Local Highlights

Photos courtesy of Dillon Riley and Tim Gagnon (respectively)

Harry’s Pick: Strange Mangers, CYBERBULLY, and DJ Lychee @ Lilypad

In terms of stylistic diversity, Clicky Clicky’s showcase of local talent was one of the most interesting bookings of the festival. CYBERBULLY opened things with a performance that brought to mind Death Grips, both in terms of the noise elements of the music and the aggressive, intense stage presence of Alex Jackson. Following that were Strange Mangers, whose relaxed blend of downtempo trip-hop beats and washed out guitar licks provided a vast departure from the preceding act, providing a gentle pulse that the audience could sway to.

Finally, Lychee started her set off with some slower techno and gradually picked up the pace. Sadly, by that time, the already small Lilypad was filled with about 20 people. Fortunately for that select group, they got to hear a talented local DJ cultivate an emotional atmosphere.

– HG

Tim’s Pick: St. Nothing @ Lilypad

Despite the energy drink-guzzling rumors of a multi-day electronic music festival, we all need a break. Coming off of a mid-week Giraffage set featuring a LED wall of flashing cat gifs, my need to find a “mellower set” isn’t a slight to said “mellow” artist, but an acknowledgement of their necessity. While I unfortunately missed the rest of the Clicky Clicky showcase on Wednesday, headliner St. Nothing provided a stripped down set that felt impossibly filling in the tiny Lilypad space. Maybe it’s the fact that they were the only cello I saw employed at a Together set, but I was sold on the fact that the group could very well be star students at Twin Shadow and Patrick Wolf’s academies of string-heavy, ’80s influenced synth rock. – TG