The past Saturday saw hordes of indie, electronic and rock fans flood the Los Angeles State Historic Park for the 10th annual FYF Fest. Fifty-eight bands and 14 comedians were scheduled to play the two days across four stages (named after the “Sex in the City” women, just because).
The day started off strong with the likes of Ty Segall on the Charlotte stage. His band’s set was split in half, starting slow and acoustic with songs from his latest album “Sleeper.” After warming up a bit, Segall ramped up the tempo, moving on to the face-melting electric guitar he is known for.
Up next, Chazwick Bundick, better known by his stage name Toro y Moi, delivered an irresistibly groovy set, filling the dusty air with soothing synthpop. Bundick deftly proved his skill as a live performer, deviating from his recordings and taking the set into some unexpected directions. At one point, a concert-goer hopped onto the stage and ran alongside the band, quickly guided off by a slew of security. Bundick laughed it off in style as he moved into arguably the strongest song of the show, “So Many Details.”
Masses of mustaches and knee-high socks were hard to ignore, drawing attention to the unique collection of fans at the park. Interestingly, the music brought together several generations with little squabbling between them.
Tried and true electronic gurus Simian Mobile Disco brought a spectacle of psychedelia to their DJ set, playing back to back with the up-and-coming duo Bicep. The two-hour dance party was undoubtedly a highlight of the evening: The tent’s crowd dancing without inhibition embodied the spirit of the Samantha Tent. A slew of dancers clad in exotic costumes accompanied the DJs on the stage, adding to the anarchy.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs closed the day out with a career-spanning set, opening to the title track from their new album, “Mosquito.” Vocalist Karen O oozed sensual energy, her voice starkly raw when compared to her recorded work. The crowd eagerly sang along to hits like “Zero” with high spirit, as the band launched its famous giant inflatable eyeball off the stage.
Some sound problems were evident throughout the day and drew attention to the lower production value of the festival. The low number of porta-potties also proved problematic, drawing long lines for the length of the day.
That said, it was clear that FYF Fest put its money toward the performances themselves. The low ticket cost also makes FYF one of the best values for music in the Los Angeles area. The eclectic fusion of genres kept things fresh all day long, and surely left fans eagerly anticipating the return downtown for Sunday’s festivities.