By the time you’re reading this, FYF will be just a little over a week away. You need a game plan missy! Or mister, of course, I strive to be equal opportunity in my use of condescending, antiquated terms. That’s just feminism 101! And with that equal love for all genders and age groups bursting forth from my heart, I present to you my picks for our annual FYF Preview.
P.S. If you don’t have your tickets yet, you can still pick up weekend passes here.
Saturday:
Arrive Early For: Horse Meat Disco
If the festival is set up the way it was last year, these guys should be throwing down under a dark, air conditioned dome around 2PM (no set times have been announced, this is just a guess based on the poster) – this would be a very good thing. Even though the selections, and mixing skills that this burly collective of Londoners will no doubt bring to the table will be fun even under the sweltering sun, I’m hoping to kick off my FYF by dancing in near invisibility to glitziest, grooviest, most glorious disco, rare groove, and contemporary disco/funk that time either forgot or never knew.
Stay Late For: The Jesus and Mary Chain
Sure these guys make it through town often enough to wonder if catching them at FYF is completely necessary. Was the time they played the race track the last time they were here, or the time before? Still, what the Brothers Reid manage to do on stage with their signature sound is pure magic. From early gigs in their native Glasgow where that sound caused actual riots to recent days where it’s welcomed, and revered by longtime fans and newcomers alike. If you’ve never seen them, this is an essential set for you at FYF, if you have seen them… well, don’t you want to see if Scarlett Johannson shows up to sing “Just Like Honey?”
[youtube width=”500″ height=”344″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EgB__YratE[/youtube]
Ride Out the Near End With: Deerhunter
It’s been way way too long since I’ve experienced Deerhunter live. It was before I knew their music all that well, It was before “Desire Lines,” became one of my very favorite songs, and it was before the wonder that is 2013’s Monomania came into the world. That said, it was also one of my favorite concert experiences. Somehow in that situation, not knowing much made the experience even better. I remember waves of colors from the visual projections, I remember waves of perfect sound, and I remember that it was raining outside when we left which just seemed right. Armed with more knowledge of the band’s music, I’m thrilled to experience them again so many years later, and under the stars no less…
[youtube width=”500″ height=”344″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW2jOA6uIaM[/youtube]
Sunday:
Arrive Early For: Girlpool
A name like “Girlpool” can conjure many different types of bands. If you hear the name and imagine a female teenage duo with only a guitar, a bass, and the combined power of their two voices playing songs with remarkably clear eyed personal is political type lyrics that owe an equal debt to the Riot Grrrls, and Marine Girls – then you imagined right! You know where I’ll be when the FYF gates open on Sunday.
Stay Late For: D’Angelo & the Vanguard
To paraphrase John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats): The most remarkable thing about D’Angelo playing FYF, is that it’s D’Angelo, and he’s playing FYF. He along with the Vanguard released one of the best records of 2014, Black Messiah, too late in the year for many of us who list such things to be able to list it as such. Prior to that, he had not released a record since 2000’s Voodoo. He does not play live often. This one’s going to be an experience…
[youtube width=”500″ height=”344″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxVNOnPyvIU[/youtube]
Ride Out the Near End With: Spiritualized
I’ve seen Spiritualized live twice, and they were night and day experiences. The first was an acoustic show at the Vista (movie) Theater in Silver Lake where J. Spaceman and Thighpaulsandra sat across from one another tending to their respective instruments while backed by an all female choir and orchestra, every person on stage dressed all in black, both men sporting indoor sunglasses (of course). It was incredible. The next time I saw them was years later at the Wiltern following the release of their most recent album Sweet Heart, Sweet Light for the full band experience. It was equally as incredible. What will they unleash upon us at FYF? I, for one, can’t wait to find out!
[youtube width=”500″ height=”344″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB7E1D_3Na4[/youtube]