Photos & Review: KCRW Presents Neon Indian and Peanut Butter Wolf at First Fridays

Photos by Nick Bates/Review by Lulu

KCRW Presented the 2010 season of First Fridays at the Museum of Natural History whichwrapped up on a high note Friday after six months of incredible live performances. The event lured in thousands of young, fashionable, music savvy Angelenos to enjoy tunes among the dinosaurs, mammals and more.

The final event showcased performances by Texas-based Neon Indian, who kicked off the evening with a fizzy mixture of charisma and chaos. The brainchild of Alan Palomo, the band boasts an unpolished sound that layers electronic and raw instrumentation, a guitar with a mini-movie screen — depicting everything from faces to galaxies — and members from Palomo’s other musical identity, VEGA. Like their synth-pop tunes, Neon Indian’s set dripped with 80’s nostalgia from Palomo’s leather vest and MJ dance moves to the day-glow patterns projected behind the stage.

On the turntables, DJ-producer Peanut Butter Wolf spun a funky set pulling in classic hip-hop and funk beats with vintage video mixes that scratched and rewound with his spinning. And in the African Mammals Hall turned trendy lounge, the Los Angeles-based DJ duo Classixx got everyone on their feet with their glossy remixes.

The fun will start up again January 2011, when the museum opens its doors after hours to a new slew of First Friday favorites.