What’s New

Here’s a look at some of the sets from Day 2 of Riot Fest:

Sublime with Rome

Sublime with Rome performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

With the death of frontman Bradley Nowell in 1996, Sublime could have very well gone by the wayside. Instead, the project was resurrected in 2009 by founding member and bassist Eric Wilson, who recruited new singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez and the project took on the new moniker Sublime With Rome, indicative of their penchant to be both an homage to the ska-reggae juggernauts while leaving room for going rogue with new material.

During the band’s Riot Fest set, which Ramirez called their “best” one at the festival yet by the time they wrapped, the memory of the band and Nowell were held close to the chest.

Vintage video footage of the late singer played during their recognizable hit “What I Got,” and Ramirez ended that song with a message for Nowell to “rest in peace.”

Though the set was dogged with constant sound bleed from nearby Motion City Soundtrack, Sublime With Rome’s chill vibes were no match in the contest; there was still much to cling to in the performance. Though the material was mostly legacy in nature, they did well on the band’s beloved material like “Santeria,” “Summertime,” and “April 29, 1992 (Miami),” anchored by a live horn section and DJ.

Fishbone

Fishbone performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The Radical Stage was groove-funk central on Friday with a back-to-back double feature of two of the greatest alternative bands to come out of the overcrowded ’80s coastal rock scenes, Fishbone and Living Colour.

L.A.’s Fishbone got things started with a special treat, playing in full their seminal album, 1991’s “The Reality Of My Surroundings” to commemorate its landmark 30th anniversary this year. This is now par for the course for Riot Fest, with the festival organizers somehow negotiating with a number of the bands on the lineup every year to exclusively reunite or play albums in full. And whatever they are sacrificing to the music gods to make it happen time and again, it’s truly something to appreciate from the indie organizers who continue to set the standard.

Fishbone’s set was an incredible display of orchestral force as horns, guitars, drums, keyboards and a range of vocals and backup vocals worked in harmony, proving that the troupe still possesses the magic that spurred their cult following more than 40 years ago. The album’s prominent singles “Everyday Sunshine” and album closer “Sunless Saturday” were clear winners and set the bar high for the weekend’s subsequent acts, many of whom admittedly take cues from the decades-long, boundary-breaking work of Fishbone.

Living Colour

Corey Glover (left) and Muzz Skillings of Living Colour perform on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Living Colour had a special guest in tow for their set — not that the magnetic performance from the alt metal-funk fusion masters needed anything extra to set it over the top.

Pro wrestler CM Punk came to the stage to introduce the act’s final song, their mega hit “Cult of Personality,” which is also famously his entrance music.

“In 1989 my little league team the Indians had a song played to pump us up, and it helped us win the championship that year,” he said, proceeding to call the members of the band “four of the greatest artists in the world.” Which is not total hyperbole.

Guitarist Vernon Reid has Mensa-level licks that could conjure the spirits of the long-gone blues underworld, while vocalist Corey Glover has a voice that oozes rhythm with every note. Glover will go down as one of the most colorful characters of the weekend, not just for his vibrant rock star persona but also literally for what he wore. Dressed in a neon green suit and orange dreads tucked under a bowler hat, the “Clockwork Orange”/Wonka vibe worked for him as he was clearly visible headbanging at the front of the crowd, watching over the mosh pit he invoked, when he was not letting loose his uncompromising vocals on songs like “Ignorance is Bliss” and “Love Rears Its Ugly Head.”

Four-decades strong and still going with the energy they did in their formative years, Living Colour always brings a top-notch show — if only they had a longer set!

Amigo The Devil

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Day 2 of Riot Fest got off to a twisted start with darkminded singer-songwriter Amigo The Devil, who was the antithesis of what most might expect from the genre.

The artist, born Danny Kiranos, brought out a heavy bag of murder ballads and revenge songs paired with expressive facial twitches that made you wonder if you should maybe avoid eye contact as he rolled through the set.

From the lurid step-by-step detail of how he’d exact vengance on a person who harmed a child in “Better Ways To Fry A Fish” to the Jim Jones-inspired song “Hungover In Jonestown,” Kiranos’ set was mired in the macabre and a good bit of cabaret theater that made him an early favorite of the day.

Jokingly describing himself as the “fat Dave Grohl,” Kiranos’ comparison was fitting in at least the same way he is able to command a crowd — and does it solo on top of it. “We just set up the drums for fun,” he mused, pointing out that he in fact does not have a band in the project.

Though Kiranos does move well between acoustic and electric guitars and the banjo, it would be interesting to seem him with a full backing lineup to really amplify the shock and awe he delivers. A cover of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” was a bizarre best bet but it’s his original material — told in incredible narrative style – that makes him our true crime-obsessed generation’s new Johnny Cash.

