So who parked across the street near the Del Taco and Carl's Jr? $25 for parking was a nice try, but I had already spent $200 on two tickets. Let`s just say the lineup was pretty damn good but not as good as the performances themselves. Staying for the most part to watch bands playing the Beach Goth stage, I caught SWMRS out of Oakland first. High energy, straight up good vibes and a band that gives a fuck. NO PARENTS were good as well but Riff Raff was the first artist that I knew about beforehand. Standing in the center of the crowd and letting the BASS just push itself through my goddamn ora while songs like “Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz” blasted. Watching all those little white kids go word for word as he worked the crowd and his bodyguard who looked like The Tick snapped pics.
As not young as I am, I had never heard nor seen The Adicts. Just because I see a shit ton of people rocking Misfits, Adicts or Ramones shirts and shit, that doesn`t move me in any way. (P.S. I really don`t like the Ramones.) They weren`t bad, they totally put on a good show. They were just a bit more "festive" then I had assumed punk to be. The Aquabats went on next but just didn`t do it for me, just wasn`t my personal vibe. Instead I just roamed around and found the likes of Snow Brown, a young Chicano dressed as Snow White. Amy Boozebarn was there as well, another gentleman dressed as Amy Winehouse, and then this set of Fear and Loathers.
It was pretty cool catching the Japanese women known as The 5.6.7.8`s get down to the boogie between other artist. I caught them 3 times, and each time was another delightful fun filled look at the way music should just be about fun and unity.
Warpaint was a band I had always been curious about, listening to them here and there and enjoying what I had heard. Lets just say they didn`t disappoint in the least and I can check them off my list of must sees. The Drums played a nice set as I once again decided to roam around. I then stayed in one spot and caught Ghost who apparently thought or where told that they were in Los "Angelees," yet were playing to mainly Orange County folks in Santa BanAna. Great theatrics, alot of lights and smoke, nuff said. Now onto Mac Demarco, I was pleasantly surprised. "That boy good" surprised. (A Coming To America reference to you young ones.) Clean, crisp and damn did he have the ladies in a trance. Right before Grimes, I was standing near the Observatory itself and something let out and everyone was rushing out the shit like fucking cattle. People where screaming and getting into shit, why did this year not sell out? Or was someone just trying to rake in the dough and just let the people sort through the jungle...
Grimes, oh how I have wanted to see Grimes. Not only does she kinda look like my hot neighbor, this chick is fully of energy and is a for the audience performer. I dig that shit. Now on to The Growlers, ah lak The Growlers but damn... Am I the only mutherfucker who thinks that something has gone wrong. Put on some Growlers at work, play them in your car, play them wherever, but live, they just are missing something. Brooks can barely hit notes, the guitars are rarely in tune and I`ve heard less chopping on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Give it to me straight, don`t suck me sideways. Will I be a fan for life still, ju betta beeleebeh. No, I didn`t stay nor pay for Toro Y Moi.
Day Dos: I was a bit pooped from Day Uno and got there a bit later. Even more so because I saw a tow truck hooking a car where I was going to park across the street. I was a bit saddened that I didn`t get to catch the Mystic Braves this year, but I did end up catching half of Juicy J`s set which pushed those speakers to capacity. Fidlar I had never seen nor heard of before. Damn this band was good, and I could actually for once hear what the fuck the band was actually saying. My boner went limp though after trying to hear them the next day at work and it just wasn`t the same at all. This band for me is just a live band, a great live band.
I didn`t know what to expect from Julian Casablancas, or I just didn`t expect anything. I thought it was going to be some lame attempt at The Strokes or some shit. It wasn`t, it was pretty cool I might say. The only annoying thing was that he kept the vocal effect on when speaking between songs. His drummer plays with the drive that a real musician should, gotta give that guy his props as well as the rhythm guitarist. The Growlers went on again but not before Warren G came out and did a quick song. I knew The Growlers would never play "The Fruit Is For Everyone" but I will say I did get my moneys worth.
I went inside and caught the last half of Del The Funky Homosapiens set. Dude can rap and it was sick for him to round it all out with The Gorillaz song "Clint Eastwood."
Now, for a group of older folks, I think they hit the nail on the mutherfuckin head. I`m talking about Parliment Funkadelic. Not only did I see the 74 year old George Clinton smoke a joint on stage, fake "sandwich" some chicks, I heard him hit those notes like it was 1982. He had the energy, THE FUNK, the unity, and the crowd all at his whim. Everyone in his band was like a well oiled Mothership that I didn`t get off until its last ride. Let me tell you though, these Funketeers played the longest fucking set ever, just about 2 hours long. I thought it would never stop. Two guitars playing as one, three ladies singing in unison, funky bass and brass what more could you want from a band? Then just like that, Beach Goth 4 was over as I prayed with my pinata in hand that my elco was still where I fucking parked it, and it was.