The FYF Fest is upon us, and me – it will happen this weekend! – and the number of bands playing there is overwhelming, once again I will have to make choices will be made and probably will regret to have missed certain bands, it’s unavoidable.
On Saturday, the entertainment starts at 2 pm, a little bit later than last year, but honestly who wants to roast under the sun at noon? There is always the attraction to see bands I already know and like, over new ones that may disappoint. So should I see Metz and Ty Segall (that I know and like) or Eleanor Friedberger, Roky Erickson, Mikal Cronin, Charles Bradley, The Underachievers, and Joyce Manor?
Last year, the stages were quite apart and it was taking some time to go from one to another, so I will have to choose. Joyce Manor received a lot of press by Mary here, so may be I should check them out, I heard great things about Mikal Cronin and Charles Bradley is supposed to be the next James Brown, so… Then I will have to choose again between Devendra Banhart and the Locust, or Delorean or Deerhunter?
I can’t miss a restless act like Thee Oh Sees, and one thing is sure, I want to experience TV on the Radio’s infectious rhythms and the edgy stage antics of Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but where do I find some time to see Flag? I want to see if the Morris-Cadena-Dukowski-McDonald-Stevenson team beats the Ginn’s Black Flag team, especially now that they are suing the hell of each other. I will probably pass on Death Grip, I am not a fan of their music although I would have been interested to check out them live, this guy look so dangerous!
On Sunday, there are again a few familiar names: Chelsea Wolfe, The Orwells, Poolside, No Age, Guards, Kurt Vile, Yo La Tengo, but I should choose bands I have never seen. Helen said she doesn’t care if Touche Amore does not play Warped Tour, so should I care for them? It’s tempting to go with the Carrie stage and its synth-pop line up: Beach House, MGMT and My Bloody Valentine, but should I completely ignore the legendary Melvins, the unpredictable Les Savy Fav, and Washed Out? Plus there is Beyonce’s little sister Solange on the Charlotte stage a little later, at the same time than the middle eastern exotism of Omar Souleyman… and I didn’t mention all the bands.
Everyone is mentioning its five or ten most interesting bands to see, I will decide when I have seen them! I have noticed there were far less punk/hardcore bands than last year (hey Refused was headlining in 2012), and the festival , in its 10th year, is a little bit poppier. I just regret it’s not on Labor Day weekend anymore, I will be exhausted at work on Monday.