FYF Fest Presents: Save Our State Parks, Los Angeles State Historic Park, September 5, 2009

Review below.

This year F Yeah Fest moved from their familiar Echo/Echoplex & adjacent confines to Chinatown’s LA Historic Park. The new location served a dual purpose of providing a larger area and to raise awareness of the threats facing many of California’s State Parks due to budgetary demands. With the hiatus of LA Weekly’s Detour Festival the event also became this year’s sole Downtown rock festival. In addition to its new digs, the festival gained a new and some might say vaguely emoticon resembling name. And yes, a few bands goofed during their sets on the new name with their own theory on the abbreviation. Judging by the high turnout and the lack of car congestion, the location choice was an absolute success. Each stage had plenty of area, save for the giant, almost barrier destroying, crowd for Lightning Bolt which had the fire department out inspecting the situation. Could the fire department actually shut down an outdoor festival? Surely not, but anything could be possible after what happened at HARD Summer. Other than the long lines at the food stalls, and being coated by clouds of dust anytime you were near a dancing crowd, the event was extremely enjoyable. The only disappointment came from the news that Dan Deacon had to cancel due to illness. We missed you Dan, hope to see you next year.