Meg Myers

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers’ afternoon set came to an abrupt ending as she had to cut things short right in the middle of her superb take on Kate Bush’s perennial hit “Running Up That Hill” as she went into overtime. Though, anyone watching the ingenue would have wondered where the time went as her performance was nothing short of a hypnotic thrill — which may or may not have been a side effect of being blinded by her holographic jumpsuit.

Tracks like the breathy “Desire” to the staunch pop anthem “Any Way You Wanna Love” were well-placed in her performance, further edifying her as a lost relic of the evocative ’90s alt rock realm while keeping up with the best of modern pop songwriters.

She gave flashbacks of Tori Amos’ best in key-heavy tracks while also channeling the aggro poetry of artists like Liz Phair and making it all completely her own. Standouts included bringing out collaborator Morgxn for their emotive duet “I Hope You Cry” as well as padding her set with a drummer and electric guitarist whose sonic wails were the gravy on her song plate.

Myers stumbled on some new material, restarting a song or two while blaming it on her “unique ears.”

Check back for more reviews…

NOTE: There are plenty of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for the festival including hand sanitizing and handwashing stations throughout the park, and an onsite COVID vaccination station (courtesy of St. Anthony Hospital; Pfizer and J&J vaccines only). In addition, all attendees must show proof of a full vax or negative COVID test results (the latter within 48 hours of entry date) accompanied by a valid, government-issued photo ID to gain entry each day.

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MILWAUKEE — Getting back on the mound was a tedious process for right-hander Rowan Wick as he dealt with a serious intercostal/left oblique injury that ended his 2020 season. Despite a few setbacks and the 11-month road to recovery, Wick has found himself right back where he was a year ago.

The Cubs’ right-hander was one of manager David Ross’ high-leverage options in the bullpen last season and with much turnover since the trade deadline, he’s returned to a similar role.

“Definitely some things that I’m doing with the trainers that make me feel a lot better than just kind of working my way through the rehab processes,” Wick said in a recent interview. “I’m starting to feel really good out there.”

After not pitching in a big-league game for nearly a year, some rust was to be expected. But as he’s gotten more appearances under his belt, the 28-year-old reliever has started to look as good as he ever has in Chicago.

Wick has a 2.16 ERA in 14 games this season and has been piling up the strikeout numbers recently with 12 strikeouts over his last five appearances.

While he was rehabbing his injury, Wick watched video when he couldn’t be on the mound. Now that he’s back, while he’s still using video to help him, he’s not using the old Rowan as a reference. But the new Rowan as he feels he’s transformed as a pitcher.

“Watching video from the past is great, but you can’t really compare [it to now],” he said. “I’m changing so much. Just in my delivery and my pitches. So try to just watch the most recent video. Like how to get out. But just like just focusing on the good, not getting worried about bad pitches, if I throw a ball, whatever. On to the next is the mentality.”

Wick says he’s focusing on using his legs more in his delivery this season and is trying not to pull the ball towards the plate with his upper body, giving him a cleaner, more efficient delivery. Like any pitcher, having more fluid mechanics will help him stay healthier long term.

Not only has Wick been thrown back into the fire with the Cubs’ revamped, post-trade deadline bullpen in high leverage. Wick and right-hander Codi Heuer have been the guys Ross has turned to when the Cubs have a lead late. But it’s been Wick, who’s been given the keys, at least in the short term, to be the Cubs’ closer and has four saves since rejoining the team in August.

“Obviously, that’s the goal, right?,” Wick said with a wry smile. “I’ve said it before, whenever they want me to pitch, I’ll pitch. But that’s the role I want.”

“I think those things kind of play themselves out organically more than needing to name somebody,” the Cubs skipper said. “As far as where we’re at, somebody’s got to go out there and take that ninth-inning job. If you had a closure in mind on our team right now, it’s probably Codi [Heuer], or Wick, like those two guys. I’m comfortable with either one of those guys in the ninth.”

Wick has also shown the ability to throw multiple innings in his appearances – giving Ross some added versatility at the backend of the bullpen.

“I think what I’m doing is pitching my best pitchers as long as I possibly can,” Ross said. “When we’re in a game when we’re winning or close to winning, I think a lot of that has to do with workload from previous games and like, who do you trust? You talk about stuff and getting outs, that builds trust, right? And so who do you trust at the moment?”

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Day 2 of Riot Fest got underway Friday afternoon in Douglass Park beneath sunny skies and warm winds.

On tap for day: Lupe Fiasco, Beach Bunny, Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, Living Colour, Fishbone and a whole lot more.

