For people itching to hear some of this summer's most anticipated new music, the place to be this weekend was Saturday's KROQ-FM Weenie Roast y Fiesta, where the lineup was stacked with bands on the verge of releasing long-awaited new material.
The day kicked off with the Plain White T's over on the second stage, a.k.a. "stage dos" in keeping with the day's Latin theme. The former You Hear It First pick was followed by fellow YHIF alums Silversun Pickups as well as Swedish whistlers Peter, Bjorn and John and Rancid's Tim Armstrong playing solo and delivering scorching riffs under an equally scorching sun. Not to worry, though - there were free sombreros in the Fiesta Village, a place for concertgoers could snack, buy merch and cool off.
As things wound down on stage dos, KROQ darlings Tiger Army took the main stage. The psychobilly band's "Forever Fades Away" is the current most-requested and most-played song on the L.A. rock station, and the Bay Area trio powered through that and other tracks off their upcoming Music From Regions Beyond, due June 5.
Once their set ended, the revolving stage made the first of many 180 degree turns, revealing a plugged-in and ready to go Bravery, who also had new music to share. Although the crowd was still filing into the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, the very danceable "Public Service Announcement" inspired a fiesta mood. The band followed with the new single "Time Won't Let Me Go," which hits stores Tuesday on the Bravery's new album, The Sun and the Moon.
Next up were 30 Seconds to Mars, who are no strangers to KROQ's music fests, having played KROQ's Inland Invasion show just last year. "It's weird to think that we are veterans of the KROQ shows now, because I was remembering actually sneaking backstage to try and watch a band from the side of the stage a number of years ago," frontman Jared Leto recalled.
When the stage spun around for 30 Seconds to Mars' set, the audience instead found a group of folk dancers showing off traditional Latin American moves and fashions. Soon, however, Leto hit the stage ... wearing a sombrero. Always one to put on a spectacle, he also made his way deep into the crowd - twice - even singing closing number "The Kill" as he made his way up to the cheap seats.


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