forYoungModerns

THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: INDIE ROCK WORLD HEADQUARTERS

(The Hollywood Bowl on July 23, 2006 before a Flaming Lips concert, with Os Mutantes on stage.)

Anybody who has class in Los Angeles these days (possibly an endangered population) knows that history, style, and performance all come together at the Hollywood Bowl better than at any other location in the southland, or California, for that matter. Or possibly the entire world. The nearly 18,000-seat Bowl has sat on prime real estate in the Hollywood Hills since flappers and Prohibition agents ruled the streets of old Hollywood. Since then, the esteemed venue has hosted concerts from the likes of The Beatles, James Brown, Simon & Garfunkel, Monty Python, countless legendary tenors and conductors, and a myriad of jazz masters.

During this FYM writer’s three-year stint working as an usher at the Bowl, I witnessed performances (all the while busily working, of course) by artists such as Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, the aforementioned Simon & Garfunkel and James Brown (the latter was introduced to the stage by Thom Yorke), Arcade Fire (opening for David Byrne), Wilco (opening for R.E.M.), Björk, and many others. Clearly, the Hollywood Bowl is known for booking the most legendary, world-class, and headline-stealing musicians, but at the end of its 2010 season the venue is hosting a series of concerts featuring some of the absolute brightest names in indie rock, which is a surprising and refreshing change. The people down Los Feliz Blvd. at The Greek must be fuming with jealousy.

THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS / CHROMEO / YACHT - AUGUST 29


(Funny how a 4:22 music video can be better than the two Transformers movies combined.)

On August 29, as part of KCRW’s World Festival, the Chemical Brothers turn the Bowl into the world’s classiest rave venue as the British electronic duo are touring behind their new album, Further. Opening for them are the self-proclaimed only successful Jewish-Arab collaboration in history, Chromeo (whose video for new single “Don’t Turn the Lights On” can be found by clicking HERE), and DFA Records one-man dance party YACHT. This show will guarantee to fill up the aisles with dancers, much to the disdain of ushers trying to put everyone in their rightful seat, but they’ll get over it. I did.

PHOENIX / GRIZZLY BEAR / GIRLS - SEPTEMBER 18



A few weeks later, on September 18, French synth-pop rockers Phoenix continue their world domination with a show with the brilliantly chosen opening duo of Grizzly Bear and Girls. Phoenix first dominated car commercials, then mastered film trailer placement, and now they headline at the Hollywood Bowl. Maybe rock stars aren’t dead quite yet? And what more can be said about Grizzly Bear that hasn’t been said already? Perhaps the fact that people take for granted how the band can absolutely nail the complicated vocal ‘solo’ during “While You Wait For the Others” while performing live? Yeah, that’ll work. And speaking of rock stars not being dead, Girls put out one of the best, most honest, and old fashioned yet still cutting-edge rock & roll albums in many years in 2009 with Album. You’d be foolish to not show up early for Girls.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND / THE VERY BEST / BEACH HOUSE - SEPTEMBER 26


(An excellent remix by So Shifty.)

For a band that might be in sudden need of $2,000,000, a headlining slot at the Hollywood Bowl is a great way for Vampire Weekend to not only make some well-deserved cash, but also establish themselves as one of the premiere bands in all of music today. Vampire Weekend started the promotional run for the chart-topping Contra by doing shows in tiny California towns like Pioneertown, Visalia, and Lafayette, so this Bowl concert is a perfect coda to a year-long tour. The Very Best, a collaboration between Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and British production team Radioclit, and whose album Warm Heart of Africa features contributions from Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and M.I.A., add support. As do Baltimore duo Beach House, who are touring behind the best album of their blossoming career, Teen Dream.

PAVEMENT / SONIC YOUTH / NO AGE - SEPTEMBER 30



Upon the release of bona-fide cult classic Slanted & Enchanted in 1992, if you were to have told Pavement leader Stephen Malkmus that in eighteen years his band would be headlining a show at the Hollywood Bowl, he probably would have slapped you in the face and recommended that you hand over the lo-fi drugs you were on. This concert will be, in all likelihood, the most indie and most lo-fi concert to ever grace the Bowl’s stage. Pavement (gloriously reunited) are the indie rock band and were the band of the 1990’s. Everything that was good and innovative and fun about the 90’s can be found amongst Pavement’s discography. One of the few other bands that make also make such a claim would be Sonic Youth, and luckily for everybody here they are opening for Pavement. Pavement has more bragging rights regarding the 90’s because a few of Sonic Youth’s masterpieces were released in the 1980’s. On September 30, two of indie rock’s most legendary and greatest bands share a stage. This is history! Los Angeles locals No Age, a.k.a. Sons of Sonic Youth, a.k.a. Sons of Pavement, a.k.a. today’s young lo-fi masters complete this epic night.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM / HOT CHIP / SLEIGH BELLS - OCTOBER 15


(Heaviest guitars ever?)

