Make Music Pasadena 2013 @ LA, 6/1/13
It really began to feel like summer this weekend with the soaring temperatures and what better way to celebrate than standing in the sun for hours, soaking in some killer tunes? We braved the heat (and distance between stages) this Saturday to see what we could find at Make Music Pasadena 2013.
Lately we’ve really been digging on the dreamy dark pop of LA’s Superhumanoids. Despite playing in the direct sunlight of the Playhouse District Eclectic Stage the group managed to transport the crowd into a blissful state.
After a few songs we hoofed it over to the main Old Pasadena Indie Rock stage to catch a bit of Hunter Hunted. The original duo formed merely five months ago and to be playing the main stage is a huge accomplishment. As an extended five-piece the band had us swaying within a few chords.
Dreading the walk back to the Playhouse stage, we decided to stick around the main stage to check out some bluesy rock of The Record Company. We were pleasantly surprised by Chris Vos’ solid soulful voice and skilled lap steel abilities.
Last year we were fell deeply in love with the shoegazey musings of Letting Up Despite Great Faults and couldn’t pass up their midday performance at the Levitt Pavillion. All four members gracefully grinned and bared their way through a rough soundcheck, drummer Daniel Schmidt lightening the mood with some playful air horn samples. However once they settled into their set the stress easily melted away.
Letting Up Despite Great Faults
Letting Up Despite Great Faults
Letting Up Despite Great Faults
Like many others, we had to tear ourselves away from Letting Up to catch the cool vibes of YACHT at the main stage. Jona Bechtolt, founder of the (now) duo, kicked things off by building rhythms on guitar and synthesizer. The crowd was already in the mood for a dance party, but things really got heated when Claire L. Evans took to the stage. YACHT delivered with a real intensity befitting of any summertime festival, making every audience member forget how damn hot it really was.
We chugged back to the Playhouse stage one last time to catch three final acts. The first of which was the ever-charming We Are Scientists. We were only able to catch their final song (“After Hours”), but we were ecstatic to witness that former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp was accompanying silver fox Keith Murray on vocals.
After taking a much needed break in the shade and downing a cold energy drink, we felt rejuvenated knowing that we were about see one of our longtime favorites Robert DeLong. The boy wonder has been seriously hustling this past year and it makes us proud to see him come so far and get the love he deserves. Even after a minor technical meltdown due to the heat DeLong was grinning from ear-to-ear out at the sea of people before him.
Last on our agenda was yet another act that is near and dear to the Owl nest – Tanlines. As the sun began to set the Brooklyn duo of Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm provided the perfect soundtrack for us to cap off our sun-filled day.
Check out more festival photos HERE!