September 3rd:Fuck Yeah Fest

After the week of Butthole Surfers I managed to get a ticket for FYF, the festival where I first saw Screaming Females, Thee Oh Sees, Ceremony, and many more, I figured I'd have to go again this year. I thought the lineup looked pretty good so of course I bought a ticket. I get there early to go see Tijuana Panthers, the band I missed  not being able to get into Ty Segall's show until I snuck in only to catch the last 3 songs of Ty's set. Tijuana Panther was really good, I liked the surfy feel and the pop-ish vocals. I saw part of another band's set before going over to see Ty Segall's set. This time they had added a second guitar player which was cool, he played different things and was pretty noisy. They played well, but I think their set was too short. (I like to see long sets by bands I listen to a lot) They ended it with a rad version of  "Caesar." So then I walk around checking out other bands after them, none of them were really gripping me (None of them were really bad, they just weren't getting me like I wanted) until Girls went on. I wasn't the hugest fan of the band, only liking a couple of songs, but they were great! They had a full band with backup singers, who were amazing singers, and they went straight into my favorite, "Lust For Life" and on went their set. (Now that I saw them I am into them, even the songs I didn't like before I do now) and then went to go see the Descendents play an hour set of a bunch of great songs. The highlights would have to be "I'm the One" "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" and "Sour Grapes" They are still hell of performers! Then came the other headliner: Death From Above 1979, one of my favorite bands who I never got to see when they were first playing. They opened with my favorite song "Turn It Out" and they blasted into their set. The crowd went wild at their show, having at least two circle pits going at once. They played songs like "Romantic Rights" and "Little Girl" and after they were done with their crazy loud set I walked off into downtown Los Angeles and hung out there until going home a few blocks away and going to sleep at about 3 A.M. and not waking up until much, much later.

ALBUM REVIEW: Mikal Cronin: Self Title

During Ty Segall's set, Ty announced that his bass player, Mikal Cronin, has a solo album coming out in a couple of weeks. I talked to Mikal through the gate and thanks to his kindness I got a copy! The next day I woke up and put on the album. This record really blew me away! Mikal Cronin seems to mix 60's pop with garage and it seems like there's a little folk influence in there. I really love how the tracks will go from a nice acoustic guitar to fuzzy electric guitars playing songs that you can sing (or hum) along to. One thing that really suprised me was the vocals. The singing added with the harmonies just makes the songs even better! My favorite tracks would have to be "Apathy" "Gone" (Which I think is my favorite song, I love the way the other instruments come in and the what I think is synth during in the chorus is just really uplifting) and "The Way Things Go" This track is the last one on the record and it ends in a kind've frenzie after really poppy melodie, piano, and fuzzed out guitars. This record is one of the best I've heard this year and I've listened to it at least 7 times in less than a week. For all you Los Angeles residents go to his show on September 14th in downtown for the record release show. I know I'm going to be there!

Purchase the record on September 20th at: www.troubleinmindrecs.com

Go see the show: The Smell
247 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

August 27th: Butthole Surfers at The Echoplex

Two weeks ago I was gearing up to go to the Sunset Junction when I heard it got cancelled. Luckily I did not buy a ticket yet. Though I wanted to see Melvins, Helmet, Barrio Tiger, and the other bands, the band I really wanted to see was the Butthole Surfers. I had never seen them and when they came here last time I hadn't been into them yet, so I was disappointed when the city didn't give the permit for the festival. I got excited again when they said they would play the Echoplex. I got the ticket, though another speed bump happened... 18 and over, one of my drawbacks. I got in though thanks to John Ramirez! I saw the opening act, 400 Blows, whom I thought was good  though I thought their songs kind've sounded the same, but I was into them. Then the Butthole Surfers went on and were just crazy good. They had great visuals of horror movies in the background and they sounded great! They played songs off pretty much every record except for Weird Revolution, which funny enough, the next day was the 10th anniversary of its release. I like also how they worked a small part of their hit song "Pepper" in "Lady Sniff" I liked that because it seemed to me like they didn't really care about playing that song. They played some of my favorites like "Mark Says Alright" "Who Was in My Room Last Night" and "Goofy's Concern." I had a really great time, got an awesome BS shirt, went to a show in silverlake the next day, and then Fuck Yeah Fest a week later!

August 26th: The Terrorists, Mutations, and Dirty Eyes at Beauty is Pain Boutique

Last Friday I was invited to see Dirty Eyes a band I've been hearing about for the past few months and being acquaintances with a few of the members I decided to go see them at Beauty is Pain Boutique. I got there early as I enjoy seeing most of the bands on a bill. The first band was the Terrorists, a garagey kind've punk band. The microphone they were using made it sound like they were singing through a 1930's radio. I liked them a lot and I got a really rad cd from the singer Ernesto! They are touring and I would definitely recommend seeing them and getting their cd. The next band was Mutations. They are straight up Garage and I love'd them. These guys played a really cool cover of "Lucifer Sam" by Pink Floyd. They are all under 20 and hopefully my band will be playing with them in October, a show you cant miss haha! The last band I got to see was Dirty Eyes and the consistency of good music did not stop at this band. I cannot describe them much more then straight up Rock 'n' Roll. With that kind of genre I'm always a little cautious about because I feel usually the band is doing nothing new. This band has, of course taken influence from the genre but I really feel this band is changing it up and making some really rad music. I wish I could have seen the other bands but sadly I had to leave after Dirty Eyes was done. This night was the start of my crazy rock 'n' roll weekend!