Hey! What’s up! I know it’s Thursday, so this is supposed to be a new album review, but I’m saving that for Monday, because I’m gonna review Aminé’s upcoming “Twopointfive” that comes out at midnight tonight. Exciting, right?
Anyway, I took last Monday off because I got off the plane from San Francisco and I was just absolutely exhausted. How was your week, though? Did you do anything notable for Halloween?
This is gonna be kind of an informal newsletter to discuss some of my favorite performances I saw over the course of the festival weekend, so you know who to catch live as they begin/continue touring.
To start, I can see why San Francisco is a cultural landmark. The vintage clothing stores and massive Amoeba Record store in Haight-Ashbury treated me very well. I was so happy to be in a big city other than my own, despite the fact that you have to walk vertically everywhere.
As for the festival itself - the food was local and delicious, the beer was local and delicious, people were just smoking weed out in the open with no repercussion like our Woodstock-attending forefathers intended, and everything was outrageously expensive.
It was a really new environment for me - although I realized after my last newsletter (that you should read if you missed!) that I have in fact attended a festival before, Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park. I only went to one day of Innings, really to see one act (Weezer), and it paled in comparison to the size and scope of Outside Lands.
Anyway, let’s talk about some acts that I managed to see.
Remi Wolf
Oh, hey, it’s Remi Wolf. From my last newsletter (that you should read if you missed!!!!) about some of the best albums from October. Remi was the first, and maybe the best, act I saw at OL. She was bouncing off the walls, her live vocals were OUTSTANDING, and she just seemed to be having the best time ever.
There were great musicians on stage with her, but she really stood out. With how much work is done to singers’ voices in the studio, it’s really hard for some to faithfully recreate their music live. Wolf had no problem. She was bombastic, her high notes were strong, and I had the time of my life watching her. Thanks, Remi, for that one.
Flo Milli
Flo Milli shit! Hoe!
Flo Milli was an awesome experience. It seems like everyone there knew the words to so many of her songs, and everyone was super into it.
It was loud, brash, and overall a great time. Credit to Flo Milli for being an engaging and interesting live performer.
JPEGMAFIA
Yes, I saw Peggy. Yes, it was awesome. The audience was a bit awkward, but it’s to be expected because JPEG fans don’t go outside very much. Peggy soldiered on through the awkwardness, opened up the pit, and performed a LOT of songs from “LP!” including “BALD!” which was a hoot for everyone involved.
I didn’t get to stay for the full set, because I had to rush off to see another act, but I really enjoyed my time watching him. I’m sad I didn’t get to see him perform his patented cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” though.
The Strokes
Listen, man, I love the Strokes. I love Julian Casablancas’ solo music. This hurts me to say, but I was really not blown away by their performance. They played hit after hit after hit, songs I really loved, but Casablancas was just subpar. He kept singing weird interludes over the songs, he seemed a bit disoriented the whole time, and he definitely didn’t know the words to “The Adults are Talking,” at least not more than I do.
It was still a really cool experience. The rest of the band was really solid, I heard a bunch of my favorite songs ever, and they closed with “New York City Cops,” which I really didn’t expect but really really enjoyed. I just wish it was a tad bit better, but I know (or at least I hope) this isn’t my only time seeing them.
Aminé
So, my wonderful partner and I were sitting in the grass enjoying some Rico Nasty when we got a text from a friend of ours, saying Young Thug had dropped the festival. I shrugged, because I’m not a huge fan of his, but I freaked out when I read the next part: “he’s being replaced by Aminé!”
Now, if you know me, you know this: I LOVE Aminé. He’s one of my favorite rappers ever, and he was absolutely fantastic live.
It seemed like a lot of the audience didn’t know the words, but I did, and I was super into it. It was such a treat to be able to see him so unexpectedly, and I’m so glad he was able to come through last minute.
It was funny that he did “Compensating” live, though, because Young Thug’s feature was obviously… missing.
Vampire Weekend
Yet another bucket list band for me - this was unbelievable. This is VW’s only live performance this year, so hearing the band play “2021” was special.
Ezra Koenig sounded great live, the band was tight, and a good time was had by all. They played a really good mix of recent hits and classics, which I was worried about. If I went through a VW show without hearing at least half of their self-titled, I would be upset.
Another band that just played hit after hit after hit, and I was smiling the whole time. What an experience.
Lizzo
WOW. Wow wow wow. Another artist, like Remi Wolf, that was just as pure live as in the studio. We know this, though. Lizzo is one of the best live performers of our era.
She serenaded the audience with a portion of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” and I hope this isn’t too blasphemous, but I think it’s fair to compare the two in terms of stage presence and vocal talent. Lizzo is THAT good, especially live.
She was amazing, she referenced one of my favorite tiktoks, and she really delivered as a headliner. She’s a special performer, man.
Boy Pablo
I’ve been waiting to see Boy Pablo forever, and he was amazing. He started out a tad sheepish, but once he realized that the audience was really into his music, he started interacting with us, dancing around, and performing up to the energy that his music exudes.
Band leader Nicolas Muñoz was constantly exchanging glances with his bandmates and laughing, as if they couldn’t believe how many people came to see them.
It felt like sharing a successful moment with a friend, as I’ve been listening to Boy Pablo for years, and it was so happy to see him this happy. His joy was present throughout the performance, despite the multiple technical malfunctions that went on during the show.
Muñoz laughed and said “this concert hates me,” halfway through one of the better shows I’ve ever seen. I had so much fun, and I won’t ever forget watching Boy Pablo.
Tame Impala
I posted a video of “The Less I Know The Better” with the caption “screaming, crying and throwing up rn” on my Snapchat story, and I think that about sums it up.
I don’t wanna be THAT guy, but I’ve been listening to Tame Impala since 2012’s “Lonerism”, so seeing them was awesome. Another band that played a really good mix of hits, although what really stood out during the performance was the trippy, glitchy visuals.
Parker decided to go with a technological motif, and I really enjoyed watching as well as listening. It was the perfect cap-off to a great festival.
Anyway, I think that’s what I’ve got for you today. Here’s a playlist of ALL the acts from OL, including some that I saw but didn’t have space to mention, which are as follows: Earthgang, Dr. Dog, Claud, Caroline Polachek, Goth Babe, mxmtoon, and Kehlani.
Thanks, Outside Lands and San Francisco, for showing me a good time. Thanks to my partner Keagan and our friends Eddie and Carson for hanging out during the whole thing, and sharing it with me.
I can't wait to get back to going to shows! At the risk of also being "that guy," Lizzo had me hooked as soon as "Let 'em Say" w/Caroline Smith dropped. Still sounds as good as ever. I know I'm in the minority, but I never really got into The Strokes. I'm gonna age myself here, but I'm a bigger fan of Al Hammond Sr.'s work than of his son.
Off-topic, but why were you exhausted after flying? Curious only because I work for an airline, and am always interested in what people's experiences are (especially now).