Beach Goth III
Beach Goth III slipped its attendees a trip of the most progressive Southern California culture. A stellar mash of halloween inspired costumes and outfits mixed with all the fashion-forward styles of retro throwback cast a blazing light for what is to come in music, fashion, and lifestyle. Thanks go out to The Growlers for throwing another successful holiday inspired bash and ending the main stage’s night with a bit of their own oriental splash.
As a participant in the all-day romp and circumstance of unknown acts to today and yesterday’s top-names, I cannot be more thankful for such an eventful day of inspiring looks and sounds. What made for such a unique Fest is that no one was too serious, everyone letting their imagination and creativity captify each other’s attention. From the bands that dressed up for halloween to those that tuned their sets for the costume they dressed as; take, Shannon & the Clams… they not only dressed Metallica but grinded the heavy metal sounds everyone expects from those influential rock gods; and, the Sweet & Tender Hooligans who dressed and serenaded the audience with their epic tribute to Morrissey and The Smiths. From beginning till end it was truly non-stop music harmonized with costume outlandishness for those exposing their true spirit. Partying among plenty of Cheeches, Mia Wallaces, Sailor Moons, Candy Skulls, Oompa Loompas, skeletons, vampires, goons, and goblins running around made the melting pot of clashing cultures that much more spectacular.
With so many acts to see it was a struggle to catch them all but with a good sense of timing seeing all that was available was possible. The concert was divided into three stages: The outdoor Beach Goth Stage, the larger indoor Observatory Stage, and the smaller indoor Constellation Room Stage. Standouts of the day start with the Mystic Braves a local band with huge potential truly set the mood of the day off on the right path playing hints of Doors style keys and upbeat riffs this group has a bright future. The Garden thereafter laid harder into bass-driven rock-a-billy style punk/garage sounds tipping the scales into a different direction. These two played outdoor but once inside the vibrations hit all new chords. Vacationer hit the sound of a dream pop indie on the soulful side of the musical spectrum when in the very next room Avalon was testing new degrees of trap-hop to delight those on the opposite side of the same spectrum. Back outside to Atlas Sound made for a trip through progressive experimental looping in his project apart from Deerhunter. He started out slowly but picked up the pace towards the end for a great set all-in-all. Inside for Broncho was the treat of the day.. These Oklahoma garage pop punkers truly killed their set and put rhythm and energy into places few can actually pull off. Check out their latest album Can’t Get Past The Lips for raw garage-rock made awesome with the value of hi-fi production. Before these guys Corners played the Constellation Room and definitely deserved a far bigger stage. Dressed out in halloween dresses these guys made even the most hetero of men swoon. With their surf pop garage rock they tantalized the room into a frenzy of excitement. Next on the list of tops for the day is Foxygen. These guys absolutely know how to have fun for a set with the most energy-packed front man that truly captures the thrill of a rock-star and the elements of a genuine upcoming band. Some of the most fun of the entire day was in the throes of the Constellation Room for Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel. These dudes set the place popping taking everyone on a trip through the fabric of time landing us straight into a modern-day late-60’s. Trust.. after a taste of these guy’s psychedelic keyboard romps you’ll be dusting off that lava lamp and breaking back into your paisley long-sleeves and bell-bottom washed denims for their next show. Next up after Joyce Manor the Sweet & Tender Hooligans serenaded everyone with the hits from the Smiths and Morrissey playing my favorite, and everyone’s favorite, (Right??), How Soon Is Now? Back and forth from them outside to the Tijuana Panthers gigging the main hall inside was the highlight of the night. Dressed as Robbers these guys, to put it their own words, were “there to steal the show,” and that they did. Playing hits from their album Semi Sweet these beach inspired surf rockers rattled everyone lucky enough to catch their set to their core.
DIIV played outside next and hit everyone with some new songs keeping their image and sound fresh and stylish as usual. Just Wait to Follow them after they drop their next album hopefully Sometime soon and leave everyone Doused with their progressive lo-fi indie sounds. The outdoor stage had three greats back-to-back-back to end the stage for the night. First The Drums put forth one of the most fun sets demonstrating why they will be a staple in your playlist for the past years and those to come. After them Alice Glass electrified the scene with euro discotheque inspired electronic hyping the crowd into a dance-off. Only bummer of her set is when she got cut off and disconnected not allowing her to finish her set. Storming off the stage in a fit of rage fully understandable Alice let the sound guys know what she thought of them with a less than subtle hand gesture… For sure going to see her at her own show so there is no chance of that happening again. In between Alice and The Drums the legendary GZA rapped in the main hall Observatory Stage departing from ruthless gangster and cracking into the intellectual game with a few minute a cappella verse describing, quite accurately, the origins of the universe and modes of thinking. Wu-Tang remains Nuthin’ to F*$k dominating everything from the dangerous streets of NY and around the world to the most difficult textbooks in the most prestigious of academic halls. Please continue to amaze us GZA, we are listening. Then with some local Fullerton boys sure to rock up the charts The Cosmonauts grilled the Constellation Room with their take on garage pop rock with their latest release on none other than the guys over at Burger Records. Chelsea Wolfe an ensemble of great multitude including saxophone, baritone clarinet, viola, and violin along with all the standards of rock-and-roll experimented with deep, dark tones of metal that met folk in an unimaginable way only known through the experience of listening for yourself. Keep your ears out for this wild project. After being dazzled by Chelsea Wolfe I made my way out for the best host for a party, The Growlers!! Playing all of their instant classics from their new album, Chinese Fountain, accompanied by their past greats made for an act of great magnitude topped off with a performance of Chinese parade dragons dancing all over the stage. Most people left after the festivities of The Growlers set but for those who stuck around for Com Truise found a disco-age inspired synthwave experimental style channeling the vibes of dance electronic with a want to just stand stuck and watch the man at work.
The day was full of intrigue stripping everyone’s senses for what a Festival should be like.. Keep Beach Goth and all the Bands that participated on your radar for years to come…..