E345 Riot Fest 2027 Wishlist

Aaron: You're listening to The Itch. My name is Aaron, and this week we are scratching The Itch for a bonus episode. I promise I am not getting into the habit of making a bunch of episodes without the guys. However, throughout our Riot Fest coverage, I had already recorded and published on the socials videos explaining some acts that I would love to see on Riot Fest 2027, and so I figured since 90% of it was already recorded, why not repurpose that as a podcast episode as well? So that's what you're gonna get in this episode. We already went over everything that happened at Riot 2026, a couple of interviews, this time we're looking forward to what I anyway hope for Riot Fest 2027. One caveat about this is that while Riot Fest is typically a punk, emo, slightly nostalgia-heavy festival, my taste leans a little bit more into alt rock territory, and so that is where the majority of these recommendations will come from. But I was mindful to consider what whether or not the acts that I mentioned legitimately would feel right on a Riot bill, and I believe that they do. So while the punk is represented, my personal list is not as heavy as your average Riot-goer's might be. So check these out, stay tuned after the outro for a fun little surprise, and without any further ado, here's the wishlist. Here's who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027. 

Aaron: Riot Recovery is in full swing. This is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the Fresh Faces edition. I don't think any of these bands have been on the lineup before. If they have, don't @ me, just add them again. First off, Fury in Few, the guys on this shirt right here. Riot always needs a couple of good two-pieces, and they don't get much better than this one. The riffs are there, the energy is there, the crowd play is there, and they just dropped one of the best albums of the year. You gotta do this one. Next up, Islander. Their sound is heavy and versatile. Their frontman Mikey Carvajal wears wrestling face paint and is friends with Sting and Darby Allin. They are the perfect combination of Riot's love of punk rock and pro wrestling. Third on the list, my Mo Bros from Missouri, Hang Your Hate. These guys have such a DIY aesthetic. They have a great sound and a great live show, and they will take advantage of every opportunity and really maximize that potential. So I would love to see them get that opportunity here. Fourth on the list, Des Rocks. His style is perfect for almost any festival, to be honest. He is a natural showman with a great band behind him. He leaves it all on the stage and has a sound that really bridges the past and the present and maybe the future of rock and roll. And finally, GANG!. These dudes were pretty much made for Riot Fest. They're skate punks wearing green masks who don't take themselves that seriously. They are hated by Tony Hawk, and they will have songs that get stuck in your head for days after the festival is over. So that's five bands I would love to see on Riot Fest 2027. Stay tuned, we've got more of these coming.

Aaron: This is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the Throwback edition. And yes, I know that a lot of Riot Fest lineup is throwbacks, so we're gonna add a handful more to the list. First up, St. Louis heroes, my hometown, The Urge. These guys only play a few shows a year, and I think making Riot Fest one of them is a no-brainer. No pun intended on that one. Their Bad Brains-y sound is gonna be a hit with the audience, and their frontman Steve Ewing just keeps getting better with age. Next on the list, The Toadies. They may be mostly known for Rubberneck, but they just put out an album this year that is rock solid. They've got the riffs, they've got the attitude, they're the kind of band that people see on the bill and get excited about. 311. Give these guys a co-headline slot and just watch the people smile. There's a lot of intense bands on Riot, and bringing these guys out there to kinda even things out just seems like the right move. They're phenomenal musicians, and their catalog is so deep that you're never gonna get the same set twice. Next, Lit. If you want the biggest sing-along ever, put these guys on the stage and wait for them to play My Own Worst Enemy. As a bonus, you'll get a whole bunch of other super catchy power pop songs along the way. Goldfinger. How has this band never played Riot Fest? It boggles the mind. Superman is literally the anthem of skate punk, and John Feldmann will have produced half of the bands on any lineup that he's on. Let's end that drought. Speaking of droughts, we're gonna go for an extra one here. Local H. I don't know what keeps these guys from playing Riot Fest. I don't know if it's a radius clause or some beef or if it's just the goodness of their heart leaving spots open for other acts instead since they're playing around Chicago a lot anyway. But come on, these guys are rock royalty. This needs to happen. Stay tuned, we've got some more coming.

