*photo by Travis Trautt

What can really be said about Future Shock? The duo, comprised of futuristic characters RayGun and The Doctor, can put your world down, flip it and reverse it with their sounds. They took over Hattie's Hat the first night of this year's Freakout Festival and in every sense, they definitely ran the place.

Commanding the back room of Hattie's with a creatively confident air, Future Shock were unapologetically themselves; their afro-nu wave-neo soul a force that no one in the audience could really reckon with. An amalgamation to the likes of Kraftwerk, Tribe Called Quest, Bowie and new wave greats, Future Shock, fog machine and bull horn in tow, ran through incredibly dancey tracks like "The Future," "Time & Space" and "Secret Weapon," all of which were very well received. With one of the most captivating and overall entertaining sets of the entire festival, if they weren't on your radar before they definitely need to be now.

They may not play sets very often but it's more than worth it if you're able to catch one. Follow Future Shock's Facebook to see when they're taking the stage next.

 *photo by Andy Perkovich

Playing what was predominately a psych-surf themed night at the KEXP Audioasis stage at the Sunset Tavern, chill-goth trio Baywitch brought to the table their own ideas of what that sounds like. Self dubbed "antisurf," which is the cleverly infectious meld of anti-folk and surf rock, Baywitch created an near subsea experience on the Sunset's stage for their Saturday Freakout set.

With all the colorful lights creating an aquamarine experience, Baywitch rocked through tracks off their early summer album Hellaspawn. Fetching, fast-paced riffs mask some pretty doomy themes, like having panic attacks because of pot brownies as told on “I.O.D.T.H.C.” or how "Black Holes" describes the overwhelming turmoil of the fascist movement happening across the country. Their sounds are, however, charming enough that it's easy to forget there's real life subject matter in their lyrics.

Baywitch have got quite a few shows coming up and more details on them can be found here.

 *photo by April Sol

Hip hop may have been one of the least represented genres at Freakout Fest this year, but the fest still managed to present strong acts of interest within the city's movement. One in particular proudly reps her White Center locale, and it's just another detail that adding to what makes Taylar Elizza Beth an artist to be aware of.

Friday was pretty lit at Hattie's Hat and quite a bit of that was because of Taylar Elizza Beth, also known as Taylar White. She's played packed houses before, like earlier this year at the Upstream Music Fest, but the mid-20s raptress (that's rapper and songstress, FYI) is gaining even more warranted attention as her late May EP Fresh Cut Flowers continues to secure its bag, so to speak.

Fresh Cut Flowers takes a different approach to hip-hop than her debut, 2014's The BLK EP. On it, her flow likens itself more to an old school delivery of loquacity, where with Flowers White is mellow and intimate with her recitation. This is no way takes away from the power and magnetism White emits during her performances, especially at Hattie's Hat, where she sucked everyone in like a vacuum. 

If you've yet to catch her live, follow Taylar Elizza Beth's Facebook for upcoming shows.

 *photo by Jake Hanson

In all of their experimental, riff-pop glory, Moon Darling recall simpler psychedelic sensibilities, combined with some pretty endearing and crafted synth pop. The foursome is comprised of Michael Julian Escobar on vox/guitar, Michelle Nuño on drums, Matthew Buckner on keys and Jack Jay on bass, and their joint forces create soundscapes that are both classic and innovative.

Though they only played one slot at Freakout Fest, an early evening set at the Conor Byrne, the band have been up to so much more recently. Shortly before the played the fest Moon Darling debuted a new track. "By the Light of the Moon" is coming off of their upcoming January EP of the same name, a followup to their addictive Dreams. 

On "By the Light of the Moon" there's a point in which each member shines, be it Escobar's incredible fingerwork or gripping approach to vocals, the stark and necessary breaks of Nuño's drumming, or the enigmatic keyboarding of Buckner and Jack Jay's deliberate bass playing. The title track provides perfect insight into the rest of the EP, and they're having a release show for it on 1.25 at the Fred Wildlife Refuge with Kingdom of the Holy Sun and DJ Right Ternes, so mark your calendars.

Triple city-based indie label Freakout Records has been churning out some pretty fine electronic, psych and lively rock from three out of the four corners of the states. Operating out of Seattle, Los Angeles and New York, Freakout has taken to occupying various venues in Ballard for its festival since 2012, with artists of their own catalog, as well as other artists scattered around the Northwest and the country. Freakout! Festival returns again tonight, and its bill is as stacked as ever.

Co-presented by The Stranger, Audioasis on KEXP and supported by Killroom Records, Treefort Music Fest and Artist Home Record Club, Freakout! Fest will be hitting up its usual Ballard staples like Conor Byrne and Tractor Tavern, with Sarah Gerritsen and Roadkill Ghost Choir kicking things off with some early sets. Tonight's hip hop will be fulfilled by up and coming lyricist Taylar Elizza Beth, with some dark stoner psych coming from Blackwater Holy Light. Energetically folky blues comes from Battleme, who are out on tour supporting their new Cult Psychotica release, while Charms and FKL bring more of a dancey feel to a couple of the headlining spots.

Much of Saturday's bill recalls a warmer, more carefree season thanks to some surf-drenched sets from Baywitch, The Shivas and Guantanamo Baywatch, The White Tears and Pearl Dragon is Dead are collaborating on their performance at the Conor Byrne, Porter Ray and Jus Moni killing it in the rhythm and rhymes department, and Kelli Schaefer and Maiah Manser representing for solo noir pop.

There's so many more acts to see, thank goodness they're all playing on the same street. You can find more information about the artists, venues and tickets over at the Freakout Records site.