|
Funk Fest, Long Beach, Calif. - Fall 2012/2013/2014
Funk Fest, Long Beach, Calif. - Fall 2012/2013/2014
Whether
by definition the stink or funk hypnotizes everybody into this state of
inhibition and love. The Funk Fest holds the quintessential spirit of what Long
Beach, Calif. is.
The
color and vibrations in the art, music, and dance moves go outside the spectrum
of normal! You don't go for the names on the bill but the experience of being
free.
In
the three years attended, besides the venue changes it hasn't outgrown its
humble roots. The bass in funk music opens the root chakra leaving you
feel liberated!! Go and get down funky friends!!
Tip: Invite the friend that
lives to dance.
||
FYF, Los Angeles- Fall
2013/2014
Straight
off the plane from Australia and high off the wave of indie and psych music- I
needed another hit!
2013
took place at L.A. Historic Park, a dirt patch in East Los Angeles border
Chinatown. Attendance was light but the line-up was heavy.
City
of Angeles Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Brooklyn's TV On The Radio knocked night one
out while Beach House and Flume sent us home happily night two. Based off the
relaxed nature of FYF 2013, I talked myself into FYF 2014. Phoenix and The
Strokes outweighed the venue change to West L.A.
Taking
place at Exposition Park, I did not anticipate the overwhelming swell in
attendance and drink prices. It was like being a sardine in a can. I was
incapable to jump stages to see other acts. In the festival organizers
defensive, they did heavily advertise the schedule of sister shows before the
main weekend.
Judgment: I'll pass! Most of 2015
line-up could be seen at more intimate venues that emphasize the nature of
indie acts.
|||
Elephant Hill, Los Angeles- copious times in 2014-2015
My
brother Christian and his friends Alex, Mark, and Richard went from jam band to
studio recording act within a year. The guys were happy to be not genre
classified, for me they were prog rock with their extended instrumental
sections and dance beats.
The
real pleasure was watching the evolution of the band's dynamic and their
passions thriving under the stage lights. With every show, I saw moments of
mastery along with opportunities for growth.
One
of my favorite shows came with two edges: where the land and
sea meet at Rusty's Surf Ranch on the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The dance floor was
packed and the vibe was warm but just like the salty sea this was Richard's
last show for a while and Mark's for good.
Then
Holiday season gifted the band and their fans with an additional lead singer
Letty and guitar player Jon who brought an edgy folk revival.
Where are they now? Music Video released of their hit
"Bones." If you love drifting into the rapture of rock and roll music
then check them out next time you're in L.A. |Facebook|
||||
Life is Beautiful, Las Vegas- 2013 1st annual
Everything else was bonus to seeing The Killers in their hometown. The festival shut down a
portion of downtown Vegas including existing bars and hotels.
The
authenticity of an "Art and Music Festival" was felt with the
art exhibitions from Zio Ziegler and Dface. The interactive pieces came with
grit and soul, very Nola vibes! Hats off to Rehan Choudhry, founder of L.I.B.
and his creative concept team!
In
general I am a big fan of 1st annuals, in my opinion the festival wants to
create a legacy and to do so you have to put your best foot forward. Life is
Beautiful scored an A in every category: food, talent, location, experience,
and attendance threshold.
Going Forward: I will look into events put on by this crew but will I be at Life is Beautiful in the future;
not planning on it. Would I suggest it,
most definitely!
|||||
Kirtan, Sacred Valley, Peru- February 2015
If
music is your therapy or your true love, please seek out kirtan in the near
future. Do you ever wonder how a song can lift you out of a bad mood or into a
state of relaxation?
At the compound in Peru, my voice led my body, mind and soul into states of bliss and transcendence. The sitara brought memories of singing songs with my grandfather; which always opens my Anahata chakra right away. At any moment you can find yourself outside yourself.
BOLO! Meaning
"say" in Hindi. Find a kirtan group and rejoice in the community.
||||||
Desert Daze, Mecca, Calif.- April 2014
Desert Daze, Mecca, Calif.- April 2014
You
read about the dust bowl in history books and I thought how did this make it
into the history books. Two days and one night in Mecca nearly left me for
dead. But before the dust coated lungs and stomach sickness kicked in I was in
amor with music.