Aaron: This is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the UK edition. We're bringing some bands in from overseas. First on that list is Hot Milk. This band has every bit of the rebellious spirit that a punk festival needs and all of the skill. Han is one of my absolute favorite front women in music right now, and her energy is off the charts. This show is great. Next up, Boston Manor. They have a super versatile rock sound that can be anything from electronic alternative to an emo pop punk style. Henry Cox is a great frontman. Mike Cunniff's riffs are sick. This band gets the crowd moving. Third, the Nova Twins. There may be no two cooler people to watch on stage at a rock show than Amy Love and Georgia South. Their sound is fresh, so is their vibe. Everything about them brings that feminine energy that Riot Fest loves to champion. Next up, Unpeople. They are about to drop one of the riffiest, most sing-alongiest albums of the year. They're immensely likable, and they orchestrate one of the best circle pits in the game right now. I don't think they've actually even been to the States yet, but if Riot could get them for their US debut, that would be a steal. Next, Alt Black Era. Two young sisters who somehow combine drum and bass with alt rock into a seamless sound. Their songwriting continues to get better, and they would be an absolute hit on the lineup. And as a bonus, I'm gonna throw in Plaiins. Because only one of them is technically from the UK, the rest of the band is from Germany. But these guys are an act that I think could blow up in front of the right audience. They hit that perfect balance of humor and social commentary that I think the best Riot bands do. Absolutely, I would be adding them to the lineup. Stay tuned, we've got more coming.

Aaron: This is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the Bring 'Em Back edition. Now, these are bands that have all been there before, Most of which I saw in person and loved. They're also mostly people who have been on The Itch podcast, and so I'm vouching for them not only as performers but as people. Starting there, the Oxymorrons. Some of the coolest guys in the game. They have a great chameleon sound that pulls from punk and hip-hop and Latin influences. It's all over the place. Their crowd work is top tier. They will make any bill better. Also, they just dropped a great new single. Next up, The Barbarians of California. I saw these guys the night before Riot this year, and I was legitimately worried that they were so good that they were going to overshadow the whole festival. The festival was great, but I also wasn't entirely wrong. Their live set is bonkers. Insane riffs, some of the catchiest, absurdist lyrics that I've heard in a long time. It's wild to think that they're essentially a reconfigured AWOLNATION as a hardcore band, but it 1000% works. Next, Sleigh Bells. This is a band that can wow you with the nostalgia of their earlier albums and the excellence of their new ones. Their live show is a whole party. It would raise the decibel level of the whole festival. You gotta book them. Winona Fighter. Also great people, great work ethic. These guys have been pushing themselves further and further up, and it's been fantastic to see. Their debut album was no skips, and they will absolutely steal the show from whoever has the misfortune of performing after them. And finally, Calva Louise. These guys were great the last time they played at Riot, and they've only stepped up their game since then with what they've released. They seamlessly somehow move between metal, electronic sounds, Latin sounds, piano interludes, everything in the most beautiful way. Stay tuned, we've still got a few more.

Aaron: This is a big one. It is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the Album Play edition. A feature of any good festival is having a few bands play classic albums all the way through. And I found a couple of albums with 20- or 30-year anniversaries that I think would be fantastic fits. So we're gonna start right at the top with a headliner. The Prodigy, The Fat of the Land. The Prodigy played Shaky Knees this year, and I was hoping they would be one of the artists announced as also playing Riot. It didn't happen, but next year could work too, with an album play of an all-time classic in the electronic world. And it would turn the entire festival into a party. This is an easy one. Bringing it back a little bit, Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen. These guys have been celebrating 30 years of their debut album this year, so why not carry over into next year? I don't know if they plan to do live shows, but reuniting bands is a Riot Fest specialty, so who's to say it couldn't happen? Speaking of reuniting, another 30-year anniversary next year, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Let's Face It. Dicky has already talked about wanting to get the band back together. Every Riot needs a little ska, and The impression That I Get is arguably the defining song of that particular wave. This will be an awesome one. Moving on to 20-year anniversaries: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. My personal favorite Spoon album. These guys are one of the most solid bands out there, and they still sound fantastic live, as evidenced by their performance at Riot 2024. I could go for Spoon on the bill every year. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky. Riot loves booking some Chicago bands, rightfully so, and especially when they're as good as Wilco. If they could make this happen, I'm positive it would be a crowd pleaser. And then one that's a me pleaser, Jimmy Eat World, Chase This Light. Those boys have spent all year going hard celebrating 25 years of Bleed American, as they should. You got to think by next year they'll be ready to freshen things up with a new setlist. So why not do one of their catchiest, danciest, most fun album? Stay tuned. We have one more.

