Review - Outside Lands @ Golden Gate Park (8/11-13/23)

Kendrick Lamar @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

SAN FRANCISCO – The fog has risen, and Outside Lands has approached San Francisco. The 3-day music festival held at Golden Gate Park returns for its 15th anniversary this year. With an array of different performers and genre-bending artists, Outside Lands was prepared for a jam-packed audience as all tickets were sold out prior to the weekend. The headliners this year kicked off with Kendrick Lamar, Zedd, and Interpol on Friday, Foo Fighters, Lana Del Rey, and Fisher on Saturday, and ODESZA, The 1975, and Noah Kahan closing out the festival on Sunday.

FRIDAY – The afternoon started with Raveena, an American-born Indian Punjabi artist who has a catalog of slow, chill indie R&B tracks. Her smooth and melodic voice was complimented by her full band and majestic red visuals, which matched her dress and guitar. Her voice reminded me of a modern take on Sade with an indie twist. She performed hits like "Too Close 2 U", "Headaches", and "If Only".

I then caught a glimpse of the one and only Shaquille O’Neal (DJ Diesel) performing. To those who are confused, yes, Shaq is a DJ. It’s pretty hard to miss, but he had one of the most energetic electronic sets on the first day. I'm not sure if it was because of Shaq or the music, but both were good. He packed out the Twin Peaks stage and had the crowd jumping to every bass drop.

The day progressed and the fog was starting to come in, and I knew I wanted to get a good spot for Kendrick, so I made it a mission to stay at the Lands End stage until his performance. Luckily, I was able to see two great performances before him, and those included J.I.D. and Janelle Monae.

J.I.D. @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

J.I.D., who’s been getting a lot of buzz these past couple years, is an Atlanta-based rapper who’s signed to J.Cole’s Dreamville Records. He’s crafted his sound very well, and that has translated into selling out shows and performing at festivals worldwide. His nasal yet articulate flow really separates him from many of the so-called "mumble rappers" that have been in and out of the scene. He performed hits like "Never,", "Down Bad", "Stick", and "Enemy”, his collaboration with Imagine Dragons. A hilarious moment ensued when J.I.D. grabbed a white table chair and lifted it up, reminding nobody to mess with him, similar to the viral Alabama brawl that happened recently.

Janelle Monae @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

Janelle Monae was next, and her introduction was nothing but theatrical. She came prancing to the stage with a set of backup dancers holding up champagne glasses. It was only right that she opened the show with "Float" and later transitioned to "Champagne Shit". Janelle’s voice was one that captured the audience’s attention as she drifted her vocal chords through different notes and performed hits like "Q.U.E.E.N.", "Electric Lady", and "Lipstick Lover". I’m not sure if this was intentional, but the fog misted up so much that it actually started to drizzle, and the full band harmonized with the bass intro of SWV’s "Rain". Personally, this is one of my favorite songs, and hearing it performed by Janelle was truly a treat. She later closed out the set with tracks like "Make Me Feel", "Tightrope", and "Come Alive (The War of Roses)".

Janelle Monae @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

The crowd died down a bit after Janelle, but really, most of the front crowd did not move. Most of them waited all day to catch the legendary Kendrick Lamar perform at Outside Lands, making his return since his 2015 performance after dropping his magnum opus "To Pimp A Butterfly".

Kendrick Lamar @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

After a 45-minute intermission, the lights dimmed, and the crowd chanted from the front all the way to the back. The instrumental of "The Heart Part 5" began, and you can already feel the energy starting to rise as everyone is excited to witness one of the greatest modern rappers of this generation. Kendrick slowly walks up to the stage, sporting a custom Los Angeles Dodgers PGLang cap with a bandana under it and an all-blue tracksuit. Kendrick raps the opening bars of "N95" off his latest album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, and as soon as the bass drops, the pyro explodes and a huge backdrop falls from the top of the stage.

Kendrick Lamar @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

This alone started the mosh pits, and everyone was ready to let loose of all of the built-up energy from throughout the day. He then proceeds to perform a blend of hits from old to new with "ELEMENT", "A.D.H.D." and then transitioning to "King Kunta". What separates this performance from Kendrick’s latest tour was that he was able to serve young and old fans of his music by performing hits from his discography, including deep cuts and features. A song that caught me by surprise was his verse on "Nosetalgia" by Pusha T, which is undoubtedly a strong feature, but I did not expect him to perform it as it’s nearly a decade old. The set then transitioned to the hits of "good kid, m.A.A.d city" with "Backseat Freestyle", "Swimming Pools (Drank), "and "m.A.A.d city".

Kendrick Lamar @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

Kendrick had the crowd's energy throughout the whole set and clearly proved to people that regardless of how private and personal his music and personal life are, he can put on an action-packed show. Another deep cut that he performed was his verse on The Weeknd’s "Sidewalk", which to me never really resonated, but after seeing it live, I can understand why it was such a hit. Kendrick also performed his verse from the "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" remix with Jay-Z, which is also pretty rare. The night was winding down, and he closed out his set with the euphoric smashes "LOVE,", "Alright", and "Savior".

