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Words by: Kayceman, Dennis Cook & Justin Gillett | Images by: Dave Vann & Susan J. Weiand
Outside Lands Music Festival :: 08.28.09 :: Golden Gate Park :: San Francisco, CA
 Outside Lands Festival 2009 by Weiand |
There's something intrinsically cool about a festival that opens one of its big stages with Akron/Family and closes the same stage opening day with Tom Jones. There's a crazy quilt quality to Outside Lands Music Festival, who's second year combined thoroughly mainstream entertainment with scattershot echoes of S.F.'s Summer of Love, forward looking audio explorers and an increased local focus. Once again, Golden Gate Park was cordoned off and transformed into a playground for adults looking for strong musical diversity combined with good food and drink in a striking outdoor setting. While hardly a full blown "happening" in the classic San Fran sense, Outside Lands offered a sanitized and commercialized version of the sort of wooly, wild gatherings this city is famous for, dotting the huge space with a ridiculous amount of distractions, pleasure triggers and a kaleidoscope of aural delights. For three days at least, folks were welcome to unfurl the freak flags they'd tucked away in the drawer next to their work clothes, and despite some kinks that still need working out (one day they'll figure out an effective, non-headache inducing way to move the masses in and out of the park), this second outing showed a major new U.S. festival evolving nicely. (Dennis Cook)
Friday, 08.28
Akron/Family :: 1:45-2:30 p.m. :: Sutro Stage
Beginning like some lingering hippie dream left within the soil of the park, AkAk quickly grew pointy teeth and howled for freedom inside the thick heat and humidity that gave Friday a muggy overtone that was hard to shake. Their newer material has a lovely connection to the elements, which worked well in wooing the gathering crowd. But things truly exploded with "Ed Is A Portal," where their hardcore admirers ignored the unremitting sun to dance, rant and sing with the damp trio. Aided by Howlin Rain's Joel Robinow and the Rain's new drummer Raj Ojha, Akron/Family wove a more succinct version of their usual spirit dance, culminating in a sing-along about living in Woody Guthrie's America. This band truly makes one glad to be alive. (DC)
Built to Spill :: 2:30-3:30 p.m. :: Lands End Stage
 Akron/Family :: Outside Lands 2009 by Weiand |
Not even an early slot on the first day of the festival or a blazing hot sun could slow Built To Spill's maelstrom. The three guitars of bandleader/singer Doug Martsch, Brett Netson and Jim Roth weaved in and out of each other with nuanced slide work and heavy use of distortion pedals. "The Plan" was stretched out with call-and-response guitar licks that led to an ambient back section, while "Unconventional Wisdom" turned violent with its high-pitched guitar progression. As heavy and guitar-based as this music is songs like "You Were Right," "Carry The Zero," "Car" and new one "Hindsight" (from the forthcoming album due in October) reminded fans that underneath the wall of noise and occasional punk rock delivery is a serious songwriter crafting brilliant hooks and radio-ready melodies. (Kayce)
Los Campesinos! :: 2:30-3:15 p.m. :: Presidio Stage
Despite a name that suggests mariachi outfits and flower bedecked senoritas, this Welsh seven-piece charmed enormously, suggesting a kinder, gentler Clash or mayhap a ballsier Dexy's Midnight Runners with their dense, happy sound full of noisemaking violin and unruly electric guitars to offset the crunchy sugar of their boy-girl vocals. Their accents were too thick to catch even a single song title accurately but it mattered not a lick when music is this wholeheartedly inviting and performed with such arms-outstretched enthusiasm. One of the hidden gems on Day One. (DC)
The Dodos :: 3:20-4:10 p.m. :: Sutro Stage
 Midnite :: Outside Lands 2009 by Vann |
From go, their set possessed a gravity that pulled listeners from down the field, their steps gaining bounce as the full force of their increasingly filled-in music overtook them. Heck, even Dave Matthews gave 'em props during his Saturday headlining set! For just three guys they make a hellacious amount of sound, loud enough to require earplugs but also sometimes so sweetly sung that it seemed Meric Long was uttering some siren-like alien tongue. Equal measures clatter and croon, The Dodos set continued to mingle folk, rock and jazz (this last beefed up considerably by the totally pleasing vibe work of newest member Keaton Snyder) into music easy to take in but hard to pin down. (DC)
Midnite :: 4:05-5:05 p.m. :: Twin Peaks Stage
