Live Review: F Yeah Fest - ExPlex - Los Angeles, CA

Well-fed Fan| Hungry Fans | by Drew Tewksbury

The truly initiated know that any good show begins with the question: What’s that smell? Saturday’s F Yeah Fest in Echo Park proved to be no different, as the summer stink of hundreds of writhing youngsters, punkers, and hipsters filled the darkened basement of the ExPlex. Essentially the Woodstock of the underground rock scene brewing in and funneling through Los Angeles, the fifth year of F Yeah Fest occupied four venues within a few blocks, showcasing bands as diverse as the mutated country of Two Gallants, Israeli spazz rockers Monotonix, and the quasi-funky, riot grrls of Mika Miko.

Aaron Buckley (Anavan) | by Drew Tewksbury

In the upstairs annex, just down the street from the street vendors and taco trucks—cooking bacon-wrapped hotdogs and carne asada, respectively— Anavan blasted out a quick set of their synthwave krautpunk. The crowd percolated, as a giant quilt extended over the bouncing mass and singer/drummer Buckley belted out, “I’m the motherfucker who brought you to this party/ I got you through the front door/ so get down on the dancefloor.”

Matt & Kim | by Drew Tewksbury

Meanwhile, back at the underground lair of the ExPlex, the cutsie duo of Matt & Kim got the dancefloor wiggling to Kim’s one-two beats, and keyboardist/singer Matt’s na-na-na’s. Matt also made sure to take a moment between songs to tell more than one extended story about their tour-trotting adventure across the globe. This was unfortunately not appreciated by a vocal contingent of fans that came for seminal Detroit hardcore band, Negative Approach. Fortunately, Matt & Kim’s indefatigable joie de vivre would be unbreakable even if they were playing on the Hindenburg.

No Age | by Drew Tewksbury

No Age closed the set at the ExPlex, cranking up the layers of grungy noise from Randy Randall’s guitar, and drummer Dean Spunt’s ennui-filled vocals. The duo ran through the Sonic Youth-tinged songs from their newest album Nouns, and closed the night with the sweet and sweaty smell of success. And armpits.