If this truly is LCD Soundsystem’s final tour, than that’s just one of the countless number of reasons why this is a can’t-miss show. LCD just released their third consecutive modern masterpiece, This Is Happening, and despite retirement rumors, the group seems to be nothing but full steam ahead. LCD shared the Bowl stage with Arcade Fire a few years ago, but on October 15 they will be front and center. Hot Chip will get everybody’s dancing headbands warmed up, as they tour behind their new album, One Life Stand. Rounding out this world-class lineup is Brooklyn’s contagiously danceable Sleigh Bells, featuring newfound indie heartthrob Alexis Krauss and guitarist/songwriter Derek E. Miller, whose decision to dump generic metal band Poison the Well and form Sleigh Bells would be an understatement to call “wise.” The guitars on their excellent debut, Treats, are heavier than most metal bands’ around today combined.

As a bonus, here’s a picture of me in uniform at the Hollywood Bowl from several years ago (I’m on the right; not pictured are the classy maroon sweaters and unfortunately pictured is a poor choice of facial hair).

THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: INDIE ROCK WORLD HEADQUARTERS

(The Hollywood Bowl on July 23, 2006 before a Flaming Lips concert, with Os Mutantes on stage.)

Anybody who has class in Los Angeles these days (possibly an endangered population) knows that history, style, and performance all come together at the Hollywood Bowl better than at any other location in the southland, or California, for that matter. Or possibly the entire world. The nearly 18,000-seat Bowl has sat on prime real estate in the Hollywood Hills since flappers and Prohibition agents ruled the streets of old Hollywood. Since then, the esteemed venue has hosted concerts from the likes of The Beatles, James Brown, Simon & Garfunkel, Monty Python, countless legendary tenors and conductors, and a myriad of jazz masters.

During this FYM writer’s three-year stint working as an usher at the Bowl, I witnessed performances (all the while busily working, of course) by artists such as Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, the aforementioned Simon & Garfunkel and James Brown (the latter was introduced to the stage by Thom Yorke), Arcade Fire (opening for David Byrne), Wilco (opening for R.E.M.), Björk, and many others. Clearly, the Hollywood Bowl is known for booking the most legendary, world-class, and headline-stealing musicians, but at the end of its 2010 season the venue is hosting a series of concerts featuring some of the absolute brightest names in indie rock, which is a surprising and refreshing change. The people down Los Feliz Blvd. at The Greek must be fuming with jealousy.

THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS / CHROMEO / YACHT - AUGUST 29


(Funny how a 4:22 music video can be better than the two Transformers movies combined.)

On August 29, as part of KCRW’s World Festival, the Chemical Brothers turn the Bowl into the world’s classiest rave venue as the British electronic duo are touring behind their new album, Further. Opening for them are the self-proclaimed only successful Jewish-Arab collaboration in history, Chromeo (whose video for new single “Don’t Turn the Lights On” can be found by clicking HERE), and DFA Records one-man dance party YACHT. This show will guarantee to fill up the aisles with dancers, much to the disdain of ushers trying to put everyone in their rightful seat, but they’ll get over it. I did.

PHOENIX / GRIZZLY BEAR / GIRLS - SEPTEMBER 18



A few weeks later, on September 18, French synth-pop rockers Phoenix continue their world domination with a show with the brilliantly chosen opening duo of Grizzly Bear and Girls. Phoenix first dominated car commercials, then mastered film trailer placement, and now they headline at the Hollywood Bowl. Maybe rock stars aren’t dead quite yet? And what more can be said about Grizzly Bear that hasn’t been said already? Perhaps the fact that people take for granted how the band can absolutely nail the complicated vocal ‘solo’ during “While You Wait For the Others” while performing live? Yeah, that’ll work. And speaking of rock stars not being dead, Girls put out one of the best, most honest, and old fashioned yet still cutting-edge rock & roll albums in many years in 2009 with Album. You’d be foolish to not show up early for Girls.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND / THE VERY BEST / BEACH HOUSE - SEPTEMBER 26


(An excellent remix by So Shifty.)

