Riot Fest 2019 Day 2: Rise Against, Avail, Turnstile and Anthrax Bring the Hard to the Park; The Struts Evoke the Glam Rock 1970’s and The HU Combines New with Very Old

Words: Fredric Hall
Photos and Additional Words: Meredith Goldberg

Day two of Riot Fest 2019, the 15th Anniversary event, saw a bit of a change up. This was a bit slim on the punk side as the metal took over. Still, they were some standouts. You have Avail doing their “Over the James” album set. Honestly, there really is not that much to talk about. Singer Tim Barry mentioned it was his daughter’s birthday which got a collective “awww” from the already captivated crowd.

Avail

Avail

Anthrax

Anthrax started a few minutes early with a riff from Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell”, which totally caught me off guard. From there they went into their setlist which was voted by fans via their website. With the band donning Bulls jerseys they tore through all the hits, including “Caught in a Mosh”, “I am the Law” and their cover of “Got the Time”. No “Among the Living” though. Sorry. The did, however, end the set with “Indians” which really got the crowd in uproar. Granted, this isn’t really “punk” but, like I said it was slim pickings that day.

Turnstile

Turnstile

Turnstile provided for an especially high energy set under the bright middle afternoon sun. Numerous band members kept busy going airborne and hopping back and forth from stage to speakers. You got the feeling the band members would have like to be performing in the crowd and would be if not for the wide barricaded area/photo pit. Turnstile in a non-barricade venue must surely be mandatory to experience for anyone calling themselves fans of the group.

The Struts

Derby U.K.’s The Struts, with lead singer Luke Spiller, channeling the spirit of Freddie Mercury, took over the Rise Stage. A welcome dose of variety to complement the otherwise predominantly hard-core punk and metal heavy day. Spiller, in a red glittery outfit and thick black eyeliner; and bassist Jed Elliot clad in black leather pants and his leather shirt unbuttoned half way down his evoked 1970’s glam rock.

The Struts

The HU

For many Riot Fest attendees, The HU afforded them possibly their first introduction to what the band calls Hunnu Rock. The HU, from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, combine Mongolian throat singing with traditional instruments such as “The morin khuur (Mongolian: морин хуур), also known as the horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation.” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morin_khuur].

The HU

Senses Fail

Rise Against

Rise Against

The day ends with Rise Against headlining the evening. Singer Tim McIlarth mentioned he is from Douglas Park (where Riot Fest is held) which obviously get applause from the crowd before going into the hit “Savior” followed by “Prayer of the Refugee.”

Please check out our gallery of additional day 2 photos below!