Looking ahead to the rest of the fest, the lineup boasts Slipknot, Gwar and Run the Jewels, among others.

There are plenty of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for the festival including hand sanitizing and handwashing stations throughout the park, and an onsite COVID vaccination station (courtesy of St. Anthony Hospital; Pfizer and J&J vaccines only). In addition, all attendees must show proof of a full vax or negative COVID test results (the latter within 48 hours of entry date) accompanied by a valid, government-issued photo ID to gain entry each day.

A carnival provides a break from the music. And if you’re so inclined, a free onsite wedding chapel is available for those seeking to get married.

Here are some of the sights at Day 2 of Riot Fest:

Billy Corgan leads the Smashing Pumpkins in their headlining set Friday night at Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Billy Corgan performs on Friday night at Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Claudio Sanchez, of Coheed and Cambria performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Claudio Sanchez, of Coheed and Cambria performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Festival-goers dance in Douglass Park as storm clouds roll in on Day 2 of Riot Fest on Friday evening.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fans cheer while Coheed and Cambria performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Living Colour performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Corey Glover and Muzz Skillings, of Living Colour, performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fishbone performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fishbone performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fans take in a set by Sublime with Rome on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Sublime with Rome performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday night, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Sublime with Rome performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday night, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Festival-goers attend Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Festival-goers fan out in Douglass Park for Day 2 of Riot Fest, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fans cheer as Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Here’s a look at some of the sets from Day 2 of Riot Fest:

Fishbone

Fishbone performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The Radical Stage was groove-funk central on Friday with a back-to-back double feature of two of the greatest alternative bands to come out of the overcrowded ’80s coastal rock scenes, Fishbone and Living Colour.

L.A.’s Fishbone got things started with a special treat, playing in full their seminal album, 1991’s “The Reality Of My Surroundings” to commemorate its landmark 30th anniversary this year. This is now par for the course for Riot Fest, with the festival organizers somehow negotiating with a number of the bands on the lineup every year to exclusively reunite or play albums in full. And whatever they are sacrificing to the music gods to make it happen time and again, it’s truly something to appreciate from the indie organizers who continue to set the standard.

Fishbone’s set was an incredible display of orchestral force as horns, guitars, drums, keyboards and a range of vocals and backup vocals worked in harmony, proving that the troupe still possesses the magic that spurred their cult following more than 40 years ago. The album’s prominent singles “Everyday Sunshine” and album closer “Sunless Saturday” were clear winners and set the bar high for the weekend’s subsequent acts, many of whom admittedly take cues from the decades-long, boundary-breaking work of Fishbone.

Living Colour

Living Colour had a special guest in tow for their set — not that the magnetic performance from the alt metal-funk fusion masters needed anything extra to set it over the top.

Pro wrestler CM Punk came to the stage to introduce the act’s final song, their mega hit “Cult of Personality,” which is also famously his entrance music.

“In 1989 my little league team the Indians had a song played to pump us up, and it helped us win the championship that year,” he said, proceeding to call the members of the band “four of the greatest artists in the world.” Which is not total hyperbole.

Guitarist Vernon Reid has Mensa-level licks that could conjure the spirits of the long-gone blues underworld, while vocalist Corey Glover has a voice that oozes rhythm with every note. Glover will go down as one of the most colorful characters of the weekend, not just for his vibrant rock star persona but also literally for what he wore. Dressed in a neon green suit and orange dreads tucked under a bowler hat, the “Clockwork Orange”/Wonka vibe worked for him as he was clearly visible headbanging at the front of the crowd, watching over the mosh pit he invoked, when he was not letting loose his uncompromising vocals on songs like “Ignorance is Bliss” and “Love Rears Its Ugly Head.”

Four-decades strong and still going with the energy they did in their formative years, Living Colour always brings a top-notch show — if only they had a longer set!

Amigo The Devil

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Day 2 of Riot Fest got off to a twisted start with darkminded singer-songwriter Amigo The Devil, who was the antithesis of what most might expect from the genre.

The artist, born Danny Kiranos, brought out a heavy bag of murder ballads and revenge songs paired with expressive facial twitches that made you wonder if you should maybe avoid eye contact as he rolled through the set.

From the lurid step-by-step detail of how he’d exact vengance on a person who harmed a child in “Better Ways To Fry A Fish” to the Jim Jones-inspired song “Hungover In Jonestown,” Kiranos’ set was mired in the macabre and a good bit of cabaret theater that made him an early favorite of the day.

Jokingly describing himself as the “fat Dave Grohl,” Kiranos’ comparison was fitting in at least the same way he is able to command a crowd — and does it solo on top of it. “We just set up the drums for fun,” he mused, pointing out that he in fact does not have a band in the project.