St. Croix's international reggae sensation delivered one of the best sets I've ever witnessed by them, resisting the urge to "lively up" their unique, Nyabinghi influenced, deep roots reggae for a Cali festival audience. Instead, they stuck to their persistent, insistent, dub touched steadiness and created a sound that made love to the ground they, and we, stood upon, a vibration that stirred the place where things grow, in the earth and us. Truly holy music. (DC)
Silversun Pickups :: 4:15-5:15 p.m. :: Lands End Stage
 Silversun Pickups :: Outside Lands 2009 by Weiand |
Following Built to Spill – which caused frontman Brian Aubert to "geek out" and profess his adoration of the legendary act – L.A.'s Silversun Pickups played on the same stage to a crowd twice as big and twice as rowdy, and they played almost twice as loud. Cranking out the kind of indie fuzz-rock that acts like BTS, Dino Jr. and, obviously, Smashing Pumpkins helped create, SSPU may not be doing anything particularly new, but that doesn't always matter. As if trying to prove this point, songs like "Kissing Families," "There's No Secrets This Year," "Swoon" and others were played with confidence and attitude, the screaming vocals and crashing sheets of guitar underscored by pretty harmonies and subtle string accents. With a knack for writing catchy rock songs with big guitar lines, a cute girl on bass who rips, a good, very likeable bandleader and a huge sound that could one day fill stadiums, Silversun Pickups are worthy of the hype. (Kayce)
The National :: 5:00-6:00 p.m. :: Sutro Stage
Despite an initial impression of simple pleasantness, The National pulled out a phenomenal set. About the halfway mark all the great curves and sheer richness of their songwriting and delivery became clear. Exciting, muscular live musicians, the band achieved a cumulative effect, where the secular tales and gospel punctuation of their music combined to reveal perhaps one of the best rock bands currently striding the boards. It's no mystery to me after this set why this Brooklyn group is beloved on the U.K. festival circuit. (DC)
Q-Tip :: 5:50-6:50 p.m. :: Twin Peaks Stage
 Tea Leaf Green :: Outside Lands 2009 by Weiand |
Starting with a shout-out to J Dilla and dedicating the second half of his set to the recently departed DJ AM (most of the crowd clearly learned of AM's sudden death from Q as there was a rapid array of texts and Google searches being fired off), Q-Tip put on a very solid set that had the masses dancing hard. Backed by a full band (bass, drums, guitar, keys and DJ), Q let his unmistakable flow roll atop heavy funk breaks that were peppered with classic samples and a few instrumental solos. After a quick piece of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," Q dropped Tribe hits "Bonita Applebum" and "Scenario" before shocking everyone by bringing out A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Phife Dawg. The legendary duo hadn't been together in years and after running through "Award Tour" an excited Q-Tip reminded fans just how special this reunion was when he closed the set by saying, "Don't know if y'all will ever see that again." (Kayce)
Tea Leaf Green :: 6:00-6:45 p.m. :: Presidio Stage
I love TLG's energy. Their huge charisma and abundant talent were on glorious display at their Lands debut, where they showcased a bundle of topnotch new tunes and a general togetherness that announced in no uncertain terms that the quartet with Reed Mathis in the bass position has fully gelled. "This is the best day of my life," said Trevor Garrod (keys, lead vocals), "I even swam in the ocean, because it was hot." I was again struck by how memorable and flexible their compositions are, and hearing them with a good sized crowd only reaffirmed the feeling that their music would be glorious shared with massive main stage size audiences, perfect songs for 30,000 people to belt out as one voice. All the crazy chops onstage were harnessed to pointed purpose, serving each number so it struck with maximum impact. And it's not that they no longer improvise or jam but the freakouts are controlled bursts that actually work far better than some of their earlier meandering. A great barrelhouse fueled take on "Taught To Be Proud" and a rowdy "If It Wasn't For The Money" were happy reminders that TLG makes music one can tuck away for rainy days, just the gleaming coin one wants to pull from their pocket when they feel broken and bereft. What they were is no longer, but the metamorphosis taking place may ultimately land them a much bigger audience, and it couldn't happen to nicer, more deserving guys. (DC)
Tom Jones :: 6:50-7:50 p.m. :: Sutro Stage
 Tom Jones :: Outside Lands 2009 by Weiand |
