Even though he’s played basically the same set at most festivals this year, K-Dot came roaring out of the gate for a packed Twin Peaks stage crowd Saturday at the eighth Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. That’s no exaggeration – Lamar actually yelled parts of the lyrics to “Money Trees.” But the Compton rapper’s crowning moment came not when he rattled off song after song from 2012's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, but after “A.D.H.D.” from his debut record. The thousands in attendance took up a thankful, chanting refrain: “Ken-drick. Ken-drick. Ken-drick.” Even the rapper himself seemed a bit humbled.
2. Tame Impala’s Acid Test
Golden Gate Park and nearby Haight-Ashbury are no strangers to psychedelic rock. Tame Impala’s sunset freak out felt right at home in San Francisco, with video screens blasting swirling clips and blips of color to pair with the likes of “Let it Happen,” “Elephant” and "Apocalypse Dreams." As the sun began to dip behind the tree line, lead singer Kevin Parker encouraged a singalong for the band’s biggest hit, “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.” Tame Impala’s evolution means its psychedelia is no longer imitation or flattery, but a beast it has tamed — no pun intended — during its rise up the festival ranks.
3. Nice day for a White Wedding
The sun peaked out during British rocker Billy Idol’s set after hiding behind the clouds all day. Idol could’ve delivered an hour of hits during his main stage turn, but instead saved the firepower for a monster closing stretch: “Ready Steady Go,” The Doors’ “L.A. Woman” repurposed as “San Francisco Woman,” “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding Pt. 1” and his indelible cover of Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Mony Mony.” Idol strut around the stage, sneering with confidence as he fired each volley. Years from now, it’ll be the final 25 minutes of Idol’s set the people remember, not the uneven first 35.
4. Mac DeMarco meets murky mood
The sun came out during Idol’s set, but it was overcast early for Canadian jangle pop rocker Mac DeMarco, whose bittersweet, underwater guitar tones fit with the cloudy day. As I left the polo field to catch Laura Marling (whose 10-minute Once I Was an Eagle suite just missed this list), DeMarco dropped into a reading of “Reelin’ in the Years” that managed not to betray the mood he’d set during his show. For DeMarco, the day’s cloud cover worked and it made his Steely Dan cover that much better.
5. I Sing “The Body Electric”
Hurray for the Riff Raff kicked off day two on the Sutro Stage, coaxing the work of Alynda Segarra to its fullest expression. While “The Body Electric” may not be HFTRR’s biggest rompin’, stomping’ slice of fun, it’s poignant and purposeful. Segarra said the song is about “the right to live and be a person just walk down the street and not be shot down.” It also subverts the “murder ballad” musical history – Neil Young’s “Down by the River” come to mind as Segarra sings of being shot down and having her killer “put my body in the river.” It’s one of those gems that makes showing up early to festivals count.
Check back Monday for Nick’s day three highlights.
Additional day two YouTube clips
Kendrick Lamar performs “B— Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix)” (NSFW language)
Laura Marling performs “Sophia”
Additional day two Vines
Kendrick Lamar performs “M.A.A.D City”
Kendrick Lamar performs “King Kunta”
Kendrick Lamar performs “Alright” (NSFW language)
The Black Keys perform “Next Girl”
Tame Impala performs “Elephant”
Angus and Julia Stone perform “It Was Blue”
Laura Marling performs “I Feel Your Love”
Comments