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Fun Fun Fun review: Best Coast
Sometimes at festivals, especially during daytime sets, it’s easy for high-profile (or even somewhat anticipated) acts to get lost in the mix. Los Angeles-based Best Coast, the pop-rock outfit fronted by Bethany Cosentino, avoided this fate Sunday at Fun Fun Fun by offering up an energized, mostly flawless set of music. Cosentino and bandmates Bobb Bruno (bass) and ex-Vivian Girl Ali Koehler (drums) have been on tour more or less for the entire year (which included a stop here during SXSW), and that experience seems to have paid off. The music was energized and polished as they drew from their limited set of material (Best Coast has only released one full-length album) including “Summer Moon,” “Boyfriend” and “When the Sun Don’t Shine.”
Unlike many of her peers, Cosentino takes care with her vocals, managing to be both edgy and sweet. “Maybe I’m just crazy, crazy for you baby” she sang on “Crazy For You,” with equal amounts of sincerity and sarcasm. Most of her lyrics strike a similar tone, which is bolstered by absurd stage banter: “I’m stoked on the Descendants…this song is about my cat,” she said before one song. At other points she chanted “whiskey! whiskey!” or requested that fans bring her something “cat or drug related.” She also made note at a couple poitns of how much time remained in the set, as if eager for it to end. The fact that her disinterest didn’t diminish the quality of the rest of the songs, including a rocking version of “I Hate Sleeping Alone,” speaks to how good this band has become.
Photo by Tammy Perez FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Fun Fun Fun Fest
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By J.
November 8, 2010 3:45 PM | Link to this
“I Hate SleepIng Alone” isn’t the name of the song — it’s really “When I’m With You.”
And from my perspective (at the side of the stage, near the front), she kept commenting about the time because the stage manager was constantly keeping her updated. Actually, he threw something at her once to get her attention for the 20 minute mark. She didn’t appear to be particularly anxious or disinterested in the set.
By Fun Fest Fan
November 8, 2010 3:46 PM | Link to this
this band was the worst… … …ever