Real Estate
Taking a look at my Fun Fun Fun Fest schedule, you’ll see an almost uninterrupted wall of orange only punctuated by a few blue and black splotches. I was really impressed by Fun Fun Fun Fest’s lineup overall this year but found the Orange Stage to be most intriguing. With a mishmash of indie rockers new and old, electro acts and experimental, post rock and math rock bands, the orange stage’s lineup seems tailored for the college radio crowd. Read on for my tips on must-sees this year from the Orange Stage.
This year a slew of superstars breaking out from the bands that launched them to fame are on the roster. Paul Banks from Interpol (Sat at 5:15p), Bob Mould from Hüsker Dü (Fri at 5:05p) and Deathfix with Brenden from Fugazi (Sat at 1:00p) are each playing sets this year. If you’re a fan of any of these guys’ previous acts, I would recommend that you check out their shows at FFF Fest. Especially make a point of seeing Paul Banks to hear his Julian Plenti solo work. Another superstar playing in solo act form is Omar Rodriguez Lopez (Fri at 4:15p), check out his set for effects laden guitar and an impressive rhythm section. Along with these superstar solo acts, there are a couple stalwarts of the indie scene that are always great live. Catch Cursive (Fri at 2:35p) and Deerhoof (Sun at 5:15p). Tim Kasher’s crooning with Cursive and Deerhoof’s drummer always bring explosiveness to their shows.
As a big fan of Math Rock, I was excited to see Minus the Bear (Fri at 6:00p) and Braid (Sat at 2:45p). If you’re at all into the genre, these guys should be on your list. With the intricate guitar work and effects pushing, Math Rock bands are especially engaging to see live.
I definitely recommend checking out Austin locals at the fest too. Explosions in the Sky (Sun at 7:55p), Balmorhea (Sun at 1:00p), Not in the Face (Fri at 12:00p), Hundred Visions (Sun at 11:50a), Ume (Sun at 12:25p) and The Black Angels (Sun at 7:00p) all hail from our city and are all definitely worth checking out. If your schedule is already loaded up beyond capacity, make a point to see Explosions in the Sky for Post Rock greatness and The Black Angels for dirty rock before tours take them elsewhere.
The Orange Stage has such an eclectic mix of music gems that there are so many other bands I would recommend and want to check out for myself but just won’t have the time for. For example, I’ve got Bleached (Sun at 2:10p), the California retro-rockers, on my schedule, and if Sharon van Etten’s (Fri at 3:25p) vocals aren’t muddled by the sometimes shaky sound quality at Auditorium Shores, I would say she’s a must see too. Although I put a huge list for y’all to check out this weekend rest assured that if you catch even just a small selection of the band’s I’ve mentioned, you’ll have gotten your money’s worth out of FFF Fest.
Editor’s Recommended Nites shows for fans of the Orange Stage:
Fri @ Club Deville – featuring Frank Smith, Pujol, Lucero
Sat @ Club Deville – featuring The Black Swans, Ramona Falls, Balmorhea
Sat @ Frontier Bar – featuring Holy Wave, Gabe Hascall of the Impossibles, Pyramid, Muchos Backflips, The Preservation
-Dan