Björk and Missy Elliott Set the Bar High for the First Day of FYF Fest 2017

On the first day of FYF Fest 2017, crowds were exposed to avant-garde, hip-hop, lo-fi and indie folk performances. A third day was added to the festival this year and the festival organizers took advantage of the additional space, bringing in a wide array of genres. In doing so, the festival drew in people of different persuasions to create a richer and more memorable experience.

The clear, hot day began with the Brooklyn-based band Beach Fossils. Lead singer Dustin Payseur greeted the crowd with a long, questioning “Reaaaaaady?” The crowd responded with an emphatic yes and they began their set. Although, there were some sound difficulties, Beach Fossils more than made up for it with their performance and songs like “Daydream” and “Fall Right In.” Royal Headache played soon after. There was a rainbow path that led from the stadium to the Club Stage where paint splattered and stained the asphalt. This band’s energy was slightly different from Beach Fossils. They were faster and managed to whip up the crowd into a very tiny, but passionate mosh pit.

One of the best performances of the day took place at the Lawn Stage with Asheville, NC’s favorite singer, Angel Olsen. First her band came out wearing matching suits with bolo ties and shined shoes. Olsen then casually walked out onto stage, picked up her guitar and greeted the crowd with a very relaxed, “hello.” Her hypnotic performances of “Shut Up, Kiss Me,” “Sister” and “Not Gonna Kill You” were played with such ease and coolness, that the crowd could not help but be swept into her world. Whether it was the bolo ties, the guitar kit that read “Unfuck the world” or Olsen’s tranquil but heartfelt performance, the audience was sure to remember this unforgettable set.

Artists Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals and Flying Lotus each played sets at the Lawn Stage. Paak mixed his funk, R&B and soul sound with charming vocals and had the crowd hitting beach balls and swaying in unison. Flying Lotus closed out the festival on a trippy and hypnotic note. Before Flying Lotus’s set, concertgoers were given 3D glasses to enhance their experience. The 3D effect resulted in the crowd being taken on an interactive journey through outer space and being drenched with trippy visuals of billowing smoke clouds enveloping the crowd.

The two best performances of the day were not on the Lawn or Trees Stage, but on the massive, asphalt-laden Main Stage. Missy Elliott and Bjork each played two unforgettable sets that were seared into the minds of the audience.

“Pop that pop that jiggle that fat,” are some of the greatest and most empowering lyrics in music and can only come from one person: Missy Elliott. After her DJ hyped and warmed up the crowd, a box covered in mirrors rolled out onto the stage and as the lights came on, Missy emerged from the rectangular reflecting prism. Her insanely talented backup dancers krumped and twerked as Missy wandered around the stage, gauging the audience. “Are y’all ready to get your freak on,” she would ask. The crowd cheered back and she opened with “She’s a Bitch.” They played the beginning of “Get Ur Freak On” and Missy stopped it to tell everyone to put their phones down so that everyone could jump in unison. She continued with the song and the crowd jumped up wildly. During her set, while she would be doing a costume change, she filled the breaks with old clips of her music videos and of interviews of other rappers like Busta Rhymes and Pharrell praising Missy’s inventiveness. The support of other rappers was apparent as Tyler, the Creator stood in the front row and watched in awe. After her costume changes, she would emerge in something more glittery and intricate than the last outfit. During songs like, “Work It,” “Pass That Dutch” and “Ching-A-Ling” the crowd formed dance circles and sweaty listeners tried to replicate dance moves from Missy’s music videos. Towards the end, Missy came down into the crowd and said she forgot one song. The distinct beat for “Lose Control” came on and the crowd danced in delight before she disappeared back inside the mirrored box.

The most haunting performance of the evening was Icelandic singer Björk. The artist famous for her unique visual presentation did not disappoint. Leading up to the performance, there was a reverent silence among the crowd. A thick cloud of anticipation and fevered excitement lingered over the audience. Before Björk came out, an entire string section of cellos and violins walked out onto the stage. Her DJ who wore sweatpants that had slits reaching as far up as the thigh and impressive platform shoes, sipped on a flute of champagne as he strolled to his elevated post. They played a long and stirring intro and in true Björk fashion, she emerged in what could only be described as dress designed to look like a shower loofah. She wore a neon green facemask and seemed to almost float across the stage for the entire set. She opened with “Stonemilker” and while she sang, there was a video of her dancing through various Icelandic scenery. The brightness of her dress contrasted with the severe, black rocks of the lava fields and the shifting Tectonic plates as she sang “Come to Me.” She ended with “Hyperballad” and glittering fireworks and scorching flames burst from behind her and she seemed to slowly fade away along with the smoke and sparkles from the pyrotechnics.

What makes a Bjork performance so powerful is the richness of it. It is flooded with rich vocals, visually arresting images and unique musical textures. There are never enough words or time to describe a Bjork performance. They are out-of-body experiences and push the listener into a state of examining one’s interior while also capturing the boldness and ferocity of nature.

The added day to FYF proved to be a success as exhilarated crowds walked back to their cars intoxicated and entranced with the day’s performances.

Bjork Setlist:

1. Stonemilker
2. Lionsong
3. Come to Me
4. Joga
5. Unravel
6. Mouth’s Cradle
7. You’ve Been Flirting Again
8. Isobel
9. Bachelorette
10. Wanderlust
11. Notget
12. Mouth Mantra
13. Quicksand
14. Mutual Core
15. Hyperballad

Miss Elliott Setlist:

1. She’s a Bitch
2. One Minute Man
3. I’m Really Hot
4. We Run This
5. Gossip Folks
6. The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
7. All n My Grill
8. Sock it to Me
9. Hot Boyz
10. Pussycat
11. Get Ur Freak On
12. Lick Shots
13. Work It
14. Pass That Dutch
15. Shut it Down
16. Ching-a-Ling
17. Shake your Pom Pom
18. The Things You Do
19. Let it Go
20. One in a Million
21. 1,2 Step
22. Lose Control
23. Rock the Boat
24. My People