Notes on 2012 Outside Lands–Day One

Two Gallants soundtrack my entrance into the park, a raw and wiry murder ballad filling the main stage space impressively for just two guys… Next, Reggie Watts is doing his one-man thing over on another stage–loop pedals, beatboxing, keyboard and jokes, basically killing. There’s enough between song banter and improved lines to keep the act from wearing thin even if you’ve seen him before…  The Walkmen follow with their usual solid set, maybe feeling a bit tight at first, drawing mostly from their excellent last couple records. Hamilton seems to be reaching even more these days with his growl, almost as if he’s trying to single handedly pull the band to some next level…  Full-band Beck has never sounded better than he does these days, with what he’s calling the “Sea Change band” and just the right mix of samples to replicate the albums and still let the players spread out, notably for the breakdown on Where It’s At.  With no new record to workout, the set spans his career, with Odelay treated like the classic it is and Guero emerging now as a bit of an overlooked gem…  Foo Fighters work a main stage as easily and effectively as any rock band going today.  I don’t see them overtaking Pearl Jam as our Great American Band, but at the end of the day, their mix of melodic pop and sheer brutal power is a hall of fame contribution to the rock cannon… Neil Young & Crazy Horse for the nightcap then.  Launching straight in with a 10-minute tune–”Love and Only Love” from 1990–pretty much shows what concessions Neil would make for a festival audience: zero.  Neil has never been a “hits”  guy but the more familiar tunes probably include Cinnamon Girl, Mr. Soul, The Needle and the Damage Done, Hey Hey, My My (thankfully the electric “Black Album” version).  Crazy Horse is tight and alternates between laying back of Neil and matching bringing the fire when need be. Closing the night with “Roll Another Number” was cheekily appropriate for this festival crowd, as well as this city and, who are we kidding, this state…