FYF FEST: A POST-EVENT GUIDE TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
“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.
OUT TO SEE: FYF FEST
Local Natives
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THE GROWLERS and CULTS
from left to right : Growlers (pictured left and center) and Cults (pictured right)
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VETIVER and WARPAINT
from left to right: Vetiver (pictured top left top) and Warpaint
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BEST COAST
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TITUS ANDRONICUS and WAVVES
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DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: FYF FEST
1:00 The Oak Stage: Magic Kids
Del says: I missed them when they toured Spaceland and the Bootleg so I’ll be rectifying those errors on Saturday. I really wish I saw them at those tiny venues because I’m going to guess that this band is going to have the biggest daytime gathering of all the bands in the lineup. They’re the local darlings out of all of these local darlings, David Byrne has given them his seal of approval, and they’re only going to get bigger.
DELTRON 3030′S MID-YEAR TOP TEN ALBUM LIST…
We’re a little more than half way through 2010 and it’s safe to say it has been a pretty incredible year for album releases so far. As you know, I love making lists so I decided to put out a quick top ten list of my favorite albums so far. If you haven’t made sweet ear love to these albums DO IT NOW!
10.) Janelle Monae – “The ArchAndroid”
An amazing ambitious debut of genre jumping tracks
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9.) Delorean - “Subiza”
They shimmer and dance on your soul like a pool’s magical healing waters on a hungover summer day. Dive in and let the warm glow fix what ails you
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8.) Tame Impala – “Innerspeaker”
The Lennon-esque vocals are married to trippy psychedelic guitars and drums that definitely time warp the listener back to an era when people dropped acid like it was their job
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7.) Titus Andronicus – “The Monitor”
The Civil War spun as an analogy for suburban doom and gloom by a bunch of disenfranchised post punk rockers from New Jersey
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6.) Jonsi – “Go”
Jonsi’s ethereal voice will brighten any sky and push the clouds out of your mind and leave you in a warm happy place. This album is like Zoloft for your ears.
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5.) The Radio Dept – “Clinging To A Scheme”
Delicate textures and melodies wash over the tracks in a waves of emotion that are enhanced by the lost love crooning vocals
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4.) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
They shift gears from new pop leanings (“Round and Round”) to low fi chill-waves (“L’estat”), 80’s sweet cheese (“Can’t Hear My Eyes”) to drugged out fuzz attacks (“Butt-House Blondies”). …and I’m a sucker for all of it.
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3.) Gorillaz – “Plastic Beach”
I love this album. I love it because of what it is. I love it because of what it isn’t. I’ll be honest though, I didn’t love it right away. In a way that’s the beauty of it The different soundscapes, the variety of guests, and the “newness” of it all combine to create a sound that welcomes you to revisit the world over and over again.
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2.) Phantogram – “Eyelid Movies”
Two unassuming Up-State New Yorkers throwing down sexy vocals and psychedelic melodies on top of hop hop beats. A pretty simple formula…but there’s so many more layers to their sound. Fifteen seconds into the lead track and I knew I’d be a huge fan.
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1.) LCD Soundsystem – “This Is Happening”
As the lead track “Dance Yourself Clean” started up with its slight downer vibes I wondered where the LCD party was. I was sure I was destined to sing “LCD I Love You, but you’re bringing me down”. Then at the 3:08 mark the drums kicked in, shaking off the bad mojo with them, and I haven’t looked back since. If “This is All Happening” is truly his last album it is one epic swan song. This album is is full of amazing tracks. I’m only on my second spin of it but I feel confident in saying this might very well might be your soundtrack to the summer. I want to say so much more but my mind is swimming in the beats and layers. This album has altered my ability to think straight.
LCD, it’s a helluva drug.
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Siria’s March Soundtrack
This month I listened to a lot more Camera Obscura (seriously, they’ve fit my every mood–I’d be okay with having “Teenager” play in the background to whatever I’m doing on a loop) and a lot of really old country, but aside from that here’s a sampling of the rest of the stuff I listened to:
WHAT I FELL ASLEEP TO:
Morning Benders – “Excuses”
I love this song, and the recording idea behind it. That’s all.
