Reggies hosted a raucous Sunday triple bill of two veteran bands and a new band composed of punk rock veterans. Riverboat Gamblers was the headliner with The Evictions and Violets in support. Please hit the links in the band names below to check out the Instagram galleries from the show!
Riverboat Gamblers, out of Denton, Texas, returned to Reggies for another banger of a show.
The set, generous in both quantity and quality, included “Rattle Me Bones,” “The Gamblers Try Their Hand at International Diplomacy,”“Black Nothing of a Cat,” “A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology,” “Don’t Bury Me… I’m Still Not Dead,” “The Art of Getting Fucked,” among others.
It was a rollicking show for a rowdy crowd, or perhaps, vice versa. In any case, it was great to see Riverboat Gamblers back in Chicago again.
Riverboat Gamblers will be in Las Vegas at the end of May as part of Punk Rock Bowling (PRB). If you can’t catch the band at PRB, be on the lookout for the next time it hits the road.
Violets is one of Chicago’s newest punk bands. However, the members are anything but rookies in the Windy City music scene. Composed of members of Naked Raygun, The Methadones, Blood People, the band had played but a handful of shows by the time it hit the stage in the rock room at Reggies.
The excitement for this new crew was palpable. The group was helmed on this night by Aly Jados, from Blood People, on lead vocals and guitar, with Naked Raygun‘s Fritz Doreza on bass and vocals. Bill Stephens on guitar, along with The Methadones‘ drummer Mike Soucy and his bandmate in that group, Simon Lamb, hanging out at the back of the stage area. The quintet was tight and solid as to be expected of a band with such a pedigree. However, there was a freshness and excitement present as well, and it was obvious the band members were having a good time. This vibe was shared by the attendees as well.
“Eras” is a single off the band’s self-titled debut EP, which was released on May 2, 2025.
The Evictions, on Facebook, self-describes itself as “High Power Fuzz Rock from Chicago.” It’s perfectly fitting as the band’s music and the trio’s looks evoke rock star auras. This was especially true of bass player Chris Polish, who spent the whole set in near-perpetual motion, jumping, dropping to the floor, whirling, and doing just about every other move you can imagine. Izzy Price on drums, and vocalist and guitar player Jonny Wator, on guitar, also provided high-spirited performances. The Evictions blasted through its set, which included “Off the Rails,” “Last Call,” “Spotlights,” “Easy,” and “Head on Right” to jump-start a pretty entertaining evening.
As for The Eviction’s near future, Chris Polish revealed to me some of the band’s plans.
“We’re going to start recording an EP in the coming weeks, for fall release, at the Asheton family house (Stooges) in Ann Arbor called 107 Sound. We’re friends with Ron Asheton’s sister, Kathy.“
The near southside part of State Street in Chicago was definitely the place to be for a terrific Sunday evening show. If only all Sunday nights were this fun. Cheers!