The dirt on Fun Fun Fun Fest
Festival-goers were treated to many perks as they arrived at Waterloo Park Saturday morning for Fun Fun Fun Fest.
Among them, a speedier willcall line than years past, free iPhone and iPod cases from sponsor Incase, a string of vendors offering up tasty treats, and of course, a wide array or musical offerings, poised to deliver a good time.
An early afternoon performance from Austin’s own L.A.X drew a sizable crowd for so early in the day, and managed to get many people dancing. The six-member dance hybrid group showed off their moves as well as their musical talent.
Altercation Comedy members JT Habersaat, Jake Flores and Joe Staats garnered laughs at the yellow stage for ripping on hipsters, UT football fans and the realities of being broke. The jokes seemed to strike a cord with much of the crowd. Ironic considering the packed stadium was only blocks away.
Vega and Neon Indian, both projects of Austin native Alan Palomo, performed on the blue stage only hours apart. While both projects produce danceable electro tunes, Neon Indian’s set was more psychedelic and hypnotic than the livelier Vega show.
Brooklyn band Les Savy Fav gave what was arguably Saturday’s most inventive performance.
Lead singer Tim Harrison embraced his balding head and prominent gut, by strutting around on stage in everything from a reptilian mask paired with a wedding dress, to a pair of iridescent purple leggings, worn under blue brief-style underwear. Harrison also applied black and red face paint to himself, his band mates, and members of the crowd and press pit.
His onstage antics were extended into the audience further with multiple stage-dives, one of which included a fully extended ladder being spread horizontally across the crowd so he could walk on top of it.
Yeasayer, Face to Face, 7 Seconds and Ratatat also delivered popular performances on Saturday.
The second day of the festival was dampened by rain, and eventually a thick sludge of mud covering large parts of the festival grounds.
Nothing Austinites were not accustomed to after ACL’s now notorious Dillo Dirt sludge-fest.
The Austin buzz band Black and White Years played an early set on the orange stage. Their blend of electo, dance and rock coupled with some bold fashion choices, made for a entertaining set.
Alaska in Winter played an inventive show on the blue stage. The one-man electro band, Brandon Bethancourt, sang and played the keytar onstage, while his virtual video orchestra was projected on a screen above the stage. The video featured images of Bethancourt playing all of the different instruments utilized in each song.
Boston punk band Street Dogs inspired circle pits in the rain with their performance on the black stage, drawing on live show mainstay tracks like “Tobe’s got a drinking problem.”
Of Montreal headlined the orange stage, and gave the kind of flamboyant, psychedelic performance that is typical of the band, known for their live show featuring dancers, ninjas and elaborate costumes. Probably the only notable difference between the band’s performance and their other shows was the fact that lead singer Kevin Barnes kept his clothes on for the rainy occasion. In previous Austin performances, Barnes has opted to strip into more revealing attire.
Competing with Of Montreal in the 8:30 timeslot was Danzig, returning to Austin for the first time in approximately 15 years. Though frontman and namesake Glen Danzig may have aged a bit since his Misfits, Samhain and early Danzig heyday, his vocal abilities were still on point. Fans stuck it out through the rain and sludge to rock out to the rock legend’s performance.
Other notable Sunday performances came from Atlas Sound, Youth Brigade, Mission of Burma, D.R.I and Crystal Castles.