I always have time for another festival, especially an indoor festival at the soon to be dear departed Knitting Factory, so I was psyched for Longhair Illuminati on Sunday. There were over 15 bands in the three KF rooms, including a few of my favorites, so I figured I was good for four or five hours.

I got to the club around 9pm, and the festival was just hitting its stride. I caught Spirit Vine in the main room, and although I wasn’t immediately drawn to them, I gradually enjoyed their classic FM style that falls somewhere between Jefferson Airplane and Duke Spirit. I didn’t enjoy the next round of three bands, so I hung out on Hollywood Blvd, chain-smoking and people watching while waiting for my first must-see set, Voices Voices. I have played their debut EP, Sounds Outside more than any release this year times five. The two piece are releasing their debut album produced by Prefuse 73 in early 2010 on Manimal Vinyl, and can be described as loud ambient. They mutter and warp chants and moans in lieu of lyrics over heavily reverbed guitar and drums. They had some mic problems towards the end of their set, but it wasn’t noticeable to an untrained ear. I’ve seen them 8 or 9 times this year though, so I’ve seen them perform better sets. I can’t recall any band ever having their best set in the front room, because it’s not that great a stage. They broke out some new songs, which makes me really look forward to their upcoming album. Proving my theory regarding Manimal acts; where you find one Manimal band, you find three Manimal bands. They were followed by labelmates Warpaint with fill-in drummer Corridor, another Manimal act. Warpaint’s recorded songs are among my favorites, but it seems as if I never catch them on their best night. Warpaint has a really cool guitar based psychedelic dance jam sound, and the dual lead vocals have a dreamy quality, with Jenny Lee Lindberg singing a sad soft warble against Emily Kokal’s loud, reverbed shrieks. I like their songs, but tonight was a tough set due to the festival’s environment. When they began, the door to the louder main room was lodged open with a weight under the door. It was annoying me so much that I actually walked over and removed the weight. I think it was difficult for the audience to get into them though, because there were a lot of distractions and they are really a band that relies on an audience’s full attention to be properly enjoyed. Tweakbird anchored the Main Room, and although I had never seen them before, I dig their loudness. This two piece makes better KYUSS style jams that blow away anything Josh Homme has released this millennium. I was really tired, by this point, but it was easy to stay alert since this band is loud, LOUD!!!

Longhair Illuminati would have been better if I got to see Voices Voices and Warpaint in the Main Room, where they would have benefited by the better stage and lights. It was a good time, and may be that I was just worn down on a Sunday. At least it gave me a reason to spend some time at the Knitting Factory before the doors close on another irreplaceable Hollywood rock venue.

—Scott Schultz