Riot Fest | Hardcore Legend CIV Makes Rare Appearance in Chicago

If you’ve ever asked yourself, what is the best band name that has ever existed, maybe ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ came to mind. If not, it should at least be a frontrunner. Gorilla Biscuits, a hardcore band from dirty NYC, was the OG band of Anthony Civarelli (aka CIV, aka Coach, aka Antony, aka The GodFather), who later went on to form CIV. This is just a piece of the pie in understanding the underestimated popularity of this group. And good luck finding a website, Facebook or Twitter for them.

After CIV, Civarelli actually went on to become a very acclaimed tattoo artist. Taking a break to let the ink dry, CIV made a welcomed appearance at Riot Fest.

Wearing a Clash shirt that was likely older than most attendees in the crowd, the band brought serious stage game and it was all while the sun was still out. With numerous celeb fans in the audience (Tony Kanal of No Doubt, Fletcher Dragge, Pennywise), CIV was a high energy, high engagement show. It got even better when CIV invited the ladies onto stage to dance because as Kevin Seconds would say, “it’s not just boys fun.”

All Photos: Derek Georgevich.

CIV at Riot Fest 2015

CIV frontman Anthony Civarelli , musician turned tattoo artist, captured the attention of a mud-covered crowd at Riot Fest 2015.

CIV at Riot Fest 2015

Anthony Civarelli up close and personal.
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015

Dedicated fans watching CIV on the Radicals stage.
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015
CIV at Riot Fest 2015

Civarelli took a break and let a few from the audience take over the vocals.