The 2014 Fun Fun Fun Fest Survival Guide

Mike Brooks

"Hey Mom, yeah, we're just trying to figure out which shows to see at Fun Fun Fun Fest this weekend"

Fun Fun Fun Fest hits Austin hits this weekend, and for many of Texas' most devout music heads, it's the music festival of the year. That's because, unlike many of the nation's biggest fests that cannibalize lineups from one another and rarely deviate from the norm, Fun Fun Fun rewards its audience's eclecticism a truly well-curated roster of bands. Only at Fun Fun Fun can you see some of the best in hardcore punk, metal, indie rock, rap, electronica, and comedy in the same weekend.

But Fun Fun Fun Fest requires a game plan with three days of music spread across three distinct stages. To help make life easier for everyone heading south this weekend, we've put together a day-by-day, stage-by-stage guide of who to watch out for.

See also:
Fun Fun Fun Fest Reveals Date and Stage Schedules
Austin's Transmission Events, the Company Behind Fun Fun Fun Fest, is Coming to Dallas

Day 1

Black Stage

Pallbearer - 2:00 PM - From Arkansas is the critically acclaimed Pallbearer. Hot off the release of their newest album Foundations of Burden, which Pitchfork rated as Best New Music, Pallbearer returns to Fun Fun Fun Fest to play their brand of doom metal. If you like your metal slow and heavy as well as interesting, Pallbearer is worth your time.

Death From Above 1979 - 6:35 PM - The Canadian dance punk duo love Austin. Why wouldn't they? Every time they come to town, something cool happens. Most notably was their impromptu late night performance during SXSW a couple of years ago that led to a riot. The band has just released their second album, The Physical World, and is returning to Austin to celebrate (and hopefully cause some trouble).

Judas Priest - 8:10 PM - Legends. What other word can you use to describe the U.K.'s Judas Priest? The band are forerunners to the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The band's tumultuous inner-struggles would be the impetus for the Mark Wahlberg film Rock Star. After 45 years of activity, Judas Priest is still going strong, having just released their newest album (their 17th), Redeemer of Souls.

Blue Stage
SZA - 2:15 PM - Kendrick Lamar's Top Dawg Entertainment boasts a dearth of talent, but the outfit's only female performer is SZA. The R&B singer has made quite a name for herself very quickly. After signing to TDE, she featured on many of the group's tracks until releasing her own EP, Z, this past spring. She has often drawn comparisons to Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, comparisons that SZA is quick to dismiss. She is currently working on her debut album for TDE.

Run The Jewels - 4:15 PM - Rap is all about the heat an act can generate for themselves. These days there is no hotter act in the game than Killer Mike and El-P's Run The Jewels. Having only just dropped their newest album, Run The Jewels 2, on Mass Appeal a couple of weeks ago, the group is hitting Fun Fun Fun Fest with that rare mentality that an act has after just releasing an album.

Ginuwine - 5:15 PM - R&B legend and Parks and Rec guest star Ginuwine is coming to Fun Fun Fun Fest much to the delight of everyone. His track "Pony" has likely been used as the soundtrack for a lot of bad decisions and his voice is so smooth it borders on being described as "lubricant." If you're hitting the fest with a date, you better be hitting the blue stage to see Ginuwine.

2 Chainz - 8:55 PM - 2 Chainz aka Tity Boi has been the rap game's darling for years. Before he was "different," he was the Codeine Cowboy. To that effect, 2 Chainz must be excited to play Austin, Texas. After dropping his second album late last year, B.O.A.T.S II: Me Time, 2 Chainz dropped a mixtape, Freebase, in May. If you love Atlanta trap rap, don't miss 2 Chainz.

Orange Stage

Mineral - 3:10 PM - Emo is back. Not the crappy kind of emo that made the 10 o'clock news, but legitimate "Nothing Feels Good" by Andy Greenwald emo. Mineral are considered one of the saddest bands in this archetypal sad genre. A fall day is a perfect time to listen to emo, so if you're into '90s indie rock or you're in a mood, head over to orange stage and catch Mineral.

Sun Kil Moon - 4:25 PM - Fun Fun Fun Fest might actively be gunning for their audience at orange stage on Friday. A bloc of '90s emo acts Knapsack into Mineral into acclaimed indie act Sun Kil Moon is dangerous. Sun Kil Moon won their following playing the sad and despondent brand of music that their previous project Red House Painters made a name for themselves with. If you're at Orange Stage on Friday afternoon, keep the demons at bay because Sun Kil Moon might try to lure them out.

Dinosaur Jr - 7:00 PM - J Mascis' Dinosaur Jr are an institution. Not a bad album to their name while playing some of the most interesting alternative rock out there. The band never fails to put on a good show and has shown no sign of slowing down after 27 years.