Office Gossip

Staff Picks: Don't miss CultureMap's FFFFest picks and chance to win tickets

Deerhunter FFF 2010
Photo by Caitlin Ryan
Delorean FFF 2010
Photo by Caitlin Ryan
Yelle FFF 2010
Photo by Caitlin Ryan
Mgmt FFF 2010
Photo by Caitlin Ryan

As the Fun Fun Fun staff revealed the fest's roster earlier this week, the lineup got plenty of "Awesome" ratings from fans in their at-capacity turntable.fm room. We're sure you and your friends have been comparing top picks, and so have we—here are the acts we're looking forward to over at the CultureMap offices.

Caitlin M. Ryan

Managing Editor

On the Orange Stage, I'm stoked about Childish Gambino—I think his lyrics are a pretty charming (and not disgusting, i.e., Odd Future) representation of turning from TV nerd to hip hop hopeful. I missed his show during SXSW and couldn't get tickets when he came back through on tour a month later, so I'll be damned if I miss him again. The buzz that lasted for weeks after both of his appearances drove me crazy.

Over at the Black Stage, I shan't miss Davila 666. I love some Spanish and I love some 60s inspired lo-fi rock. These Puerto Rican guys will be an odd fit—but nice reprieve—for the metal-laced Black Stage. I promise you'll like it, even if you don't understand what they are saying. And that's pretty remarkable. Here's one line to know, "Soy basura total," which translates to, "I'm total trash." See? Let's party.

Major Lazer, over on the Blue Stage, because I loved "Pon de Floor" long before Beyonce ripped it off for her cheap shot at a top 40 hit under "Girls (Run the World)" and made it uncouth to like Major Lazer. But what am I saying, she looked damn fine doing it.

I probably won't spend much time at the Yellow Stage, but I'd be willing to check out Henry Rollins because... what a crazy trip he's had.

Michael Graupmann

Assistant Editor

I'm staying away from the Black Stage altogether. Blue, Orange and Yellow all the way.

The Yellow Stage gets most of my attention because of the comedy and weirdness. Reggie Wattsis whom I'm most excited about in the whole festival. Can't wait to see Brian Posehn, Chris Trew and Matt Bearden up on that stage. Never seen a UCB show, so that will be a must.

Love the mix at the Blue Stage: Big Freedia, Childish Gambino, Major Lazer and Neon Indian.

I also like the poppy, dance-y turnout on the Orange Stage this year, and I'm going to try to catch Passion Pit, GIRLS, Ra Ra Riotand Architecture in Helsinki.

Samantha Pitchel

Assistant Editor

I’ll admit that I’m usually hard to please when it comes to festival lineups (give me a packed back room over a big stage any day, please), but this year’s FFF lineup is pretty stellar.

My top three picks are all playing the Black Stage: Nobunny, Thee Oh Sees and World/Inferno Friendship Society. Bringing fuzzy garage jams, out-of-control rock and punk-klezmer fusion, respectively, these guys are all welcome additions to the otherwise pretty hardcore stage. Also, because I’m from Boston, I’m pretty psyched to see Western Mass-based Bane.

Every year, FFF’s Yellow Stage comedy offerings get stronger (though it’s possible nothing can top two years ago, when Tim and Eric’s nude suits left the entire first row covered in faux ball fuzz). Definitely don’t miss the Upright Citizen’s Brigade set; while our fingers are crossed that this is the original Poehler/Besser/Walsh/Roberts lineup, it’s likely the current tourco (whose August set at NYC’s Del Close Marathon features SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan, improv genius Shannon O’Neill and more).

On the Orange Stage, I’m looking forward to seeing Ohio-based garage rockers Cloud Nothings alongside acts like Blonde Redhead (bringing back high school nostalgia) and M83(a guaranteed chillfest).

And on the Blue Stage: Four TetandDan Deacon? Yes, let’s do this.

