Outside Lands Feedback

Outside Lands Festival capped off what has easily been the best festival season of my SUPERGOOD career. While there are actually a few local (Sunset Strip Music Festival, Sunset Junction) and a few more destination (North Coast Music Festival, De Luna Music Festival or Treasure Island Festival, VooDoo Fest) – after the huge Deadmau5 and Arcade Fire closing sets, it may as well have been the end because I’m satisfied.

Exiting to people’s claims of “receiving their money’s worth,” I can only confirm why they might have felt that way.

From the opening day’s very first acts – New Orelans Klezmer Allstars, Release The Sunbird, Marky and Arann Harris & The Farm Band each who started at noon on Friday (my personal first was Phantogram) to the final note of Arcade Fire – there was a little sample of almost every musical genre and a concentration on all flavors of rock and roll. As far as rock goes – Outside Lands really brought the heat this year with Grammy award winning Arcade Fire, Muse, Phish, The Shins, The Black Keys, The Decemberists, Arctic Monkeys, Beirut, OK Go, Warren Haynes Band and more.

With only few disappointments (Big Boi did not really perform due to technical difficulty; I missed K. Flay, Charles Bradley and Tune-Yards) and lots of high lights – the 4^th Outside Lands and the return to a three-day festival was a big success in my opinion. Given that the event pretty much sold out - I’d say it was a success by the organizer’s standards too.

After a 24 hour decompression here are a few takeaways:

· The Stone Foxes are the next Black Keys. While the San Francisco based quartet are noticeably and understandably different, they both embrace the same bad ass bluesy and gritty rock and roll. No wonder both of their music has been on Sons of Anarchy and they’ve already played a show together in Arizona. I can only hope that trend continues and they are doing a run f dates together. Sign me up for a spot trailing that tour. With some attendees claiming the Foxes Saturday afternoon throwdown as the best show of the festival, they might be willing to join that caravan too. For the uninitiated I’d definitely advise checking out the free download of their song “Psycho” on their website and hit up El Cid on August 28^th when they close out Sunset Junction. Its part of the package for Junction attendees, but I think access can also be purchased separately.

· People on the lawn in San Francisco can really get down to some funk music, the people in the press tent…not so much. The Original Meters and The Greyboy Allstars turned out good sets on the mainstage and Phish dropped a version of “Funky Bitch” as well as “Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove.” Sunday didn’t have as much funky music – although I missed Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band, whom I’m guessing held it down.

· Phish isn’t slowing down. They didn’t blow my socks off – but I wouldn’t be sad to see them again either. While I’m certainly no roadie or a Phishhead – the guys can certainly still play “Rock and Roll” in their elder (and sober?) state. With a substantial catalogue to choose from, they managed to play some new songs I’m definitely not familiar with as well as a half dozen covers (“2001”, “Roses Are Free”, “Rock and Roll”, “Peaches En Regalia” “Life on Mars?” and “Funky Bitch”) and fan favorites (“Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove” and “Tweezer”).

· The Roots should put out an album called “Greatest Wedding Band of All Time” and do all covers that people love to get down to. They docovers at their concerts – it used to be hip-hop medleys, but now it has turned into full blown rock and roll, funk and hip-hop covers. I was particularly impressed with their rendition of Gil Scott Heron’s “The Bottle.” No disrespect – they are amazing at doing it, but they are also an exceptional band and also have their own great original material. Nonetheless, they get the biggest rise from the crowd doing covers and “Here I Come” – the Jimmy Fallon theme song. The covers seemed to get even more fan fare than “If You Got Me”, the groups biggest hit to date. All that said, despite crushing other people’s songs sometimes better than the originals themselves, they are much more than the greatest wedding band of all time. Bonus - someone whipped out one of the parachutes we all used to played with in phys ed class in kindergarten and 1st grade

· Watching Girl Talk and the crowd at Girl Talk is fun…being in the middle of a Girl Talk crowd is a recipe for getting touched by strangers. It is really cool to look over a crowd from a perch (which you can find at OLF) and see how certain songs resonate (or don’t) with a majority of the crowd. A surprisingly popular drop was “Got Your Money” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

· Erykah Badu is a force. Her energy pulled me away from Phish and I was sad I hadn’t seen more of her set. Her voice is beautiful, her band was kicking it and her soul is undeniable.

