Review: Outside Lands rocks out San Francisco

By Cailie Skelton
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Outside Lands, which took place in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park for the second year in a row, put on another successful show for the last weekend in August.

Security had been tightened since last time and, just like last year, the entrance was hard to find due to poorly marked fences. Once inside, however, maps laying out the locations of all stages, as well as information about who was playing where and when, were scattered around the area — roughly 20 city blocks – proved useful and informative.

Colorful concertgoers were interested in checking out bands they had never seen before, but also in seeing some well-known favorites like The Silversun Pickups, Incubus and Pearl Jam. The audience seemed positive and laidback in spite of the unusually hot and sunny day.

Los Campesinos, a Welsh band, put on a peppy, energetic set to a small, dancing crowd. Their animated attitude and their medley of upbeat songs made them fun to watch.

The Dodos, playing on the other side of Lindley Meadow, seemed happy to be playing for a home audience. San Francisco fans, glad to have the chance to see the band perform, danced along as inflated beach balls bounced around over their heads.

The Silversun Pickups put on a solid set, playing crowd favorites like “Lazy Eye” as well as some other, less well-known songs.

The Barbary, an indoor circular stage with booth seating, fold-out chairs and an MC also had several comedians, as well as performances by The Yard Dogs Road Show, a traveling cabaret group, and creepy clowns. Yes, a plethora of crazy, creepy clowns.

Pearl Jam, the anticipated headliner for that festival day, took the stage shortly after 7:50 p.m. The band played for two hours, performing songs from all of their albums including their newest, “Backspacer,” set to release Sept. 20.

Outside Lands was Pearl Jam’s last show on a three week long touring stint. Lead singer Eddie Vedder apologized for his voice, which was raspier than usual due to a cold. Pearl Jam put on quite a show, with Vedder jumping into the crowd and moving around onstage and guitarist Mike McCready played part of a guitar solo behind his head.

The audience was obviously enjoying the performance, dancing and singing song lyrics, sometimes instead of Vedder himself.

After all these years Pearl Jam still has the energy they had when they started out in the early ’90s. At Outside Lands, the band showed they are capable of giving their audience the experience of a lifetime.