Many events claim to serve diverse demographics, but many fail to fulfill their promises the way Doll Fest does. Hosted by Maria Chaos, the Bay Area-based festival commits to a welcoming environment from opening to close—including their pre-festival event. Pre-Fest was held on Friday, March 27, at Ivy Room in Albany. A colorful array of guests packed the room, with Skip The Needle’s headlining set drawing a major crowd in a small space.
I was immediately impressed by the conglomerate of spectators. “Diversity” is a loaded word, but Chaos has expertly crafted an audience that accurately fits that description. People across all walks of life were there, and it felt like a much-needed celebration with everything going on outside of the Berkeley-adjacent dive bar. These third spaces are crucial during times like these—I knew that Doll Fest would be nothing short of rejuvenating.
Wonderland Rejects opened the show, with a shorter set that was no less impactful than the rest of the artists on the bill. Their aesthetic leaned more gothic than the rest of the lineup, which was ultimately refreshing, as it didn’t seem to be contrived. Rather, the group actively live Doll Fest’s ethos. Their commitment to the festival’s core emotional thesis deserves praise, but their musical sensibilities are even more impressive. The group are tight enough to fill much larger rooms; still, they carry themselves throughout their whole set, not wasting a single second of their opening slot. Their guitar riffs and vocals stood out, a tremendous feat when granted only 30 minutes or less to make a sturdy impression on new audiences.
A group of East Coasters, Last Minet got to enjoy the East Bay alternative scene’s spirit—and they fit in well. Their sound leaned more post-emo or melodic hardcore, with genre blending adding depth to their set. Lead vocals were clean but still contained just enough grit, and instrumentation was tight as ever. Plus, lead vocalist Mizzuri Hertz was effortlessly able to answer some nerd questions about the strings on their guitar. They proved that sure, extra accessories assist in a performance, but memorable second-position sets require solid musicianship, which Last Minet offers. The crowd was visibly getting energized thanks to the first two bands’ palpable energy.
Next, Beneath You took the stage just before the highly anticipated headliner, Skip The Needle. Despite having big shoes to fill, Beneath You didn’t miss a beat. Their sound was quite different from the first two acts, but this was refreshing rather than fatiguing. Audiences weren’t simply passing the time until the headliner approached; instead, they were actively being introduced to their next favorite artist. Live shows used to be the best means of music discovery before algorithms determined our fate—touring festivals like Lollapalooza used to design their lineups with this in mind.
Beneath You self-describes as Bay Area pop-punk. However, their set was far more diverse. They implement elements of ska and other alt-rock models throughout their discography—and it works! Truthfully, their ska tracks stood out as their best work. I wish I had caught the name of them, but they fit into ska like a glove. If they ever wanted to commit to a genre full-throttle, it should be ska. Soulful lead vocals and punchy instrumentals make them a shoe-in. With their rhythmic sensibilities and lyrical social commentary, Beneath You would be an incredible ska band, especially as the genre is seeing another renaissance period.
Finally, Skip The Needle took the stage as the evening’s headliners. The audience buzzed with anticipation as they took the stage—and rightfully so. This was my introduction to every band on the bill, and the bar was set tremendously high by the other three artists. Skip The Needle are local legends; most of the crowd was wearing their merch. That’s no surprise, as their ethos suggest, the medium is the message. They have a very political core, with each song ranging from protest to triumph. Notably, much of their work revolves around the life of Octavia Butler, renowned sci-fi author and activist. Her commitment to making statements within her work translated effortlessly to Skip The Needle’s discography.
They played a plethora of standout tracks, but “Until We Overcome” and “Pasadena Goddam” were personal favorites. A unique feature of Skip The Needle was their formatting. Three of four band members took over lead vocals frequently, showcasing the group as a collective, rather than a front person fiending for the spotlight. These elements curated an engaging set all the way through, even for those who didn’t know of the band before attending Doll Fest.
Ultimately, Pre-Fest was a delicious appetizer, teasing all of the goodness Doll Fest has to offer. The communal atmosphere made attending the show a comfortable experience, but each performance made it an unforgettable one. Maria Chaos and her team have curated a beautiful event—it only makes sense that it’s expanding rapidly.
Photos by Alan Snodgrass / Words by Kayla Moreno
Skip The Needle
Beneath You
