As thousands of music fans muscled their way into Exposition Park on Sunday, one thing was clear: FYF Fest was making moves.
Abandoning comedy sets for the first time and instead investing in more variety and star power than ever before, the traditionally indie music festival set a firm foot forward into the direction of its distant cousins, Coachella and Outside Lands. What wasn’t clear was how this move would turn out, which seemed to hinge on the handful of big name acts it recruited, with The Strokes topping the list.
Helping to kick off Sunday was Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Mac DeMarco, who brought a relaxed summer vibe with his brand of slacker rock. Opening with his catchy single “Salad Days,” DeMacro’s set and off-key, on-stage banter was perfectly refreshing for a crowd subjected to a hot afternoon sun heating up the asphalt beneath it.
Electric bassist Thundercat continued the chill vibe with a smooth fusion of bluesy rock and funk. His talents were perhaps best displayed during an extended version of “Daylight,” which set the tone with pleasantly charming instrumentation backing as he sang an equally charming verse: “Open your mind.”
As evening creeped in, two groups helped amp things up. Seattle rockers The Presidents of the United States of America got festival-goers moving with their cover of “Video Killed the Radio Star” as well as “Peaches,” an eternal ballad about moving to the country and consuming a large amount of peaches.
Following The Presidents, Los Angeles natives The Bronx could not have come at a better time. With perhaps the most energized performance of the day, frontman Matt Caughthran reinvigorated the crowd with all the noise, head banging and energy required of a punk rock band, and some more.
After surviving the death match to gain entrance into the arena, an apprehensive group of fans was easily won over by a visually and musically impressive show by electronic collaboration Darkside. A lengthy, suspenseful intro of darkness and howling instrumentation preceded the set, building on the already heavy anticipation.
Lights beaming from the stage illuminated a galaxy of disco balls overhead, leaving in fog the dark silhouettes of instrumentalists Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington. The pair managed to adapt to the arena, working together seamlessly to produce a sound much bigger and darker than their more mellow studio recordings, while still retaining the feel of each melody.
The main stage was once again shaken up when HAIM took the stage. The indie-rocker trio has had a busy couple of months; after making waves at Coachella and Outside Lands and completing a series of concerts across the state, it was only fitting that the group would end their tour circuit in the heart of their hometown, partying with their fellow Angelenos. Each sister was as charismatic as ever, with the trio offering exactly what they’re known for: a classic rock-inspired sound, modernized with a bit of 90’s, a bit of 2000s and a wild, tribal drum solo here and there. The set was pure fun; a San Fernando Valley party hosted by the sisters of rock and roll.
As the night drew to a close, the ocean of The Strokes t-shirts that spread across the festival throughout the day finally found their home at the main stage. Frontman Julian Casablancas stepped on stage and with his deep, haunting croons, he addressed a sea of fans.
“Just play, I don’t want to talk,” Casablancas announced to himself and his fellow bandmates.
For the next hour, the band traveled exactly as fast as they promised, tearing through a decade of rock and roll. Each characteristically catchy guitar interlude, each of Casablancas’ evocative vocals and each sound on stage was shockingly authentic to the group’s studio work, perhaps even enriched by the audience’s energy. The crowd was alive and made it known, screaming along with classics such as “Reptilia” and “Someday.”
Finishing the set with “New York City Cops” after a demand for an encore, The Strokes left the audience with a distinct taste of 2000s rock.
Although day two of FYF Fest got off to a hot, slow start, the night ended with a satisfying combination of rock and electronic music. It’s still unclear how the festival’s move towards bigger names and inevitably higher ticket prices will fare, but if this year is any indication, we may just have our own Coachella in our own backyard.
– Aalhad Patankar