Mariah the Scientist
Armed with nothing but a microphone and a backing track, Mariah The Scientist pulled the surprisingly small Sutro stage crowd in with the perfect balance of killer pipes and awkward stage presence. She focused heavily on her downtempo soul ballads, and, well, it worked nicely! She was a little upset about the cold weather and commented on how she’s upset she forgot to pack a sweater. That being said, she also caught a medical issue in the crowd and managed to work the call for help within the confines of the song, ad-libbing the lyrics PERFECTLY. (They brought the person some water, got them some space, and all is well.)
I’ve spent most of my life trying to like Father John Misty. I decided it wasn’t worth my effort to keep trying.
Invisbl Skratch Piklz & Friends
The lede was buried on this booking. One of the single most influential acts in Bay Area music history was resurrected, and they got quietly added to the tiny Cocktail Magic stage. Starting with just legendary DJ Qbert and guest Dan The Automator on stage, scratching out mixes of Handsome
Boy Modeling School cuts, as well as Dan’s megahit with Gorillaz, “Clint Eastwood,” the rest of the crew slowly made their way onstage, giving us an epic record scratch dance party. Cut Chemist of Ozomatli and Jurassic 5 did a little record dazzling, as did Beastie Boys’ Mixmaster Mike and original Piklz DJ Apollo, Shortkut, and D-Styles.
I didn’t realize how well I knew Maggie Rogers’s work. In fact, I thought I’d never heard her before. Instead, I enjoyed an hour of high-energy, soft rock earworms performed with a potent voice and dynamic energy. I was captivated by Rogers’ every move and found myself singing along to songs I don’t know the name of. On my way out, I actually picked up the one record for sale of hers at merch.
I love Nirvana. I love Germs. I love No Use For A Name. I love Sunny Day Real Estate. I’ve never “loved” Foo Fighters. Then, Grohl and company took the stage in a ferocious thunder, opening with the headbanger “All My Life,” and I was taken in by the rhythm and the energy of both the band and the audience. They matched equally and never let up. Much like Rogers’ set, I had no idea how deeply ingrained these songs were in my psyche. For nearly two hours, I hopped around, sang along, and had one helluva a good time. As did the band! One banger after another, with Grohl all smiles. When introducing new drummer Josh Freese by poking fun at all of the records he played on, including a silly cover of Michael Buble’s “Haven’t Met You Yet,” complete with, um, Buble himself planted in the crowd with an “I <3 Buble” sign brought on stage to sing it.
The only time things kinda slowed down was for an intense three-song set of ballads with Violet Grohl on vocals. No matter- I left the park feeling warm and bubbly after one of the best rock n roll sets I’ve ever heard.
UPSAHL
I rather enjoy UPSAHL singles. “Drugs.” “Wet White Tee Shirt.” “Good Girl Era.” Etc… I was not expecting to want to go full LUNATIC at 12pm on a Sunday, but church is church, and the church of UPSAHL is the sexy rock n roll church that I’m more than ready to convert to. I actually forgot that I was invited as “press” for this thing and really just let myself be in the moment.
Fake Fruit is the best local band we’ve got right now. Will Metallica send me hate letters for this? Probably. But I’m pretty sure after watching Hannah D’Amato shred, Kirk Hammett would happily hand over his throne. This particular set was extra fiery- they played hard and weirder than before. They performed “No Mutuals” in Spanish. They went for an extra animated version of “Psycho.” They brought out a sax player for the second half of the set. And, just to make sure we knew D’Amato is a full-on magician, she sang the last song, WHILE COMPLETING A RUBIK’S CUBE?!?!?!! And the song and the cube were both completed at virtually the same time.
I swear to God, if Fake Fruit doesn’t headline this thing in five years, something is severely wrong in this world.
Despite no women top lining this year, there definitely seems to be a healthy dosing of female-identifying persons doing bold, emotionally bare, and complex music. Venus & The Flytraps is, on the surface, a fun pop-punk band. Their banter is silly, and the stage show is energetic, but as lyrics kept crawling in, these songs are heavy, and it takes a lot to get these lyrics on paper. There is someone in your life whose life will be forever improved by this band. So share them with someone who might need it.
Nanna is the lead singer of arena folk titans Of Monsters and Men. I was expecting to find the grove at Sutro to be packed to the gills. Instead, the small group of us were treated to something beautiful and amazing. The music was still a blend of folk and shoegaze, like Nanna’s day job, but stripped of the twee elements, we experienced something more intense and profound. Hell, she managed a tear-jerker ballad named “Everything’s Coming Up Millhouse.”
So, everything today has been straight up TOO GOOD. I was exhausted but rallied for Grace Ives. Her lofi beats were somewhere between Peaches and Atom & His Package. Her performance was full-on cabaret. She moved to the songs and wouldn’t stop moving. She made dry, self-deprecating comments between songs. The show could work in the weirdest, most beautiful parts of Vegas.
Let’s Start Here is possibly the most divisive record of 2023. Lil Yachty split his set, focusing on his more accessible, familiar hip hop cuts, including hits like “Broccoli” in the first half, and focusing on his swirling, psychedelic masterpiece of a new record for the second half. There was a definite, expected energy shift. It was like seeing two completely different acts on stage. His band could jump between styles with ease and mastered both sides of Yachty. I would love to see him do a full Let’s Start Here set. Probably in a field in the desert would be best.
Outside Lands has been running for 15 years. I’ve been to 13 of those years. Megan Thee Stallion’s explosive set is *might* be the greatest set I’ve ever seen at this thing. Megan is masterful. The way she twists and bends rhymes make me think her tongue isn’t human. She’s definitely the quickest of any of us. She managed to get a field of like 50,000 people to all have a cathartic moment screaming, “dick don’t run me, I run dick” in unison. She signed people’s graduation caps on stage! And, unlike other crowded sets, I didn’t see any fights break out; everyone helped each other get out when the crowd was too much. Top to bottom, beginning to end, Megan The Stallion far exceeded every expectation.
It’s been six years since I’ve last seen Soccer Mommy. She’s gone from a shy, self-conscious performer to someone of a guitar hero. She still doesn’t seem to need to say much or even come out from behind her bangs. But her playing is supremely confident. Her show was a big rock show, and she even managed to eke out a well-crafted cover of Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up The Sun” that was both faithful yet reenergized the original.
I wasn’t planning on seeing any of Odesza. I wanted an ice cream taco to enjoy on my way home. However, while I was walking out, eating my taco, I was surprised by what I was hearing. I was expecting a propulsive thumping. Instead, I enjoyed the most beautiful cinematic score to close out my weekend. I didn’t stay long… After all, tomorrow is a work day. But I stopped to take in the lights and the sounds, and for one shining moment, the guy who hates all electronic music was enjoying one of the premier acts of the genre.
It was, beyond a doubt, the best way to end what may have been the best Outside Lands yet.
