 Inland Invasion plays to the KROQ crowd
ACCESSIBLE: Most acts go with their radio material.
DEVORE - For the past five years, KROQ-FM (106.7), the LA-based blowtorch that trumpets itself as "LA and Orange County's only new rock," has brought the Inland Invasion, its end-of-summer musical fete, to Hyundai Pavilion.
Similar to the station's Weenie Roast, which kicked off the summer at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, the day was a sampling of acts from the station's play list, including the new (Jet, the Bravery, Kasabian, Bloc Party and the Arcade Fire), the well-known (Beck, Weezer, Garbage, 311, Oasis and Live) and the well-worn (Madness and Fishbone).
Still, in spite of the wealth of talent, the day seemed to lack the spirit of non-radio-based festivals like Coachella or San Diego's Street Scene. The 25,000 or so fans in attendance were more geared to radio hits than the bands' catalogs.
The strongest set of the day belonged to Weezer. Singer Rivers Cuomo and the boys won over the crowd with a litany of the band's infectious power pop. From opening number "My Name Is Jonas," off the group's self-titled debut, to "Pinkerton's" "El Scorcho" and latest set "Make Believe's" "We Are All On Drugs," the LA-based quartet was in top form.
Due to Cake's late cancellation, Weezer came out for a festival-rare encore that featured Cuomo playing a stunning acoustic "Island in the Sun" on a platform in the middle of the pavilion.
Oasis followed Weezer but came off lackluster as singer Liam Gallagher seemed more enthralled by strutting around the stage in a trench coat and sunglasses than by playing music. His voiced seemed strained and flat.
In contrast, his brother Noel sounded sharp and soulful on "The Importance of Being Idle." Makes you wonder where this band could be without the capricious lead singer.
In a nod to the late '90s, Live returned to the KROQ stage with some hits from the past and some new tunes that sounded more like matchbox twenty than anything groundbreaking. Singer Ed Kowalczyk's voice remains powerful and really shined on numbers like "Lightning Crashes" and "All Over You," but the new material didn't seem to connect.
Beck played a funky rhythmic-based set that was similar to his early-summer performance at the Pacific Amphitheater. Though the grooves were strong, he's at his best with an acoustic guitar and his buttery voice.
Derivative Australian rockers Jet sounded like a fusion of AC/DC and Iggy Pop on their tight and energetic set. The crowd really seemed to respond to the mammoth single, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl."
Canadian indie art rockers the Arcade Fire showed that a nine-piece outfit with a French horn, a viola and a violin can translate in a large arena. The combination of Talking Heads-style punk and Queen tunefulness show a band with a lot of potential.
Madness, its members looking like FBI agents in suits and sunglasses, were one of the day's shining moments. The group's soulful live performances are a testament to its longevity. It doesn't hurt that "Our House" is an enduring classic.
The biggest response of the day came for funk rockers 311, who delivered a tight, energy-infused set that featured songs from throughout their career. The group's light, airy vibe and straightforward lyrics seem to be just what KROQ listeners are looking for.
Bloc Party closed the second stage with a frenetic set highlighted by drummer Matt Tong's lightning-speed fills and singer Kele Okereke's Robert Smith-inspired vocals. The London-based band is garnering an intense following stateside and could grow into something of consequence in the future.
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