Riot Fest | Chicago

Celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Chicago’s annual punk rock music festival, Riot Fest, returned to Douglass Park on September 19th through September 21st, 2025 with hardcore music and guaranteed mosh pits. Headlined by Blink-182 (Friday), Weezer (Saturday), and Green Day (Sunday), this three-day event brings together a unique population of music fans. You’ll see families excited to share their love of music with their young kids singing along to Blink-182’s “All The Small Things” next to a fully tattooed, Liberty spiked emo couple.

Musical festivals are known to bring people together simply for the love of music but, in today’s political climate, this year’s Riot Fest had a different undertone to it. Finding a community we belong to is one of the hardest parts of being human. Riot Fest, however, seemed to make that process effortless. Despite what was going on beyond the gates of Douglass Park, festival-goers were buzzing with excitement from sun up and past sundown all three days.

In addition to the star-studded headliners, the daily line ups were filled with incredible acts. Artists like Rico Nasty and Rilo Kiley brought unique sets to accompany the many punk rock musicians Riot Fest is known to host. Other artists, like GWAR and Green Day, used their time on stage to share their political views. GWAR openly beheaded an “Elon Musk” figure and disemboweled a “Donald Trump” actor, which garnered a lot of attention — both positive and negative — from online viewers. Green Day changed the lyrics of their hit song, “American Idiot,” to ‘I'm not a part of a MAGA agenda.’ On the flip side, a band called Screeching Weasel, stood up for our country’s first amendment right to free speech while also kicking a man out of their crowd for flipping the lead singer off.

The popular theme for many acts this year were album plays, where artists would play through the entirety of a specific album during their stage time, along with hits fans are always excited to see. Weezer played their 1994 album, Weezer, more commonly known as their Blue Album. The Front Bottoms celebrated the ten-year anniversary of their LP, Back On Top, along with hits like “Tighten Up,” “Joanie,” “Outlook,” and “Twin Sized Mattress” to close out their set. Further, fans were treated to The Academy Is…’s Almost Here, Knuckle Puck’s Copacetic, Bad Religion’s Suffer, and The Ataris’ So Long, Astoria. The concept of album plays received mixed reviews amongst fans in-person and online. While some were excited to hear their favorite LPs played in their entirety, others mentioned how they were missing out on the large discographies some artists have.

The most memorable moment of the entire weekend was the surprise appearance of John Stamos. For years, Stamos has been a staple on the Riot festival grounds, albeit in “butter form.” Yes, there is a literal butter (well, plastic) statue of John Stamos in the middle of RiotLand. In order for Stamos to appear, he approached the festival organizers with a list of demands. For example, there needed to be a John Stamos look-alike contest scheduled, a special Riot Fest x John Stamos t-shirt needed to be designed, John Stamos masks needed to be printed and distributed for fans to wear, and no one was allowed to make eye contact with John Stamos’ hair, among many other requests. Whether all of his demands were met or not, Stamos made his official Riot Fest debut as the drummer of The Beach Boys. He shared his thanks for Riot’s love for him and noted how excited he was to finally grace the Riot Fest stage.

Even though I wouldn’t call Riot Fest’s hardcore, punk rock genre my typical type of music, the three-day festival was a great way to spend a long weekend. While Riot does bring together a certain type of music lovers, there were still acts scheduled that anyone could find themself enjoying. Along with this, Riot provides an array of activities for fans to experience, like a small vendor and antique market to peruse, festival rides to enjoy, and a variety of food and drink vendors to try out each day. If you haven’t been to Riot Fest before, it is definitely a must-visit Midwest festival to experience at least once in your life.

Riot Fest has already announced their dates for next year, noting they will return to Chicago from September 18th — 20th, 2026. In recent years, Riot Fest’s return to Douglass Park has stirred up a lot of controversy from the neighborhood it occupies. Nestled in the middle of an already tightly packed community, residents despise the crowds and noise that the festival brings before, during, and after their three-day stay. Organizers have tried moving the festival grounds to a new location before ultimately returning to Douglass Park, so it is unclear what future years may bring. Regardless of where Riot Fest lands next year or beyond, we highly recommend checking out all it has to offer!

Words and photos by Isabel Dowell

Franz Ferdinand | Tampa

Franz Ferdinand performing at The Ritz Ybor in Tampa, FL on September 23, 2025. All photos taken by April Anderson.

