to hits like “Hand on the Pump,” “Cock the Hammer,” “When the Shit Goes Down,” “I Wanna Get High,” and that was just within the first few tracks performed. “Insane in the Brain” and “Jump Around” made appearances as well, as they were played live and during (incredibly limited) breaks between acts.
After Wednesday night’s performance at the Uptown Theater, we might be able to forgive rock outfit Sons of Silver for having never been to Kansas City together before. Their opening set for Dogstar was energetic and fun. The band took moments to appreciate their position and the evening, ensuring an almost instant connection with the audience. After their set, the band took some time to meet fans by their merch table while Dogstar got situated on stage.
When was the last time you craved a great rock show and it actually delivered? We set out on a Wednesday night to see the storied Dogstar play at the historic Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Not only did the merchandise line snake through the front lobby, but it wrapped down the hall and into the bar area on the other side. I’ve been going to shows for nearly 30 years at this venue, and I’ve never seen anything like it.
From the moment they hit the stage, the trio delivered nonstop entertainment, rolling through a variety of keepers from their catalog. Their particular blend of alternative rock brings with it hints of goth and more theatrical vocals at times, keeping you on the edge of your seat, singing with the crowd. Of course, there were a couple of “I love you, Keanu!” screams from the crowd at times, but for the most part, the crowd was respectful of the reason we were all there… music.
With an incredible 33-year run so far, this band is showing no signs of slowing down.
Setlist
Blonde
Lust
How the Story Ends
Everything Turns Around
Out Of
Glimmer
Dillon Street
This Is What Math Is For
Shards of Rain
Overhang
Sleep
Runway
Marmalade
Breach
Just Like Heaven
Shallow Easy
Upside
Jackbox
I Wanna Be Sedated
Americana sensation Eddy Lee Ryder releases her first LP titled Sweet Delusions today. This NY-based artist is gracing us with 11 beautifully made songs, each piece delivering a romantic and almost magical experience.
Ryder’s voice has a distinct country twang to it, with soft-spoken and whimsical tones. I absolutely love the layering done with her background vocals– it truly adds an angelic element to the entire ensemble. As a previous string musician myself, I believe the album’s classical musicality is nothing to gloss over; almost every song is blessed with a symphonic melody, made possible by effortless violin and piano riffs.
“Highwaymen”, the focus track of the album, is a perfect representation of the youthful side of Sweet Delusions. Ryder yearns to travel and finds solace in being on the road. In order to be with her, you have to understand that sometimes she needs to get away from it all– but that doesn’t mean she wants to be alone. Ryder is looking for a partner-in-crime to accompany her on all life’s journeys. As a homebody, I cannot relate, but I can definitely see the appeal of “Highwaymen” for people my age. This song was made for all the free-spirited girlies out there! The chorus goes:
I hear the highway’s my man
Left my man for the highway
If you want to be free you must do it my way~
Her song titles do well in describing the message underlying each song, gracing the audience with straightforward and relatable phrases. Songs like “Sweet Delusions”, “Bad Decisions” (my favorite of the whole album), and “Joke is on Me” showcase the self-deprecating aspect of looking back on romantic relationships. As the titles imply, Ryder holds onto beliefs that she knows are not likely, but desperately wants to believe in them. She even fantasizes about her love interest ditching his current lover to go after her instead– delusional right? She wants to be with him forever, quite literally singing that she refuses to let these delusions go.
The rest of Sweet Delusions is filled with purely delightful symphonies and vivid imagery. “Smoke and Mirrors” implies the obvious– everyone puts on a front; Ryder and everyone else knows the lives people display on social media are not real, but what she does know for certain is that her love and connection with her partner is real. There’s a verse in the song that goes “Now they’re all changing their looks, buying self-help books” which I can relate to wholeheartedly!
The last couple of songs of the album are what really bring the whole LP to life. In “Only Real Cowboy”, Ryder depicts herself as a cowboy-era vixen at a nearby saloon; she is watching in awe as her love interest takes on the big, bad sheriff in town. In “County Fair”, Ryder does a wonderful job at illustrating the almost surreal county fair experience: summer heat, loud attractions, and fast crowds. Best of all, this song encapsulates being in the moment. Going to the county fair is a great first-date idea for young couples. Ryder is once again reflecting on past times, looking back on a romantic experience she had with a boy in her youth.