The heat of the first day, replaced by the requisite layer of San Fran summer fog, brought the largest crowd of the three-day festival.
Street Sweeper Social Club
Coming off a successful supporting role with Jane’s Addiction and Nine Inch Nails on last year’s NIN|JA tour, SSSC was easily the best dressed band of the festival. With great machine-gun style and obvious DNA from Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello and Boots Riley performed songs from their recently-released and self-titled album including “Fight! Smash! Win!” and “100 Little Curses.”
Mastodon
Performing with a formidable presence, fans at this live show know why this is one of the best heavy metal bands in the country. Mastodon’s progressive style is intricate and monstrously powerful, drawing from metal, metalcore and jazz influences. Their immense sound is even more potent when it is radiating from an outdoor stage.
Bat for Lashes
Though it was too early in the day and their stage was too small to contain them, UK’s Bat For Lashes dished up wistful songs for the crowd who shoe-horned themselves into the side stage area. Less cutesy and more dynamic than I expected, vocalist Natasha Kahn’s velvety voice was haunting, even in the light of the afternoon.
Black Eyed Peas
Supporting their latest release, The E.N.D., the Black Eyed Peas are determined to keep their fans happy. Creating a massive dance party in the middle of Golden Gate Park is certainly one way to do just that.
Deerhunter
Also coming off a supporting role with Nine Inch Nails on their Lights in the Sky tour, Deerhunter’s performance was a surprisingly subdued version of their usually moody punk-art-rock shows. Maybe it was the tiny stage or the complete lack of atmosphere but only a hint of Bradford Cox’s lo-fi brilliance was evident.
Dave Matthews
No stranger to massive shows in Golden Gate Park, Dave Matthews brought his quirky personality and prodigious catalog of music back to the live stage. After the recent band turmoil, including the death of founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore in 2008, fans were happy to be dancing with the GrooGrux King once again.
check back for Day 3!
