GBS High School alternative rock band reunites for a Chicago Riot Fest show after 25 years

The rumble of distorted guitars and the sardonic wit of mid-90s alternative rock are set to echo through the city once more, as the long-dormant Glenbrook South High School outfit Fig Dish prepares to take the stage at Chicago’s Cobra Lounge this Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The performance, presented by the legendary Riot Fest, marks a significant moment for the band’s devoted cult following—a live resurrection after a quarter-century of radio silence.For the founding members, this weekend’s gig is not merely a nostalgic victory lap; it is a homecoming.

The musicians first crossed paths, forged a fast friendship, and cemented their musical bond within the hallowed, linoleum-floored halls of Glenbrook South High School.

What began as teenage jamming in the northern suburbs quickly evolved into a formidable act that would carve out a distinct niche in the fiercely competitive Chicago rock landscape of the 1990s.

The band’s defining moment arrived in July 1995 with the release of their major-label debut, That’s What Love Songs Often Do. Issued through Atlas/PolyGram Records, the album arrived like a perfect artifact of its era—a blistering, melodic hybrid that distilled the post-grunge swagger and power-pop precision that dominated the Windy City’s live circuit.

Contemporary critics of the time were effusive, often describing the record’s sound as a volatile yet catchy cocktail: the hook-heavy, arena-ready melodic sensibilities of Cheap Trick, layered with the glorious, ear-splitting guitar feedback of Dinosaur Jr., and finished with a lo-fi, slacker insouciance reminiscent of The Replacements.

The sonic architecture of the album was sculpted by Lou Giordano, a venerated producer who was already a giant in the alternative underground. Giordano, whose résumé boasted seminal work with the Goo Goo Dolls, Sugar, and the legendary Hüsker Dü, brought a polished yet visceral edge to the recordings, ensuring that the band’s raw energy was translated with crystalline fidelity onto the 1995 pressing.

However, as the decade waned, so did the band’s momentum, and Fig Dish eventually faded into the annals of Chicago rock history, taking a 25-year hiatus that left many fans wondering if they would ever hear those power-chords live again.That silence was finally broken in late 2025.

The catalyst for the reunion was the long-overdue re-release of their seminal album. To mark the 30th anniversary, the out-of-print record was officially remastered and, for the first time in decades, made available on vinyl—a treat for collectors and younger listeners who had only encountered the band through streaming deep dives or used CD bins.

The renewed interest in the physical release proved to be the spark needed to coax the band members back onto the stage.Their first test came on December 30, 2025, when Fig Dish opened for another iconic 90s alternative duo, Zion and Local H, at the Brat Stop in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

That gig, a raucous, sweaty affair in the border-town venue, served as a proof of concept, demonstrating that the band’s chemistry remained intact and their sound had lost none of its jagged edge.Now, with the Cobra Lounge show on the horizon, the stakes are higher.

The Saturday evening performance, presented under the Riot Fest banner, promises to be a celebratory deep-dive into the band's catalog, with That’s What Love Songs Often Do expected to feature heavily in the setlist.

For those who were there in 1995, the show offers a portal back to a golden age of alternative rock. For the uninitiated, it is a rare opportunity to witness a genuine piece of Chicago’s musical tapestry—a band that, after 25 years of silence, has finally found its voice again.

The lights will dim, the feedback will swell, and Fig Dish will prove that some love songs, and some reunions, are well worth the wait.