Though Kiranos does move well between acoustic and electric guitars and the banjo, it would be interesting to seem him with a full backing lineup to really amplify the shock and awe he delivers. A cover of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” was a bizarre best bet but it’s his original material — told in incredible narrative style – that makes him our true crime-obsessed generation’s new Johnny Cash.

Meg Myers

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers’ afternoon set came to an abrupt ending as she had to cut things short right in the middle of her superb take on Kate Bush’s perennial hit “Running Up That Hill” as she went into overtime. Though, anyone watching the ingenue would have wondered where the time went as her performance was nothing short of a hypnotic thrill — which may or may not have been a side effect of being blinded by her holographic jumpsuit.

Tracks like the breathy “Desire” to the staunch pop anthem “Any Way You Wanna Love” were well-placed in her performance, further edifying her as a lost relic of the evocative ’90s alt rock realm while keeping up with the best of modern pop songwriters.

She gave flashbacks of Tori Amos’ best in key-heavy tracks while also channeling the aggro poetry of artists like Liz Phair and making it all completely her own. Standouts included bringing out collaborator Morgxn for their emotive duet “I Hope You Cry” as well as padding her set with a drummer and electric guitarist whose sonic wails were the gravy on her song plate.

Myers stumbled on some new material, restarting a song or two while blaming it on her “unique ears.”

Check back for more reviews…

NOTE: There are plenty of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for the festival including hand sanitizing and handwashing stations throughout the park, and an onsite COVID vaccination station (courtesy of St. Anthony Hospital; Pfizer and J&J vaccines only). In addition, all attendees must show proof of a full vax or negative COVID test results (the latter within 48 hours of entry date) accompanied by a valid, government-issued photo ID to gain entry each day.

Read More

With the White Sox bearing down on an American League Central championship under manager Tony La Russa, Friday was the 38th anniversary of when the 1983 team clinched the AL West flag also with La Russa in charge.

In front of a Comiskey Park crowd of 45,646, Harold Baines’ ninth-inning sacrifice fly delivered a 4-3 win over the Mariners and the Sox’ first postseason appearance since their loss to the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series. In a joyous celebration that would be frowned upon today, many of those fans ended up on the playing surface to take part in the moment.

“Probably as much as anything else, if you saw the pictures or the [footage] of it, the fans just flooded the field,” La Russa recalled before Friday’s game against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. “Everybody climbed over the walls and joined in. You can’t do that anymore, but they did it then. It really added to the enjoyment.”

For many reasons, the 1983 Sox are one of the most beloved groups in franchise history, even though they fell six wins short of a World Series championship. The Sox still wear their uniforms for every Sunday home game, and perhaps they would’ve gotten past the Orioles and won the American League pennant if they would’ve extended the best-of-five series to the fifth game when ace LaMarr Hoyt would’ve taken the mound.

For La Russa, they were also his first trip to the postseason in a managerial career that’s seen three World Series titles and a plaque in the Hall of Fame. Yet that “Winning Ugly” team – which ended up taking the division by 20 games and finished with the best record in baseball – still holds a special place in La Russa’s heart.

“We really had excellent camaraderie between everybody in uniform, the trainers, so once we got it going, the excitement level that ‘we might be able to do this’ just kept building and building,” La Russa said. “It just kept motivating us just to keep going.”

That’s what happened in the second half, when the Sox were 59-26 after a 40-37 first half and ran away from second-place Kansas City and third-place Texas.

“It’s forever tied for first as far as memories of teams that get to October, especially with the slow start,” La Russa said. “That second-half surge was just… the team was relentless.”

Praising Grandal
Catcher Yasmani Grandal is earning plaudits for his work at the plate, entering Friday having reached base in 30 consecutive games for the longest active streak in baseball and the third-longest this year.

Hitting, though, is only part of Grandal’s game. La Russa has taken notice of Grandal’s work behind the plate. La Russa said Grandal is “very conscientious” and praised how much work he does on receiving pitches, studying hitters and finding ways to communicate with pitchers.

“I don’t know if you can do it more than he does,” La Russa said.

Grandal was back in the lineup after resting Thursday, catching and hitting fourth.

Briefly…
Yoan Moncada also made his return to the lineup after getting a day off Thursday, playing third base and hitting sixth. Moncada entered Friday having reached base safely in 25 straight games.

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Day 2 of Riot Fest got underway Friday afternoon in Douglass Park beneath sunny skies and warm winds.

On tap for day: Lupe Fiasco, Beach Bunny, Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, Living Colour, Fishbone and a whole lot more.

Looking ahead to the rest of the fest, the lineup boasts Slipknot, Gwar and Run the Jewels, among others.

