Photos by Tony Landa 

The inaugural Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival kicked off on Friday August 22, 2008 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. The music began at 5:00 PM with Steel Pulse, Howlin Rain, and Carney all starting their sets simultaneously. The festival organizers do have a bit of work to do fast after the first day. A list of "fun facts" noted that 50,000 feet of chain link fence was being used during the festival. The fencing proved to be a major safety issue as thousands of concert-goers were forced to jump over the fences in order to get to the stage area where Beck was performing. Beck performed on the Sutro Stage, which was located in a small space called Lindley Meadow. Perhaps festival organizers underestimated the Beck fanbase. He's sold a few records, ya know? In general, the crowd seemed to be annoyed at the lack of organization, which is surprising since Superfly Productions (one of the festival partners) does such a great job in putting together the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN every year. Capacity is supposed to be 60,000 per day, but that doesn't mean 60,000 are going to fit comfortably. Technical difficulties were also a problem on Friday, as a set by Benevento/Russo Duo was interrupted several times. If it makes them feel any better, Radiohead's set was also interrupted at least twice.

This is, after all, the first Outside Lands. I'm sure that improvements are being made today to improve conditions and I'm sure 50,000 feet of chain link fence is being reduced to at least 40,000. These people need more space! And more beer stations. And 600 port-o-potties? Maybe they can bring in a few more of those. The sight of all those people doing their business in the woods wasn't pretty.

An amazing set full of fan favorites by Radiohead may have helped to make some fans forget about their complaints. No artist had ever performed at night in Golden Gate Park until Radiohead took the stage to become the first ever.

Here are a few photos from Day 1:

Manu Chao on Lands End Stage 

 

Kari Byron from Mythbusters getting ready to check out Beck 

 

 

Beck on Sutro Stage

 

 

Radiohead on Lands End Stage

 

 

 

 

Radiohead setlist

Friday August 22, 2008 

15 Steps
Reckoner
Airbag
There There
All I Need
Nude
Talk Show Host
National Anthem
The Gloaming
Videotape
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Idioteque
Karma Police
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Just
Exit Music (for a film)
Bodysnatchers

Encore:
Pyramind Song
You And Whose Army?
Paranoid Android
Fake Plastic Trees
Everything In It's Right Place