For a band that might be in sudden need of $2,000,000, a headlining slot at the Hollywood Bowl is a great way for Vampire Weekend to not only make some well-deserved cash, but also establish themselves as one of the premiere bands in all of music today. Vampire Weekend started the promotional run for the chart-topping Contra by doing shows in tiny California towns like Pioneertown, Visalia, and Lafayette, so this Bowl concert is a perfect coda to a year-long tour. The Very Best, a collaboration between Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and British production team Radioclit, and whose album Warm Heart of Africa features contributions from Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and M.I.A., add support. As do Baltimore duo Beach House, who are touring behind the best album of their blossoming career, Teen Dream.

PAVEMENT / SONIC YOUTH / NO AGE - SEPTEMBER 30



Upon the release of bona-fide cult classic Slanted & Enchanted in 1992, if you were to have told Pavement leader Stephen Malkmus that in eighteen years his band would be headlining a show at the Hollywood Bowl, he probably would have slapped you in the face and recommended that you hand over the lo-fi drugs you were on. This concert will be, in all likelihood, the most indie and most lo-fi concert to ever grace the Bowl’s stage. Pavement (gloriously reunited) are the indie rock band and were the band of the 1990’s. Everything that was good and innovative and fun about the 90’s can be found amongst Pavement’s discography. One of the few other bands that make also make such a claim would be Sonic Youth, and luckily for everybody here they are opening for Pavement. Pavement has more bragging rights regarding the 90’s because a few of Sonic Youth’s masterpieces were released in the 1980’s. On September 30, two of indie rock’s most legendary and greatest bands share a stage. This is history! Los Angeles locals No Age, a.k.a. Sons of Sonic Youth, a.k.a. Sons of Pavement, a.k.a. today’s young lo-fi masters complete this epic night.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM / HOT CHIP / SLEIGH BELLS - OCTOBER 15


(Heaviest guitars ever?)

If this truly is LCD Soundsystem’s final tour, than that’s just one of the countless number of reasons why this is a can’t-miss show. LCD just released their third consecutive modern masterpiece, This Is Happening, and despite retirement rumors, the group seems to be nothing but full steam ahead. LCD shared the Bowl stage with Arcade Fire a few years ago, but on October 15 they will be front and center. Hot Chip will get everybody’s dancing headbands warmed up, as they tour behind their new album, One Life Stand. Rounding out this world-class lineup is Brooklyn’s contagiously danceable Sleigh Bells, featuring newfound indie heartthrob Alexis Krauss and guitarist/songwriter Derek E. Miller, whose decision to dump generic metal band Poison the Well and form Sleigh Bells would be an understatement to call “wise.” The guitars on their excellent debut, Treats, are heavier than most metal bands’ around today combined.

As a bonus, here’s a picture of me in uniform at the Hollywood Bowl from several years ago (I’m on the right; not pictured are the classy maroon sweaters and unfortunately pictured is a poor choice of facial hair).

FYM ON THE LIST: CHEMICAL BROTHERS / CHROMEO / YACHT @ THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

We here at FYM love and appreciate very dearly the hardworking publicists and managers of bands that allow us to get ‘on the list’ of many of their client’s concerts, but sometimes it also helps to just have some personal connections of your own apart from that. Working at the Hollywood Bowl for three years right out of high school will do just that, especially if you still know several people who still are employed at the legendary venue. So, FYM was on the list for The Chemical Brothers, Chromeo, and YACHT on Sunday night, but in a slightly different manner than usual. This time it involved bringing to the venue a Thank You basket of goodies for the person who got us in.

Anyway, every Sunday throughout the summer the Hollywood Bowl hosts 89.9 KCRW’s World Festival: a series of concerts featuring music from prime artists all over the world (this year featured such acts as Jamaica’s Jimmy Cliff and Cuba’s Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club). The show is popular with people of all ages and backgrounds, which includes many middle-upper class retirees or close-to-retirees. So, every year when KCRW hosts its electronica night of the World Festival, it’s always intriguing to see how these old folks react to their immediate environment suddenly becoming a rave. The reaction is usually “get me out of this God-forsaken place” but with a lineup that also included the very friendly to the eyes and ears Chromeo and YACHT, perhaps things would be different this time.