The 502s | New York City

The 502s (with support from Arts Fishing Club) performing at Irving Plaza in New York City on September 23, 2025. All photos taken by Jessie Eshak.

The Mountain Goats | Atlanta

The Mountain Goats performing at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA on September 17, 2025. All photos taken by Christoph Vega.

Cuco | El Paso

Cuco performing at Lowbrow Palace in El Paso, TX on September 21, 2025. All photos taken by Isaac Nunez.

blessthefall | New York City

blessthefall (with support from Miss May I, Dark Divine, and Colorblind) performing at Webster Hall in New York City on September 26, 2025. All photos taken by Jessie Eshak.

Ninajirachi | Vancouver

Ninajirachi (with support from Syzy) performing at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver, BC on September 19, 2025. All photos taken by Ely Diaz.

The Beaches | Nashville

The Beaches (with support from Debbii Dawson) performing at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, TN on September 18, 2025. All photos taken by Hannah Turner.

97X Next Big Thing Legends | Clearwater

97X Next Big Thing Legends featuring Cage the Elephant, Dexter and The Moonrocks, and Girl Tones performing at BayCare Sound in Clearwater, FL on September 17, 2025. All photos taken by April Anderson.

Wolf Alice | Philadelphia

The last time Wolf Alice made a stop in Philadelphia was in 2017 at the Trocadero Theatre. After a nearly eight year wait, patient fans in the city arrived in droves for the band’s sold out show at Union Transfer on September 15th. The crowd was fairly diverse in age and excitement was evident in every cluster of friends. Merch lines were wrapped around the venue lobby, and spirits were high for a Monday evening.

Wolf Alice is composed of lead singer Ellie Rowsell, guitarist Joff Odie, drummer Joel Amey, and bassist Theo Ellis. Though Joff was notably absent from the lineup (he’s back at home awaiting the birth of his first child), substitute John Victor meshed well with the group. The setlist showcased a careful blend of fan favorites, both old and new, spanning across all four of their albums.

The band released their fourth record, The Clearing, on August 29th ahead of the start of their North American tour. Earning generally positive reviews from critics, the album fittingly marked a start of a new era for the group. The band took a new, yet nostalgically familiar direction with an innovative 70s sound. Their writing skillset shined when paired with the stylings of the album’s producer Greg Kurstin.

After an opening set from singer-songwriter Willy Mason, Wolf Alice dropped the lights and hit the stage to eager cheers from fans. They opened with “Thorns,” the well orchestrated first track on the new album thick with melodrama. Kickstarting a packed 21 song setlist, the band commanded the stage with an infectious cool and loose energy. The enthusiasm floated with ease between the members as they entertained the hopeful audience.

One of the peaks of the show started with a punchy, rousing rendition of “Yuk Foo” when Ellie replaced her microphone with a large megaphone to chant “Cause you bore me / You bore me to death, well deplore me / No, I don’t give a shit!” The rabid energy carried over right into “Play The Greatest Hits,” where Ellie’s guttural vocals shined as she crawled across the stage on all fours. In another bout of fervor, the band took a fun take on the outro of “Giant Peach” off of their debut album, interpolating bits of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”

The excitement was expertly balanced with some of their sentimental, slower songs. Joel took a moment to come out from behind the drums and lend his vocals to deliver a beautiful rendition of “Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)” with Ellie. The duo’s vocals also paired well over “White Horses” off of their latest album, a song rife with themes of identity and family over catchy acoustics.

The band closed the show with a two song encore — “Moaning Lisa Smile,” a nod to their debut album, and fan favorite “Don’t Delete The Kisses.” As the band danced around the stage, fans were surprised with a barrage of bubbles and a shining disco ball, matching the energy of the dream pop ballad. All in all, Wolf Alice put on a show that was definitely worth the wait.

