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High/Low/Hero at the Sunset Junction Street Fair

Diana Siegel |
August 27, 2010 | 10:30 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Sunset Junction Street Fair (Diana Siegel)
Sunset Junction Street Fair (Diana Siegel)
This past weekend marked the 30th anniversary of Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction Street Fair, a two-day extravaganza set smack dab in the middle of Sunset Boulevard. Teeming with bands, booze, food trucks, rides, and enough fedoras to shade a small country, the block party provided a rollicking good time to all who attended.

Usually occurring in late August, this festival has been held since 1980 as a peace offering to ease tensions that were happening between the Latino residents who were already living there and the gay residents who were just moving in. Since then, it's become a fun-filled tradition for local residents to experience.

To summarize the weekend’s activities, I have compiled a list of the weekend’s best and worst moments and attempted to highlight the individual who made them possible in a little game I like to call “High/Low/Hero.”

Highs: Fitz and the Tantrums’ rendition of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”

The feel-good neo-soul band gave a crowd-shaking, high-energy performance, culminating in a big-band cover of the famous Eurythmics tune. Replacing the song’s dark-edged synthesizer with a brass section and Annie Lennox’s haunting wail with soulful vocals, Fitz et. al gave the ‘80s classic a Motown makeover, ironically breathing new life into an old favorite.

The Deadly Syndrome’s collective drum solo

I had these guys pegged as your standard grunge-infused indie band until they busted out with a five-member, one drum set breakdown at the end of their first song. My ears are still pounding.

Lows: Eating my vegan/gluten-free dinner next to the electro stage

What has become of my life?

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes’ stage set-up

Being shoved incessantly by front row-hungry hoards of tween hipsters yelling about their disappointment in the Gorillaz’ “mainstream” Coachella set is not my idea of fun. It’s 8:30. Shouldn’t you be in bed?

Hero: Pazzo Gelato Busboy

While finishing my aforementioned vegan feast, this man cleaned my table and redeemed my faith in humanity by suggesting I check out Meshell Ndegeocello. I suggest you do the same.

In summation, the 30th annual Sunset Junction Street Fair was well worth the price of admission. The best moments were wonderful, and the low points were more amusing than miserable. If you didn’t make it out this year, keep your calendar clear next August. You might just find your own hero.

SLIDESHOW: Sunset Junction Street Fair

To reach reporter Diana Siegel, click here.



 

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