Jessica Pages

Photo Editor

I'll be spending most of my time during FFF at the Orange Stage; I'm really excited about Blonde Redhead, Lykke Li and Okkervil River. I will definitely venture out to see Odd Future—I missed all the commotion they caused during SXSW, so I'm glad I'll finally get to check them out.

Del hasn't done anything I've loved in a while, but i'm still pumped he's going to be there; hopefully he'll get his act together and have a good set. And I'm embarrassingly excited about Slayer (mostly just because I love Slayer fans).

Veronica Castelo

Director of Marketing & Community Outreach

If you're a true music fan, I would move on to the next staff pick—I can guarantee I won't tell you anything you don't already know. On the other hand, if you are often the last person to hear about a hot new artist or song because you have TB disorder (too busy!), then allow me to enlighten you with my top picks for this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest.

First, you have to see Passion Pit. Why? Because all of your friends already have and it's sad you haven't. They've only been around a few years, but have made their rounds in Austin and everyone seems to like their dance-able electropop sounds. My second pick is Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, because they are homegrown and fun to watch—if your toe isn't tapping during their, set you don't have a pulse. Finally, you'll find me at the Slayer set (well, maybe way in the back). It's not because I love heavy metal, but because I can't wait to see the insanity that ensues with this crowd.

Arden Ward

Associate Director of Digital & Social Media Marketing

Thank you, FFF Fest, for giving me one weekend a year to see solid local talent and delve into some obscure shit (like the Death reunion show in 2009). My local allegiance this year goes to the orange stage for Heartless Bastards and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.

Otherwise, I'll be staked out at the black stage to get my fill of rare metal and punk (namely Danzig performing Misfits and Hot Snakes).

Ryan Lakich

Intern

Slayer is a weird choice for me considering how my taste in music has evolved through college, but in high school I was a huge metal fan and Slayer was one of the first thrash bands that appealed to me—there's no way I can resist heading over to the Black Stage and releasing my inner headbanger. These legends of rock are sure to rock the shit out of Auditorium Shores.

How can anyone with even a passing interest in hip hop not get excited about seeing perhaps the most influential hip hop group ever live in concert, Public Enemy? Like Slayer, these icons might be a little long in the tooth, but they still got plenty to teach today’s young musicians about kicking ass. Hell, I already feel like watching Do the Right Thing just to get pumped up.

On the Yellow Stage, I get to see one of the best young rising comedy stars from one of my favorite current TV shows, Donald Glover. On the Blue Stage, I get to see his rapping alter ego, Childish Gambino (which I'm still jealous that all my friends got to see earlier this year). Fingers crossed that I’ll get my chance to make up for missing it.

Can’t decide between a music or comedy act? No decision necessary with Reggie Watts, who combines his improvisational a cappella skills with his loop pedal to create stream of consciousness stand up/musical compositions. A regular guest of Conan O’Brien, Watts is certainly one of the most unique performers you can catch at this festival.

Considering the last article I wrote proclaiming my newfound love of wrestling thanks to Anarchy Championship Wrestling, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this is the show that I am most excited for. Last year, the local promotion featured several events highlighted by a “Barefoot Thumbtacks” match. It’s hard to see them topping that, but then again that’s what I always say after every ACW show—and they always find a way to blow my mind.

Taylor Adams

Intern

Although I'm looking forward to Flying Lotus' scatterbrained mixing and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's weird name being announced onstage, Tune-Yards has me most excited about Fun Fun Fun Fest.

YouTube videos of Merrill Garbus blasting out bookstores with her brassy man-voice renew my faith that man (or woman) can sing pitch-perfectly without autotune. Her arrangements are sticky and smart, and her limited live arrangement creates an incredible sound for such a small package: perfect for a show like FFF.

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Win a pass to Fun Fun Fun! Show us your best photo from a past FFF Fest: Post your photo on Facebook and tag us to enter. We'll pick two winners this Friday, August 5th.