SATURDAY – If you thought the fog was bad Friday, you were in for a treat on Saturday. The weatherman lied, and it was not "somewhat" sunny at all. Huge clouds of fog hovered over every stage, and you would have thought a thunderstorm would have come any second. Needless to say, that did not stop people from having a good time and enjoying the music!

I first caught Alvvays, a Canadian indie pop band, at the Lands End stage. The band consists of five members, with two of them on vocals. They had a great sound and complemented each other very well with fun drumming and guitar solos. Molly Rankin, lead singer, led the band with strong vocals and performed hits like "Archie, Marry Me", "Dreams Tonite", and "After The Earthquake".

Mariah the Scientist @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

Moving to the Sutro stage, I then saw Mariah The Scientist, who’s an Atlanta-based R&B star that's recently started to make waves these past few years. With only two albums, she’s been able to tour and perform at festivals while stirring up a crowd with her melodic harmonies and “cute” aesthetic. She came on stage, thanking fans and throwing up hearts, showing her true appreciation for them. Mariah performed hits like "Only Human", "Reminders", and "All For Me". She had great stage presence and had the crowd waving from side to side to her songs. In the middle of her set, she took some time to start a chant for Young Thug (who’s currently in jail) and to free her "baby daddy". The crowd then chanted "Free Jeff!" as she later performed "Always and Forever", "2 You", and "Spread Thin".

Mariah the Scientist @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

It got really gloomy as I headed back to the Lands End stage to catch Father John Misty. No pun intended, but it was actually really misty and almost felt like it was raining midday. This was my first time seeing him, and I did not know what to expect, but I liked it. He had a mix of folk and indie that really resonated with me. It seemed like his music was really fitting to hear in Golden Gate Park, and I wasn’t alone as the crowd sang lyric for lyric. Father John Misty opened his set with "The Next 20th Century", later transitioning to "Strange Encounter", and "The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.". Sporting black and gold sunglasses and a blazer, he performed elegantly and with energy. What I mean by that is that he was able to keep his composure to hit every note while also exuding high energy without having to move from one end of the stage to the other. Performing in falsetto wasn’t a challenge, and the crowd loved every minute of it. His set then progressed with tracks like "Nothing Good Ever Happens at the Goddamn Thirsty Crow", “I Love You, Honeybear" and even coming down to the audience to perform "The Ideal Husband".

Father John Misty @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

I was really excited for the next act, and that was L'Impératrice, a French pop and nu-disco band that has really cemented themselves in this unique genre. Although many of the audience may or may not know French, their funky and disco sound got everybody dancing. The band consists of six members, with Flore Benguigui as the lead vocalist. She really stole the show with her high notes and soulful voice. The band came out in all matching blue outfits with blue LED-lit hearts on their chests. They really reminded me of an early 2000s pop band with their retro look. They had packed the Sutro stage to one of its fullest I’ve seen that weekend. I actually saw them last year in San Francisco, and not only did they really perfect their sound, their stage presence and chemistry proved it. They performed hits like "La lune", "Peur des filles", and "Voodoo?". One of the highlights for me was towards the end of the set when they performed "Agitations Tropicales" along with a piano outro. The piano solo was intense, reminded me of early Daft Punk vibes, and was truly something I haven’t heard in a long time.

L'Impératrice @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

By now, the nonexistent sun has fully come down, and the park has become really dark. This made it a real mission to see Lana Del Rey on the Twin Peaks stage. From what I’ve read and also seen, die-hard fans lined up the previous night before gates even opened Saturday to line up and get the barricade spot to see their idol. I knew this was not going to be an easy crowd to get by, and I’m not sure it was the nicest either. Needless to say, I was able to get a good center view of her stage, and boy was I excited. I first saw Lana Del Rey at Outside Lands in 2016, and she really stole the show then, so my expectations were high. The wind was blowing, and she came out in an elegant white dress and performed "A&W.". The crowd knew every word as she performed "Young and Beautiful", which is a touching, soulful ballad about her personal love life. It was so captivating and moving to see waves of fans all singing the lyrics, and I also saw many in tears and just in awe to be in Lana’s presence. She then performed "Chemtrails Over the Country Club", "The Grants", and "Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have—But I Have It". Lana’s backup dancers were holding every side of her dress as it flowed in the wind as she sang. It looked straight out of a play and really showed how big of a star she is with her great stage production value. She then performed "Blue Jeans" "Arcadia", and "Ultraviolence".

