Riot Fest 2022 proved to be a joyful musical party, featuring all your misfit friends and a bill stacked with nearly 100 of your favorite punk, rock, industrial, indie, and hip hop artists. The festival took place over three days (September 16th-18th) at Chicago’s Douglass Park.
This year’s lineup not only featured rock’s elder statespeople, but also the artists they influenced. Where else could you see Glenn Danzig headline one night at 67 years old and the teenagers of the Linda Lindas play the next afternoon?
Friday’s sunny weather matched the mood. “This is the best day of my life, and I hope it’s your best day too,” said Anberlin frontman Stephen Christian. The Florida alt-rockers offered a high-energy set that kicked off with “Never Take Friendship Personal,” conjuring many circle pits. On the Radicals Stage, a technical delay didn’t spoil the good vibes for Jeff Rosenstock fans. They sang along to Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” and Sublime’s “Santeria” while they waited. The band ripped through a barrage of songs from each of Rosenstock’s four albums to the crowd’s delight, fittingly kicking off with “NO TIME.”
“I’m not a cool guy anymore,” declares Descendents singer Milo Aukerman as he sang “Coolidge” while joking about his prescription sunglasses and wearing a water bottle strapped to his chest. Delivering more than 20 songs in a set that ranged from their iconic 1982 debut Milo Goes to College to their 2021 LP 9th & Walnut, Descendents proved they are still very cool.
On the cozy Rebel Stage, Cloud Nothings performed one of the day’s hardest-rocking sets ,including playing “Separation” for the first time since 2013. As night fell, Riot Fest veterans Taking Back Sunday got the emo fans dancing as Adam Lazzara vamped on stage swinging the microphone around his neck. Chicago natives Alkaline Trio took a moment during their set to admire the city’s skyline. “I’ve never seen Chicago look so beautiful,” mused Matt Skiba.