FYF Fest 2011 Preview

<p> <a href="features/fyf_fest_2011_preview/"><img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/fyffestpreview11.jpg" alt="FYF Fest 2011 Preview" /></a> </p> <p> Begun by founder Sean Carlson when he was only 18, FYF Fest (formerly ‘Fuck Yeah Fest’ & 'F...
FYF Fest 2011 Preview

FYF Fest 2011 Preview

Begun by founder Sean Carlson when he was only 18, FYF Fest (formerly ‘Fuck Yeah Fest’ & ‘F Yeah Fest’) is going on eight years now.  Saturday, September 3rd, Los Angeles’ Historic State Park welcomes a host of acts, from reuniting punks to indie stalwarts:

 

Leonardo’s Stage


Death From Above 1979, 11:05 PM – 12:00 AM
 


For an act that only broke up five years ago, Death From Above 1979’s reunion is actually one of the most anticipated (QRO photos at a festival).  It helps that the duo of Jesse F. Keeler (who’s been in MSTRKRFT since the break-up) and Sebastien Grainger (who had his own solo career after the break-up – QRO album review) basically invented the dance-punk/noise-rock scene.  Their initial reunion gig at South-by-Southwest earlier this year (QRO recap) was so mobbed that policemen came in on horses and used mace – won’t be that nuts at FYF (well, maybe…), but expect a wild time (QRO photos at a festival).

Death From Above 1979
Descendents, 9:40 PM – 10:40 PM


Amid the plethora of indie reunions in the twenty-first century, one of the most welcome was that of Los Angeles’ own Descendents.  One of the seminal punk bands of the eighties, singer/research biochemist Milo Aukerman left the group in 1987, with which the rest of the Descendents recruited a new singer and became All, but Aukerman returned in 1995.  The group went on hiatus again in 2004, but 2010 same them return, again – so see where today’s punk is Descended from.

Descendents
Guided by Voices, 8:20 PM – 9:15 PM


Among the influential alternative music acts of the nineties was Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices (QRO photos).  Centered on the ultra-prolific Robert Pollard (QRO album review), GBV drew on nearly every rock sound, as well as being one of the pioneers of today’s lo-fi and neo-garage sounds.  Late last year, Pollard revived the retired GBV moniker and reunited with the original, 1993-1996 ‘classic’ line-up for label Matador Records’ 21st anniversary bash in Las Vegas – and have kept it going since then.

Guided by Voices
Broken Social Scene, 7:05 PM – 7:55 PM


Since being part of the indie-rock ‘Canadian Invasion’ of 2003/2004, Toronto’s own Broken Social Scene (QRO photos) have also become one of the most sought-after festival bands (QRO photos at a festival) in the alternative music arena (including Osheaga in 2008), whether indoors at industry showcases (QRO photos at a festival) or outdoors at more traditional fests (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), to the point where they’re headlining (QRO photos headlining a festival).  Fronted by singer/guitarists Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning (QRO interview), this giant collective includes The Apostle of Hustle, Andrew Whiteman (QRO interview), Do Make Say Think’s Charles Spearin (QRO interview), and a rotating female vocalist spot that’s included Metric’s Emily Haines (QRO live review), Leslie Feist (QRO live review), and Land of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell (QRO interview). While the previous releases were ‘BSS Presents:’ albums focused on Drew (Spirit If…QRO review) and Canning (Something For All of Us…QRO review), last year’s Forgiveness Rock Record (QRO review) is a return to the Broken Social Scene (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), and their live show (QRO live review) has included everything from Spearin’s fascinating Happiness Project (QRO review) to the old ‘hits’ like “K.C. Accidental” (QRO video) and “Fire Eyed Boy” (QRO video) – as well as numerous guest stars (QRO photos outdoors at a festival).

Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene

Cold War Kids, 5:45 PM – 6:35 PM


After a string of EPs, Fullerton, California’s Cold War Kids (QRO photos) blew up in 2006 with their full-length debut, Robbers & Cowards.  While 2008’s Loyalty to Loyalty (QRO review) suffered something of a sophomore slump, this year’s Mine Is Yours (QRO review) lifted things, and their live show (QRO photos) is still electric, especially outside (QRO live review outdoors), as they still ring with singles (QRO photos), from the more recent “Mine Is Yours” and “Audience” (QRO video) to their break-outs “We Used To Vacation”, “Hospital Beds” (QRO video), and “Hang Me Out To Dry” (QRO video).

Cold War Kids
Cults, 4:40 PM – 5:20 PM


When Cults (QRO photos) broke out last year with infectious single “We Go Outside”, they’d achieved the near impossible: being famous without anyone knowing anything about them (QRO photos outdoors).  Since then, the wall of silence has broken down, with the catchy sixties male/female duo recruiting a band, playing South-by-Southwest (QRO photos), and signing to major label Sony.  But even if you’ve got a face to put to the un-Google-able name, they’re still a hook-laden band (QRO photos at a festival).

