Fun Fun Fun Fest is upon us, and as usual, it is full of local Austin artists. If we expanded our criteria for this post to Texas artists, it would almost double in size with the inclusion of acts from Dallas and Houston. Since OVRLD’s focus is Austin, though, we’re going to keep it local. Here are the Austin acts playing Fun Fun Fun Fest this year.
Friday
Spraypaint – 12:20, Black Stage. Possibly the weirdest local band on the bill, Spray Paint features members of other Austin bands When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Dikes of Holland. They have an aggressive take on post-punk that should please Television fans just as much as the Flag fans. Their self-titled debut came out earlier this year.
The Impossibles – 4:05, Black Stage. Their Wikipedia page describes them as a cross between Operation Ivy and Weezer, and that’s actually remarkably accurate. The peak of the Impossibles’ career was the mid-1990s when they got in tight with Less Than Jake. If any of these influences sound appealing to you, The Impossibles would be a good band to check out.
Phranchyze – 12:10, Blue Stage. Hip-hop from a regional freestyle champion. Check out his newest record, where he explores his identity. Or one of his old mixtapes where he talks about weed and video games. Or his even older mixtapes where he just sort of flows about whatever. Phranchyze has come a long way, and all of that maturity and skill should be evident on Friday.
((Sounder)) – 6:25, Yellow Stage. Michael David Aho is a visual artist and a film director, but he got tapped for Fun Fun this year for his work as the driving musical force behind ((Sounder)). A former Los Angeles resident, Aho teamed up with members of the American Analog Set for the latest incarnation of (Sounder)), which is awesomely upbeat and folky. It’ll be an interesting transition to this from the comedy of Patton Oswalt that immediately precedes it, but ((Sounder)) should still be an engaging and enjoyable show.
Bill Callahan – 7:30, Yellow Stage. Callahan is as close to a universally critically-beloved figure as Austin has. He’s been making his lo-fi singer-songwriter music for decades, first as Smog and now under his own birth name. You can read about his latest masterpiece here, and if you want to go further back, get a hold of Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle from 2009. Just beware: you can’t stream it anywhere.
Saturday
LNS Crew – 11:55, Blue Stage. Some of the most hyped and talented young hip-hop talents from the Live Music Capital have teamed up together to form a new crew of MC’s. The leading stars here are Kydd Jones and Cory Kendrix, both of whom have been making waves for a little while now, but PacBoiTank and Deezie Fresh are no slouches either. Sky’s the limit for this bunch.
Roger Sellers – 12:45, Blue Stage. The weirdest transition of the festival is easily the LNS Crew into Sellers, whose elegant, ambient folk couldn’t be further from LNS’ hip-hop stylings. Yet he fits on the Blue Stage because he’s sort of electronic, but not in any way that you think he might be. So if the idea of someone who is simultaneously “electronic” and “ambiently folk” intrigues you, Sellers is a set for you. The Texas State alum has been garnering a ton of buzz of late, and this set should prove exactly why.
Frank Smith – 12:00, Orange Stage. Contrary to popular conception, Frank Smith is not a man. It’s a four-piece fronted by former Bostonian Aaron Sinclair. You can read our rave review of their 2012 record, Before You Were Born, and our mixed review of their 2013 record, Nineties. Their rowdy indie rock is ever-so-slightly country-ish, and it makes for a good combination in Frank Smith’s hands.
Ola Podrida – 12:50, Orange Stage. David Wingo is receiving a lot of accolades for his film score work this year, most notably on Mud. And yet he also released his third album as the man behind Ola Podrida. As you might expect, there is a cinematic quality to this music that few other bands can match. Check our review of Ghosts Go Blind for a more in-depth look, and then enjoy this music that will be perfect for a sunny afternoon in front of the Austin skyline.
Sunday
Wild Child – 6:25, Yellow Stage. Indie-folk sensations that have just released their sophomore record. It’s rockin’er and more upbeat, and you can read all about it here. Or to see where it all began, check out our review of their first record.
Daniel Johnston – 7:35, Yellow Stage. Johnston is an iconic figure in Austin, even if you don’t know it. He’s the man behind the “Hi, How Are You?” mural on Guadalupe and 21st, to name one of the many mediums in which he’s left a mark. His home-made cassettes helped shape the Austin music of the 80’s, and he has derived cult figure status – partially because he typifies both signifiers in the phrase “mad genius.” His music is simple, but affecting folk that you should totally give a listen to, if you haven’t already.
