Complaining about crowds, after the break!
Disclaimer: Writing semi-unimportant reviews about music festivals are my least favorite blurbs to piece together. Main reason: I’m one man against a lineup of 30+ artists. I can only see 5%. (If I’m lucky) Unless I have a press pass. That’s not my gimmick though. So, anytime I visit– my only goal is to knock more artists off my bucket list. Try to have a good time drinking, taking photos, and pushing myself pass my limits.
Love the Survival Guides. Will write them anytime. Sharing my knowledge certainly is something that will never age. So… Let’s go!
FYF Fest 2016 – Saturday (08/27/16)
“BE HERE & STAND FOR HOURS”
I. Hate. Lines. Especially unnecessary lines. That basically defines the beginning of my Junior year at FYF Fest. Three years strong ladies and gents. Still no shelter from distracted Los Angeleans unable to think outside the box. I arrived close to 5PM to see Vince Staples headlining the main stage of FYF to only find lines on street corners again. This time, I didn’t give a phuck about the clueless folks (who obviously didn’t read my FYF Survival Guide) standing on King BLVD. Disappointing to say the least.
In their defense, people can be sheep. I strolled by them and entered an even bigger line security line! Check out the photos below. Tried to imagine the crowd when the gates opened, but that gives me nightmares.
I never been soft spoken about my disgust with FYF’s line situation. Three years later and there is some progress. It probably takes the title for the most popular music festival in the LA area. So, anyone should expect an epic turnout in the years to follow. Plan accordingly. Arrive early. I have yet to follow my own rules apparently.
2015 brought huge buzz. Kanye West put on a dynamite last minute performance for Frank Ocean. Memories of busted toes, bloody clothes, and ringing ears come to mind… (Still ranks at the top of my favorite concerts of all time BTW). 2016’s FYF festival certainly capitalized on the growing wave by booking four iconic headliners. Each genre was represented with LCD Soundsytem, Grace Jones, Kendrick Lamar, and Tame Impala displaying their musically styles over the course of the 2-day 4+ hours collective spots. Really wanted to go to Day 2 to LCD. Yet, traffic, all the standing in line & waiting in the pit a hour plus for Kendrick Lamar drained every fiber in my aging body. Wasn’t what I had planned.
Still my time on Day 1 was wrought full of fun. Saw the closing half of Vince Staples, chilllax with Todd Terje & The Olsens, grooved with Grimes & Air, head-bobbed to Kamaiyah, had my ears blown out by Ty Segall & Muggers, grooved with a group of ladies to Tame Impala, and witness the fiery greatness of Kendrick Lamar (for a third time). All the performances were standouts. FYF knows how to book artists. One of the perks of shelling out a couple hundreds of bucks. Really wish I didn’t stand by the main stage for 2 hours and saw more of the newbies & classic acts. But meh. Getting the shots of Kendrick certain made up for any lingering leg pains.
The new layout for the Festival’s grounds spread the sold out crowd across Exposition Park and let the Coliseum pull apart the normal mob into small packs of music hounds. Didn’t feel claustrophobic at all. Not having the Sports Arena (which normally housed the EDM/DJs in previous years) really gave a different vibe to each show. The Main Stage area (now in the front) got crowded, but there were multiple ways around the small staircase by the entrance. The Trees stage definitely benefited from being far from the action. The jam packed beer garden occupied stage right for the first time with foodies & beer advocates watching the shows from their drinking spots. It was the coolest spot to be for us rebellious hipsters.
Overall, the shows were on time, jam packed, and heaps of fun. More proof that this FYF Vet will continue to buy a pass every year until we fade away. FYF is only going to get bigger. Next year, it might rival Coachella in star power. Expect big things from Goldenvoice & FYF Fest. They give LA such life at the end of the summer.