* Big Boi not playing was disappointing – but Dave Chapelle appearing and doing some comedy was DOPE.

* Big Hassle does a great job coordinating press and providing for a good experience for people covering the festival.

* Deadmau5 new cubes are a new experience. Don't miss his tour!

OUTSIDE LANDS - FRIDAY PREVIEW

Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. Found my way downstairs and wrote a blog about who to go see on the first day of OUTSIDE LANDS FESTIVAL 2011.

Yes. I'm that excited that I'm quoting Beatles and not sleeping before I go. Returning a third day for the festival - the event brings legendary acts like Phish and The Original Meters into a festival environment that is also peppered with lesser known acts that, while they've been in the game, are still hoping to have careers that endure nearly as long as either one of the above.

I fully intend to indulge myself in those artists still seemingly hungry for growth. I'm not talking about the chart toppers that people might flock to, but the ones I wish were chart toppers - like K. Flay. She's got swag. I think she's talented (and intelligent). And she's down with real hip-hop. This video's got breakers, Converse and tap dancing - all which get props in my book. She plays at 12:45.

Or Toro Y Moi - the ambient chillwave masterchild of Chazwick Bundick responsible for a sexy remix of Tyler, The Creator's "French!" and releases a new EP (Freaking Out) in just over a month. Doing duty at two California festivals this weekend (Saturday at Pacific Festival in OC) - the San Francisco crowd is lucky to get him to get the party started at 3:50 at the Twin Peaks stage.

"Still Sound" is a more recent offering from the second album, Underneath The Pine. It was recently featured on an episode of Entourage, which probably propelled the visibility of the Bull and I into new places.

"Talamak" is from Toro Y Moi's first album - released on Carpark Records in 2010. Also a gem.

For those who want to see Foster The People and Toro Y Moi - they'll have a tough decision to make. I'm sticking with Toro, who has played less festivals than the People.

I'll be throwing my love for Los Angeles behind a different home grown act - the funk masters that are Orgone. I really hope Fanny Franklin is there rocking with them. She has a killer voice that crushes it over the Stewart Killen led rhythm section. They have a healthy library of originals (at least four albums) and also do killer covers of songs like "Ain't No Use" and - "Brothers On The Slide"

Orgone is one of those bands that doesn't have "official" music videos - just dirty nasty funky ass jams that make you want to get down live. Certainly will be much more of a throw down than MGMT - who still haven't earned back my respect from previous poor performances. If you dig our recommendations - please just trust me, and peep Orgone.

While I'd love to catch a little of Ellie Goulding or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or even Miguel Migs, I'm going to squat by Panhandle for The Limousines at 6:15.

I've actually never seen the recent Dangerbird Records signees and clever minds behind "Internet Killed The Video Star" - so I'll be losing my virginity so to speak.

Checking them out means missing out on most of Big Boi - who has been doing great all festival season. If you love Outkast, love to see black men in track suits or just want to get down with daddy fat sacks - check him out at Sutro Stage starting at 6:20 p.m.

It also means missing the beginning of Phish, who take stage at 6:30 p.m., and have also allegedly been having a great summer season. Here is a video of them performing Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" at Hollywood Bowl on Monday for the first time. It takes a few minutes for it to get going - but it is kind of cool to watch a band that has toured for close to 30 years play a song they've never played before.

The Stone Foxes: Representing San Fran at Outside Lands Festival

Homegrown Bay Area residents The Stone Foxes are gearing up for their first ever Outside Lands performance and first official after party (they're playing The Independent with Warren Haynes Band) at just the right time.

The band has rekindled label interest and industry buzz with their late festival season push and opening spots on tours with acts like George Thorogood & The Destroyers. With promo releases of gritty and crunchy bartime tunes like "Psycho" coming out this week - the band continues to reinvent what it means to play modern day blues rock. You can acquire the aforementioned track on their website as well as contribute to their music video for the song. I love it, in part, because it has the same lo-fi appeal that "Mr. Hangman" does. It also has pretty funny lyrics too.

Speaking of Hangman, you can be certain that Shannon will be nearly swallowing his harmonica on Saturday August 13th in the fields of Golden Gate Park - kind of like he does in these videos.