There are plenty of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for the festival including hand sanitizing and handwashing stations throughout the park, and an onsite COVID vaccination station (courtesy of St. Anthony Hospital; Pfizer and J&J vaccines only). In addition, all attendees must show proof of a full vax or negative COVID test results (the latter within 48 hours of entry date) accompanied by a valid, government-issued photo ID to gain entry each day.

A carnival provides a break from the music. And if you’re so inclined, a free onsite wedding chapel is available for those seeking to get married.

Here are some of the sights at Day 2 of Riot Fest:

Living Colour performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Corey Glover and Muzz Skillings, of Living Colour, performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fishbone performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fishbone performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fans take in a set by Sublime with Rome on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Sublime with Rome performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park, Friday night, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Sublime with Rome performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday night, Sept. 17, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Festival-goers fan out in Douglass Park for Day 2 of Riot Fest, Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Fans cheer as Amigo The Devil performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Please send corrections or scores to [email protected].

Thursday, September 16

RED BIRD

Simeon vs. Hubbard at Gately, 7:15

CHICAGO AVENUE

Tilden vs. Juarez at Rockne, 4:15

LAKE STREET

Butler vs. Fenger at Gately, 4:15

Corliss vs. South Shore at Eckersall, 4:15

MADISON STREET

Chicago Academy vs. Senn at Lane, 4:15

MICHIGAN AVENUE

Chicago Richards at Woodlawn, 4:15

STATE STREET

Crane vs. Phoenix at Rockne, 7:15

Rowe-Clark vs. Clemente at Lane, 7:15

Friday, September 17

BIG SHOULDERS

Hyde Park vs. UP-Bronzeville at Eckersall, 4:15

GREAT LAKES

Ag. Science at Goode, 4:15

Catalyst-Maria vs. Comer at Gately, 4:15

Johnson vs. Bogan at Stagg, 4:15

HEARTLAND

North Lawndale at Speer, 7:15

Prosser vs. Kennedy at Rockne, 4:15

LAND OF LINCOLN

Lincoln Park at Lane, 7:15

Taft vs. Phillips at Gately, 7:15

Westinghouse vs. Young at Rockne, 7:15

PRAIRIE STATE

Orr vs. Raby at Lane, 4:15

RED BIRD

Kenwood at Perspectives, 7:15

SECOND CITY

Carver at Solorio, 7:15

WINDY CITY

Mather vs. Von Steuben at Winnemac, 4:15

MADISON STREET

Foreman at Marine, 4:15

CCL-ESCC BLUE

Loyola at Brother Rice, 6

Mount Carmel at Marist, 6

CCL-ESCC GREEN

Benet at St. Rita, 7:30

Nazareth at Notre Dame, 7:30

CCL-ESCC ORANGE

Providence at Joliet Catholic, 7:30

St. Laurence at Montini, 7:30

CCL-ESCC PURPLE

St. Patrick at Marian Catholic, 7:30

St. Viator at Carmel, 7:30

CCL-ESCC WHITE

Fenwick at De La Salle, 7:30

St. Ignatius at Marmion, 7:30

DUKANE

Batavia at Lake Park, 7:30

St. Charles East at Glenbard North, 7:30

St. Charles North at Wheaton North, 7:30

Wheaton-Warrenville South at Geneva, 7:30

DUPAGE VALLEY

DeKalb at Metea Valley, 7

Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley, 7

Neuqua Valley at Naperville North, 7

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Huntley, 7

Cary-Grove at McHenry, 7

Dundee-Crown at Crystal Lake South, 7

Hampshire at Crystal Lake Central, 7

Jacobs at Prairie Ridge, 7

ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT

Coal City at Herscher, 7

Peotone at Wilmington, 7

Reed-Custer at Manteno, 7

Streator at Lisle, 7

INDEPENDENT

Christ the King at Hope Academy, 7

KISHWAUKEE I-8 BLUE

Harvard at Marengo, 7

Johnsburg at Rochelle, 7

Richmond-Burton at Plano, 7

KISHWAUKEE I-8 WHITE

Sycamore at Ottawa, 7

Woodstock at Morris, 7

Woodstock North at Kaneland, 7

METRO SUBURBAN BLUE

Bishop McNamara at Wheaton Academy, 7:30

Elmwood Park at Aurora Central, 7

Ridgewood at IC Catholic, 7:15

METRO SUBURBAN RED

Chicago Christian at St. Francis, 7

Riverside-Brookfield at Aurora Christian, 7

St. Edward at Westmont, 7:15

NORTH SUBURBAN

Mundelein at Stevenson, 7:30

Warren at Lake Zurich, 7:30

Waukegan at Libertyville, 7:30

Zion-Benton at Lake Forest, 7:30

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Antioch at Grayslake North, 7

