Wavves Combats Bass Guitar Issue at FYF Fest

Posted on Sep 5th 2010 10:30AM by Garin Pirnia
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Daniel Boczarski, Redferns / Getty Images

On Saturday, nearly 40 bands spread out onto three stages performed at FYF Fest in Los Angeles State Historic Park. The 12-hour music marathon brought out SoCal group Wavves, who took to the stage in the early evening just the sun was at its hottest. During their 30-minute set, the noise-pop trio was plagued with technical difficulties when bassist Stephen Pope's instrument failed to play through the amp. Up close, the crowd could hear it, but from afar things didn't click. "This s---'s f---ed up," lead singer Nathan Williams kept repeating to Pope, but despite the minor setback, the surf-rock show went on.

After pinpointing a baby in the audience, Williams cajoled the "cute baby" to crowd surf and mosh. The baby didn't surf, but several of the audience members did throughout the terse set. Wavves opened with 'Friends Were Gone' as the crowd bounced beach balls in the air, capturing summer's last breath.

The band played the titular song from sophomore record 'King of the Beach,' then 'To the Dregs' from their first album. For a few minutes Williams and Pope discussed how to fix the bass issue but soon acknowledged the crowd was about to become restless. "I'm not gonna tell a joke, but there's this fest and the bass doesn't work," Williams cackled as he tried to stall. Once the band gathered themselves, they performed 'Post-Acid,' thrashed around onstage, then played 'Super Soaker' and 'Take on the World.'

"I feel like Blink 182 or the Red Hot Chili Peppers," Williams shouted, referencing two other popular SoCal bands. Finally, the bass seemed to work, but the loudness almost usurped the rest of the sounds. Wavves came to terms with the issue and agreed agreed to play 'Green Eyes' and the fuzzy 'So Bored,' which put the band into overtime.