This last weekend we were lucky enough to be in San Francisco, CA and be a part of this great festival that occurs at the Golden Gate Park in the heart of the city.
The event that happens the first weekend of August is the largest independently owned music festival in the US and for us first timers the experience was amazing!
First of all, the location is beautiful, surrounded by big trees, magical characters walking around on the hills, the atmosphere makes you feel you are part of Alice In Wonderland novel.
Since we were only going to be there for one day, time was precious and had to walk fast and get to see as much as we could to bring you a review and photos of our experience.
The Music
Saturday was a mix of all kind of different music styles. From the electropop of Parcels, indie of Marc De Marco, rap of Jack Harlow, electro/dance of Frank Moody and punk rock of headliners, Green Day.
There was a little bit of everything for everyone.
We started with a good rock of Local Natives playing on the main stage and from there we ran to dance a little bit with Australian DJ Anna Lunoe. We would love to stay longer with her if we had more time, but, on the other side of the field, Marc DeMarco was already playing.
Followed by him, it was the turn for English duo Frank Moody who had everyone dancing with their really catchy songs and rhythms. From there we were able to see an excited Vietnamese-American pop singer Thuy who was having her first festival appearance ever. Few minutes later it was the turn for rapper Jack Harlow who also had a first appearance with a live band on stage. We’ve had the opportunity to see Jack on previous festivals and we can honestly say playing with a band made him sound a lot better. We were able to see a few songs from Japanese-British Rina Sawayama and we were surprised to see a big group of Japanese fans singing along with her. It was the turn for Australian electrodance band Parcels and wow, what a show. Their energy and good songs brings this powerful connection to the crowd you don’t want them to stop playing.
Green Day
Knowing in advance Green Day is a solid and almost legendary band, our expectations of seeing them live for the first time was already set up to be a good show, but, the second Billy Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt put a foot on stage, our expectations really were blown away!
It was a total of 22 songs the band played, a hit after another great hit. The crow didn’t stop singing and jumping for a second and a happy and charismatic Billie Joe had the full audience engaged with them. Starting with “American Idiot” followed by “Holiday”, “Know your Enemy” and “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” that was a magic moment. There was this band in front of us playing these great songs we always hear in the radio or bars, and now, they are in front of us.
Other songs the band played were “When I Come Around”, “Minority”, “Basket Case”, “Lights” cover from Journey. But of course, the best songs were left for the end and first notes of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” started and crowd got nuts. It was followed by “Jesus Of Suburbia” and to finish their great show, “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”
What a great band, it was definitely a way to finish an amazing night!
The People
And of course, a great festival wouldn’t be the same if the audience wasn’t as an amazing as we were able to confirm! Shot out to everyone who smiled to our camera, and hope to see you next year!