YACHT



Portland, Oregon’s best dance crew YACHT kicked off the show right at 7:00pm, when the sun was still out. YACHT always brings a ton of energy to the stage and to the crowd. The fact that YACHT brought ANY energy to the Hollywood Bowl at all is a sort of miracle, as the group had just come off back to back to back nights of performances. Doesn’t really sound all that tough for a touring band, right? Well, it sounds extremely tough when you realize those previous shows took place on consecutive nights in Copenhagen, Malmo, and Stockholm, Sweden. Defying the laws of jet lag, YACHT pounded the stage made it their own dance party for anyone who showed up early enough to see them. Frontman extraordinaire Jona Bechtolt was very thankful to be playing such an historic venue, rallied the crowed during sing-a-longs several times, and paid tribute to the end of summer before breaking into “Summer Song” from YACHT’s 2009 album See Mystery Lights. Upon completion of set-closing “Psychic City (Voodoo City)”, YACHT headed back home to Portland with promises of recording a new album for DFA Records.

Chromeo



By the time Chromeo hit the stage, the sun was long set and the duo’s trademark glowing lady legs keyboard stands were illuminated on the stage. From the nosebleed seats they probably looked like a pair of little lights on the stage, but the unsuspecting old folks closer to the stage got a nice hint of what was to come. This FYM writer has only seen Chromeo live before at festivals and always during the daytime, so it was nice to see them at night for once, their natural habitat.



Chromeo tore through what felt like a “greatest hits” setlist, which is really saying something seeing how their third album isn’t even out yet (September 14!). New songs “Night By Night” and “Don’t Turn the Lights On” fit in with their classic material seamlessly and everything works extremely well live. They were appropriately flanked by a few alluring female backup singers on most of their songs and their stage banter between songs won over any doubters of all ages (especially when Dave1 wished Michael Jackson a Happy Birthday). Twitter activity after the show in Los Angeles showed that many people had a new favorite band after Sunday night, which is very understandable seeing how they absolutely killed it.

The Chemical Brothers



The intense, rave-friendly electronica of The Chemical Brothers seemed, at first, to be an odd pairing after Chromeo and YACHT, especially when their set got off to an awkwardly slow start with a subdued version of their 2005 single “Galvanize”, but eventually the crowd was thrown into a frenzy when they paired up extremely lively singles like “Believe” and “Out of Control” with some breathtaking visuals on the massive screen behind the duo’s UFO-like equipment setup. Toward the end of the set, the crowd was transfixed by an animation of a never-ending army of vintage robots marching to the screen:



Of course, the visuals on the huge screen wasn’t the only eye candy of the set: no British electronica duo can go anywhere without their lasers. Throughout the set lasers danced synchronized to the music. With the crowd transfixed on the visual feast in front of them, most people probably didn’t noticed how the lasers looks behind them when they hit the trees of the Hollywood Hills directly above the Bowl:



Not too many people noticed them because not too many people were heading up the aisles heading home early; not even the old folks, many of which managed to make it to the end of what they will probably tell their grandkids was a great “rave”.

How about a little blast from the past? It wasn’t on their Hollywood Bowl setlist, but The Chemical Brothers’ single “Let Forever Be”, which took permanent residence in everyone’s heads in 1999, also had an equally classic music video directed by music video genius Michel Gondry, remember?:


Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be

FYM ON THE LIST: CHEMICAL BROTHERS / CHROMEO / YACHT @ THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

We here at FYM love and appreciate very dearly the hardworking publicists and managers of bands that allow us to get ‘on the list’ of many of their client’s concerts, but sometimes it also helps to just have some personal connections of your own apart from that. Working at the Hollywood Bowl for three years right out of high school will do just that, especially if you still know several people who still are employed at the legendary venue. So, FYM was on the list for The Chemical Brothers, Chromeo, and YACHT on Sunday night, but in a slightly different manner than usual. This time it involved bringing to the venue a Thank You basket of goodies for the person who got us in.

