MINI FEST ALSO FEATURED JPEGMAFIA, THE ADICTS, AND ALICE GLASS

The Observatory, OC was once a host to a slew of mini festivals unlike any venue in Los Angeles. From rap to punk to RnB, the venue was on the forefront of blooming these smaller, but successful shows into full on festivals that have taken a life of their own. Through the years, shows have come and gone via the venue with no real festivals taking place anymore; that is until local punk heroes The Garden announced their own mini fest in their hometown. Dubbed “One Strange Night in Orange County,” the lineup boasted performances from experimental rapper JPEGMAFIA, UK punk icons The Adicts, Alice Glass and 45 Grave. Now I had watched The Garden grow since seeing them open for other acts and catching club shows in San Francisco during college in 2015; their following has always been strong. However, the depth of that strength was something I could not fathom until attending the event.

The show was taking Observatory fans back to the roots of the venue, putting one stage in the parking lot with various areas to hang out, talk, and of course watch the show. At this point, I was unaware at how massive the fan base for the headliners had grown in the last few years, but the line to get through security sure had me put any doubt at their top billing to rest. At least 200 people lay ahead when I picked up my credentials at the box office. Luckily I was ushered in as media and got in as Alice Glass was ending her set. I could hear the cheers of the audience as each song finished. I was still in awe of just how many people were in attendance, some comparing the area to a clown convention as many fans dressed in joker or jester garb. Think Gathering of the Juggalos but with maybe a tad younger audience. Food trucks, merch lines, and bathroom lines reached long wait times like a ride at Disneyland, but luckily I maneuvered my way into the photo pit which was quite comfortable. I had about 15 minutes before The Adicts were set to perform.

Having seen them just the night before, I was eager to experience how the younger audience attending for The Garden would react to the punk icons who have similar theatrics and looks. With their A Clockwork Orange entrance, the band came out and unleashed the night’s first real mosh pit with performances of “Joker in the Pack” and “Let’s Go.” After the first three songs, photographers took to the closed off sections on each side of the stage to capture wide shots and views of the crowd. The audience spanned several thousands of people like a ocean of jesters and fans. Shoes, shirts, and water bottles began to fly as well as the band’s signature playing cards. The Garden watched from backstage while The Adicts riled up the crowd in the best way possible. The band originating in the 80s performed like a band of today, sweating, throwing confetti, and feeding off the energy of the crowd. “I see lots of clowns int he crowd. I know it ain’t for us,” Monkey quipped. The idea to showcase two punk bands who dress similar and have different styles of music in one bill was quite the move for the event. After their over 15 song set, the band sang in unison as they walked off with the audience absolutely wanting more. Fans began to take a rest of the sides of the barricade, talking with one another about how they just became new fans of The Adicts. What a sight!

Darkness began to fall and almost out of nowhere, JPEGMAFIA appeared on stage with his traditional lowlight atmosphere. Just a man and his laptop, Peggy looked out to the audience and welcomed himself, “Thank you for coming and I’m JPEGmotherfuckingMAFIA.” I was personally looking forward to hearing new tracks form his collaborative album with fellow experimental rapper Danny Brown, Scaring the Hoes Away. Luckily, he opened with the first single, “Lean Beef Patty,” and it was off to the races. Peggy ran corner to corner of the stage, getting up close and personal with fans on the barricade. About three songs in, he even jumped into the pit and performed from in between both audience sections, conjuring up large mosh pits. You’d think the transition from punk bank to rapper would maybe be a little odd, but with the hip hop and rap community beginning to shift into more of a punk aesthetic and type of energy, it was smooth. Other tracks performed included “BALD!,” “SCARING THE HOES,” and his now infamous cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”

Alas, the night was fully upon Orange County, and fans yelled as they saw an American flag with The Garden’s logo be set up behind the drum set. A giant banner featuring artwork from the band provided the backdrop for the stage, similar to an old school punk show. At 9:30PM, The Garden (consisting of twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears) got on stage, one taking the drums and the other bass. They kicked off the set with “Horseshit on Route 66,” with fans starting the mosh all over again. While in the photo pit, many fans were rescued from the crowd due to high amounts of moshing and people fearing of being trampled. While I have seen many crowds like this one, most fans who are on the younger side were witnessing the band live for the first time, not knowing what to expect. This was both a delight for hardcore fans and troubling for others who were caught off guard with the crazy energy.

The Garden are also known for their off beat stage presence, jumping off drum sets and spinning their mics like lassos. Their 26 song set included “What Else Could I Be But a Jester” and “Haunted House on Zillow,” jumping from their latest LP Horseshit on Route 66 to Mirror Might Steal Your Charm. They even dusted off cuts “The Gorilla” and “California Here We Go,” which haven’t been played since 2018 and 2017 respectively. The band ended strong with Mac Demarco featured “Thy Mission,” with fans chanting for an encore. The Garden on their home turf similar to characters from The Warriors delivered an incredible finally, with Hit Eject” and “Banana Peel.” I traveled from the other side of town to witness one of The Observatory OC’s first mini fest in the last few years, dedicated to highlighting one of the city’s largest local bands, The Garden. In the local scene no matter the area, you see many bands try to make it and thus many come and go. If “One Strange Night” is any indication, the band is certainly one whose longevity will withstand the test of time. On my way out, I watched fans drenched in sweat, painted jesters lose their makeup as if they just showered, and kids and adults alike chat about how they weren’t familiar with The Adicts or The Garden or Peggy but have now walked out fans of all. This is something The Observatory is know for, and here’s to many more mini fests being born out of this shining example.