Outside Lands Music Festival 2014
Another year, another incredible Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. 2014's lineup was a beautiful mix of classic rock, hip-hop royalty, electronic innovators, and indie favorites. Plus, that San Francisco fog rolling through the park never gets old.
The Headliners
Kanye West
Ye brought his full production to Golden Gate Park, and it was spectacular. This was peak Kanye - confident, creative, and putting on a show that was equal parts concert and performance art. From "Power" to "Stronger" to "All of the Lights," he ran through hits spanning his career. Love him or hate him, you can't deny the man knows how to command a stage.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty is the definition of a rock legend. Hearing "Free Fallin'," "American Girl," "I Won't Back Down," and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" under the San Francisco sky was pure magic. The Heartbreakers sounded as tight as ever, and Petty's voice still had that effortless cool. Rest in peace to an absolute legend - I'm so grateful I got to see him live.
The Flaming Lips
Wayne Coyne and crew brought their psychedelic circus to Golden Gate Park. Giant inflatable figures, confetti cannons, Wayne rolling over the crowd in his hamster ball - it was sensory overload in the best way possible. "Do You Realize??" felt like a collective moment of transcendence.
Electronic Excellence
Disclosure
The British brothers were at the peak of their powers in 2014. "Latch," "White Noise," and "When a Fire Starts to Burn" had everyone moving. Their house beats paired perfectly with the late afternoon energy.
Flume
The Australian producer's future bass sound was still relatively fresh, and watching him control the crowd with his beats was impressive.
Chromeo
Dave 1 and P-Thugg brought that electro-funk party. "Jealous (I Ain't With It)" and their keytar solos made for a fun, groovy set.
Cut Copy
Australian indie-electronic perfection. Danceable, melodic, and absolutely infectious.
Gold Panda
The British producer's intricate, sample-based beats were a nice atmospheric moment for those who wanted something more introspective.
Indie & Alternative
Spoon
Britt Daniel and crew's tight, minimalist indie rock was a masterclass in restraint and groove. "The Way We Get By" and "I Turn My Camera On" sounded incredible.
Lykke Li
The Swedish singer's moody, atmospheric pop was hauntingly beautiful. Her voice cutting through the fog was perfect.
Local Natives
LA's finest indie rock band brought those gorgeous harmonies and anthemic choruses. "Wide Eyes" and "Airplanes" were festival highlights.
The Kooks
British indie rock with catchy hooks. "Naive" still slaps, and the crowd sang along to every word.
The Verdict
Outside Lands 2014 showed incredible range - from Kanye's hip-hop spectacle to Tom Petty's classic rock excellence to The Flaming Lips' psychedelic freakout. The festival continues to be the perfect blend of great music, amazing food, and that uniquely San Francisco atmosphere.
Wine Lands, Cheese Lands, and all the local culinary excellence between sets made this feel less like a festival and more like a sophisticated celebration of culture. That's the Outside Lands difference.