Grayslake Central at Wauconda, 7

Lakes at North Chicago, 7

Round Lake at Grant, 7

SOUTH SUBURBAN BLUE

Lemont at Hillcrest, 7

TF South at Tinley Park, 7

SOUTH SUBURBAN RED

Eisenhower at Argo, 7

Oak Lawn at Reavis, 7

Shepard at Richards, 6:30

SOUTHLAND

Bloom at Thornridge, 7

Crete-Monee at Thornwood, 6

Thornton at Rich Township, 7

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE

Bolingbrook at Sandburg, 6

Lockport at Homewood-Flossmoor, 6

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN RED

Lincoln-Way Central at Stagg, 6

Lincoln-Way West at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30

UPSTATE EIGHT

Bartlett at West Chicago, 7:30

East Aurora at Glenbard East, 7:30

Elgin at Streamwood, 7:30

Fenton at Glenbard South, 7:30

South Elgin at Larkin, 7:30

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Addison Trail at Proviso East, 7

Downers Grove South at Willowbrook, 7:30

Leyden at Morton, 7

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Oak Park-River Forest at Lyons, 7

York at Downers Grove North, 7

NONCONFERENCE

LaSalle-Peru 2, Sandwich 0 (forfeit)

Oswego East 2, Joliet Central 0 (forfeit)

West Aurora 2, Joliet West 0 (forfeit)

Bremen at Evergreen Park, 7

Champaign Centennial at Kankakee, 7

Deerfield at Schaumburg, 7:30

Evanston at Fremd, 7:30

Glenbrook North at Hersey, 7

Glenbrook South at Barrington, 7:30

Highland Park at Wheeling, 7

Hinsdale Central at Hinsdale South, 7

Lincoln-Way East at Andrew, 7

Maine East at Elk Grove, 7

Maine South at Palatine, 7:30

Maine West at Prospect, 7

Minooka at Plainfield Central, 7

New Trier at Conant, 7:30

Niles North at Buffalo Grove, 7:30

Niles West at Rolling Meadows, 7

Oakwood at Dwight, 7

Oswego at Romeoville, 7

Ottawa Marquette at Heyworth, 7

Plainfield North at Plainfield South, 7

Seneca at Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 7

Vernon Hills at Hoffman Estates, 7:30

Yorkville at Plainfield East, 7

Saturday, September 18

BIG SHOULDERS

Brooks vs. King at Eckersall, 1

Lindblom vs. Dunbar at Eckersall, 4

HEARTLAND

Rauner at Steinmetz, noon

PRAIRIE STATE

Back of the Yards vs. Clark at Rockne, 7

Bulls Prep vs. Payton at Lane, 1

RED BIRD

Curie vs. Morgan Park at Gately, 4

SECOND CITY

Julian vs. Washington at Eckersall, 10 a.m.

Vocational vs. Harlan at Gately, 7

WINDY CITY

Amundsen vs. Schurz at Lane, 7

Sullivan vs. Lake View at Lane, 4

CHICAGO AVENUE

Collins at Kelly, noon

Gage Park vs. Little Village at Rockne, 1

LAKE STREET

Bowen vs. Longwood at Gately, 1

MADISON STREET

Roosevelt vs. Pritzker at Lane, 10 a.m.

MICHIGAN AVENUE

Dyett vs. Hansberry at Stagg, 4

Englewood STEM vs. Chicago Military at Stagg, 1

STATE STREET

Marshall vs. UIC Prep at Rockne, 4

CCL-ESCC RED

DePaul Prep at Leo, 7

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Proviso West at Glenbard West, 1:30

NONCONFERENCE

Momence at Bismarck-Henning, 1

Walther Christian vs. Oblong at Palestine, 1

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf has mostly followed Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment and avoided speaking ill of his Republican opponents.

Until now.

When a relative unknown named Jesse Sullivan jumped into the race earlier this month with a nearly $11 million out-of-state-funded campaign war chest, state Sen. Darren Bailey and businessperson Gary Rabine both called him a member of the San Francisco/Silicon Valley “elite” because that’s where his business was located and where much of his campaign money came from.

The Silicon Valley angle took hold in segments of the mainstream media. Did Sullivan really live in downstate Petersburg, as he claimed, or did he live in the San Francisco area? Sullivan’s campaign pushed back hard on the out-of-state angle, insisting he was a Petersburg guy who had made lots of influential business friends in California and other states.

But Schimpf, a former state senator, actually welcomed Sullivan into the fray, saying, “another robust campaign spreading the message that J.B. Pritzker is undeserving of reelection is good news for the Illinois Republican Party.”

