As the summer winds down, Los Angeles’ favorite music festival finds itself in new surroundings. The Exposition Park plays host to this year’s FYF Fest, four stages spread across the vast grounds of the park. A new home usually comes with new problems as festival goers had to endure 2-3 hour lines just to get through security, just one of the few minor glitches that needed to be worked out on the first day of the two day marathon.
Mariachi El Bronx started day one on The Lawn stage. The alter ego of punk band, The Bronx filled the air with trumpets, guitars and violins welcoming everyone that walked through entrance gates. The band complete with elaborate charro suits played their up-beat and danceable traditional music which set the tone for the full day ahead.
Man Man was next up on The Lawn. The Philadelphia band lead by singer Honus Honus came out and played their usual chaotic live show and demonstrated to the crowd their knack of being able to shift between genres of music. The band’s quirkiness along with their arsenal of instruments and noisemakers where on full display.
The Arena was the only indoor stage of the festival and Slint filled the entire place with their shoegaze-y fuzzed out guitars, thumping bass lines and forceful drums. Brian McMahan’s vocals echoed through the arena as they played most of the tracks from their genre-defying Spiderland. Slint certainly did not disappoint.
Indie Rock band Real Estate brought their dream pop sound to The Lawn as the line outside the venue was still trying to make its way in. Bassist Alex Bleeker commented on how unfortunate that was and told the crowd to have twice as much fun for the people still standing in the security line. The band powered through tracks from the new album Atlas along with the song “Easy” from their 2011 album, Days.
The Lawn was the place to be as the crowd grew later in the day for Little Dragon’s performance. Singer Yukimi Nagano danced and banged the tambourine throughout their synth-filled set. Her vocals were spot-on perfect, and full of soul. The Gothenburg four-piece opened with “Please Turn” followed by crowd favorite “My Step” which really got everyone going.
On to the Main Stage where Future Islands lead by singer Samuel Herring got everyone in a frenzy. Herring roamed the stage and thumped his chest as the band opened their set with “Back In The Tall Grass.” His commanding presence and heart-felt performance really makes one pay attention to this band.
One of the most anticipated reunion bands for Saturday is Slowdive. The English band took control of the Lawn Stage with their incredible set filled with Rachel Goswell’s breezy and haunting vocals. The band’s set list comprised mostly of songs from their second album, Souvlaki. Between songs someone from the crowd yelled “You guys should be headlining this thing” which drew a cheer from everyone and a smile from Goswell.
As darkness fell, Japan’s Boris hit The Trees stage with an experimental noise brand of rock. Takeshi’s dual bass and guitar axe, Atsuo’s hard hitting drums and Wata’s vocals mesmerized everyone. The band’s heavy sound was a nice change from the usual indie rock and pop that went on during day.
Back on the Main Stage, Interpol played an extraordinary set full of favorites mixed in with a few new songs from their upcoming new album El Pintor. Interpol walked on stage clad in black suits and aroused the crowd with their very presence. The fury began as the opening riff from “Say Hello To Angels” was played and didn’t stop until they closed their set with “Slow.”
Grimes closed out the Lawn Stage with a lively performance. Accompanied by a couple dancers, Claire Boucher played a remarkable set filled with her sultry vocals backed with intricate beats and synthesizers. “Oblivion” was a big hit with the crowd and she finished her set with “Go.”
Headliners Phoenix finished the Main Stage with a bang. Opening with “Entertainment” followed by “Listomania” then “Lazzo.” They gave the crowd a non-stop barrage of songs to dance and sing along to. Although they only had around 8 songs on their set list, the hits just kept coming and coming, finishing it off with “1901.”
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