Cults
Smith Westerns, 3:25 PM – 4:15 PM


Chicago’s Smith Westerns (QRO photos outdoors) have been getting some definite attention (QRO photos at a festival), but is that for their rock (QRO photos at a festival), or is it for their persona – none old enough to drink yet, and notorious for getting kicked out of clubs for breaking that rule…

Smith Westerns
The Head and The Heart, 2:35 PM – 3:10 PM


Very recently, things have been seriously booming for The Head and The Heart (QRO photos at a festival).  The Seattle alt-folk/pop band (QRO photos outdoors) was signed by Sub Pop, named their city’s best new band by Seattle Weekly, opened for everybody from Dave Matthews to Death Cab (QRO album review), and even played Conan (QRO Indie on Late Night TV)! 

The Head and the Heart
Mister Heavenly, 1:35 PM – 2:10 PM


A pseudo-super-group, the new Mister Heavenly consists of members of Man Man (QRO live review), Islands (QRO album review), Modest Mouse (QRO album review) & The Shins (QRO live review) – and had actor Michael Cera (Superbad, Arrested Development, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldQRO soundtrack review) as their touring bassist.

 


Also:


Fool’s Gold, 12:35 PM – 1:30 PM

Mister Heavenly

Donatello’s Stage


Explosions In the Sky, 10:45 PM – 11:40 PM
 


There might not be a more important or beloved post-rock band that Explosions In the Sky (QRO photos at a festival).  The Austin band (QRO photos outdoors) basically introduced the epic, vocal-less concept that is ‘post-rock’ into both the indie-sphere and the wider world (including overseas – QRO photos at a European festival – and providing the theme song to Friday Night LightsQRO soundtrack review), and made the Top Twenty on the Billboard charts with this year’s Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (QRO review).

Explosions In the Sky
Glass Candy, 8:40 PM – 9:20 PM


Now coming up on fifteen years together, the Portland, Oregon electronica duo of singer Ida No & instrumentalist/producer Johnny Jewel have moved from their noise rock-meets-electropop origins to incorporating such diverse sounds as Italian disco & Marilyn Monroe as Glass Candy, most recently on last year’s Feeling Without Touching.

Glass Candy
Four Tet, 6:40 PM – 7:35 PM


U.K. post-rock electronic musician Kieran Hebden, also who’s remixed everyone from Andrew Bird (QRO album review) to Radiohead (QRO album review), tours once more as Four Tet, on the back of There Is Love In You, his latest since 2008’s Ringer (QRO album review).

Four Tet
The Strange Boys, 5:05 PM – 5:45 PM


Austin’s Strange Boys (QRO photos in Austin at a festival) have recently been turning a lot of heads.  Some might say their southern garage-rock is nothing new, but see for yourself (QRO photos outdoors).

The Strange Boys
OFF!, 3:35 PM – 4:05 PM


You really can’t have an FYF Fest without Los Angeles’ own Keith Morris, who started the festival, in addition to work in seminal punk outfits Circle Jerks (QRO live review) & Black Flag.  He’s got a new outfit in OFF! (QRO photos – with members of Redd Kross, Rocket From the Crypts & more), but don’t worry – he plays the old classics, too.

 


Also:


Title Fight, 2:00 PM – 2:35 PM


Touche Amore, 12:40 PM – 1:10 PM

OFF!

Michelangelo’s Stage


Simian Mobile Disco, 9:35 PM – 10:30 PM
 


The Disco gets very Mobile when ‘The James’ – Ford & Shaw – bring the light & sound show that is Simian Mobile Disco (QRO live review) to FYF Fest (QRO photos), and are playing well into the night, where their lights can really shine (QRO photos).

Simian Mobile Disco
Girls, 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM


The band (QRO photos at a festival) with maybe the least creative titling ever (their debut is ‘Album’ – QRO review – at least there’s no actual females in the band…) got notice largely because singer/frontman Christopher Owens was raised in the actually scarily crazy Children of God cult.  But the neo-pop sounds of Girls (QRO photos) have kept on finding fans (QRO live review), with the Father, Son, Holy Ghost out ten days after FYF.

Girls
No Age, 6:00 PM – 6:40 PM


L.A.’s own young guitar & drums duo of Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt (QRO photos at a festival) have been blowing up very quickly since 2008’s Nouns (QRO review), including joining Dan Deacon (see below) & Deerhunter on the 2009 ‘Round Robin’ tour (QRO live review) & a controversial appearance on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (QRO Indie on Late Night TV).  The punk rock of such tracks as “Eraser” (QRO video), “Teen Creeps” (QRO video) and “Ripped Knees” (QRO video) plays fast, but look out for a young holiday crowd to go nuts (QRO live review).

