If you’ve talked to me enough in the past few years, then you know I love Riot Fest. It’s slowly become one of the best things in my life, and although I was only able to go for just one day this year, it was still that special kind of mental health boost and emotional valve release that only a festival can be.

I was there for just one day, and I’m still riding that high.

Everyone’s fest experience is different, is guided by the bands they’re there to see. My day started with Chicago’s own Pixel Grip, who came out swinging with their trademark leather-and-sunglasses, sexy-synth, EBM darkvibe sound. My only complaint was that they played during the day—which, yeah, it makes sense, that with their being a comparatively smaller band they’d open at 11:30 am, but Pixel Grip should be playing at 11:30 pm. They feel like a nighttime band (the leather has something to do with that). But their performance and their energy all felt just as shadowy and sensual as it would be at a venue like Empty Bottle, especially with “Bet You Do” and “ALPHA PUSSY.”

Another Chicago band, Sincere Engineer, played that afternoon too. They have my heart—I discovered them when they opened for Laura Jane Grace earlier this year, and they’re one of my favorite bands to come out of the city’s music scene. Down to earth, relatable (dare I say: sincere?), lyrics belted out by the inimitable Deanna Belos kept the crowd yelling along with lines like “I’m a walking open wound!” from “Anemia” and the cathartic “Fireplace.” In celebration of their new single, “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7” fans waved corndogs in the air that they then brought into what might have been the world’s first (per Deanna’s term) corndog circle pit.

For both bands, the shows were milestones, the largest they’ve played so far. Throughout their sets, both frontwomen continued to express their disbelief at playing Riot Fest—but it’s a well-deserved honor for them.

HEALTH was a solid middle of the day performance, and LS Dunes the same at the sunset. HEALTH slides between industrial and metal so well that during any given song you’re not sure if you should be raving or banging your head—but in the best way. I’m not super into LS Dunes, but they’re still talented as all hell and worth seeing, even if just to watch that lineup play.

Taking Back Sunday was my big show for that night. Although I left a bit early, I stuck around long enough to rock out to “Set Phasers to Stun” and “A Decade Under the Influence.” They played songs from their newest album, 152, including the existentially uplifting “S’old.” I didn’t see Adam toss the microphone around like a fucking whipchain while I was there, but I really hope that at some point he did. (By now he has to be pretty good at swinging that thing around on stage without hitting John Nolan, right?).

New band discoveries for me were the Hives (whose frontman has a hilarious, charismatic stage presence), Princess Goes (fronted by Michael C. Hall) and Brutus. I caught some of St. Vincent, who was better than Beck (sorry Beck fans). This Riot Fest was special in that NOFX played all three nights as part of a farewell tour. I have no idea who these guys are, but I caught a little of their set and liked it, so they’re now on the TBL list.

Speaking of things that made this Riot Fest special, we saw the premiere of Riot Land: an area with special attractions and stores where the Rebel Stage used to be. It’s a cool addition to the fest, injecting some variety into between-show activities. The “Riot Fest Historical Society” has some exhibits from bands and shows of yesteryear, including some tongue-in-cheek additions:

Plus, this Gotham City-looking shit:

But really, the centerpiece of Riot Land, and the entire reason we all went there: the John Stamos butter statue.

Not actually made of butter, I think. It wouldn’t have survived in that sun.

But I didn’t lick it to check, so I can’t be sure.

Related additions were the Striporama burlesque shows (no photos for this one, you pervs) and the metal-themed Hellzapoppin carnival sideshow, which had contortionists:

Sword swallowing:

A guy who stuck a giant corkscrew in through his nostril and out through his mouth:

And another guy who used a set of crossbows to shoot an apple off his own head.

Their vibe compliments Riot Fest’s perfectly. I hope we get to see them at future shows.

So while it was just one day, and while the lineup wasn’t as stacked as last year (for me, anyway) my love for Riot Fest in all its good, bad, and sometimes plain fucking weird glory, was still one of the best days of my year. Bet your dehydrated ass I’ll be there for the next one.

Postscript: Speaking of dehydration, anybody else notice that people don’t really throw water bottles up into the air at festivals anymore? I swear that used to be way more of a thing: you’d be rocking out at Warped Tour and then get decked/refreshed by a bottle of overpriced Aquafina. I only realized this because I’ve noticed so little of it in the past few years. It can’t be due to inflation, because water is free at Riot Fest. Also, it can’t be because people suddenly and collectively realized that it’s kind of a dick move. (I don’t have that much faith in people, especially with the overall state of festival etiquette right now.)

All I can hope is that people know that they should be drinking water during these 80-degree days, instead of wasting it by launching bottles of it at people. But at least they’re drinking water… although I still saw a couple of people getting helped out by medics due to heat exhaustion. Y’all, drink your Dasani.

Oh, also this was the name of a toilet section: