Author: Ella Fornari|Emily Bell|Ella Fornari|Emily Bell
Colorado Boulevard was closed to traffic Saturday afternoon and late into the evening to accommodate the 14th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival. The perfect way out of the ‘Oxy Bubble,’ the festival offered 11 stages and over 70 musical acts. The festival was open to the general public and offered something for everyone, from families with little kids to angst ridden teens.
The multiple stages sprawled across Colorado Boulevard represented different musical genres including Dub Step, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, Jazz, Folk and Latin. There was an even greater variety in the food trucks and booths that lined the street during the festival. Alongside local classics like Auntie Em’s and Chunk n’ Chip there were Cajun, Cuban, Asian Fusion and Greek options. Many community-based organizations and businesses were present promoting themselves through freebies and games. Local voter registration organizations took advantage of the young demographic and maintained a heavy presence throughout the festival. All of this supplemented the main attraction: the music.
One of the most popular stages was the Emerging stage, presented by KOXY in conjunction with FYF Fest and L.A. Records. The stage advertised local, indie and rock artists, kicking off the festival with L.A.-based artists Crimekillz, Fleeting Heart and Jared James Nichols. The night progressed with experimental pop group Vinyl Williams and So Many Wizards.
So Many Wizards energized the crowd and this rowdiness continued into Tijuana Panthers’ set. Security was forced to intervene when the crowd continuously rushed the stage. An over-zealous fan stole a microphone and another concert-goer rushed the stage, jumped into the crowd, face-planted into the asphalt and immediately jumped up unharmed. During their set, the Tijuana Panthers suggested that their sound was “not punk enough” to warrant the audience’s behavior.
Imperial Teen played next, followed by special guest and headliner La Sera who continued to positive reception by the crowd. La Sera is the side project of L.A.-based Katy Goodman, of Vivian Girls fame, who on her Facebook page describes her sound as ‘Morbid Dream Pop.’ 
Although KOXY’s stage drew a large and enthusiastic crowd, the stage that maintained the greatest audience throughout the festival was the Stones Throw stage. Stones Throw offered international, funk, soul and hip-hop music. The highlight of this stage was surprise guest Gaslamp Killer, of Brainfeeder Records. Gaslamp Killer revved up the audience with intricately mixed beats and his intense energy.
L.A. rappers Jonwayne & Friends followed, and although well received, did not keep the crowds attention like Gaslamp Killer. Chrome Canyon appeared next, with a sound that can be described as psychedelic elevator pop. Overall, the Stones Throw stage provided the Festival’s dance party.
The Dublab stage engaged many Occidental students, and kept the bass pumping for the festival’s entirety. Every featured artist entertained with similar, yet unique and unorthodox beats. The general vibe of the Dublab stage was relaxed and more laid-back than the other stages. Concert viewers reacted with continuous head-nods and subtle body sways.
The Eagle Rock Music Festival was great for Occidental students into food trucks, music, or just getting out of the bubble. The festival was well worth the mile walk down Eagle Rock Blvd to Colorado from campus, so here’s to hoping the 15th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival lives up to this year’s.
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