Here They Come: The Roots Make Rare 2011 Stateside Festival Appearance at Outside Lands (OLF Preview)

Staples of hip-hop culture for over two decades, and now - more or less staples of mainstream entertainment and pop culture, The Roots have achieved iconic status.

Formerly having toured over 200 hundred dates a year, the Jimmy Fallon house band has now found a comfortable home not being on the road. While that might mean we get to enjoy a brief dosage of their amazing skill on a nightly basis - it means less of the free flowing Black Thought spearheaded hip-hop medleys and crushing percussion of Knuckles and ?uestlove.

But, at Outside Lands Festival 2011 we do get that dosage. Hopefully at least an hour. Preferably a full two. Its not like they don't have the material. Essentially 10* albums deep (* - depends how you judge Wake Up with John Legend) - and well over a hundred tracks of original material - you'd hope they headline a night. At least I do. I've been a Roots junky since the 90s.

At OLF, no matter how long they play, expect to hear some old gems, definitely Here I Come (the Fallon theme song) and quite possibly, something from their rumored forthcoming album. I hope to get a handsome dosage of Legendary material from Things Fall Apart and/or Illadelph Halflife.

'Roo Preview: Best Coast Brings Their Left Coast Sounds to Bonnaroo

The minimal, deliberately lo-fi jangly surf pop sound of Best Coast is good for nostalgia and backdrop music - and perfect for a beachtime chill session. That latter thought may be a result of having watched the "When I'm With You" video one to many times...depends who you ask.



What is certain is that their sound has caught hold nationwide. With some Beach Boys influences and a sound that can be compared to other newcomers like Tennis - their deliberately indie surf sound is a fun summer soundscape. You can catch a good handful of their worthy compositions at Bonnaroo 2011 as well as several other festivals, including Sasquatch and Outside Lands stateside and End of The Road Festival and Electric Picnic Festival across the pond. They are also playing in Los Angeles this weekend at Largo on Sunday May 15th as part of a benefit for the Littlest Humor Foundation.

Best Coast has a storied history despite not being that old of a band. The brainchild behind Best Coast, Bethany Cosentino, found her chemistry counterpart in Bobb Bruno, an L.A. musician who'd assisted the great Jon Brion, amongst others. After hearing Bethany's "Sun Was High" demo - Bruno was sold and Best Coast as we know it was born.

Their first recordings were generated out of Bruno's bedroom and released on a series of 7 inches on several indie labels. With the previously mentioned "When I'm WIth You," as well as "Sun Was High" and "This Is Real" grabbing the attention of the Pitchfork's of the world - their rise to fame was indie fame was secured. Their full length, Crazy For You, was recorded in Echo Park at Black Iris.

Catch them at 'Roo X, or somewhere else this summer while their catalogue isn't yet really huge, as they'll probably be adding to it soon and possibly even working on a follow up after their late summer European festival run.

OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCEMENT

Read it and weep.

The Stone Foxes, who are playing our event tonight at The Satellite, are playing at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, along with the mother-f'ing Roots!, Phish, Muse, The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys and so many more.

Here is a list of the line-up as printed on the flyer:

Muse
Phish (2 Sets)
Arcade Fire
The Black Keys
Deadmau5
MGMT
Girl Talk
The Decemberists
John Fogerty
Erykah Badu
The Original Meters
Beirut
The Roots
Arctic Monkeys
Big Audio Dynamite
STS9
Warren Haynes Band
Big Boi
Major Lazer
Little Dragon
Julieta Venegas
SIA
OK Go
The Greyboy Allstars
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band
Old 97's
Mavis Staples
!!!
Latryx feat Lyrics Born & Lateef
Best Coast
Collie Buddz
Phantogram
Charles Bradley
Lotus
STRFKR
Junip
Pajama Party
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Vaccines
Toro Y Moi
Vetiver
The Limousines
The Stone Foxes
The Joy Formidable
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Wye Oak
Ana Tijuoux
Orgone
Lord Huron
Tamaryn
Grouplove
The Fresh & Onlys
Ximena Sarinana
Ty Segall
Foster The People
Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
Diego's Umbrealla
Ghost Robot

Outside Lands Picture Gallery

OLF - DAY 1rd

About to get on the road back to LA (and then Vegas), but felt we needed to give a small dosage from our OLF experience. A few pics from Day 1. Day 2 was superior - pics forthcoming...