Greetings fellow F Yeah Fest enthusiasts!
Surely by this point you’ve listened to Jason Bentley’s excellent recent conversation with Fest founder Sean Carlson. If you haven’t, check it out here . I’m sure you’ve also worked yourself into a frenzy pouring over the set times, and mapping out your perfect schedule to ensure that you take in as much of the action as possible. But just in case you need a few more suggestions, or just a killer playlist to kick your anticipation for the weekend into absolute over drive – here are my quick picks for but a few of the sets that you should make a point to seek out. As a bonus, I’ve made a Spotify playlist with tracks from all of the artists cited in the post, plus a few more for good measure!
P.S. If you haven’t yet secured tickets, and are bemoaning that fact, single day tickets are still available for Sunday.
Museum of Love (Saturday 4:25 PM, The Club)
According to Carlson, The Club is a brand new tent designed to fill the Arena shaped hole in our hearts. I’ll definitely be arriving early to check out this excellent project that’s the brainchild of LCD Soundsystem Drummer Pat Mahoney and his long time pal Dennis McNany. Their music hits that perfect dark, synth and horn heavy, dance music for people that don’t dance sweet spot that put their (and LCD’s) label DFA on the map.
Cooper Saver (Saturday 2:00 PM, Woods Stage)
For those of you who can’t bear the thought of missing even a second of the action (you know who you are) you could do a lot worse than to ease into the day with what is sure to be a seriously vibe-y DJ set from one of our greatest local heroes/secret weapons. Saver is having a bit of a moment right now both at home and abroad so if you want to say you saw him when – and you will definitely want to say that – this will be a perfect place to do so.
Diiv (Saturday 4:00 PM, Main Stage)
As I type this, I’m shocked at the realization that I’ve never seen Diiv perform live. From all accounts, it’s an experience not to be missed. Formed initially as a solo project of siger/guitarist Zachary Cole Smith, Diiv almost immediately expanded into a fully fleshed out band. As with many of their Captured Tracks label mates, Diiv expertly harness influences from shoegaze, indiepop, Krautrock and various other musical ephemera into their own gorgeous product. Their sophomore album Is The Is Are was one of the early highlights of 2016, and I can’t wait to see how it translates on stage.
Todd Terje & The Olsens (Saturday 6:05 PM, Lawn Stage)
I was lucky enough to catch this show at Coachella last year, and it’s easily one of my Top Ten concert experiences of all time. The band played most of Terje’s stellar 2014 release It’s Album Time, not necessarily in order, but definitely in a way unfolded perfectly for a live setting. Terje commanded the center of the stage the whole time as part DJ, part band leader, and total badass. I can’t wait to see how the performance has evolved, and I especially can’t wait to experience this set as an opening act for Air, who will take the Lawn Stage immediately after!
Wild Nothing (Sunday 4:10 PM, Lawn Stage)
If you know me, my shows, or my writing for KCRW at all, you know I’ve been on you to bow down at the altar of excellency that is Wild Nothing for years. And I’ll never turn down an opportunity to remind you, especially now that the band has delivered their best album (by a country mile) to date in the form of this year’s Life of Pause. As if that weren’t enough incentive, consider your hometown pride. Frontman/project mastermind Jack Tatum is now an L.A. local! Seriously, take my word for it, and treat your ears to what will surely be a glorious mid-Sunday afternoon set of the dreamiest dream pop.
The Black Madonna (5:00 PM Woods Stage)
Much like Cooper Saver mentioned above, the Black Madonna is currently in the process of blowing up. She’s a fiercely beloved DJ/producer within the Chicago house scene, likely your favorite DJ’s favorite DJ, AND the Creative Director of renowned Chicago venue Smart Bar which has managed to attract more crowds as the acts booked have gotten more idiosyncratic under her reign. If all that weren’t enough to get you to the Woods on Sunday, check out this quote from her bio and tell me you wouldn’t quit your life and just follow her around the world if she asked you to: “Of her philosophy she said, “Dance music needs riot grrrls. Dance music needs Patti Smith. It needs DJ Sprinkles. Dance music needs some discomfort with its euphoria. Dance music needs salt in its wounds. Dance music needs women over the age of 40. Dance needs breastfeeding DJs trying to get their kids to sleep before they have to play. Dance needs cranky queers and teenagers who are really tired of this shit. Dance music needs writers and critics and academics and historians. Dance music needs poor people and people who don’t have the right shoes to get into the club. Dance music needs shirts without collars. Dance music needs people who struggled all week. Dance music needs people that had to come before midnight because they couldn’t afford full admission. Dance music does not need more of the status quo.”
Anonhni Presents: Hopelessness (Sunday 7:45 PM, Lawn Stage)
This is a set that promises to be so special that Sean Carlson is purposefully keeping the main stage dark while it happens. Anohni’s album Hopelessness is a blistering assault on the drastically divided world that we live in today – taking on our generally lax attitudes toward climate change, constant global warfare, and tendency toward careless mistreatment of those we consider to be “other.” There are certainly bigger names, and more anticipated sets coming to FYF this year, but I have a feeling this is the one everyone will be talking about for years to come.