Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
– LONG BEACH, Calif. – You can now be happy on Saturdays and Sundays in Long Beach. In its 8th year, Happy Sundays Long Beach Festival took a major step in its evolution and expanded into a 2-day weekend event.
The festival was started by, and is still organized by, Scott Montoya and Julia Kugel-Montoya and takes place in the Zaferia District of the city. The festival is totally free, even when it comes to parking, which could be found at the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which was perfectly located between the Alex’s Bar, Bamboo Club, and Compound stages. One also has to give it up to the weather. Both days of the festival took place under ideal conditions.
With bands making the obvious joke that Saturday was just another Sunday in Long Beach, what were some of the highlights? Can someone say the closing band of the night, Niis? A band that declared towards the middle of the set at Alex’s Bar, “This is a punk show. We’re not punk, but it’s a punk show.” A person in the audience could be heard asking, “What the f*ck are they then?” Front woman Mimi SanDoe and band can surely drive the heavy beats just like any punk band and vocals can stretch with snarling intensity. And yet, SanDoe demands controlled chaos during the set. While singing “False Ideals,” she multiple times told the mosh pit to stop fighting. She kept emphasizing the necessity of a controlled pit throughout the set. It was an absolutely amazing moment to see how a band can have such influence over their fan base.
Earlier in the day at The Bamboo Club, one of the greatest bassists in the world took the stage. Mike Watt & The Missingmen took the stage at 5 p.m. And at 66, he surely isn’t slowing down. This was a double feature day for him. After playing Happy Sundays, he was off to The Mint. Not only is Watt one of the greatest bassists, but he also might do a good job on the soundboard if required. There were some technical issues going on with the sound during the set-up and he could be heard providing suggestions on what levels the sound board needed to be set at to stop all the feedback. When that was all settled, Watt along with bandmates Tom Watson on guitar and Raul Morales on drums put on a nearly 1-hour show of punk rock tunes that included bass slaps and a left leg that kept up with the rapid pace. Perhaps the best moment of the set was seeing Morales’ daughter (or someone related to him) sitting at the edge of the stage, wearing blue headphones; and doing what all young children find fascinating, putting a hand on the monitor and feeling the pulsating sound waves hitting the skin.
Other moments of the night included Zzzahara over at the Compound. They might have said, “I’m excited to go to Alex’s Bar.[to see Niis],” but the packed crowd at the venue was definitely there to see them.
At the same time as Zzzahara, Self Improvement was playing at The Bamboo Club. Lead singer Jett Witchalls’ eyes can read deep into the soul of the fanbase while the band plays with scratchy force.
Clown Sounds has to be given a call out with their comment, “Is it anyone’s birthday? You are birthday shi*t,” as well as their two drummers. Nutt opened up for Niis. Their set might have lasted for only 20 minutes, but the constant motion and piercing vocals left an impression.
Day 2 on Sunday was a must-attend day, not just because it is the original day of the festival. The highlights started off right from the very first band at The Bamboo Club.
Sleeperz lead singer took a climb up the spigoted truss around the stage. When the activity took on a bit too much risk, Julia Kugel-Montoya could be seen waving her arms high. Right after Sleeperz, Egg Drop Soup took the stage. It might be one of the last times Los Angeles fans get to see the surfy punk gone trashing band. Lead singer and bassist Samantha Westervelt is moving to New York City.
Then much like the conflict on Day 1 between Zzzahara and Self Improvement, Jagged Baptist Club and Laena Myers played at the same time at the same stages of The Bamboo Club and Compound.
And both also started their 4 p.m. sets about 15 minutes late so one could not exactly cheat and catch half of each set by using start times to one’s advantage. Jagged Baptist Club provided the grandiose entertainment in their bedroom casual wear while Laena Myers gave the artsy sounds that “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” kids search out and write novels about in their adult life. Both went with the tambourines for a portion of their sets.
Soft Palms, the band of Scott Montoya and Julia Kugel-Montoya, took to the stage of The Bamboo Club and felt the love from the crowd. Kugel-Montoya told the audience, “I’m so emotionally happy right now.” Off to the side of the stage, members of Egg Drop Soup were dancing away throughout the set. Who can’t help but love the song “Squeeki Tiki,” which okay, is a The Coathangers cover song, but is it really a cover song?
Shamon Cassette rap lyrics pumped up the audience and then surprise guest Bushfire jumped on stage and got the audience going even more. Everyone was having fun and Shamon Cassette just had to join in the fun. They jumped into the audience and took a spot in the circling mosh / conga line. Of note, Westervelt of Egg Drop Soup played bass. One has to give a shout out to Pop Hysteria over at the Port City venue that had that stage at capacity.
Below are some of the above highlighted bands’ setlists:
Niis Setlist: One Two, False Ideals, Stu, Driveaway, Big Zoo, Tyrant, Crazy, By D
Mike Watt & The Missingmen Setlist: Fun House, Sweet Honey Pie, The Red + The Black, Conspirator’s Oath, Amnesty Report II, Beacon Sighted Through Fog, The Glory of Man, The Tin Roof, Forever / One Reporter’s Opinion, E.T.I., Statement, E-Ticket Ride, Working Men Are Pissed, On The Front, Joe McCarthy’s Ghost, Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs, One Chapter In The Box, Fake Contest, This Road, Life As A Rehearsal, Art Analysis, Anxious Mo-Fo, Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing, The Politics Of Time, We Are Time
Soft Palms Setlist: Rainbows, Say What You Mean, Dogged Bone, Baddy, Pretty Dancer, Bone Dry, Blondie, Radio, Show Up & Shut Up, Squeeki Tiki
Egg Drop Soup Setlist: Corn Teen Queen, Jimmy Eat Shit, Subdivision, Tots, Cold Metal Bitch, Whiskey Priest, No Friends, Bath Salts, Or Durves, P.M.S., Regicide
Laena Setlist: Luv, Zon, Rocky Mtn, Splendor, Strong, I Wouldn’t Mind, Pulsar, Bouquet, Give Em Hell
Jagged Baptist Club Setlist: Bull On A Chain, Blow Dry Nation, Running On Synthetic, In Sequence, Physical Surveillance, Temptation Death House, You Are A Dog, Chop X8
