For this Hazy Eye Music Media “Photo Flashback” post we’ll be taking a trip down memory lane with Ty Segall & White Fence. As a rule, I never miss an opportunity to catch a performance by the prolific garage rocker and rock & roll slave, Ty Segall. On this go around he paid a visit to Ottobar in Baltimore, MD on February 25, 2019 with fellow indie rocker and American singer-songwriter Tim Presley (aka White Fence). The venue wreaked of beer and stale cigarette smoke for this gig (I mean more so than usual). The band were drinking beer, the crew were drinking, and a large majority of the crowd were joining along. Continue reading below for full concert review. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.
Ty Segall & White Fence was sold out and Ottobar was at max capacity. The bar and merch booth were equally busy. Ty Segall had several different vinyl albums for sale and a few t-shirts as well. After thoroughly scanning over all the vinyl, I wiped away the drool and began identifying my photographic vantage points. Once zeroing in on my spots I made my way through the smiling crowd. I was pressed firmly up against the stage for the whole show. Tim Presley aka White Fence smoked half a cigarette on stage; stomping it out on the floor right before the start of the first song. What followed was an electric church service and some of the best photos I’ve ever taken at Ottobar (which is notoriously difficult to do).
For the first half of their set I was directly in front of Tim Presley. For the second half of the set I bounced my way through the drunken crowd over to the side of the stage directly in front of Ty Segall. Their entire set was electric and white hot. No acoustic guitars here folks. It was mainly straightforward heavy guitar-driven Captain Beefheart/The Electric Prunes-esque psychedelic garage rock songs. Songs that seem to be crafted specifically for stoners and beer guzzlers with musical ADHD. It’s plain for me to see after their live performance at Ottobar that Ty Segall & White Fence are a duo for a damn reason. That reason, I believe, is that they are simply two good-spirited/like-minded LA rock veterans who play well off each other’s musical strengths.
Ty Segall & White Fence ripped through an hour-long set of varied jangly power-pop songs intertwined with fierce punk rock attitude and a laid-back sunny California vibe. Noteworthy songs the band they played included; “Time,” “Please Don’t Leave This Town,” “Body Behavior,” “Other Way,” “Easy Ryder,” “Scissor People,” “Do Your Hair,” and “Good Boy.”
I had seen Ty Segall perform live four times before this performance, but those shows mainly featured Segall as a solo artist. This gig was my first time having the pleasure of seeing Ty Segall & White Fence perform together. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect going in, or how the sound and energy of the music would translate, but I ended up not being one bit disappointed. This outfit is a sonically interesting collaboration of musical forces.
The sound and energy of Ty Segall & White Fence, in some ways, seems to be tailor made for me. It’s a clever mix of folk, psychedelic, stoner, garage, punk, indie, and pop rock. Their songs are well crafted, short, and straight to the point. Their sound is bathed in lots of fuzzy-ass guitar and divine vocals. The band has sweet angelic harmonies which careen with dreamy distorted guitar, shiny/happy clean guitar, and slithering bass and drum rhythms. All four musicians featured in Ty Segall & White Fence are unique players and exhibited the ability to masterfully blend their styles; delivering great rock and roll music that is honest, accessible, and a little sloppy. Even the fans were somewhat sloppy. I had quite a few drinks slipped on me at this show, and left smelling like alcohol despite not drinking a drop.
Ty Segall & White Fence teamed up again and recently a studio album of new material, Joy. That album is the follow-up to their 2012 collaboration, Hair. These are both great rock and roll albums in my opinion. That kind of music that can make you feel high (or higher). It invites the listener to close their eyes and drift off into a “hazy” nirvana. Be careful though. Drift too far into sonic euphoria and the album will be over. Ty Segall & White Fence’s most recent LP, Joy, clocks in at a mere 31 minutes. Don’t nod out or you’ll miss out, folks!
If you know about Ty Segall & White Fence, I assume you already own a copy of their newest studio album, Joy. If not, check it out. Don’t waste any more of your time! Ty Segall has a catalog chalk full of goof stuff. He’s honestly one a the few “newer” artists I really like and listen to regularly.
Luckily for some concert-goers Ty Segall has shows remaining in North American this year. Be sure to see one of these performances if possible. Ty Segall kicks ass and you should go kick ass with him! Check out Ty Segall’s Official Website for all tour dates and other info about the band.
Here are some more photos of Ty Segall & White Fence performing at Ottobar in Baltimore, Maryland on February 25, 2019. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson/Hazy Eye Music Media.
Stream these kick ass albums featuring Ty Segall on Spotify: