Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

Last time I corresponded with Jason Chung a.k.a. Nosaj Thing was right before 2011′s FYF. I thought I’d get back in touch with the Los Angeles-based experimental electronic musician before he plays this weekend’s show alongside heavyweights like TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and My Bloody Valentine… Yes, he’s as cool as his music is heavy. MW: You mentioned to me that you moved from Pasadena to Downtown L.A. Has the different environment, architecture, and energy affected your outlook or approach to music? JC: I’ve always been sensitive to my environment. Downtown has brought out some of my old self somehow–I think in a good way. MW: I haven’t seen you since the Octopus/Drift days. Will I even recognize you or your music at FYF this time around? JC: Probably. I just got older and depressed! MW: How was your recent trip to Asia? JC: I actually just got back. Feeling inspired. I don’t know what it is but Tokyo woke me up. I need to move there sometime. Vibes… MW: I was stoked to find the Mary Anne Hobbes session on your site. I know that’s ancient history to you, but can you tell me about it? JC: She’s been a longtime supporter and I just thought I’d do a special mix to play some unreleased music from friends and myself. I’m working on a new mix now. MW: The recent Chance the Rapper project was really interesting. How did it happen and unfold? JC: The guys from Yours Truly reached out and thought it would be a good fit. I was already feeling Chance’s style and everything came together naturally… It’s a special track. MW: It’s rad that you’ve worked with members of Blonde Redhead and M83, as well. I love those bands. Anyone else on your wish list? Maybe someone at this weekend’s shows? JC: Karen O, please. Find out more about Jason and his music at nosajthing.com and then dig his set at FYF on Saturday, August 24. Shockingly, there are still some weekend passes available for the fest in beautiful Downtown Los Angeles.
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Last time I corresponded with Jason Chung a.k.a. Nosaj Thing was right before 2011′s FYF. I thought I’d get back in touch with the Los Angeles-based experimental electronic musician before he plays this weekend’s show alongside heavyweights like TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and My Bloody Valentine… Yes, he’s as cool as his music is heavy. MW: You mentioned to me that you moved from Pasadena to Downtown L.A. Has the different environment, architecture, and energy affected your outlook or approach to music? JC: I’ve always been sensitive to my environment. Downtown has brought out some of my old self somehow–I think in a good way. MW: I haven’t seen you since the Octopus/Drift days. Will I even recognize you or your music at FYF this time around? JC: Probably. I just got older and depressed! MW: How was your recent trip to Asia? JC: I actually just got back. Feeling inspired. I don’t know what it is but Tokyo woke me up. I need to move there sometime. Vibes… MW: I was stoked to find the Mary Anne Hobbes session on your site. I know that’s ancient history to you, but can you tell me about it? JC: She’s been a longtime supporter and I just thought I’d do a special mix to play some unreleased music from friends and myself. I’m working on a new mix now. MW: The recent Chance the Rapper project was really interesting. How did it happen and unfold? JC: The guys from Yours Truly reached out and thought it would be a good fit. I was already feeling Chance’s style and everything came together naturally… It’s a special track. MW: It’s rad that you’ve worked with members of Blonde Redhead and M83, as well. I love those bands. Anyone else on your wish list? Maybe someone at this weekend’s shows? JC: Karen O, please. Find out more about Jason and his music at nosajthing.com and then dig his set at FYF on Saturday, August 24. Shockingly, there are still some weekend passes available for the fest in beautiful Downtown Los Angeles.
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OFF! at FYF 2011

One of my favorite photographers is Glen E. Friedman. I was lucky enough to meet him at a few book signings and correspond with him when Giant Robot mag ran a series of articles on Asian-American skaters from the Dogtown days. Friedman’s first proper book was called Fuck You Heroes, and it’s a hardcover that all of you should own. It captures his crisp but natural images from crucial points in counterculture from skateboarding to punk rock to rap, and features heavyweights like Alva, Adams, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy. Not only was he there to witness and capture the energy, but he also vocally espouses the P.M.A., veganism, and other worthy beliefs and causes. Yes. So I was stoked when released his next book with outtake and ancillary images called Fuck You Too. I would never compare my skills to Friedman’s, but in that spirit, here are some extra pics from last weekend’s FYF that are too good to let rot on the hard drive (and might earn me points toward another photo pass next year). A little commentary, too.

