EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF BECK AT SAN FRAN's OUTSIDE LANDS: Near Stampede to See BECK On Too Small Stage
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Sure, everyone likes a little drama at Festivals. You don't go to a festival with ~50,000 plus people without expecting something frisky. And we also expect a bit of beginner hang-ups coming from the production companies running the mammoth festival newcomer Outside Lands. But we were really dumfounded and depressed when we looked at the map to see that BECK, the infamous and raucous live musician, was set to play in a small stage on the outer bank of the festival grounds. Evidently so where the 50,000 other people who tried and failed to pack in to see Beck on a stage too low and small for the massive crowd.
Smashing through fences to see Beck
Because the Sutro stage was isolated in a little seperate side-pocket from the main stage, that only has one tiny little un-marked entrance, people started to knock down fences to sneak through the trees and down hills to see him. It felt a bit like some illicit secret clan gathering of hippies- as the bell-bottomed and bangled came crashing through the trees seemingly out of no-where- and packing in like a colorful quilt into the small valley by the stage. You think hippies and hipsters would be more of a pacificist bunch? You've never seen them try to see Beck in a too-small-space.
Beck however came out chill and dapper as usual. These days he's sporting a Tom Petty look, with black Raybans and a hat that look like it came out of San Fran's Gold Rush mining period. He was with his four-piece band, and tried to appease the anxious crowd with hits like "Devil's Haircut" and "Loser" as well as songs from his new album "Modern Guilt."
*At least this is what I heard, since I like 20,000 people, couldn't take the crowd angst after 10 minutes and fled to a cleaner and lighter place....
Check it:
Beck's bassist
Three out of four of the crew...
Beck up close and persona
Sole Chick Guitarist
Check out the crowd! Packed Like Sardines!
Photos and commentary by Faith-Ann Young
Comments (7)
Honestly, I prefer my festivals without drama. Then again, I prefer everything that way. The drama at Lolla this year (think RATM) left a sour taste in my mouth. Seems your drama went a bit smoother.
it looks really cold. that is a great crowd shot!
I think the drama that comes with big shows like this is all part of the package
Be careful out there Pixie! Don't get squished.
Chaos. That's why I pass on festivals. Who needs the discomfort when I can see artists in more congenial (read that as "indoor") circumstances? Of course, I must reiterate: YMMV - and often does.
Awesome pix, Pixie!
I was at that stage before Beck started (for Cold War Kids) and was there through the end of Beck's set. It was a little crowded but it certainly wasn't overcrowded, and I witnessed no stampede or anything resembling chaos. The area was plenty full at the end of Beck's set, so if 20,000 people did leave, they were soon replaced by others.
Sure, people made their own paths from stage to stage (including knocking down port-a-fences), but that's what indirect routing and unclear signage will get you.
I love festivals and am a veteran of many. I was at this one with a 13- and 16-year old, both straight off a farm and who had never been to one, and none of us felt angsty or threatened or anything. Our biggest problem at that stage was with the dipshit flying the mylar caterpillar helium balloon that kept blocking our view of Cold War Kids! People, don't wear giant hats, wave flags, get on you boyfriend's shoulders, or fly balloons in front of stages -- that's just rude!
The bass player in the photos is Bram Inscore, San Francisco native, Lowell and San Francisco Youth Symphony alumnus. Bram, now LA-based, is with Beck on the Modern Guilt tour. Here's a video of Bram on string bass with Beck & the LA Symphony at Hollywood Bowl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FCmJnicw8w