Reuniting a band to perform at a weekend long festival extolling the virtues of punk’s past doesn’t appeal to everyone. And it shouldn’t. The prospect of shelling out upwards of twenty bucks to see punks – classic or not – seems like something that band members, back in the ‘80s, would have strenuously objected to. It was a confounding, but stellar weekend.

Riot Fest, the fifth installment of the Chicago based event, featured enough variety within the punk genre to draw generous crowds at shows spread out across the city. Having only so much time to see bands involved some picking and choosing, though. So, I only hit up the Dead Milkmen and Screeching Weasel. Boss.

That first group, who performed at the Metro on Saturday, wielded a set list that drew pretty heavily from its first album – 1985’s Big Lizard in my Backyard. So, yeah those songs are almost a quarter of a century old, but Rodney Linderman and Joe Genaro led the group through it all with a surprising vigor for dudes of their vintage. Not a classic performance, but pretty blasted close.

The last evening of Riot Fest sported the hometown’s Screeching Weasel. And regardless of the spat between B. Weasel and J. Jughead, the line-up on Sunday evening worked a spate of classics that no one would be able to deny as impressive. The cops were there alongside what must have been a crowd pushing a thousand punkers, but it all went off without a hitch. And no, Alkaline Trio doesn’t rank high enough to get too many words dashed off about ‘em. That’s ok they’re rich.

And speaking of scratch, with attendance being nothing short of robust here in Chicago, it’s curious as to why the west coast installment of Riot Fest wasn’t held this year. With nothing bad to note – except for the burrito joint across the street from the Congress Theater – there’ll most likely be five more years of punks descending on Chicago during the early fall to watch old men recreate dusty memories. (Pictures courtesy of the ever stunning erin/rachel/kray.)

Previously:
Afro Punk Presents “The Niggy Tardust Experience”
Fucked Up :: The Black Hats
Thee Oh Sees/The Fresh & Onlys/CoCoComa (Live @ Schubas)

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