Day one of San Francisco's Outside Lands felt like an explosion of emotion — a coming out for a city that locked down tight during a long and dreary pandemic and is rising again with cases dropping due to residents' willingness to get vaccinated.
The festival's pumped-up ready-to-party vibe felt appropriately more intense than usual, and there was a feeling of utter joy permeating the event. It was apparent in the smiles of the high schoolers, huddled together in giggling packs, rejoicing in the togetherness they were enjoying after their schools were shut down for months and months. And in the crowd who went wild when Glass Animals stepped onto the stage and who cheered until tears streamed down their cheeks as California-raised Remi Wolf took over the Sutro Stage with her bright pop-star voice and sparkling psychedelic instrumentals. Wolf ended her set with an ebullient "Photo ID" and everyone jumped up in down in unison and sang along.
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Festival-goers gather for selfies around a Halloween-themed sculpture of Ranger Dave, at Outside Lands on Friday, October 29, 2021.
Charles RussoThe festival is usually held in August, but this year it was bumped to October and fell on Halloween weekend, a choice that seemed brilliant on Friday as people were sporting elaborate costumes even two days before the actual holiday. San Franciscans love a good costume party and the creativity it inspires, and the usual festival attire was brought up a notch this year with a parade of costumes — pink flamingos, a walrus, the Scooby-Doo gang, and lots of Where's Waldos who were fun to search for in the crowd (see our photo gallery here).
I was running late Friday and rode in a Lyft to the festival just before noon — a bad idea. It took 15 minutes to get a car and cost $40. My advice: Take Muni, ride your bike and use the free bike parking, or hop on one of the Outside Lands shuttles at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. (Get more information on transportation options from Outside Lands.)
I wandered in after noon and the festival grounds were bustling with people drinking beers in the sun, but it was not crowded. This brings up another tip for those planning out their days on Saturday and Sunday — go early when there are no lines at the food trucks and you can get close to the front of the stage.
When I arrived, the sun was blazing overhead and it felt hot. The velvety grass expanse was soggy from the atmospheric river and the moisture on the ground mixed with the sun's rays creating balmy conditions. The fog rolled in at 3 p.m., temperatures dramatically dropped and the down jackets were pulled out of the clear backpack. More advice: dress in layers and bring a jacket.
Sharon Van Etten sings at Outside Lands during her afternoon set on the Lands End stage, on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.
Charles Russo/SFGATEMy final tip: be prepared to get emotional. When I bumped into my friend Leah, she told me she had already cried twice, moved by the performances of artists who were playing for the first time live since the pandemic.
The festival's fervor overcame me at Sharon Van Etten's tumultuously emotional performance that took over the Land's End stage with black-and-white video footage of Van Etten looking amazing in a sequin mini dress and barefoot.
She talked about the darkness of the pandemic and said one bright spot was getting closer to someone who she had admired for a long time. She was referring to singer-songwriter Angel Olsen who then walked onto the stage.
"I'm going to cry about it because you know what, Angel Olsen also happens to be the most amazing person, friend, musician, peer, most down-to-earth artist that I get to bring with you tonight," she said to a cheering crowd.
The two sang "Like I Used To," a song they teamed up on and released during the pandemic.
I wasn't the only one crying.
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