GIMME GIMME SCHLOCK TREATMENT:

FYF FEST: A POST-EVENT GUIDE TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Posted By:
Deltron3030
Photos By:
Tom Kenney

“Any NY transplants who blew their noses the next day would instantly be taken back to Randall’s Island [Lollapalooza] circa 1994-1997.”

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FYF: The Experience: With it looking like The Detour Fest will never be returning, I find myself becoming more and more protective of the FYF Fest. Much has been written about the logistical snafus of Saturday’s 7th Annual FYF Fest and I’m here to weigh in.. Common complaints about water prices, set delays, and ungodly long lines have probably done enough to scare people off for next year, and that’s a damn shame. Let me try and put things into perspective for some people who are losing their shit. For $20 I was able to see a slew of my current favorite artists on a beautiful day in Downtown LA, mere miles from my house. Sure the lines were long, but with a little logic and some help from your wingmen and women you could work through the hiccups. Someone in your group wants a cheese-steak and you want beer? Expecting to be able to do both is unrealistic at any festival - Break off into groups and pick a spot to meet back up at. Also, don’t expect to rely on your cell phones or texts. You gotta work these things old school style. Maybe FYF is catching more grief because it was 90 degrees and we were sitting in a glorified dirt farm. It made many people miserable, but it made me feel a sense of nostalgia for the old days of the traveling Lollapalooza. Any NY transplants who blew their noses the next day would instantly be taken back to Randall’s Island circa 1994-1997. If anything, I wish it were not an all ages show because the longest lines of the day were for the beer tents and the VIP Cha Cha tent, but I understand the kids need their music too.

A lot was made about the lack of water access, but maybe I’m a hardened vet because I was throwing down R.B.V’s 2-3 at a time with no regard for hydration and I had a fantastic time. My trick: I had a quiet Friday night. All of those suckers who were blacking out on Friday night were wilting in the heat while I was feeling like gold. Gloriously drunk gold. My one true complaint, if I had any, is that perhaps the promoters took on more than they could chew, artist wise. I would have liked longer sets as I often felt like some bands were just getting into a groove when the schedule was forcing them off the stage. So there you have it, they offered me too much music. Those bastards.

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FYF: The Bands: We came for the bands right? Not for hot dogs, t-shirts, or f’n water. I was able to hit most of my mapped out artists (sans Wavves) and they were terrific as expected. My pal Tom (who took some fantastic pics, after the jump) labeled Wavves’ “King of the Beach” as the day’s highlight, even if a good deal of the rest of their set was mired in some bass sound issues. I can’t speak on Wavves behalf, so I’ll go ahead and split my nod between Titus Andronicus and Delorean. Both acts shined and had perfectly timed slots. Mind you when I say perfectly timed I am not referring to them being on time (I’m looking at you Delorean) but the marriage between their sound and the atmosphere surrounding their stage. The sun burning down on the crowd while dirt clouds kicked up when they kicked into “A More Perfect Union” was an awesome moment. Another friend who never spoke of his love for Titus more or less lost his mind and ran for the pit. This is a kid who usually rocks out to old school Snoop and Dre so it was a beautiful sight to behold. Delorean far and away blew every previous act out of the water. I feel bad for anyone who left early during the 30-40 minute delay between their set and School of Seven Bells. They owned the stage and the crowd in a way that no other act before them had. Their dance chill wave sound matched with the Boogie Nights screen back drop (Amber Waves never looked so good!), flashing lights,and the occasional passing train turned the National Historical Park into the coolest outdoor dance-club that LA has ever seen.

Hollywood club admission usually costs $20…and there’s no shot you’re going to hear Best Coast or the Local Natives @ The Colony or My Studio so maybe that’ll help put things into perspective for all the haters.

My one tip for all the people who were sitting on the will call line for sixty plus minutes: Get your tickets mailed to you! That would do a lot to start your day off right…and who doesn’t love receiving tickets in the mail. It’s like giving a gift to yourself.

My three tips for the FYF promoters (since they’re clearly unable to 86 the all ages format):

1) Offer a print at home option for tickets when they’re purchased @ TicketWeb.

2) Bring in the GrillEmALL food truck! Rocking LA burgers for a rocking LA festival. That’s, to quote Titus Andronicus, a “A More Perfect Union.”

3) Maybe cut the line-up from 36 bands to 30. Assuming those six bands take 30 mins each for a set. That would give each remaining band six more minutes..just enough extra time to quell the “one more song” chants from the crowds.

Del note: I had tickets I needed to leave at will call and the staff there were super accommodating in adding my tickets to the list on the fly. That was a huge plus as I was dreading having to become a ticket runner when each friend arrived…and it was something no other venue or festival has ever provided.

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