Anyway, every Sunday throughout the summer the Hollywood Bowl hosts 89.9 KCRW’s World Festival: a series of concerts featuring music from prime artists all over the world (this year featured such acts as Jamaica’s Jimmy Cliff and Cuba’s Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club). The show is popular with people of all ages and backgrounds, which includes many middle-upper class retirees or close-to-retirees. So, every year when KCRW hosts its electronica night of the World Festival, it’s always intriguing to see how these old folks react to their immediate environment suddenly becoming a rave. The reaction is usually “get me out of this God-forsaken place” but with a lineup that also included the very friendly to the eyes and ears Chromeo and YACHT, perhaps things would be different this time.

YACHT



Portland, Oregon’s best dance crew YACHT kicked off the show right at 7:00pm, when the sun was still out. YACHT always brings a ton of energy to the stage and to the crowd. The fact that YACHT brought ANY energy to the Hollywood Bowl at all is a sort of miracle, as the group had just come off back to back to back nights of performances. Doesn’t really sound all that tough for a touring band, right? Well, it sounds extremely tough when you realize those previous shows took place on consecutive nights in Copenhagen, Malmo, and Stockholm, Sweden. Defying the laws of jet lag, YACHT pounded the stage made it their own dance party for anyone who showed up early enough to see them. Frontman extraordinaire Jona Bechtolt was very thankful to be playing such an historic venue, rallied the crowed during sing-a-longs several times, and paid tribute to the end of summer before breaking into “Summer Song” from YACHT’s 2009 album See Mystery Lights. Upon completion of set-closing “Psychic City (Voodoo City)”, YACHT headed back home to Portland with promises of recording a new album for DFA Records.

Chromeo



By the time Chromeo hit the stage, the sun was long set and the duo’s trademark glowing lady legs keyboard stands were illuminated on the stage. From the nosebleed seats they probably looked like a pair of little lights on the stage, but the unsuspecting old folks closer to the stage got a nice hint of what was to come. This FYM writer has only seen Chromeo live before at festivals and always during the daytime, so it was nice to see them at night for once, their natural habitat.



Chromeo tore through what felt like a “greatest hits” setlist, which is really saying something seeing how their third album isn’t even out yet (September 14!). New songs “Night By Night” and “Don’t Turn the Lights On” fit in with their classic material seamlessly and everything works extremely well live. They were appropriately flanked by a few alluring female backup singers on most of their songs and their stage banter between songs won over any doubters of all ages (especially when Dave1 wished Michael Jackson a Happy Birthday). Twitter activity after the show in Los Angeles showed that many people had a new favorite band after Sunday night, which is very understandable seeing how they absolutely killed it.

The Chemical Brothers



The intense, rave-friendly electronica of The Chemical Brothers seemed, at first, to be an odd pairing after Chromeo and YACHT, especially when their set got off to an awkwardly slow start with a subdued version of their 2005 single “Galvanize”, but eventually the crowd was thrown into a frenzy when they paired up extremely lively singles like “Believe” and “Out of Control” with some breathtaking visuals on the massive screen behind the duo’s UFO-like equipment setup. Toward the end of the set, the crowd was transfixed by an animation of a never-ending army of vintage robots marching to the screen:



Of course, the visuals on the huge screen wasn’t the only eye candy of the set: no British electronica duo can go anywhere without their lasers. Throughout the set lasers danced synchronized to the music. With the crowd transfixed on the visual feast in front of them, most people probably didn’t noticed how the lasers looks behind them when they hit the trees of the Hollywood Hills directly above the Bowl:



Not too many people noticed them because not too many people were heading up the aisles heading home early; not even the old folks, many of which managed to make it to the end of what they will probably tell their grandkids was a great “rave”.

How about a little blast from the past? It wasn’t on their Hollywood Bowl setlist, but The Chemical Brothers’ single “Let Forever Be”, which took permanent residence in everyone’s heads in 1999, also had an equally classic music video directed by music video genius Michel Gondry, remember?:


Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be

FYM ON THE LIST: BUMBERSHOOT DAY THREE

The final day of Bumbershoot 2011 turned out to be our favorite of the weekend. It was a day full of local favorites, classic artists, and standout show stopping surprises. Covered below are the artists (for one reason or another) that made day three so special forYoungModerns.


My Goodness continues to be one of the most impressive up and coming bands Seattle has to offer. Monday FYM had the chance to see this fiery Capitol Hill duo rock-out Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall Stage.