Schimpf was born on an Air Force base in the Metro East, graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy, then graduated from law school and served 20 years in the US Marines, serving as the chief American adviser to prosecutors in Saddam Hussein’s trial. His service, to my knowledge, has not been questioned, but his ire was raised by some of Jesse Sullivan’s campaign claims.

The neophyte Sullivan has peppered his campaign website and announcement with photos of himself in military uniform.

“I proudly served our nation in uniform doing counterinsurgency work in Helmand Afghanistan with the US Department of Defense,” Sullivan declared in his campaign announcement speech near Petersburg.

Sullivan was part of what was known as the Army’s Human Terrain System, which recruited civilians with social science backgrounds to help military commanders understand the local populations. A 2012 profile of Sullivan in the State Journal-Register mentioned that his team, “left the British military unit stationed in the area with recommendations for strengthening the local police force and reopening a school.”

When I questioned Sullivan’s campaign about this seeming rhetorical contradiction, they acknowledged that he was an Army civilian without veteran status who nevertheless “led and participated in combat patrols in Afghanistan.”

The Army’s unclassified handbook on the Human Terrain Team says its leaders were active duty or retired military officers. So, I asked, how could Sullivan have “led” combat patrols?

Sullivan’s campaign responded with a 300-word background statement which claimed Sullivan’s Army team leader never left the base. Instead, the campaign claimed, Sullivan led a small team consisting usually of “another human terrain analyst, possibly a social scientist depending on the mission, and an interpreter,” which would, “embed with a military unit.” Sullivan, “was responsible for translating military objectives into collection priorities, executing the collection mission, reporting back, and advising the military decision-making process.”

To me, the long-winded explanation looked more like Sullivan had led a small group of advisers alongside soldiers in combat areas than actually leading what most would consider “combat patrols.” That still took courage, so why embellish it?

I sent Schimpf everything I had from the Sullivan campaign along with my own self-directed research. Schimpf was initially reluctant to say anything about Sullivan, but eventually issued this response:

“Although Jesse Sullivan, who is not a veteran and has never been on active duty, should be commended for having worked in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor, his claim to have led combat patrols flies in the face of Department of Defense regulations and established practices. While civilian contractors may be armed and act in defensive roles such as providing security, the use of contractors in contingency operations is specifically limited in DoD Instruction 3020.41 to support operations ‘in a non-combat role.’ If Mr. Sullivan wants to claim unprecedented combat leadership experience as a civilian contractor, he should identify the officer that he directly reported to while in theater in order to verify this extraordinary assertion. Otherwise, he should correct the misleading language on his website.”

Sullivan has managed to make a big splash in the Republican primary. He’s a young, handsome made-for-TV candidate and already has way more money than any of his opponents could ever likely hope to raise. But Sullivan should probably stop digging holes that he’ll eventually have to fill himself. It’s a really bad habit and I’ve seen it fatally backfire more than once. Like I said before, there’s no need to embellish this stuff.

And, for sure, this military combat claim needs to be cleared up right away.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.

Send letters to [email protected].

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Amigo The Devil

Day 2 of Riot Fest got off to a twisted start with darkminded singer-songwriter Amigo The Devil, who was the antithesis of what most might expect from the genre.

The artist, born Danny Kiranos, brought out a heavy bag of murder ballads and revenge songs paired with expressive facial twitches that made you wonder if you should maybe avoid eye contact as he rolled through the set.

From the lurid step-by-step detail of how he’d exact vengance on a person who harmed a child in “Better Ways To Fry A Fish” to the Jim Jones-inspired song “Hungover In Jonestown,” Kiranos’ set was mired in the macabre and a good bit of cabaret theater that made him an early favorite of the day.

Jokingly describing himself as the “fat Dave Grohl,” Kiranos’ comparison was fitting in at least the same way he is able to command a crowd — and does it solo on top of it. “We just set up the drums for fun,” he mused, pointing out that he in fact does not have a band in the project.

Though Kiranos does move well between acoustic and electric guitars and the banjo, it would be interesting to seem him with a full backing lineup to really amplify the shock and awe he delivers. A cover of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” was a bizarre best bet but it’s his original material — told in incredible narrative style – that makes him our true crime-obsessed generation’s new Johnny Cash.

Meg Myers

Meg Myers performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Friday afternoon.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Meg Myers’ afternoon set came to an abrupt ending as she had to cut things short right in the middle of her superb take on Kate Bush’s perennial hit “Running Up That Hill” as she went into overtime. Though, anyone watching the ingenue would have wondered where the time went as her performance was nothing short of a hypnotic thrill — which may or may not have been a side effect of being blinded by her holographic jumpsuit.

