Photos: Viagra Boys, Eshu Tune, ICP & more top Day 2 of Riot Fest 2023

Viagra Boys perform at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 16, 2023.

Day Two of Riot Fest began with Total Chaos… the band Total Chaos that is, who opened the Saturday festivities with a set on the Rise Stage on Sept. 16. From that point on Douglass Park hosted an incredible array of live music including sets from Warpaint, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, PUP and more.

Viagra Boys were an early highlight as their Roots Stage set quickly inspired circle pits and crowdsurfing everywhere the eye could see. Vocalist Sebastian Murphy embodied menace as he snarlingly led the group through fan favorites like “Ain’t No Thief” and “Punk Rock Loser.”

“This city is very interested in athletic activities such as baseball and eating hot dogs,” Murphy said introducing “Sports,” taking time out to note that Chicago foodies put entire salads on top of their hotdogs. “We’re interested in that as well.”

Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 16, 2023.

Later, armed with material from their stellar new album, In Times New Roman…, Queens of the Stone Age closed out the Roots Stage with rock and roll swagger.

Next door at the Riot Stage, Ben Gibbard led highly-anticipated back-to-back performances from Death Cab For Cutie – who performed their iconic 2003 album Transatlanticism from cover to cover – and The Postal Service’s Give Up album play. This epic display of musical endurance was no problem for Gibbard – who is an ultramarathon runner – especially while playing songs that have meant so much to so many for the past 20 years.

Eshu Tune performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 16, 2023.

Tucked away in a tree-lined area of the park, the Rebel Stage features some of the most exciting and buzzed about acts of the day including Corey Feldman, High Vis, Eshu Tune and Insane Clown Posse, who closed things out performing for a crowd of enthusiastic Juggalos.

Day 2 of Riot Fest 2023 also featured performances by Death Grips, Head Automatica, T.S.O.L. and more. Saturday photos can be found below and click here to see Friday’s recap and gallery. More information can be found at RiotFest.org.

(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)