SETLIST: 

1. Thorns

2. Your Loves Whore

3. Formidable Cool

4. Bloom Baby Bloom

5. Just Two Girls

6. Leaning Against the Wall

7. How Can I Make It Ok?

8. Safe From Heartbreak

9. White Horses

10. Smile 

11. Delicious Things

12. Bread Butter Sugar Tea

13. Yuk Foo

14. Play The Greatest Hits

15. Silk

16. Play It Out

17. Giant Peach

18. Bros

19. Sofa

ENCORE:

1. Moaning Lisa Smile

2. Don’t Delete The Kisses

Words and photos by AnnaMarie Otor

Dirty Honey | Sacramento

Returning to Ace of Spades in Sacramento, California, Dirty Honey delivered a high-energy performance that invigorated the crowd like an end of summer storm. The intimate venue amplified the raw power of the band’s sound, making their special guest performance for The Struts’ sold-out show feel like a personal jam session between the band and their loyal audience. The setlist balanced crowd favorites with fresh tracks, proving once again why Dirty Honey continues to leave a lasting impression whenever they hit the stage.

Taking to the spotlight with their signature blend of bluesy hard rock riffs and raspy vocals, the band had fans on their feet. Feral and chaotically fun energy emitted from each band member. Zooming into pit photographers, there was not a lens in the house that wasn’t fed by lead vocalist Marc LaBelle’s mischievous charm. Opening with “Gypsy” and “California Dreamin’” from their 2021 album Dirty Honey, concertgoers were starry-eyed, their energy palpable throughout the venue. Marc dedicated their 2019 EP Heartbreaker to the beautiful women in the audience, infusing the music with a playful and seductive vibe that captivated the crowd. Lead guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Jaydon Bean kicked things into high gear with the song’s intro as each instrument blended seamlessly to highlight Marc’s alluring vocalization.

Concertgoers settled in as the band got up close and personal, performing a new track titled “Too Good at Being Bad.” This fresh song, with its chuggy and upbeat intro, was warmly welcomed by the audience. Toasted sunset orange and bejeweled like lighting danced through the band as they moved back and forth, gradually building the energy. As the quartet transitioned to “When I’m Gone,” recently featured in the box office success A Minecraft Movie, the audience erupted, raising their festive libations in the air. Marc connected with adoring fans, excitedly stepping into the sea of concertgoers. His portal like appearance seamless, as he entered the glimmering gateway from the stage to the venue floor. Proceeding to deliver his honey infused signature style, he later leaped on to the bar top as the band wrapped up their set with “Rolling 7s,” from their 2019 EP. Balancing the dusk hued mic stand above the audience, fans sang along to each lyric. The lasting guitar notes of the song’s outro rang against the venue walls, while the band invited concertgoers to meet them after the show. Truly setting the tone for the eagerly anticipated UK headliner. There’s no denying that this increasingly popular rock band will continue to shine brightly, like a star at first night.

As the last rays of day gave way to the sounds of a summer night, The Struts’ astounding set left fans seeing mirrored disco sparkle. Streams of glittered purple and gold was the headliner’s imagined aura that evening, cascading onto the streets of downtown Sacramento. Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their debut album Everybody Wants The Struts, the band had the audience jumping, with hands raised to the sky, as they lively performed popular hits “Could Have Been Me” from their 2016 album Everybody Wants The Struts and “Primadonna Like Me” from their 2018 album Young&Dangerous. Concertgoers, who came for a taste of honey, left with a gold dusted strut. Lead vocalist Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott, and drummer Gethin Davies did not disappoint to li-li-light ‘em’ up as the rhythmic clapping of the audience echoed through the exuberantly joyous evening.

Join the celebration for the 10 year anniversary of Everybody Wants The Struts, with special guest Dirty Honey, as The Struts 2025 Northern American tour comes to a city near you: the struts.com / dirtyhoney.com

Words and photos by Andrea Garman

Spacey Jane | Brooklyn

Spacey Jane’s September 11th concert turned the atmosphere of the industrial Brooklyn Steel into that of a summer block party. The Australian band’s glowing indie-rock anthems felt all the more familiar performed live, filling the audience with a nostalgia for a moment that hadn’t yet passed.

The comfortable stage presence shared by Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, and Peppa Lane eagerly invited the audience into their sun-drenched soiree. Any perceived separation between stage and floor evaporated. Cornu’s high-top Converse and Lane’s ribboned pigtails emphasized the carefree image of a casual kick-back on the lawn. The band frolicked around the stage all night, kicking and jumping like kids on a trampoline, somehow never missing a note.

Their latest album and focus of this tour, If That Makes Sense, released in May. The new record played outside of the bands’ comfort zone, experimenting with production elements and pushing Harper’s range to higher limits. New sonic challenges were conquered while still abiding to Spacey Jane’s signature formula: existential themes sugarcoated by warm guitars and catchy drum beats.

