And more keeps coming
I don't have much time, as I slept in late after a late return last night, but the best bands on Day 2 were Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Mastodon, and Street Sweeper Social Club.
Here's some pics:
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August 30, 2009
August 29, 2009
Dirtbombs are cooler than yer mom
The Dirtbombs are yet another surprise this weekend. With two bass players AND two drummers they create a huge and classic sound.
The Pearl Jam pic
You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to get this pic:
Turns out that Pearl Jam has a ton of strange rules about who can photograph their shows. At Outside Lands, there are likely scores and scores of photogs, most of whom wanted to get in the photo pit to shoot Eddie Vedder's flannel. But only 20 got in. Randomly drawn apparently. Outlets like AOL didn't get in. We got in.
It's not as impressive as it sounds when you realize it was for just one song, and the whole time you're wondering if PJ's publicist is having a hernia. But, it's always nice to win something. It's no foot massager from the church raffle, but it's still a prize. Here's another shot:
Aaahhh, media privilege.
The photo, BTW, was obtained by Glen Cooper, who was shooting for the T-S at the festival because of this:
Others were somewhat upset that we got in ... Alas, I kicketh too much asseth.
August 28, 2009
Day 1
With five stages rotating through a dynamic roster of musical talent -- many of whom have hit records and large followings -- Outside Lands was remarkably full of surprises. Several times on Day 1, Glen and I stumbled into a stage where an unheralded band bent old musical rules to make something new and good. Really new. Really good.
Loop!Station
The Dodos
Autolux
(no picture, dammit)
Every band exceeded expectations, but of the major acts, Sliversun Pickups kicked the most ass. And mainly it was the singer, whose infectious good humor and strong vocals -- not to mention his serious guitar chops -- kept the swollen crowd loud and moving.
What else can you say about a festival where Tom Jones -- yes, THAT Tom Jones -- and Q-Tip can find robust crowds who know all the words.
Oh yeah, and ...
Here's a link to the Facebook page where I'll be posting photos and comments from the field today.
Also, because I'm a geek, here's the view from our inner city hotel -- we've already seen a man and woman get arrested as they had a "415 with themselves," just as a horrified tourist family walked by ...
Alas, no one got Tasered.
Let the games begin
Rock festivals have a special taste about them ... like body odor and hardening mud. I can't wait to get out to the grounds of this year's Outside Lands Festival in SF's Golden Gate Park to get my first whiff.
My buddy Glen and I drove down last night from Humboldt County, checked into our rather 1950s chic hotel room in the city, and are now freshly showered and plugged in to the Internets.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Glen Cooper, 31, of Washington state:
There's a laundry list of bands performing this weekend, but I'll keep it to a short list:
Pearl Jam
Incubus
The National
Autolux
Q-Tip
The Duke Spirit
The Do Dos
Built to Spill
Kinky
Silversun Pickups
And, of course, Tom Jones
That's just one day folks. We're making our schedules now, trying to plot out some harrowing conflicts. For instance, on Sunday, the legendary (to me) band Ween is bisected by MIA. What are we to do? The station KSLG has gotten us all so addicted to MIA that I may have to duck out for a moment or two to catch the band's international sound.
Yikes. At least Ween is playing for two hours.
Anyhow, we're off in a few moments to search out the press tent, find Will Call, and see if this silly chain of events comes to some kind of enjoyable conclusion.
More photos and words to come ...