The best and worst of San Francisco’s Outside Lands 2021

Halloween costumes for the win

Ought to Outdoors Lands happen on Halloween yearly? That’s a critical query organizers One other Planet can be asking themselves within the coming months. The addition of costumes to the combo was a huge bonus, creating an instantaneous camaraderie between costume twins (there’s not many instances in your life you see two sizzling canine high-five one another).

Astronauts, Squid Players, Waldos and Cruellas have been all in style costumes, however maybe no look was as ubiquitous as cow-print. The vacation timing additionally allowed performers to join in on the fun, crafting really distinctive new stage parts into their in any other case well-worn competition routines. I hope to be again on the competition throughout Halloweeen 2022 (and promise to put on a dressing up this time). – Dan Gentile

Feminine performers stole the present

Headliners Lizzo and Kehlani each introduced their A recreation, however a giant development all through the weekend have been standout afternoon units by feminine performers.

The Spanish indie garage-rock band Hinds carried out an ebullient set fizzing with raucous power on the Lands Finish stage early Saturday. Sporting giant gold hoop earrings, lead vocalists Carlotta Cosials and Ana Garcia Perrote from the woman group that hails from Madrid delivered a enjoyable and chaotic model of “Spanish Bombs” by the Conflict.

Israeli singer Noga Erez pumped up a crowd on the Sutro Stage on Saturday along with her raps set to digital dance grooves. “For this subsequent one I’ve a request, however a giant one,” Erez stated. “Can I ask you to do it as arduous as you’ll be able to? Can I ask you to leap as arduous as you’ll be able to? Who desires to make San Francisco shake?” The gang jumped up and down with fervor, a mob of pogo sticks.

Singer-songwriter Angel Olsen stepped onto the stage on Saturday in all black and darkish sun shades and happy the gang with an impassioned model of her hit “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” “You guys appear to understand it,” she stated. “Did you hear me in my bed room final evening?” Olsen appeared the day earlier than on Friday with Sharon Van Etten to sing a music the buddies wrote and launched throughout the pandemic, “Like I Used To.”

Van Etten gave Olsen a heartfelt introduction, sharing that she was a shiny spot in a darkish pandemic. 

“I’ll cry about it as a result of you recognize what, Angel Olsen additionally occurs to be essentially the most superb particular person, good friend, musician, peer, most down-to-earth artist that I get to deliver with you tonight,” she stated to a cheering crowd.

Additionally on Friday, California-raised Remi Wolf took over the Sutro Stage along with her shiny pop-star voice and glowing psychedelic instrumentals. Wolf, who was born in Palo Alto, ended her set along with her catchy hit “Picture ID.” – Amy Graff

Lizzo and Tyler have been Lizzo and Tyler

It’d be arduous to select two extra iconoclastic figures in pop music than Lizzo and Tyler, The Creator. At Outdoors Lands, each have been true to type, delivering the weekend’s standout units. Each had pyrotechnics, and Lizzo went Full Squid, however every present leaned nearly solely on famous person charisma and a private reference to followers that resonated regardless of the crowds of 1000’s. – Dan Gentile

Indie rock bands attracted superfans

Philadelphia-based indie rock band Dr. Canine attracted a big and enthusiastic crowd on the Sutro Stage on Saturday made up of superfans who knew all of the phrases to hit singles comparable to “Shadow Folks” and “Nellie.” Vocalist and bassist Toby Leaman was one of many many musicians to note the plush, leafy setting.

“Good afternoon, San Francisco,” stated Leaman, who alternates as lead singer with Scott McMicken. “You could have pretty timber. Completely lovely timber.”

The brainy New York band Vampire Weekend, which emerged amongst mates at Columbia College, proved on the major Lands Finish stage on Saturday evening that they’re worthy of high billing and that songs like “Oxford Comma” off their 2008 self-titled album nonetheless resonate. Hundreds danced to their buoyant literate indie rock tunes marked by energetic African beats. The gang went wild when the band performed “Step,” which incorporates verses with mentions of San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley. 

The music’s refrain “I really feel it in my bones” appeared like the right anthem for the competition as you can nearly really feel the joy, pleasure and nonstop music all through your complete physique. – Amy Graff

Khruangbin’s cowl medley

Though no two individuals within the crowd possible pronounced the title of the band alike (the band says “khrong-bin”), Khruangbin’s Friday early night set may’ve had essentially the most common attraction of any act within the competition. Followers of their albums may’ve been shocked at their prolonged Grateful Useless-ish noodling, however the meandering by no means felt indulgent, partly due to a sprinkling of covers all through. The band touched on the whole lot from MF Doom’s “Rapp Snitch Knishes” to Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” to a fast motif from “I Received 5 On It” from the enduring Oakland duo Luniz. Khruangbin additionally wins the award for greatest band to look at from very distant. – Dan Gentile

Lengthy strains at bogs despatched many to the bushes

Restrooms are a problem at most festivals, and Outdoors Lands was no exception. Early on the primary day, the bogs close to the Twin Peaks stage have been practically overflowing, making them unusable. There have been a number of experiences of lengthy strains and 30-minute waits all through the weekend. Many prevented the wait by going into the bushes. And worst of all, a river of pee was noticed at one of many males’s urinals that have been filled with a beer-drinking crowd. – Amy Graff

Don’t disguise the DJs in a tent

Inexperienced Velvet’s final minute addition to the Panhandle stage was proof that Outdoors Lands crowds aren’t afraid to get all the way down to a 53-year-old DJ in the course of the afternoon. One of many Panhandle’s greatest crowds gathered for his alternative set, which closed with the everlasting Underground Goodies remix of Cajmere’s “Brighter Days.”

Whereas the lighting and sound within the SOMA Tent have been glorious, the road to enter was a critical barrier to even large followers of acts like Waajeed. Identical with Heineken Home. Bringing extra of the afternoon DJ acts into the open air would encourage extra spontaneous dance events, and among the extra intimate songwriters may really profit from taking part in in a smaller, extra intimate area. – Dan Gentile

Lack of legacy headliners

No disrespect to Nelly or Egyptian Lover, however the lineup was distinctly missing in legacy acts. Maybe that was an effort to serve youthful audiences, with the idea that Gen X and older millennials might need elevated youngster care obligations or crowd hesitance as a result of lingering pandemic. However with out a bucket record act like Paul Simon to complement youthful headliners, it made the older crowd really feel much more out of contact than we undoubtedly are. – Dan Gentile

Grasslands dried up

In 2019, Grasslands debut as the primary hashish market at a serious competition felt unprecedented. It appeared each weed model underneath the solar was concerned in 2019, and gross sales reached a whopping $1 million, however this 12 months the choices felt restricted, with Eaze having essentially the most noticeable footprint. The experiential installations have been additionally scaled again, making the realm really feel extra like a mediocre tradeshow than a celebration of hashish tradition. Though a DJ set by Nancy Whang was a pleasant contact, it felt just like the hashish trade took a step backwards, and one wonders whether or not the realm will even return in 2022. – Dan Gentile

The Strokes speaking trash

As a headliner at a music competition, you actually solely have one job relating to between-song banter: say one thing good in regards to the metropolis you are in. Nonetheless, Julian Cabalancas of The Strokes appears to be too cool even for town that got here out to assist him, stepping within the competition’s greatest controversy by dropping an expletive in relation to San Francisco’s cautious method to the pandemic. – Dan Gentile