- Alison Green
- Tommy Stinson of the Replacements digs into his bass.
I saw several acts on Sunday that were clearly contending with fans who wanted the old stuff, even though the artists continue to put out new music. Bob Mould played new material and got into some Husker Du tracks, and the Dismemberment Plan juggled their beloved prebreakup tunes with songs off the forthcoming Uncanney Valley.
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In fact the whole weekend was like that, not just Sunday. Lots of reunited or long-inactive bands at Riot Fest just so happen to be dropping new albums (cough, cough), whether anybody’s paying attention or not. Mission of Burma and Dinosaur Jr., two groups who’ve done their golden legacies no disservice with their recent releases, snuck some new jams into their cohesive sets. And a few acts just needed to show up and do what they’ve been doing for years to make everybody happy—Andrew W.K., Gwar, Public Enemy, Peelander-Z. Thankfully the whole festival wasn’t one big nostalgia orgy: young up-and-comers Pet Symmetry and Radkey put on memorably tight and exuberant sets.
- Alison Green
- AFI bassist Hunter Burgan tests the structural integrity of his trousers.
Also frozen in time: Davey Havok. I remember like 12 or so years ago, he’d walk around Warped Tour with a black umbrella so his ashen complexion wouldn’t be compromised. He was mercilessly mocked, I’m sure, but turns out it was good policy because he looks great. And no more glittery makeup. It had been exactly a decade (and three albums I didn’t care about) since the last time I saw AFI live. I got real excited for “A Single Second” off 1997’s Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes, which they dedicated to Rise Against. Then there was lots of newer stuff. They lost me entirely with a cover of “Just Like Heaven.” My nostalgia itch was scratched all the same.
