Outside Lands hasn’t had a woman headline in its eleven-year existence, until 2018. They must have felt especially bad because two dominated this year. First with Florence on Saturday and last with Janet closing out Sunday. Over the past few years, Sundays seem to be the day. They’ve stacked it well.
For the last two years, I’ve started off Sunday early. I go the whole day. Doing it all three days is probably a challenge not worth taking, but I recommend going all day at least once. It’s a lot warmer, Golden Gate Park is perpetually cold. There’s less dust flying around, because of the best thing yet, no crowds! There’s nothing better at a festival than going up to the main stage and being able to dance with some space to a great soul band. And boy was there one each year!
Last year’s Sunday opened with two soul singers, Lee Fields and then Jacob Banks, who are growing on me more with time and accumulating songs. This year, all it had to be was Durand Jones & The Indications. Durand Jones’ voice was expectedly powerful, but his drummer’s voice was something else.
When I first heard Aaron Frazer that day, I thought it was just a recording. I couldn’t see anyone singing and it was too good to be true live. It wasn’t, Aaron’s voice was there, live, and took me back farther than any other contemporary soul singer. It felt as classic as anyone ever has. In that falsetto kind of way.
Outside Lands 2018 tracklist
Durand Jones & The Indications – Smile
Janet Jackson – So Excited (Bishiclet Remix)
ODESZA – Across The Room (feat. Leon Bridges)
The Internet – Girl
H.E.R. – Best Part (feat. Daniel Caesar)
The Weeknd – The Morning
FALCONS – Boo You Know Ft. GoldLink
N.E.R.D. Feat. Rihanna – Lemon
Lizzo – Truth Hurts
Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel
AlunaGeorge – You Know You Like It (DJ Snake Remix)
Big Gigantic – Miss Primetime (Feat. Pell)
CALEBORATE – Bankrobber (Prod. by Drew Banga and Chose1)
Father John Misty – REAL LOVE BABY
Billie Eilish – ocean eyes
James Blake – Voyeur (Bear – -Face Bootleg Edit)
Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Roslyn
Tycho – Dye
Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still