Although the comparisons to The White Stripes are undeniable, who cares… Jack White has retired that moniker -My Goodness fills the void, satisfying our craving for white boy blues with a punk edge. Learn more about their music HERE.


Speaking of musicians from Detroit -Let’s get funky Motown guitar Legend DENNIS COFFEY owned Monday afternoon with a lengthy set of his signature sound. Get a feel of where COFFEY is coming from below:



DFA Records -YACHT wowed FYM on day three. For us, it was the best performance we saw allll weekend! Frontwoman Claire L. Evans carries an insatiable presence on stage -paired with her male sonic cohort Jona Bechtolt (pictured below) Yatch is an unstoppable music entity live.


What separated YACHT from the rest of the 25 plus bands we saw over the three days of Bumbershoot 2011 -was their intense joy that beamed throughout the entire set.


This band plays like they mean it, and looked incredibly happy to be there on that day, which ultimately carried over into an amazing performance.



As seen above, and a testament to exactly how coool this band is -YACHT seemed unafraid to live in the moment and embrace spontaneity. In between songs the band fielded questions from the audience, and one dude asked if he could come up on stage.

YACHT appeased his request and moments later the flood gates opened with 15-20 people following suit joining the band on stage for an all out dance party version of their jam Tripped and Fell in Love. Everything worked out all the fans were very respectful of the musicians, and a beautiful moment was created! Much thanks goes out to YACHT for making our weekend!


Doug Benson brought his podcast Doug Loves Movies to all three days of Bumbershoot 2011. We were lucky enough to snag tickets early on Monday -as all three performances ended up selling out. Pictured above, Benson hands a lucky audience member a gigantic stolen jar of salsa as a prize..


The format consisted of Doug inviting his comedian friends on stage to make fun of shitty movies currently in theaters and play trivia games with his guests (it felt like a funnier version of NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me).



We thought our last show of the night would be Hall & Oates, but literally two songs into their set we realized 80’s yacht rock was not in our appetite for the evening. So instead FYM went with an old standby we knew would be good. Pictured above The Reverend Horton Heat dominated as usual under the shadow of the Space Needle closing out our Monday evening. A special thanks goes out to One Reel and Seattle Center for hosting such a great weekend of art, music and comedy. (Editors Note: The photos below once clicked on will expand for greater detail.)

FYM PREVIEW: YACHT • LIVE IN SEATTLE • AT THE CROCODILE TONIGHT! 2.8.2012

Tonight, at the famous Crocodile, the forYoungModerns Seattle crew will be hanging out dance party style with YACHT (Young Americans Challenging High Technology) tearing it up on stage, along with Secret Shoppers, and Bobby Birdman.



Though we’ve always appreciated the formidable duo’s electro, digi-pop dance hits, we really fell in LOVE with them, (specifically leading lady Claire L. Evans) when YACHT dominated at 2011’s Bumbershoot festival in Seattle. (Pictured Below)


Their ‘we just want to have a good time’ attitude and thrilling stage presence make them a must-see for any young modern looking to hang out and let loose tonight. Show starts at 8:00, $15 at the door…Be sure to bring your dancing shoes. Cheers, FYM

FYM ON THE LIST: Y∆CHT • SEATTLE, USA • 2.08.12

Last night, DFA Records digi-pop powerhouse YACHT performed live in Seattle at the Crocodile. It was an evening full of enlightening pleasantries, which FYM took full advantage of. 


Our first highlight of the show happened early on, as FYM socialite Emily C spotted YACHT founders Jona Bechtolt and Claire Evans in the 21+ section of the club. Our brief encounter was incredibly delightful, and they were kind enough to have their picture taken with Emily C.


Bobby Birdman (who also performs as a touring member with YACHT) opened the night with a set of nostalgic dance driven visions. His simple set up- keyboard, guitar and drummer, created a vibrant sound that would have fit well in any classic John Hughes movie produced in the 80’s. Up next was local favorites Secret Shoppers. Our apologies we missed their set, visit their Facebook HERE to learn more about the band.


During Bumbershoot 2011 FYM first witnessed the magic of what it is to see YACHT live. After that show they left us vowing to see them again the next time they rolled through Seattle. That next time was last night, and as good as they were live in a festival setting, nothing compares to seeing YACHT in such a wonderful landmark like the Crocodile.