Tracks like the breathy “Desire” to the staunch pop anthem “Any Way You Wanna Love” were well-placed in her performance, further edifying her as a lost relic of the evocative ’90s alt rock realm while keeping up with the best of modern pop songwriters.

She gave flashbacks of Tori Amos’ best in key-heavy tracks while also channeling the aggro poetry of artists like Liz Phair and making it all completely her own. Standouts included bringing out collaborator Morgxn for their emotive duet “I Hope You Cry” as well as padding her set with a drummer and electric guitarist whose sonic wails were the gravy on her song plate.

Myers stumbled on some new material, restarting a song or two while blaming it on her “unique ears.”

Check back for more reviews…

NOTE: There are plenty of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for the festival including hand sanitizing and handwashing stations throughout the park, and an onsite COVID vaccination station (courtesy of St. Anthony Hospital; Pfizer and J&J vaccines only). In addition, all attendees must show proof of a full vax or negative COVID test results (the latter within 48 hours of entry date) accompanied by a valid, government-issued photo ID to gain entry each day.

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MADISON, Wis. — A judge ruled Friday that prosecutors can’t argue that an Antioch man who shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin is affiliated with the Proud Boys or that he beat up a woman months before the shootings, bolstering his position as he prepares for a politically charged trial.

Kyle Rittenhouse is set to stand trial beginning Nov. 1 on multiple counts, including homicide. The 18-year-old argues he opened fire in self-defense after the men attacked him. Prosecutors signaled that they plan to show infrared video from an FBI surveillance plane that proves Rittenhouse chased down the first man he shot.

Kenosha was in the throes of several nights of chaotic demonstrations after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man who was paralyzed from the waist down. Rittenhouse traveled from his home in Antioch to Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, in response to a call on social media to protect businesses there.

Rittenhouse shot Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz with an AR-style rifle, killing Rosenbaum and Huber and wounding Grosskreutz. Conservatives across the country have rallied around Rittenhouse, raising $2 million to cover his bail. Black Lives Matter supporters have painted him as a trigger-happy racist.

During a hearing Friday on several motions, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger asked to argue at trial that Rittenhouse subscribes to the Proud Boys’ white supremacist philosophies and violent tactics. Binger pointed out that Rittenhouse was seen at a bar with members of the white nationalist group’s Wisconsin chapter in January and traveled to Miami days later that to meet the group’s national president.

Binger also asked the judge to allow evidence that Rittenhouse attacked a woman in June 2020 as she was fighting his sister. He also wants to show jurors video from 15 days before the shootings in which Rittenhouse said he would like to shoot some men he thought were shoplifting from a pharmacy.

Binger said Rittenhouse’s affiliation with the Proud Boys, the fight and the video show Rittenhouse’s propensity toward violence. He described Rittenhouse as a “chaos tourist” and “teenage vigilante” who came to Kenosha looking for trouble.

Rittenhouse attorney Corey Chirafisi countered that none of the events are relevant to the shootings. Nothing shows Rittenhouse was connected to the Proud Boys on the night of the protest or that the shootings were racially motivated, Chirafisi said, pointing out that Rittenhouse and all of the men he shot were white.

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder agreed with the defense about the June fight and interactions Rittenhouse has had with the Proud Boys. He deferred a decision on the pharmacy video but said he was inclined to exclude it.

It was during discussion about that video that Binger said prosecutors have infrared surveillance footage of Rittenhouse chasing Rosenbaum, who was the first person Rittenhouse shot.

Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards maintained it was Rosenbaum who started chasing Rittenhouse, yelling out, “Kill him!” He said Rosenbaum cornered Rittenhouse in front of a row of cars in a parking lot and threw a bag at him before trying to grab Rittenhouse’s gun.

Binger said the surveillance footage shows Rittenhouse chasing Rosenbaum with a fire extinguisher before Rosenbaum turned to confront him. Binger said Rosenbaum was probably trying to push the barrel of Rittenhouse’s rifle away.

After Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum, people in the streets began chasing him. Video from the night of the protests shows Rittenhouse shot Huber after Huber hit him with a skateboard and tried to grab his gun. Grosskreutz then approached Rittenhouse with a gun and Rittenhouse shot him.

Schroeder denied a defense request to argue that Rosenbaum was trying to steal Rittenhouse’s rifle because Rosenbaum was a sex offender and couldn’t legally possess a firearm.

He delayed ruling on defense requests to dismiss a charge that Rittenhouse possessed his gun illegally because he was a minor and to allow testimony from an expert on police use-of-force. He set another hearing for Oct. 5.

___

Associated Press writers Michael Tarm in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Doug Glass in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

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