Rain had been predicted for several days in the week before the start of Riot Fest 2024. The first two days of the festival were sweltering but dry. Sunday morning, however, was greeted by heavy clouds and a torrential downpour. This meant gates had a delayed opening, and some of Douglass Park was taped off. As a result, we at Dying Scene had a lighter day. But sets from Laura Jane Grace & Catbite performing Operation Ivy, The Vandals; and Pennywise more than made up for the muddy grounds and having to carry a bunch of plastic bags in case camera gear needed covering. Read all about it and check out the galleries linked from Instagram below.
Laura Jane Grace & Catbite performing a full set of Operation Ivy tunes? Umm, hell yeah. I know I’m not alone in that thinking after seeing the Riot Fest 2024 lineup. The fabulous Philadelphia ska outfit Catbite joined the dynamic Laura Jane Grace as the rain began to ease up, and the result was jaw-dropping. “What’s up Riot Fest?” asked Laura Jane Grace. Grace followed it up with this pledge:
“We’re going to do as many of these songs as we can.”
Rolling from one tune to another they did get to perform quite a few. Highlights of the exuberant set included not only the classic “Take Warning,” but also “Bombshell,” “Unity,“ and “Missionary.” It ended with the defiant “Officer.”
Together, Laura Jane Grace & Catbite might not be on their “way to save the world.” However, they brought a lot of unity to the festival grounds, renamed four years ago in honor of legendary abolitionists Frederick And Anna Murray Douglass. There is something pretty poetic and pretty punk rock in that. Check out more pics!
Orange County, CA icons, The Vandals attacked the stage in a most impish manner. For those uninitiated, most band members decked out in more subdued tones. Not guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, in his vivid yellows and oranges. Wearing bright colors is part of his modus operandi.
Per usual, the ever-limber Fitzgerald was a photographer magnet. Twisting himself into poses that seemed painful to even look at, he provoked a fist bump and this exchange with lead singer Dave Quakenbush:
DQ: “That was rad Warren dude, you still got it.”
WF: “I got hurt…almost hurt so many times.“
DQ: “And then you pulled it off, you looked cool.”
“WF: “I’m not hurt yet.”
DQ: “You looked really good doing it too.”
WF: “Thank you.”
Quakenbush, Fitzgerald, bass player Joe Escalante, and drummer Josh Freese played a rollicking set which included “Café 405,” ”Cowboy,” “It’s A Fact,” “N.I.M.B.Y.,” and “Anarchy Burger (Hold The Government.)”
As hoodie weather sets in, with the holiday season in the not-too-distant future, I look forward to blasting some “Oi To The World” on the regular. Lots more pics here.
Pennywise, my final set of the weekend, was an interesting experience. It seems appropriate that it was the penultimate band at the NOFX World Stage before NOFX played Riot Fest for the final time. For at least most of the photography allotted time, there were only two shooters in the photo pit. Perhaps due to Rob Zombie having a competing set, The other photographer informed me he was shooting for himself. With four cameras on his person, he jokingly acknowledged reminding people of the Dennis Hopper character in Apocolypse Now. A much nattier version, though. I also wondered which of the two of us, Pennywise singer Jim Lindberg would borrow a camera to take a photo of the crowd. It’s something I have seen him do in the past, but this afternoon, it was all about the music.
While the photo pit might have been a bit barren, the crowd was not. Whether the RF attendees were there for NOFX or Pennywise, or most likely both, did not matter. The Hermosa Beach, CA legends delivered a fusillade of songs starting with the recalcitrant “Fight Till You Die.”
Lindberg then looked to the sky, observing that “The clouds have parted for Pennywise, thank you very much Jesus.”
Pennywise also performed robustious versions of “Date with Destiny, and “Fuck Authority.” Fletcher Dragge prefaced that latter tune with a speech he described as the same one he’s been giving “for the last fucking 20 years.” But this has a special timeliness to it as he spoke to the crowd,
“Election year motherfuckers, who you voting for?”
Dragge was apparently pleased with the crowd’s response, continuing with, “A lot of boos, that’s good, that means you hate everybody right? That’s a good place.”
After adding that “they’re all motherfuckers, both sides are fucked,” and assuring everyone that “We’re all in this together,” the band launched into a ferocious version of the aforementioned “Fuck Authority.” It was a powerful battle cry and a much-welcome one to many of those on the lawn and surrounding the band on stage.
Pennywise also had a bit of fun covering just under a minute of NOFX’s “Bob.” The band ended with “Bro Hymn,” joined up front by all the friends, family, and fans watching the sides and rear areas of the stage. It was an exceptionally festive moment.
I know I’m amped up for the next chance to shoot this band. You wanna borrow my camera, Jim? Check out a bunch more pics of the PW set here!
You can again peruse Days 1 and Day 2 if the mood hits.
Once again, covering Riot Fest was abundantly fun, though extremely exhausting. And by the end of the festival I cannot wait to tear off the wristbands that tickled my skin all weekend long (I save them as mementos). When everything is complete I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. DONE!
Is it next year yet?