Jona and Claire (pictued above) have an unparallelled bond when performing. Their stage presence could be best described as a kinetic ball of joy, understanding their crowd came to dance, fostering a be open to anything atmosphere with the audience. It was truly a freeing experience unlike anything we’ve seen before live in Seattle.




After the Q & A was over YACHT just so happened to play our favorite jam, Tripped and Fell in Love, off their latest DFA release Shangri-La. Emily immediately decided to take stage leaving this art director behind to take photos of her. YACHT frontman Jona greeted her with a hug welcoming Emily C.


After we took a few decent photos of Emily dancing, the rest of the FYM crew felt compelled to come up and join her. Jona greeted all of us the same way, with a big hug, and we finished out the song on stage doing our best impression of dance sequences found in Pretty in Pink while singing along All my friends became my family!


YACHT brought the party to Seattle with thought provoking, tech-savvy sonic bliss. The FYM crew finished our evening in a fury of dance-floor boogie. (click horizontal photos to expand for detail)


YACHT seems to be a lifestyle choice, their ideals are enlightening, and they seem to truly love doing what they do. If you haven’t heard YACHT’s brilliant 2011 record Shangri-La click HERE. A special thanks goes out to the band for giving FYM such a thrilling, spontaneous, entertainingly unforgettable evening. Cheers, FYM. 

FYM PRESS PLAY: JAMES WHETZEL • COVER SERIES • PSYCHIC CITY (VOODOO CITY)

James Whetzel, a world-class musician based out of Seattle Washington, today releases the second installment (the first being Depeche Mode’s People Are People) in his on-going covers series. It’s a tune DFA Records/Yacht fans are very familiar with: Psychic City (Voodoo City).

FYM ON THE LIST: OUTSIDE LANDS 2012 • DAY 1

You can’t ask for a better setting than San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to showcase such an expansive offering of art°music°culture. Day one of Outside Lands 2012 played host to a bevy sonic opulence old and new.


Two Gallants started off our first day at Outside Lands 2012 on a positive note. FYM continues to be impressed with the passionate vocal power of frontman Adam Stephens. This duo based out of San Francisco, played cuts off their 2007 Saddle Creek self-titled gem, and debuted stellar tracks from their long overdue new record The Bloom and the Blight (ATO Records) due out in September.


Oakland California’s Eric Ricky Reed Frederick has had an explosive level of success this year with his music project Wallpaper. The unabashed Bay Area party rocker proved his live show night-timing prowess works on a massive scale (even during the day). Rick Reed’s on-stage connection with vocalist/hype woman Novena is an incredible treat to see live!


YACHT followed Wallpaper. on the Twin Peeks stage yesterday afternoon. Claire L. Evans is such a charismatic performer. Her sonic partnership with Jona Bechtolt and their tech-savvy mixture of cult°discothèque energy makes for an engaging show. What continually impresses FYM about YACHT is their sincere joy they bring to audiences live (truly looking like they LOVE what they do).


Up next we caught Reggie Watts surrounded by beer, wine, and food vendors being interviewed in the Outside Lands press tent. His comedic blend of soul and hip-hop is a true original.


Beck brought out the whole crew (including Smokey Hormel and Justin Meldal-Johnsen) for Outside Lands 2012. After growing up with his music for so many years, seeing Beck live for the first time was a true pleasure. Beck played popular selections from his 20+ year career, and dedicated Lost Cause off 2002’s Sea Change to the memory of Adam Yauch.


It’s been a while since FYM last saw the Foo Fighters live, we are so happy Pat Smear is back in the band, playing beside Dave Grohl. The Foo Fighters jacked-up radio hits, work perfectly in a large festival setting. You can’t deny the history of this group, and the all-out performance Grohl gives every time he sets foot on stage.


We have never been rocked so hard in our lives… Neil Young may be in his mid-60’s now, but he still can kick your ass playing guitar. His two hour set with Crazy Horse was on their terms, and they didn’t play a full setlist of classic hits, as we are sure most would have liked to have seen.


Instead Young and company made a pack to show all the performers of the day what playing rock n’ roll truly means. From the start Neil Young & Crazy Horse opened with a blistering 20-minute version of Love And Only Love. This lengthy theme of building up, and tearing down songs, continued throughout the set. One can only hope, Day two at Outside Lands will be as good this one. Cheers, FYM.