This weekend San Francisco hosted the first-ever Outside Lands Festival. We’re still nursing hangovers from a long summer of fests, so in our stead we sent Heather of I Am Fuel You Are Friends to take it in, and take some photos. So, take it away, Heather…
The inaugural Outside Lands Festival took over San Francisco’s rambling Golden Gate Park this weekend, with Radiohead playing the first after-dark concert ever on those historic fields. Amidst thick fog and cypress trees, they transfixed the Friday crowd in a dazzling show of lights and breathtaking sound. But logistics sometimes overwhelmed the first-time festival — like when the sound vanished for thirty interminable seconds during Radiohead’s set. Twice. How to disappear completely, indeed. Some of us worried that we had finally, tragically gone deaf after too much concertgoing, while an unruffled Radiohead continued to play nobly, joking afterwards that someone spilled beer onto the cord.
Saturday started out strong and boasted the most varied lineup, and in the span of three hours the festival was rocked by Oakland band The Coup, NYC’s Liars and Regina Spektor, Cake, and SF’s own Matt Nathanson. By Sunday the crowds were weary but the music was still full tilt. Bon Iver packed the Presidio second-stage meadows and gave a rousing, jawdropping performance. The grass was jammed with folks all the way back to the Heineken tents, and both hillsides covered with people singing along and cheering to the opening chords of “Skinny Love.”
Broken Social Scene devolved into the glorious musical orgy that we adore, with guest appearances from pretty much every Canadian indie musician in a five-state radius. Rogue Wave rocked the tiny Panhandle stage nestled in between recycle booth and voter registration center, with drummer Pat Spurgeon back to furiously rocking out the percussive backbone to their songs after his successful kindney transplant last year. By the time Wilco took the Twin Peaks stage, the sun was slipping behind the trees and the first year festival was drawing to a weary, beer-soaked, satisfying close. There are some logistical issues to be worked out for next year, but Outside Lands has the potential to totally be the destination for your next roadtrip come 2009.
BECK
BON IVER
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
CAKE
COUP
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
EVEREST
THE FELICE BROTHERS
GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS
LIARS
MATT NATHANSON
RADIOHEAD
REGINA SPEKTOR
ROGUE WAVE
STARS
WILCO
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You can watch the whole Beck set here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kurt654&search_query=beck&search=Search
nice pics! i was here…Wilco was amazing as usual but Sharon Jones stole the show…and 2 young dudes heart’s….on stage.
No Radiohead setlist?
They did all Eagles covers.
I hate the fucking Eagles, man!
don’t take it personally, but we kinda fucking hate you too
you missed the big lebowski reference. if i may.. “Fuck you man! You don’t like my fucking music, get your own fucking cab!”
man, those photos are really poor. you need to start sending real photographers out to these festivals.
stereogum just aren’t andrew bird fans, are they.
RadioHead Set List Here: http://www.ibabuzz.com/concerts/2008/08/23/outside-lands-radiohead-setlist/
I Enjoyed:
Radiohead
Tom Petty
Andrew Bird
Black Keys
Wilco
BSS
Steel Pulse
Ben Harper
Lupe Fiasco
Spiral Stairs joined BSS as well, FYI…
Dear Bon Iver,
Regarding this new wearing shirts with sleeves thing.
I like it. Please keep up the good work!
Love Luke
PS: OMG STACKS.
i dont think i could be anymore fucking in love with grace potter.
What a set of stems! Best legs in Rock and a voice to match. Great photos Heather…
broken social scene and spiral stairs played ibi dreams of pavement, kind of surreal…..
you can see my photos here > http://flickr.com/photos/7467218@N05/
I still have many more to put up ….
it was a great weekend… can’t wait for the nest one.
I’m an Andrew Bird fan – many pix and more to come here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paigekparsons/sets/72157606962291079/
ugh, why wont that big nosed jew regina spektor go away. fucking zionist scumbag. FREE PALESTINE
check out more photos from Outside Lands — Broken Social Scene, Walkmen, Bon Iver and more!!!
I too am trying to forget Jack Johnson was the last act on the main stage. How painful it was walking through the park for miles trying to get out of earshot. We heard all the way to the lower Haight.
the andrew bird was ridiculous amazing.
BSS was supposed to play in Argentina tomorrow, but the show was cancelled… Oh, the heartbreak…
This was the worst festival that I have ever been too. Horribly mapped out, loooooong lines, no security, too few port-a-johns, huge sound problems. I want my money back. How could you screw up such a beautiful setting and so many great artists?