FRIDAY/DAY 1:
Blank News returned to Outside Lands for the 10th anniversary of this Bay Area’s festival celebrating music, art, comedy, wine, beer and, of course, the delicious food that’s found in San Francisco. Thousands of fans gathered in beautiful Golden Gate Park again this year for three fun-packed days. Here is our recap of our favorite moments of day 1:
Most Cheerful Set:
Electric Guest knows how to bring the fun. The band, led by Berkeley-born Asa Taccone, played various hits from the albums Mondo as well as Plural, instantly creating a good mood all around. Their open, fun and engaging vibe made it impossible not to dance. You couldn’t help but giggle about Taccone’s nerdy outfit of a bright neon pink T-shirt tucked into olive green pants or his multiple jokes, such as eavesdropping on a “typical Bay-Area” conversation of a group of women earlier that morning, plotting to “defy Trump.”
Taccone dedicated his last song, “Dear to Me” to his mom’s birthday – bringing both her and his sister out on stage to join him in dance for his set’s final hit song.
Most Eccentric Set:
Front man Samuel T. Herring brought a range of emotions to his set, laced with strange commentary, such as believing in dinosaurs. One moment he would twirl or perform stripper dance moves – very impressive, mind you – from lap dancing to pole dancing imitations – and the next moment, he would take it to the dark side and growl or bump his chest. Here is somebody who clearly needs the stage to work out some pent-up aggressions and repressed desires. Weird, but yes, I can dig it!
Bummer, but make the best of it:
A Tribe Called Quest rescheduled their performance for Saturday “due to unforeseen travel issues,” according to festival officials. The Swedish group Little Dragon took Tribe’s original set time, and RAC treated fans to a double dose, performing with a live band at the Lands End stage, followed by another performance at the Panhandle stage.
Best Bucket-List Show:
Closing out Friday night with a two-hour long set, the technically virtual yet occasionally real band Gorillaz, created by English musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, made a rare live appearance, bringing a plethora of big-name guests and one hell of a cool and colorful laser light show. Musicians such as Pusha T, Anthony Hamilton, Little Dragon’s Yukimi and Pos from De La Soul joined Albarn on stage to play the Gorillaz’ most recent album Humanz almost in its entirety and finishing the set with the old hits: “Stylo,” “Feel Good Inc” and – of course – “Clint Eastwood.”
Bringing All the Feels:
It’s hard to compete with the Gorillaz – especially seeing how virtual bands rarely come to live – but if there was anyone deserving of abandoning the big-name act, it was Alt-J. This band just really knows how to bring all the feels. Let’s be honest, it may as well be a spiritual experience. And what other time do you ever get to be that up close to such a huge phenomenon of a band. So maybe it wasn’t very well attended, but that just made it more intimate and personal, filling your heart with gorgeous sounds that probably make plants grow and angles cry.
Other Fun Finds:
Some notable mentions: This year, Outside Lands featured a climbing wall, (Climbers were strictly secured with ropes and harnesses. Fear not, they understand the general booze to food ratio here.), a mini-golf course, a brightly lit selfi photo-op mimicking a stage and displaying “Outside Lands” in big, bold letters, and a live mascot of Ranger Dave parading the grounds lending a helpful hand, giving directions or, you know, leading an orchestra. No biggie.
Best Audience Quote of the Day:
“He has the most amazing collection of black and white shirts.” (Fan at Future Islands)
– Story by Brian Hinman and Michaela Marchardt –
READ OUR SATURDAY REVIEW OF OUTSIDE LANDS 2017
