Tuesday is the new Friday. Don’t believe me? The lineup of LA Weekly’s 101 Festival at Universal Studio’s Gibson Amphitheater proves it. The bill boasted four diverse musical acts, all of whom got their starts from humble, do-it-yourself beginnings and have emerged as leaders in the indie rock world. Can you say as much for your Friday—let alone Tuesday—night?
Chhom Nimol, lead singer of Dengue Fever, for instance, was discovered by future band mates Ethan and Zac Holtzman in 2001 while singing at a Cambodian nightclub in Long Beach. Nimol barely spoke English at the time, but now, she and the rest of the 6-member group have honed a unique Cambodian-pop, psychedelic rock sound, and have carved out a substantial niche, not to mention following, in LA. On stage, Nimol’s silver sequin dress sparkles like the delicate, lilting melodies she sings in her native tongue, Khmer. Juxtaposed with the bouncy, fast rock progressions played by the rest of the band, the hybrid sound that emerges is soothing and energizing, danceable and swayable all at the same time.
Next up is Matt and Kim, a Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo consisting of Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals). The two reportedly met in college in 2004, started writing music in their bedroom with little musical training or know-how and soon after began playing shows without a name or even rehearsed songs. Fast-forward to 2009, two album releases and almost five non-stop national and international tours later, and it seems they might know a little something about music after all. At the very least, it’s obvious that they’re well versed in the art of audience relations. At the Gibson, Matt and Kim get familiar with the crowd by pulling their gear right up to the edge of the stage and convincing the security guards to let even those without proper wrist bands into the venue’s dancing area. The result is cheerful, dance-tastic mayhem, from both the audience and Matt and Kim themselves.
The two final acts, The Dandy Warhols from Portland, OR and the Silversun Pickups from Silver Lake, CA, come from slightly more typical rock band roots; they formed in hipster neighborhoods by groups of fast, hard-partying friends. Both bands have a 90′s alternative rock feel; the Warhols actually formed in 1993 and so their deliciously droned, dark tunes have earned the description outright. The Pickups began in 2005 and put a contemporary spin on the genre with their fast-paced, distorted sound and pensive lyrics.
Well folks, I hope we’ve all learned a valuable lesson that Tuesday is no longer a day for reruns, sweats and microwaved taquitos. I know I, for one couldn’t have asked for much more any night of the week. Watch out, Saturday!
Words and Photos by Christine Spehar
