The issue a lot of music festivals run into as they continue to grow is finding that middle ground between making money and avoiding the pitfall of getting too greedy too fast and alienating the supporters who attend those festivals in the first place. FYF Fest (F*ck Yeah Fest) is smack dab in the middle of that identity crisis as of 2016.
After moving to a two-day festival permanently in 2012 following a few years of bouncing between two days and a single day, FYF has grown considerably. What it still does is mix comedy, electronic, rock, indie, rap, hip hop, experimental artists, and more into a still manageable but worthwhile experience that balances under-the-radar acts with compelling headliners.
This year’s lineup is no different. Kendrick Lamar, LCD Soundsystem, Grace Jones, Tame Impala, Air, Beach House, Father John Misty, Grimes, and Hot Chip are some of the bigger names to grace the stages at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Chances are if you’re attending both days, you already have a few of those artists circled on your schedule.
We’re not here to advocate seeing them (it’s a big of a redundant endeavor). Have fun, be safe, and the like. Instead we’re hoping to spotlight a few of the other acts that make FYF unique among some of the other summer festivals, whether you’re in it for the long haul or are planning on just catching a few hours over the course of the weekend.
Saturday
Alex G
Fans of everyone from Built to Spill to Pinback should be intrigued by songwriter Alex Giannascoli, who makes songs that sound like they’re out of the mid-to-late 1990s — even though he was born in 1993. Alex G made a name for himself on Bandcamp, giving hope to all artists everywhere who pass their Bandcamp links around to friends who have taken to asking “wait, you’re in a band?”
With his varied melodies and finely crafted lyrics, Alex G earned himself a contract on Domino Records — which boasts all sorts of artists who could conceivably be considered influence for Alex G’s brand of folk rock — in 2015. His Beach Music LP features what got him noticed on earlier recordings, with a little bit more punched up production.
Alex G’s the perfect Yin to much of a music festival’s Yang, and it’ll be easy to get lost in his set before bringing the energy way up over the course of the rest of the day.
Hop Along
Frances Quinlan’s voice has that grit, that soul, that imperfect tone that just works. So it’s no surprise that Hop Along’s first album (Painted Shut) on the Saddle Creek label got so much attention. The tracks are filled with nervous energy that builds and builds as Quinlan strains to reach notes that aren’t even really in her register. It feels real. It feels relatable. And it’s more than a little addicting.
There are few things more fun than stumbling into a set you weren’t expecting at a music festival, with a beer in hand, and the sun spilling over a stage. Load the deck in your favor and make one of those sets Hop Along’s. You’ll nod along, tap your hand on your leg, and share some approving glances with people you’ve never met before.
This wouldn’t be the first crowd Quinlan has won over, and it sure won’t be the last.
Boogie
Vince Staples is likely to draw a big crowd, and Kendrick is going to be packed to close out Saturday night, but another L.A. artist deserves your attention as well. Boogie’s The Reach mixtape is one you listen to with big headphones while lounging on a couch. It oozes soul and introspection, with jazzy influences and hooks.
There’s a good chance Boogie will be featuring a few tracks from his upcoming Thirst Pt. 2 release, the crowd will go crazy when he performs “Oh My,” and there might be a guest appearance or two. But the bottom line is that it’s going to be a good time, and if you’re stuck hearing the bass from another stage across the way, you’re going to catch some serious FOMO.
Wolf Parade
When Wolf Parade took a hiatus in 2011, it was one of those that seemed like it might last forever. And for people like me who never got the chance to see them, there was more than a little bit of panic. Singer Dan Boeckner popped up in the Divine Fits supergroup with Britt Daniel from Spoon, and all that did was make me miss Wolf Parade even more.
Maybe it’s just my excitement showing through — I had a clip of “Ghost Pressure” as a ringtone for the better part of five years — but when the group announced they were getting back together earlier this year, my first thought was that I had to hit a festival where they’ll be performing, or they’re going to change their mind and I’m going to miss them again.
And here we are. On Saturday, barring some sort of disaster I’ll finally catch that ghost, and I’ll be bopping along to “Little Golden Age,” “Modern World,” “Grounds for Divorce,” “Call It a Ritual,” and any other tracks they decide to play. These shows always seem like playing with money you already won earlier in the day at the casino — even if you lose, you still came out even or better.
Sunday
Banks & Steelz
Collaborations like the one between Paul Banks of Interpol and RZA seem tailor-made for the festival scene. Phantogram and Big Boi together? Sure, toss them on the bill. Chuck D, members of Rage Against the Machine, and B-Real? I’m still not convinced that wasn’t a Lollapalooza organizer’s mad lib (and am even more surprised they weren’t on this year’s lineup).
The tracks that have come out so far feel like they’ll play well live, although Banks has never been one for flourishes and bouts of furious energy even during Interpol’s high water mark. That said, this is RZA we’re talking about, and there’s a better than 50-50 chance Ghostface Killah will show up to perform Banks & Steelz’ track “Love and War” (and who knows what else).
I have a general rule at festivals to always see any/all members of the Wu-Tang Clan solo, or otherwise, and I’m not about to change that rule now.
Saves the Day
The emo kid in me will never die. So imagine the excitement when I saw not only was Saves the Day performing at FYF, but that they’d be doing all of 2001’s Stay What You Are. Those first chords of “At Your Funeral” are going to have people hopping around, and I can’t wait to see the smiles on faces of fans who are instantly transported back into their high school or college selves – angst, anxiety, doubt, fear, awkwardness, and all.
Singing loudly to these tracks is a cathartic experience and is a heck of a lot cheaper than therapy. Get nostalgic, and think about those drives to nowhere, late nights, and the one that got away.
Young Thug
He’s distinct. He’s unpredictable. And he always performs like he has nothing to lose. Run, don’t walk, to see Young Thug on Sunday. One of rap’s most prolific artists over the past few years, there’s really no telling what tracks Thugger will put on his set list. Even he might not know until he starts spitting, but his eccentricities make him extremely hard to pin down.
Whether he sticks to tracks from the Slime Season 3, bounces around his catalogue from “F Cancer” to “Stoner,” or rifles off a bunch of features, there’s a very slim chance Young Thug disappoints. The crowd better be ready to bring the energy and give it right back to him.
Rae Sremmurd
I had the luxury of seeing Rae Sremmurd on Nicki Minaj’s “Pinkprint Tour” last year, and their performance felt like sheer joy. Brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jimmy bounce around the stage with reckless abandon, never far from bottles of champagne, with huge smiles like they realize all of this could be taken away at a moment’s notice.
The pair was on ESPN’s Highly Questionable awhile back, and it was one of the most surreal interviews I’ve ever seen. They can’t focus on anything for more than a few seconds at a time, their energy is infectious, and the way they approach their music starts to make sense. This is just how they are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsbGMx962Xs
In an industry filled with people trying so hard to make it to the top they take themselves too seriously, or are afraid to enjoy the ride, Rae Sremmurd is a nice change of pace. These dudes love performing, love being famous, and love making music. The recent SremmLife 2 is yet another example of that.