Aaron: All right. To wrap this up, this is who I want to see at Riot Fest 2027, the Odds and Ends edition. These are acts that either didn't fit into the other categories or that I thought of after recording those. So we're putting them all together here because they're still worth a mention. To start, Squint. More St. Louis hometown love for me here. I saw these guys on their run with The Barbarians of California, and they knocked it out of the park. They've got this cool sound that takes hardcore and adds just enough kind of alt rock riffs and vibe to it to make it feel a little more accessible. Plus, their set usually includes a cover song that I mentioned in one of the other videos, That will put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces. Next up, Bleach. This is another comeback band, really. These guys were out of the game for about 20 years. They just came back with all of the energy that one could ask for. I saw them at the Subterranean, and I wouldn't call their music punk per se, but their show absolutely is. Third, Kid Kapichi. I saw this band on Shiprocked 2025, and even though they've gone through some changes in the past year or so, I have no doubt that their live show is still just as powerful and intense as it was then. They're definitely a fight-the-system band and the kind of guys that will bring the riot to Riot. Next up, The New Pornographers. I saw The Beths at Riot this year, and it reminded me how much I love some good jangly power pop, and no one does it better than the News Photographers. Plus, if you want to do an album play, 2027 is 20 years of Challengers, which is a fantastic album, so you couldn't go wrong there either. Next, Flight of the Conchords. Every year has a comedy act or two, and there are few acts that can compete with Flight of the Conchords when it comes to comedy. They don't perform often, so booking them is kind of a big deal. But if Riot could pull that off, I am positive that that stage would be packed. As a bonus, I'm throwing this one in here. Wendy's. Hear me out. If this whole thing doesn't run its course quickly, I could absolutely see a crazy scenario where they somehow form an actual band with Wendy and probably Wendell fronting it and play a few shows here and there with their fast food-based emo punk. And if something crazy like that happens, Riot's the perfect place. That's probably all of these. If I come up with more, maybe I'll throw some more out there. We'll see. Check in, let me know who you want to see.

Aaron: Alright, so I did in fact come up with more, and I'm gonna mention them here. We're gonna start with Father of Peace. You heard me talk about these guys a couple months back in an episode. I think they are phenomenal. I think that they have just the strangest energy and the kind of thing that would be a big hit on this lineup. I'm also gonna suggest MxPx because, hey, if you listen to my earlier suggestions, we've already got Goldfinger, so we've already got Mike Herrera. Why not bring these other boys out there too? That also ups my punk quotient. Another genre you hear a lot of at Riot Fest is shoegaze, and one of my favorite shoegazy grungy acts right now is a French band called Paerish. They're about to drop an album that, from what I've heard of it, sounds fantastic. I'm gonna recommend them for next year as well. Going back to a little bit more throwbacks, some bands that are active or at least semi-active and still doing good stuff, The Juliana Theory. You've got to make room for those 2000s emo bands. The Juliana Theory is the kind of band that is always welcome on a lineup like this, especially for me because they're one of my favorites of that style. I mentioned Lit earlier and it reminded me of another band from that era that kind of had a similar style and maybe even a similar number of hits, and that would be Eve 6. These guys are fantastically self-aware. They know people are there for the big hits, and even though their own style has evolved, Riot actually might be the kind of place where the new stuff fits in too. I feel like they deserve that. Another band with Chicago ties, and that is Veruca Salt. I could put Veruca Salt on any festival lineup and be happy about it. Why not make it this one? One that came to me particularly late in the game, but an indie rock band that I think would be a hit: Nada Surf. You may only know them from their big hit Popular from about 30 years ago, But they have evolved since then into such thoughtful indie songwriters that just bring a little bit of joy when you hear them, and we always need that on a lineup. And finally, another band that makes no sense on any lineup and thus makes sense on every lineup: Primus. I'm not turning them down anytime. This place is a festival for the weirdos. And they are the kings of the weirdos. Book 'em. That's my wishlist for Riot Fest 2027, that is who I want to see. Who do you want to see? Chime in, let us know, maybe tag Riot Fest and Riot Mike so that it goes even further. We'll work together, we'll make this stuff happen. That should wrap up this year's coverage of Riot Fest, so thank you for listening to The Itch. My name is Aaron, and until next time, Riot Fest sucks.