No Age
Japandroids, 4:15 PM – 4:55 PM


Vancouver garage-rock guitar-and-drums (QRO photos at a festival) outfit Japandroids have moved from festivals up north to those in America (QRO photos at a festival), and are one of the best guitar & drums duos out there (QRO photos at a festival).

Japandroids
Ty Segall, 2:50 PM – 3:25 PM


California’s Ty Segall (QRO photos at a festival) has evolved from his ‘kick in the pants’ early work to a more effortless boot to the fanny these days, most recently with this year’s Goodbye Bread.

 


Also:


Tijuana Panthers, 1:20 PM – 1:50 PM

Ty Segall

 

 

Raphael’s Stage


The Dead Milkmen, 11:00 PM – 11:50 PM


The definition of humorous punk, The Dead Milkmen are another welcome return in the twenty-first century, having come back in 2008 (QRO photos at their only show that year, a festival).  They’ve kept it up since then, including this year’s The King In Yellow – expect Punk Rock Girls (and boys) out in force.

Dead Milkmen
Dan Deacon, 9:55 PM – 10:40 PM


One of the many acts bringing the wild, DIY element to FYF is Dan Deacon (QRO photos).  The Baltimore native is a man of many talents, including throwing his own DIY festivals & tours, like 2009’s ‘Round Robin’ tour (QRO live review) with No Age (see above) & Deerhunter.   But he’s still best known as an electronic musician, most recently with Bromst (QRO review), which gets wild live, whether with his fifteen-piece backing band (QRO live review) or Deacon standing & playing from in the crowd (QRO photos, outdoors at a festival).

Dan Deacon
Nosaj Thing, 8:50 PM – 9:35 PM


Los Angeles’ Nosaj Thing (a.k.a. Jason Chung) has been getting serious attention with his mash-up of electronica and hip-hop.

Nosaj Thing
YACHT, 7:50 PM – 8:35 PM


Originally one-half of The Blow, Portland’s Jona Bechtolt has since made even more of a name on his own as YACHT (QRO spotlight on), with 2007’s I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real (QRO review), 2009’s See Mystery Lights (QRO review), and this year’s Shangri-La, bringing in partner Claire Evans (QRO interview with both).  But it’s their exciting live shows that are really breaking them through (QRO live review), whether in the club (QRO photos) or outdoors (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), featuring such items as whole songs done from amongst the crowd, question-and-answer sessions – and their own signature dance style… (QRO photos)

YACHT
Kid Dynamite, 6:40 PM – 7:25 PM


Another hardcore act reuniting at FYF Fest is Philly’s Kid Dynamite, members of whom went on to work in acts like Lifetime, None More Black, Paint It Black, and more, but are back to the Kid after breaking up a decade ago.

Kid Dynamite
The Weakerthans, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM


From the plains up north comes Winnipeg’s The Weakerthans, who mix folk-rock, post-punk, indie, and more.

The Weakerthans
The Olivia Tremor Control, 4:25 PM – 5:05 PM


Out of the Elephant Six collective that also gave the world Apples in Stereo (QRO live review), of Montreal (QRO live review), and Neutral Milk Hotel came The Olivia Tremor Control.  They broke up back in 2000, but reunited for All Tomorrow’s Parties in the U.K. (the U.S. version is bringing back ex-Olivia/Neutral songwriter Jeff Mangum), and are currently working on new material.

The Olivia Tremor Control
Pink Mountaintops, 3:25 PM – 4:00 PM


From Vancouver’s hard-grind Black Mountain (QRO album review) collective comes the psychedelic Pink Mountaintops.

Pink Mountaintops
Cass McCombs, 2:25 PM – 3:00 PM


Alt-musician Cass McCombs (QRO photos outdoors) defies easy categorization.

Cass McCombs
Avi Buffalo, 1:25 PM – 2:00 PM


Long Beach’s Avi Buffalo (QRO photos at a festival) may be only a few years removed from high school, but their falsetto sound has already got people’s attention (QRO photos outdoors).

 


Also:


Twin Sister, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – QRO album review 

Avi Buffalo

 

 

Splinter’s Den


Chromatics, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM


Johnny Jewel does double-duty at FYF, both in the electronic Glass Candy (see above) and the noisier & chaotic Chromatics.

 


Also:


Comedy Show #3, 4:25 PM – 5:15 PM


Future Islands, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM


Comedy Show #2, 2:40 PM – 3:30 PM


Purity Ring, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM


Comedy Show #1, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Chromatics

 

For festival website, go here: http://fyffest.com/

 

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