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Belles of the Ballroom

9 Austin bar and venue experts take over popular Old Austin space near UT

29th Street Ballroom/Facebook

Changes are coming at the 29th Street Ballroom, but the goal is to preserve what already makes it special.

The evolution continues at the 29th Street Ballroom, the music venue formerly attached to Spider House Café. It's no secret, Resound Presents CEO and co-founder Graham Williams says, that he and a large team of other industry pros are taking over the space; but now they're ready to talk about what comes next for the venue and adjoining bar.

Although Spider House Café closed in 2020, the Ballroom stayed open, and has continued serving University of Texas students and anyone else who wants to see a show outside of the ordinary: punk shows, burlesque revues, fundraisers, and more. It'll stay open through most of the renovations, scheduled through January of 2025, and is expected to hold a grand opening in March.

Now Resound — one of Austin's top live music organizers, which was itself born from the ashes of another Austin institution — is lending two of its co-founders to managing the space going forward: Williams and Ian Orth. They're joining seven other team members from venues around town, many of them overlapping: Amy Mullins, Brian Tweedy, Jason McNeely, John Yaklin, and Shannon LeBoeuf of Hotel Vegas, Chess Club, Kinda Tropical, Tweedy’s, and Yellow Jacket Social Club, in varying capacities; and Brian Buscemi and Mike Sanchez of the Little Darlin’.

Williams emphasizes that although things will be changing at the Ballroom, the goal isn't to change anything people already love.

"Over the next few months as we kind of ease into the spring, we're using this downtime to revitalize things, decorate, revamp some of the stuff in the venue and the bar, and just kind of get things moving in the right direction," Williams says, "taking what's already popular about the venue and just adding to it, really."

Bar updates
The biggest shift will be turning the bar from an accessory to live shows into its own entity that's open even when there's nothing else going on. Amy Mullins, best known as a co-owner of Yellow Jacket Social Club, is overseeing that transition. She's never operated a venue that is primarily focused on music, and has been enjoying learning more about how to do it; she even worked the door recently when a staff member called out sick.

Mullins echoes Williams in assuring that the change is more about logistics than tone. It'll still feel like Old Austin, but she does express a hope to run more than the "typical venue bar," handing out simple drinks as quickly as possible. She's working on a new menu that includes wine, beer, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic options like tea, kombucha, or mocktails. Regardless of what's on the schedule on any given night, Mullins says the menu will stay the same.

"There's no drink too complicated for us to make, however busy we are," she says.

Food options
Another goal for the team will be making sure the space works when there's not someone onstage to crowd around. They'll expand the front and side patios and create a food truck food court that features the same trucks that are there now, plus one newcomer. All in all, that includes Yalla Burger & Wings, Gyro Center, Li’l Nonna’s Vegan Pizzeria, Guppy’s Indian Fried Chicken, Waylon J’s BBQ, and Ay Chihuahua Tacos.

The expanded patio will connect to Tweedy's Bar next door, which also has its own food trucks. The idea is to create a space to hang out after shows that feels fit for the purpose. It's possible to stick around after events now, but the layout does create a vague feeling of loitering.

Artist and fan-friendly tweaks
On the entertainment side, Williams says some of the renovations include putting in a new sound system, redoing the green room, updating the facade, and repainting signs. Since the winter is a slower time for live music, they'll be taking advantage of the extra time to work on things before packing the calendar with more events than before. Resound will handle most of the bookings in live music, comedy, and DJ sets, welcoming both national and local talent.

Whatever the details end up being, this team has proved to Austinites that they know how to run venues worth visiting. And since they're all friends and business partners on multiple levels, it sounds like having this many cooks in the kitchen just isn't an issue.

"Some of us have been roommates and known each other since we were young," says Williams. "It's a good mix of people who are all very like minded, so a lot is being brought to the table per decision. So yeah, it's it's really exciting. Sometimes that's not the case. .... But with this project, it's a lot of really great, creative people that are good at what they do [and] they trust each other."

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