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Aaron: All right, I am here in one of the not quiet but more quiet places I was able to find on the grounds at Riot Fest as Brian Fallon and the Painkillers perform behind me. We're on to Day 2 now, but I think it's only fair that we catch up with Day 1's Shirt Alert. If you have listened to our podcast, you know that occasionally we will do the Shirt Alert wherein we report back on the best and/or craziest shirts that we saw at any given concert. So without any further ado, first one up: I'm white but not that white. Second: hummus vacuum. Seems like a pretty good hobby, actually. Pretty healthy. Third: no laws on Lower Wacker, which is the most Chicago shirt that I have seen so far. Next up: A shirt that just said balls. That's it. Okay. Not a shirt, actually, but four old dudes in sombreros. Worth mentioning. Arrest the president. Solid statement. A hat that just said pierogi on it, which I fully support. Also a hat that had STL on it, which I respect. I have support for my hometown. However, It was the Cardinals City Connect logo, which is super whack whenever you already have one of the most iconic letter logos in all of sports. All right, what's up next? Angry music makes me happy. Largely agreed. Sir Racha, which had a picture of like a knight, like on a playing card. Respect. And remember when RoboCop shot that dude in the— We're just gonna stop there.

Aaron: Okay, as my mind, body, and soul attempt to recover from Riot Fest, there are still a few points of business that have to be addressed here. First off is the rest of the Shirt Alert. You may have seen the video of the Day 1 Shirt Alert where we identify all the best and craziest shirts that we see. You may also have seen the Teen Mortgage video wherein they won the Shirt Alert right off the bat at the festival. We're going to combine Day 2 and 3 into one video here. Main reason being that on Day 3, I was not trying to look at shirts. I was trying to survive the mud. Most people were wearing ponchos or raincoats and things like that anyway. Not that easy to get a whole lot of stuff, but there were a few, so I tagged them along to what I had for Day 2. All right, let's get started. First off, buy art, not cocaine. Great advice. Someone please tell GWAR. Also, watch our interview with GWAR. Primus. Love Primus. Only thing that sucks worse than Riot. Pop culture no longer applies to me. Felt very seen by that one. Two different dudes dressed as wizards. Also at least two different people wearing Penta apparel, whether it was a shirt or a mask. Cero miedo. Swift, swift, swift. The mark of the beast. I'm not a witch, I'm your wife. Shout out to my favorite movie, The Princess Bride. Speaking of great movies. Saw a shirt of one that was very apropos of Riot Fest. Empire Records. St. Louis Blues. Big love for the hometown. One with just a cat butthole saying hi. I'm not flirting, I'm just hot and like to talk. Fair. Entirely fair. Kind of helpful. Still a little confusing. Some of us just don't get the signals quite right. Drink warm beer. I think we all know why. And finally, the new most Chicago shirt I saw at Riot Fest: My Pope drinks Malort. There you have it.