This weekend’s edition of Outside Lands, essentially Northern California’s Coachella equivalent, was once again expanded into three days after last year’s Saturday/Sunday-only event. That gave the tens of thousands of revelers on hand in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park even more time to enjoy the densely wooded grounds, carefully curated food (from lauded local eateries like the award-winning Flour and Water) … and, of course, tons of music, ranging from jam-band grooviness to alt-rock superheroes.
Among the highlights:
On Friday, Foster the People attracted hordes of people to a side stage for a midday slot, though this time “Pumped Up Kicks” wasn’t the biggest singalong. Instead, it was an unexpected cover of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So,” an acknowledgment, it seems, of that band playing Foster’s current hit a week earlier at Pacific Amphitheatre. (Fun fact: Rivers Cuomo personally taught Mark Foster how to play the song five years ago.)
Arcade Fire‘s Win Butler acknowledged during his band’s victory-lap, fest-ending performance Sunday evening that earlier in the day he’d fulfilled a lifelong fantasy: singing the Band’s classic “The Weight” with soul/gospel legend Mavis Staples, pictured above. (For those keeping track: he played acoustic guitar and tackled vocals on Rick Danko’s second-to-last verse, about Crazy Chester and his dog).
The Black Keys‘ main-stage set on Saturday solidified them as a superstar band, far from their roots as sludgy Ohioans playing grungy rock at Spaceland and the Troubadour. Clearly the kids in the audience knew not just omnipresent fare like “Tighten Up” but also deeper cuts like 2005′s “Girl is On My Mind.” At this point, the Keys are strong and popular enough to carry a day as headliner.
Best moment of the fest: Almost immediately after a breakout performance on the smallest stage from L.A.’s Grouplove (think Edward Sharpe with trimmer beards and less ragtag clothing), an unknown, unscheduled band quickly set up their instruments and proceeded to rock out on an upbeat, punky, jump-along song. Turns out it was a guerrilla performance from a couple of kids who’d convinced security they were playing, sneaked in, set up gear and managed to make it through a song before being shut down. That’s what the word “ballsy” was invented for. Know ‘em? I’d love to give props.
In the what-in the-world-was-I-doing-when-these-artists-got-huge category: The Decemberists and Beirut. Thousands upon thousands of people excited to see Eastern-ish folk music? OK, I guess …
Phish‘s two-set Friday-night headline appearance was a somewhat disappointing retread of their Hollywood Bowl show, with 10 repeated songs and no real rarities. That would be fine for just about any other band, but the jam icons must have known that plenty of diligent followers (not just from Southern California but all points west) would make the trek to this fest. For the die-hards, it was a lot of effort without a huge return.
Watching Muse‘s impressive laser show from a mile away during Girl Talk‘s party-hearty mash-up set was a two-for-one light-show extravaganza. Sure, I was a bit bummed the music wasn’t pulsating in time. But obviously those choosing to rock to the drama of “Time Is Running Out” weren’t in the same boat.
Also: Man, people sure love the hell out of Deadmau5.
Photo also by Jeff Miller, for The Orange County Register.
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Arcade Fire, Muse and more from Outside Lands is a post from: Soundcheck