Steven McDonald of OFF! at FYF

OFF! is an instant hit decades in the making. If you add up the members’ years of experience of playing kick-ass punk rock ‘n’ roll (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Redd Kross, Rocket From The Crypt, Earthless, Clikatat Ikatowi, 411, Burning Brides…) the total might approach 100 years–and it shows in a good way.

Japandroids at FYF 2011

This pic of Japandroids is a little blown out, but it accurately conveys how hot it was.

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Mario, Keith, and Steve at FYF Fest 2011

Another awesome summer, another awesome Fuck Yeah Fest. As promised, a lot of improvements went into this year’s all-day music festival just north of Downtown L.A., including a vastly improved entry system insuring no lines when I arrived around 2:30, way more port-a-potties, and extra food trucks and vendors that didn’t run out of vegetarian dishes as quickly. For me, the biggest upgrade was a photo pass. Yes! I gladly bought a ticket from my local record store months ago, but how could I say no when one was offered? With great power comes great responsibility, though, and I had to alter my show-going strategy and leave before many sets were over in order to catch the first three songs of other sets (when the photographers were allowed to do their thing). It was more of a challenge than a problem–kind of like being faced with a huge buffet of your favorite foods but only being allowed to sample some of them.

Dimitri and Keith going OFF!

On Saturday, I arrived at Los Angeles State Historic Park just in time to catch the end of Ty Segall’s set and jump in the photo pit to see OFF! It was kind of a fitting to start off the day with the local punkers/instant legends, since they were a total highlight of the previous year’s edition. There weren’t many new songs for the all-star band featuring members of Black Flag, Redd Kross, and Rocket From The Crypt to play or stories for Keith to tell, but OFF! never gets old with its ferocious (yet seasoned) riffs and angry (and smart) lyrics. This time around, they were on a larger stage and easily drew a strong crowd–not to mention the largest dust storm of the day. I saw a couple people get dragged out of the crowd with glazed eyes, bloody noses, and various states of dehydration. Every time I see OFF! it feels special (a free show at midnight, a packed in-store, etc.) and this homecoming gig following a bunch of tours was no exception.

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FYF Festis coming up on Saturday, and I can’t wait to bake in the sun, wait in line for whatever meatless food is available, and use stinky port-a-potties. Namely because the annual show has a killer lineup with a lot of GR favorites including Descendents (canned coffee drink reviews as ALL way back in GR12), Strange Boys (mag interview), OFF! (online interview), and Weakerthans (Robot Power). And then there’s Jason Chung a.k.a. Nosaj Thing, whom I met through the Free The Robots guys and interviewed at The Crosby prior to the release of his debut album. On the cusp of seeing Jason play in a huge festival setting, I felt like this was a good time to catch up with him. MW: You just played with LL Cool J and De La Soul. Now you’ve got the Descendents. Has playing with legends gotten old yet? JC: No way, it’s been an amazing experience. I never thought I would be sharing stages with artists like that. MW: You always adjust your sound for the audience or occasion but are there certain changes you makes for these sorts of punk or rock situations? Like Coachella… JC: I do like to change up my sets for different shows. Depending on the show, I’ll make some quick edits or remixes, but I tend like to keep most of the song songs true to the original sounds. MW: As everyone gets bigger and tours more, is it hard to keep in touch with local peers like the Glitch Mob, Free The Robots, Daedelus, etc.? Or maybe I’m just projecting that there’s this scene of  friends/group of artists coming up together at this time… JC: Not at all. I usually stay in touch via chat and see them at Low End Theory when I’m in town. MW: It does feel like you’ve been on the road nonstop since the album came out. How do you carve out time for new music? JC: I toured non-stop last year and focusing more on recording this year. I hope to be done with the next album really soon. MW: Who are you excited about seeing or meeting at FYF? JC: I’m looking forward to checking out Four Tet, Girls, Simian Mobile Disco, Decendents, and Explosions In The Sky. Hear Jason’s music and find out the latest at nosajthing.com and then say hi to him (and me) at FYF. His set will freak you out!    
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