A 1-Minute Guide to the 22 Most Fun Acts of Fun Fun Fun Fest
Back, bigger than ever and in a better (?) location, the little festival that could is back for year six of public intoxication and Fun to the third degree. We take a look at the funnest of the fun with our 1-minute guide to Fun Fun Fun Fest, 20 Twitter-length microreviews of the sets we hope to catch this weekend.
- Active Child: A red-headed, harp-playing solo artist who mixes high-pitched R&B vocals with slow burning James Blake-style dubstep. A chill way to easy into Saturday morning.
- Architecture in Helsinki: Australian band whose “Contact High” may own one of the catchiest, sugary-sweet indie pop choruses of the year.
- Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: Local faves. Rockin’ blues tunes w/ loads of horns and soul & song titles like “I’m Broke” & “Bitch, I Love You.” Never seen ‘em? It’s time.
- Black Lips: Expect to be rocked and/or revolted. When the band was here for SXSW, a show ended w/ a guitar solo—played w/ a penis. It gets wilder.
- Childish Gambino: Funny/rad rap alter ego of Community’s Donald Glover. References to TV, videogames, and—since it’s hip hop—having relations w/ lots of women.
- Flying Lotus: The kind of DJ music that Radiohead’s Thom Yorke spins, that is, something cool you can bob your head to but can’t exactly dance to. (Unless you dance like this.)
- Girls: Actually, they’re guys. Unbelievable backstory (Wiki it) and an incredible set of tunes, including the fantastic “Lust For Life.”
- The Joy Formidable: Alt-rock English trio who have a big hit in “Whirring” and a handful of other radio-friendly gems under their belt.
- Lykke Li: EngagingSwedish one-woman pop machine who avoided the sophomore slump with the darker, more mature Wounded Rhymes.
- M83: French artist who may have single-handedly created the single of 2011 with the Drive-soundtrack worthy synth-and-sax jam “Midnight City.”
- Major Lazer: Go to dance. Even if you don’t know who ML is you know their work from the million of DJ sets and songs that sampled this.
- MNDR: Electro-pop princess—a 1-woman firecracker of an act rocking dance-y synths & drum machine. You’ve likely heard her on this Mark Ronson jam.
- Neon Indian: Denton-born chillwave poster child still cranking out hazy and nostalgic, 8-bit-inspired noise that makes you want to move.
- Passion Pit: No new tunes since 2009 but a new record is supposedly coming early 2012. Old songs won’t get in the way of a massive “Sleepyhead” singalong.
- Public Enemy: Forget the Flavor Flav of reality TV. Flav is the ultimate rap hype man & at 52 he’s still got it. Add in Chuck D = Magic from hip hop’s golden age.
- Purity Ring: This duo has a mountain of (much deserved) buzz; only 3 recorded songs—all sick. Unique mash of codeine-soaked bedroom pop. Sweet & menacing.
- Slayer: When else are you going to get to see Slayer?
- Spoon: Hometown heros, arguably the best rock band in ATX today. Kill The Moonlight is near flawless—listen to it & be sad you’ll never be that good at anything.
- Turquoise Jeep: Is “Lemme Smang It” the best music video of all time? Is it real? Is it a joke? Who cares.
- Ty Segall: Fuzzy loud guitar, rough-around-the-edges garage rock w/ killer hooks. Slightly psychedelic, summery sound—good companion to a lukewarm beer.
- YACHT: Played FFF 08 as a duo with a MacBook. They’ve since added a live band. Let’s see how “Psychic City” sounds with some live instruments.
- Someone or something at the Yellow Stage: A crazy combo of comedians, veggie hot dog eating contest, Air Sex competition, wrestling and more. A fun fun break from the music.
If you’re hungry for a little more, check out our Fun Fun Fun Fest playlist on Spotify.
(Eric Pulsifer)
