‘FYF After Dark’ Series Delights Music Fans

Matt Matasci

With FYF Fest set to commence over the final weekend in August, a series of concerts across the county were announced as “FYF After Dark.” These pulled some of the most exciting names from the FYF lineup and stuck them into the city’s best clubs and theatres. Included in this list was Blood Orange, Father John Misty, Beach House, Peter, Bjorn and John, Saves the Day, Wolf Parade, Sheer Mag, Diiv, Wild Nothing, Alex G, Shellac, Julien Baker, Jagwar Ma and Corbin.

Onstage at the Ace Theatre, Blood Orange took the stage with slightly baggy black slacks, pristine white socks, black shoes, dance moves that would make any Julliard dance graduate jealous.  Blood Orange’s sound can be categorized as indie rock but his style includes elements from numerous other genres, a chameleonic quality that makes him completely intriguing.

Opening his show with a light, airy piano solo in the dark of the theatre, a spotlight began to shine down on the corner of the stage revealing the singer alone in the corner. After a short taste, he stepped off stage and emerged with a completely different energy with his song “Augustine.” Throughout the entire performance, Blood Orange displayed an array of talents, from his light-footed dance moves to breaking out a cello for a couple of songs. Hynes performed with a slight hint of Michael Jackson. Then, bare-chested and grabbing an electric guitar, the aura of Prince began to tickle your brain. While Blood Orange isn’t exactly at the superstar level of Prince or Michael Jackson, you can sense that there is something of genius floating around in that head of his.

Although it was his crowd to command, Hynes displayed his generosity by sharing the audience with friends like Carly Rae Jepson performing a duet with Hynes on “Better Than Me” and Nelly Furtado for a song. The last of his surprise guests was Empress Of, who joined Hynes on stage to perform “Best to You” off of his latest album, “Freetown Sound.” Behind Blood Orange’s talent is a genius that provides a refreshing sound and visual appeal which provides an overwhelming live experience.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks north, Steve Albini and Shellac took their minimalist rock to The Regent Theatre.  One of the few truly abrasive bands to be booked at FYF Fest 2016, the band has a sound more in spirit with the roots of this now-diverse festival.

The following night on Friday, Echo Park became a hotspot for the hipster crowd. The reunited Wolf Parade performing at The Echo and hard-rock influenced punks Sheer Mag headlined next door at Echoplex. Downtown, The Regent Theater hosted a second night of hard-hitting rock performers with Boris and Earth – two bands who did not take part in FYF Fest.

Father John Misty gave a preview of what was soon to come over the weekend at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles when he performed on Friday the 26. At the front of the audience was an enthusiastic female audience member holding a sign that read “Father John Misty Be My Music Pastor,” which the singer responded to by looking at it quizzically before realizing it was upside down. Josh Tillman has an infectious stage presence that is bolstered by the cocky attitude of his Father John Misty persona. Added into the encore was a song that Misty and his band had never performed before, “Real Love Baby.” Closing out the set in powerful fashion is one of the more hard-hitting songs in his repertoire, “Ideal Husband.”  

The city of Los Angeles was not the only part of the county to receive love from “FYF After Dark.” Out east in Pomona, Saves the Day headlined the Glasshouse with support from Hop Along. In West Hollywood, Peter, Bjorn and John brought their infectiously danceable indie pop to The Roxy.

Beach House took their splendid dream pop to the equally majestic Theatre at Ace Hotel. The sounds of Victoria Legrand’s rich voice filled every cranny of the historic theatre as the band performed songs from their two back-to-back 2015 releases, “Depression Cherry” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars.” While the set was mostly geared towards their newest material, the band reached deep into their discography to perform “Master of None” from their self-titled debut. Also included was “Myth,” from their 2012 album, “Bloom.”

Closing out “FYF After Dark” and FYF Festival as a whole was electronic psych-rock band Jagwar Ma at The Roxy and Corbin (formerly known as Spooky Black) at The Echo. Whether you were looking to catch your favorite band at a full-length club show before FYF Fest, or simply took advantage of the influx of musical talent into the area, “FYF After Dark” was a welcome addition.

“FYF After Dark“ took place across various Los Angeles venues from Aug. 24-30.