Standout tracks “Through My Teeth” and “Estimated Delivery” from If That Makes Sense kicked off the evening. “Estimated Delivery” was the most anticipated song on the setlist for dedicated Spacey Jane fan Jonathan Kirby. This was his fifth time catching the band in their purest form, as he mentioned, “I’ve also seen them in Austin, Dallas, Chicago, and Brooklyn the last time they were here.” At that last Brooklyn show, his devotion took him as far as bribing the bouncer to get him and seven other friends in after they couldn’t secure tickets.

Longtime listeners like Kirby were in for a treat at the present performance, thanks to a setlist that recognized favorites from across every era of Spacey Jane. As Cornu plucked the first few notes of “Skin,” it was easy to pick out the fans who have been in it for the long run. Smiles swept across their faces as they relished in the sweetness of the band’s first full-length album, Sunlight.

As the show progressed into “Lunchtime” and “Whateverrrr,” the familial feeling strengthened between audience and artists. Harper may have been hitting every lyric just as it sounded on the recorded versions, but that didn’t keep him from sharing the mic. Fans seamlessly took over the chorus of “Whateverrrr” and the callouts of “f*ck this” that decorate “Lunchtime.”

The harmony of electric and acoustic guitar on “Houseplants” soothed the room, preparing the crowd for what Harper referred to as “a Spacey Jane classic.”  “Feeding the Family” shot a burst of energy through the audience. It was followed up by “Thrills,” which kept bodies jumping, honoring the band’s garage rock beginnings.

Capitalizing on the bliss of the moment, Lama hopped on the mic to acknowledge that this show in particular was extra special — it was Harper’s birthday. As a member of the bands’ crew brought out a cake with candles ablaze, everyone in attendance broke into a birthday serenade. The moment was without a doubt the most memorable exchange of the night.

Lama thumped the bass drum to resume the setlist with “Headcold.” Hips swayed and heads bopped through the next few songs, but the crowd was careful not to overexert their energy. Anticipation radiated off of them, so thick it could’ve formed a fog. Fans knew the beloved “Booster Seat” was soon to come.

By the time the song hit the chorus, all hands surrendered upwards. Hundreds of voices joined Harper and Lane in singing to the sky. Lane’s delicate backing vocals added a new dimension to the already-atmospheric track.

Their last hurrah — the encore, concluded with “So Much Taller” and “Lots of Nothing.” Harper paraded the mic around like a staff, wrapping his arms around his bandmates, and motioning the crowd to match their energy. His and Lane’s floating harmonies on the bridge of “Lots of Nothing” ended the evening in a lullaby

Concerts often serve as a first or an early introduction between a band and their audience. In the case of this performance, fans left the venue feeling the same fuzziness they would after a reunion with familiar old friends.

The house lights stalled off for a few more minutes while ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” held the tone Spacey Jane had set. Dance circles formed as the remaining crowd took their turn to prance around just as the band had done. For that moment, the ceiling beams opened up to a big blue sky and the concrete floor retreated under lush grass. The room rejoiced in camaraderie and contentment — the kind you’d feel twirling about in your best friend’s backyard.

Words by Emma Ehrhard

Photos by Olive Jolley

Japanese Breakfast | Lawrence

Japanese Breakfast performing at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS on September 8, 2025. All photos taken by Jake Donaldson.

Breaking Benjamin + Three Days Grace | Newark

Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace performing at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on September 10, 2025. All photos taken by Jessie Eshak.

Above & Beyond | Forest Hills

Above & Beyond performing at Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, NY on September 5, 2025. All photos taken by Mike Golembo.

Hopscotch Music Festival | Raleigh

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Third Eye Blind | New York City

Third Eye Blind performing at Terminal 5 in New York City on September 4, 2025. All photos taken by Andrew Pintado.

Jake Minch | Brooklyn

Jake Minch performing at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, NY on August 28, 2025. All photos taken by JoAnn Snavely.

Nova Twins | New York City

Nova Twins performing at Rough Trade in New York City on August 23, 2025. All photos taken by Janae Stewart.

Pink Martini | Los Angeles

Pink Martini performing at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on August 23, 2025. All photos taken by Caroline Brodt.