Lana Del Rey @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

The night was practically over, but I got really curious to see Fisher’s set. I knew it was going to be tough to move from one stage to another, especially during Lana, but I had a feeling it was going to be worth it. I saw Fisher at Coachella a few months ago, and it was one of my favorite sets that weekend. Needless to say, Fisher packed the entire Sutro stage from side to side. I came during mid-set as he was performing his smash hit "Losing It," and the crowd was going absolutely crazy. He rewinded the track and performed the drop at least three times, to which the crowd ate it up every time. The energy felt like a huge nightclub compacted into a lawn, with hundreds of people dancing and jumping to each drop. Fisher encapsulates high energy on stage and runs from each end of the stage, flying his arms high. Many fans were ecstatic to hear his latest songs, "Take It Off," featuring Aatig, and most recently “Atmosphere” featuring Kita Alexander, which both premiered at Coachella and had fans waiting months for their release. This was a great way to end Saturday night on a high note.

Outside Lands 2023 (Photo: Matt Pang)

SUNDAY – The last day has approached, and although it has been a weekend of great music, Outside Lands was packed with action for Sunday. I first saw Poolside, which is a chillwave nu-disco band with most of the members originating from San Francisco. I’ve been a big fan of their music, not only because of their great name but also because their music is very fitting. If you have a chance, play their album on a warm, sunny day, and you’ll be transported "poolside".

Poolside @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

The band consisted of bongos, saxophones, guitars, drums, and three guitarists. You hear all these instruments beautifully blended together like a jam band. They opened their set with "Kiss You Forever" and had a great saxophone harmonizing with their chords. One of the highlights of the set was when Jeffrey Paradise, lead singer, said he was really excited to perform this next song here in San Francisco and did a cover of the Grateful Dead’s "Shakedown Street". It’s true—the music never stopped! Their funky and disco take was a tasteful rendition of the Jerry Garcia classic, and they also treated all the local Deadheads! Jeffrey, who attended SFSU, also took time to acknowledge the band's origins and that San Francisco was like a home to him. Poolside then closed out their set with hits like "Harvest Moon" and "Can’t Stop Your Lovin".

Lil Yachty @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

Lil Yachty was next, and the crowd got really rowdy. It felt like a frat party had just started, and every teenager was starting a mosh pit to every song before the set was on. People were being dragged out of the crowd for fighting, and simply put, it wasn’t the most pleasant crowd etiquette I’ve seen. Before Yachty’s set, there were sound issues, which left lots of the crowd confused about whether they should be moshing or not because the opening songs were played at 50% volume. Once the technical difficulties were fixed, the crowd was energized. Yachty came out to the intro of "Bohemian Rhapsody" blended with Travis Scott’s "FEIN". It was an interesting mix, but it definitely got everybody moving. Yachty then performed his smash-party hits "Coffin", "Minnesota", "Get Dripped," and "Flex Up," which all consist of heavy bass with his melodic autotune. The set then progressed to his newer hits like "Poland" and fan-favorite "Strike (Holster)". Yachty then took a break to transition his set into his new psychedelic-rock album "Lets Start Here," which may have confused fans who only knew his "rap" songs. Personally, I really enjoyed it, and it was a nice blend of how much Yachty has grown as not only a performer but an artist. Yachty blended his auto tuned vocals with backup singers and a full band, performing tracks like “The Black Seminole”, “We Saw the Sun!", and "Drive Me Crazy!".

Megan Thee Stallion @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

On the same stage, Megan Thee Stallion was up next and diversified the crowd with people of all ages and backgrounds ready to dance. Megan came out with four backup dancers while wearing a red bodysuit elevated on a small stage in the center. The crowd was ecstatic, and so was she, as the party was just about to begin. She opened her set with songs like "Her", "Freak Nasty", and "Simon Says". The choreography was on point as she rotated two different sets of backup dancers, one being all men and the other being all women. Each set of dancers followed her up and down the stage, matching her energy, while she performed viral tracks like "Captain Hook", "Big Ole Freak", and the infamous "WAP". She later closed out her set by performing the Beyonce remix of "Savage" and "Girls in the Hood".

ODESZA @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

The last set was approaching, and after a 45-minute intermission, the electronic duo of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, otherwise known as ODESZA, took the stage to close out the festival. I’ve listened to their music before but have never seen them live, but I've heard many great things about their performances, which include a full band and incredible light visuals and pyrotechnics. The two took the stage and opened up with "This Version of You," "Behind the Sun", and "All We Need". This wasn’t like any ordinary electronic or EDM show where it’s a DJ playing off a CDJ. This was an actual live performance of electronic music that involved full instrumentation and great stage visuals. A blend of colors complimented each bass drop, and each pyro that was dispersed matched the drums being hit. It was truly like watching a cinematic movie during a music performance. The energy was high as they played the smash hit "Say My Name" mixing it with "Late Night" and "Memories That You Call". The two played an array of hits as the crowd danced to each song, saving everlasting memories of Outside Lands 2023. They closed out their set with "Higher Ground", "A Moment Apart", and the very fitting "The Last Goodbye". By the last song, it was so foggy that you couldn’t even see any of the lights or the stage in the middle of the crowd. ODESZA thanked the crowd, and as tradition dictates, the Sunday night fireworks were shot into the air.

ODESZA @ Outside Lands (Photo: Matt Pang)

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