"I'm alive! I'm doing my thing and singing my song! I'm a man!!!" roared Tom Jones to begin the best set I caught Friday and perhaps the highlight of my two days in the park. An old school showman of the highest order, Jones led a huge, incredibly tight band through his lengthy catalog, setting off joy bombs on the lawn with "Delilah," "What's New Pussycat?," "She's A Lady" and "Kiss." More fit and frisky than he's any right to be at 69-years-old, Van Morrison's favorite singer showed he's lost almost none of his explosive, seductive vocal range or unbridled, wholly manly charm. So, when he asked us, "Are we gonna have a good time tonight?" the positive affirmation was almost deafening. The new songs from his recently released 24 Hours album were surprisingly excellent and largely on par with the sort of quality material that he built his rep on in the 1960s. He also murdered (in a good way) covers of "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and "Mama Told Me Not To Come," while taking side trips into credible G-Funk (seriously) and a dirty blues where Jones growled, "I don't need to be your best friend/ I don't even need to see you come/ I just want to be your plaything." His appeal cut across multiple generations and his sex appeal made most folks a little moist, regardless of whether their pendulum usually swings this direction or not. At the end of his set, he wistfully offered, "We gotta go right now, but we'll be back one day. I promise." For men like Tom Jones the show truly must go on. (DC)
Thievery Corporation :: 7:40-9:00 p.m. :: Twin Peaks Stage
In an inspired bit of counter-programming for those not into Pearl Jam, Friday's headliner, Thievery Corporation were the tasteful, classy alternative for those that wanted to simmer rather than sizzle. What's impressive about TC is how it could just be more background listening for the folks that buy those Buddha Bar compilations but isn't. Skillful choreography, a panoply of gifted spotlight musicians and a quiet sort of pageantry were the linchpins of their set, which ultimately felt like a glimpse at what radio may sound like in a few decades as the continents continue to cross-pollinate. Thievery Corp moves the notion of the DJ forward a few miles, infusing the sustained roll of the club with strong musicianship and an almost unfailing ear for interesting flavors. (DC)
Pearl Jam :: 7:50-9:50 p.m. :: Lands End Stage
 Pearl Jam :: Outside Lands 2009 by Weiand |
14 years ago Pearl Jam played in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. That was a crazy night. Eddie Vedder got sick and was only able to perform a few songs before Neil Young came out and triumphantly finished the set. This evening wouldn't be quiet as crazy and we wouldn't see Neil, but we would get two Young tracks and the power of Pearl Jam's performance stood up well against their live shows from back then. Soon after the sun had set with the sky still glowing orange, the band kicked into an almost two hour rock assault with "Why Go." By the time they hit "Corduroy," lead guitarist Mike McCready was drilling into truly nasty ground as Stone Gossard and Vedder both pushed their guitars into the mix for an overwhelming three guitar attack. Playing both "Got Some" and "The Fixer" from the forthcoming new album, the crowd reaction spoke to the band's incredibly strong following, as no one missed a beat or lyric.
As much as they excel at big ball swingin' power rock, Pearl Jam is equally adept at haunting slow burns like "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town," "Better Man" and "Black." Although Vedder's voice was shot from heavy touring, it hardly mattered and he was even able to use it to his advantage on "Crazy Mary." Any shortcomings in Vedder's range were swooped-up in the over-the-top drum work by Matt Cameron, the thunder bass of Jeff Ament and the never-ending riffs from McCready, which even found him taking intricate solos behind his head. This is a band in the truest sense of the word. If Vedder's vocals are hurting the rest just play harder. And this isn't just any band; this is a band of seasoned pros that have been playing to huge crowds for more than a decade. These guys have mastered their art form and they bring it hard every single night.
The marathon double encore included a psychedelic "Daughter" that called to mind vintage Pink Floyd, an awesome reading of The Who's "The Real Me," a devastating "Alive" and a final blow out with Young's "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World." 14 years after their first appearance in Golden Gate Park and long past their commercial prime, Pearl Jam proved to be a very impressive headliner for Outside Lands. (Kayce)
 Pearl Jam :: Outside Lands 2009 by Vann |
Setlist
Why Go, Animal, Severed Hand, Corduroy, Low Light, The Fixer, In My Tree, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Even Flow, Got Some, I Am Mine, Given To Fly, MFC, Down, Black, Save You, Do The Evolution, Go
Encore 1: Wasted Reprise, Better Man, Daughter, The Real Me (Pete Townshend), Crazy Mary (Victoria Williams), Alive
Encore 2: Throw Your Hatred Down (Neil Young), Rockin' In The Free World (Neil Young)
Continue reading for Saturday's coverage of Outside Lands...
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