The weather couldn't have been better for the first day of OutsideLands, the 7th annual music festival in San Francisco. Clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine are a rare site in Golden Gate Park, with no fog rolling in and only a refreshing chill that had concert goers reaching for their sweatshirts after dusk. Coincidentally, that's the same time everyone takes their sunglasses off at the same time after a day of drinking, partying, and jumping around having fun - a shocking sight!
Here are the bands I caught Day 1 and some favorite photos:
Run the Jewels with El-P and Killer Mike:They sounded great and we're having a lot of fun, really playing off the crowd. An energetic rap show is the perfect way to kick off the afternoon.
Phosphorescent:
Backstage for this one and they put on a cool show. Loved the congas the percussionist incorporated.
WarPaint:
I loved 'em - the all-girl band was like the Bengals mixed with Mazzy Star with more than a little harder, punk influences. Hot stuff and I'll definitely seek them out to listen more.
Around this time, it got really weird. We stumbled on a grove with a stage and kiosks all with a bizarre dark carnie sort of thing going on. Random people wandered around in kilts and high socks, their faces painted like circus clowns or serial killers. There were booths where you could hug a carnie for $1 (no thanks) and they had a life-like carnie doll crucified high up on a pine tree. This place weirded me the hell out! But they did have logs you could sit on to rest the tired bones, and a band called El Radio Fantastique (if I remember correctly, because I can't find them on the lineup) who had an interesting sound. Among a violin, cello, and stand up base, the lead man sang through a bullhorn for a carnival barker sound and flopped around like a zombie. If you're in to the carnie thing, I suggest checking them out because they're were tight musically. However, if you're into the carnie thing, I also suggest checking yourself in to a place with white walls to get some help.
This electric native San Francisco band was one of the highlights of day one for me. Their passion and fun was contagious but they weren't pop at all. The male lead guitarist/vocalist and the gyrating and free-spirited female lead had musical chemistry like Jack and Meg White. Smart lyrics and oozing of talent. Another new favorite band I'll have to check out.
Chromeo:
Unfortunately, they scheduled GroupFun and Chromeo at the same time, two of the best kept secrets of Day 1. Our group split up with most of them watching Chromeo, and said they were amazing.
Disclosure:
Caught the tail end of them and I was doing more crowd watching and backstage gawking. Decent act but not particularly memorable.
It's really hard for one rapper to command a presence with a huge empty stage and 50,000 people watching, and Kanye tried his best. He came out with a interesting mask that was a mix of Jason and bee keeper, and the lighting and effects were great. He sounded pretty clean except on the hardest rocking numbers like Power - another difficult feat for a live rap act - but lost us when he started his long rambles, musical fillers that went nowhere, and collaboration songs where he only sang his part. Makes me think, where are the Roots???
Very mellow for an after dark show. The Mike Ness-look alike front man tried to push his Rock God ego on the crowd, but it didn't quite work for me. But they were tight musically and sang some damn good songs.
After hours:
Death Cab for Cutie:
After the OutsideLands festivities ended, we headed to the Independent - a fantastic, intimate venue to a see a band, where we watched Death Cab for Cuties. They put on a great show and are obviously talented musicians, though the singing was a little monotone and pop-ish for me at that time of the night.
Just say "No" to the Korean tacos. There was a dessert area with every kind of guilty pleasure you can imagine, including humungous somores, homemade peanut butter cups, and liquid chocolate. Yummmmm…..
Parking and Transportation:
Hahahaha, you're kidding, right?!
Über was running at a level 5 pricing designation, meaning it was a $75 minimum and about a 40 minute wait. But there were plenty of public buses lined up. Use the bathroom before you leave the park and expect at least an hour to get out of there.
Day two thoughts:
Throwing an old blanket into my backpack so we can chill on the lawn at some point. Excited to see Tom Petty for the first time but they lined them up against Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, one of my favorite acts of all time, so it's going to be a hard choice. Praying someone brings me some strong coffee this morning and hoping for sun today!
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