I also love this old song of theirs:
Psychedelic Furs – “The Ghost in You”
I am going to make a statement that is a little out of the character for me, being as I’m not usually so committed to anything. This song may very well be my absolute favorite all time song (EVER!), and if this song is playing in my near vicinity and you change it I will kick you out of my office/car/house with no explanation, I don’t care who you are.
If I could have a song from the Replacements and this song (or even just “Love My Way”) on every single one of my playlists I would be a happy girl. However, surprisingly I don’t believe this ever has made any of my monthly playlists until now?
Radar Bros. – “Stay”
I have a great respect for Mr. Putnam, and was bummed that I would be out of town on the evening of the release of the latest effort by Radar Bros. this past Friday. So, instead I consoled myself by listening to some of the older music that included this track. (more…)
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
This May I’ll have been out here in LA for four years. Almost four years and I’d never been to a beach bonfire. I’m guessing watching newcomer Daniel Larusso get his ass handed to him by menacing karate teens on ATVs left quite the impression on me. Why is it that everyone wanted to give Daniel Larusso a beat down the very second he entered a room? I’ll tell you why, because he was a girlfriend stealing interloper! I figured I should finally give the LA bonfire experience a try. As long as I behaved I figured I’d get through the night unscathed. Behaving was easy as it was a rather tame affair. What did I gain from the night?
Let’s make a list:
1. I’m now able to cross off “burn wood at the beach while you drink crappy beer and urinate in sand that someone may or may not have already urinated on ” off of my bucket list
2. I made a sweet light paintings portrait with a Nikon d90 and an iPhone.
3. Everyone looks like Mickey and Mallory when speaking around a bonfire
4. I was witness to this awesome quote about the new Midlake album: “If I were a drummer for the Civil War that had to go out in the front of the line to keep beat for the soldiers marching to their death, this album would be my anthem” (note: the girl I’m quoting wishes to remain anonymous but i can assure you she was quite sober.)
The quote struck me as funny because it was so out of left field (i think the Flaming Lips were playing on the iPod at the time) ..and it’s vivid imagery was heightened by the pit’s fiery glow bouncing around in this person’s eyes. Personally, I think if you were to lead an army into war with “Acts of Man” there would be a whole lot of friendly fire (not to be confused with the awesome Friendly Fires). This is music for war sick deserters. To me this the album sounds like listening to “MASH.” I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a burn but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Having said that as a history buff I liked the Civil War angle for her descriptive narrative. It’s a rich piece of American history that far too often goes ignored in pop culture. Perhaps that’s why I’ve responded so favorably to Titus Andronicus‘ sophomore effort, The Monitor. I’m guessing the album cover art and title (named after the famous civil war ironclad boat) might have tipped you off that I was setting you up for a smooth segue. If not allow me to continue , Titus Adronicus’ The Monitor is a sprawling 10 song concept album that is loosely centered around, yep, you guessed it, The Civil War. In theory the thought of that should have you all running for the hills but trust me it is an epically awesome album. It is sure to make countless year end top ten lists. For those of you who have never heard the band before think of the Hold Steady’s bar rock attitude w/ a little punk thrown in with the narrative intentions of a less smug Decemberists. The vocals sometimes remind me of Conor Oberst…if Conor Oberst’s vocals had steel balls. I hate to play the comparing game when describing sounds to people but I had to push the comforting embrace of familiarity to guarantee that you’ll check out this album. I want you to love this album as much as I do. I was sold on it by 1:50 of track one. Such a killer Springsteen homage.
You might remember the band’s name from February of 2009 when I labeled them “the future pride and joy of New Jersey.” Barring the love affair everyone had with “Jersey Shore,” it would appear as if I was right on the money with this call. I’d like to pat myself on the back and call myself Nostradamus for this prophecy, but I also thought Deastro would be the next Passion Pit.
It’s a total crap shoot.
Highlights: “A More Perfect Union,” “Four Score And Seven,” “Richard II,” “Theme From Cheers”
LA, they’ll be playing the Bootleg Theater tonight! It is a tiny venue and tickets are $10