Drive
five hours to haul a few bags in and then set up a tent over grass reeds on a
dry lakebed labeled the moon. The only electricity powered the stages and a few
concession stands. It was simple- kick up the desert as you stare at the
millions of stars untouched by any city lights.
No
more than 50 people at a stage! The sets came from: Kiev, Allah-Las, JJUUJJUU,
Froth, Cosmonauts, Mystic Braves, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Liars, and Blond
Redhead.
 |
| Piece at Noah Purifoy Foundation |
Make
a weekend out of it and visit Salvation Mountain- a habitat of love from Leonard Knight or the cultural provoking exhibit of Noah Purifoy Foundation.
How much LSD should you
pack? Enough
to make your eyelids melt into the Joshua Trees, because it will be one trip
you never forget.
|||||||
AfroPunk Fest, Brooklyn, NY. - Aug. 2015
Soul-o again at last! Going to a music festival shares slight comparison to travel abroad and my style is alone.
As
I roamed the Commodore Berry Park in Fort Green on a Sunday I felt at home. Blankets spread out, umbrellas up, afros
out- the vibe radiates community versus punk!
Sunday
was for rockers with Curtis Harding, Gary Clark Jr. and Lenny Kravitz. Each one
came through the speakers and into the bottom of my feet as I danced with the
sun shining on me.
One
of the best ways to meet people is in the company of music! Most of us moved
from somewhere to live in New York and AfroPunk fest was our temporary clubhouse.
What is the secret
password?
Love! You will see people being their authentic self, who not afraid to be real.
It was the first year as a paid event and the organizers did a beautiful job of
keeping it low-key with crowd control and creativity!
||||||||
Cali Roots, Monterey, Calif. - May 2014
When
they talk about splitting California up into six states I agree because
northern and southern California are two different worlds. I was a free woman
from the institution of uni and now to bask in the light of real
education, music.
Gypsies,
hula-hoops, and farm fresh organic eggs were the highlights of my day. Did I
forget to mention I was volunteering at this primarily reggae festival. I got
assigned admissions- where I took all the goodies you couldn't come in with and
was given VIP wristbands for my three friends and I.
None
of the bands I wanted to see didn't start until night anyways so with my free
loot I walked in the bowl, where smoke and consciousness rose into the sky as
311, Rebelution, Steel Pulse, The Green, Ziggy and Damian Marley all sent us
into a nostalgia of collective spirit and communal living beyond this moment.
More
than likely those inclined to this lifestyle would stay in these parts as
I left but really...I wanted to stay
too! Go and be a PART of this
community fully! This is honestly the best festival to volunteer at because in
return you get free GA admission, tent camping and a meal a day!
||||||||||
Silent Disco, New York City, NY. - June 2015
I
thought about this one a while before deciding to go, I kept thinking of a
scene of people dancing as individuals, blocked off from the shared
environment. Like being in a recording studio and watching the musicians
rocking out in individual rooms but hearing them all together from another room.
The
silent disco was on a rooftop on the west side of Manhattan. Three DJs set up
on the intimate sized dance floor. Each one was assigned a genre of music:
Hip-Hop (blue), Classic Rock (red), and Top 40s (green). My first thought while
placing the gigantic but comfortable headphones over my ears was that I would
stay on red all right.
Here
is how the night went down: I actually started on blue and let the hip-hop
songs loosen me up.
Stephanie, Alex, and I were pretty much on the same page. You find yourself laughing at each other, not caring about syncing dance moves, and going on experimental jumps with the DJs. As the Modelos cooled us off, the Latino tunes on (green) were heating us up.
Stephanie, Alex, and I were pretty much on the same page. You find yourself laughing at each other, not caring about syncing dance moves, and going on experimental jumps with the DJs. As the Modelos cooled us off, the Latino tunes on (green) were heating us up.
By
the end of the night we had jumped onto a couch and were screaming System of
the Down lyrics out into the muffled atmosphere. The funniest thing was to take
off the headphones periodically and hear the random bouts of laughter or talk
from the 100 people. If you were inside you might only think 30 people were
actually out there.
Will the Silent Disco
Survive?
I can see it having a sustaining place in cities with tight spaces. The
restaurant next door was still enjoying a full capacity operation and their
faces were not stressed, but were enjoying this concept as
well. Also these hush events come with an affordable price of $5-10.
