White Mystery performed Riot Fest five times— in 2011, 2012, 2013, and in Chicago plus Denver in 2015. What are your favorite White Mystery memories at Riot Fest? Feel free to comment below!

Photos by Diane Alexander White, Kris Lori Fuentes Cortes, and Jesse Fox.

(more…)

Riot Fest Rocks, You Suck

Riot Fest 2018 was a lovely experience. Douglas Park is a beautiful location and the festival layout was great. My favorite aspect of this festival is definitely people watching, there are so many unique individuals of all shapes and sizes, pretty much the opposite of Lollapalooza where everyone wears the same exact festival uniform. Standout performers were Gary Numan, Blondie, Elvis Costello, Cypress Hill, Twin Peaks, and Run The Jewels. Suicidal Tendencies played an absolutely legendary set for the ages. The crowd was going absolutely ape shit and everyone that crowd-surfed over the front row barricade emerged with looks of joy and euphoria. Forty year old punks with boot prints on their shirtless bodies were high-fiving security, looking like excited children that just got off a rollercoaster. All in all it was a memorable weekend that will be with me for a long time to come. By Francis White. Photos by Jason Demma.

You’ve heard the term“starving artist” before. It is as a stereotype that tends to prevent talented people from pursuing professional careers in music, painting, writing, photography, and other creative endeavors.

The key to flipping that script is realizing your self-worth and driving up the value of your artistry so you can ultimately make a living from your passion. (more…)

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

One of our favorite bands ever, White Mystery is launching an online TV channel about video games, weed smoking, and rock’n’roll. Starting Tuesday August 1, 2017 at 7pm CST, the video-game fusion live-stream show will air on Twitch, combining gameplay, musical performances, and interviews. Guest artists will include Mario Cuomo from the Orwells, Jack Dolan from Twin Peaks, and Westley Parker of Ovrlord. Giveaways include Riot Fest passes, Soothsayer Hot Sauce, a Burger Buddy cassette player, and White Mystery vinyl.

“The term DIY gets thrown around a lot, and people need to be educated about what ‘Do It Yourself’ actually is. It is an entrepreneurial spirit that drives an attitude where everything is possible with creativity and a strong work ethic.

There are quite a few tips and methods to establishing and maintaining a successful DIY career that I’ll be laying out in a series of upcoming articles for Riot Fest. We’ll be posting columns on such topics as how to book a show, how to trade for sponsorships, punk band book-keeping, and how to run your own music publishing. In the meantime, read on to learn the points that steer this machine.”

“One of the most important lessons for DIY musicians is how to properly book a show. This article walks you through the process from an initial pitch email to a booker, all the way to your follow up. I developed this ‘cycle’ through experience, having booked almost 1000 performances worldwide for the band I play guitar in with my brother, White Mystery. To see a comprehensive listing of those concerts and venues, click here, and type Command F to search the database.

When you operate in a volume of shows, it helps to have a standardized approach, which I am glad to share with you. Either sit back on your laurels and hope a booking agent strikes a deal with your band, or read on for the best practices to book your own shows.”