Gateway

Issue date: 7/24/07 Section: Arts & Leisure

River Riot 2007 hosted bands like Fuel, Hinder, Papa Roach and headliner Incubus. The sold-out show was the third from Iowa Western Community College's radio station, 89.7 The River. Since 2005, the concert has featured bands like 311, Danko Jones, Hawthorne Heights, Dashboard Confessional and Emphatic. [Click to enlarge]

July 21 arrived partly cloudy and cool but that was just fine with the nearly 16,000 fans packing the grounds at Westfair Amphitheatre in Council Bluffs for the third annual River Riot, sponsored by Iowa Western Community College's 89.7 The River.

Though not as blisteringly hot as last year's fest, Saturday's sold-out show reached a decent temperature of 84 degrees.

The day began with two up-and-coming bands: Simon Dawes at 2 p.m. and The Exies at 3 p.m.

Fuel was next in line with a rock out performance, playing hits like "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" and "Won't Back Down." It was a job well done getting the crowd pumped and ready for Buckcherry, who caused chaos in the crowd singing their famous single "Crazy Bitch" as well as other hits.

The pit of fans reached a crowd-surfing height during Papa Roach, who came on after Buckcherry. Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix repeatedly thanked the "crazy awesome crowd" who, according to him, are some of the best people out there.

Fans moshed to hits like "Last Resort," "Getting Away with Murder," "Scars," "To Be Loved" and "Forever." Papa Roach also surprised the crowd when Hinder's lead singer joined the band during a song.

Hinder's chance to shine came after Papa Roach. But if you are a fan of the lead singer's raspy singing voice, it wouldn't have pleased you to hear his live, screaming raspy voice. When he wasn't singing, he could be heard rasping various things to the crowd, which sounded completely muffled. The band made their way through various overplayed hits like "Lips of an Angel" and "Better Than Me."

Continued...

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