What if Outside Lands 2022 Was a 90’s Movie!?

Every time I attend a music festival I go into the event not knowing what my story will be. When others ask I tell them about my project Balanced Breakfast, where I’ll write a nice review with a photo recap. Then I’ll tell them about this hipster blog started by a broke guy named Stuart, and how I need to think of something super snarky for his page (but not so ridiculous that festivals don’t invite me back).

Upon attending this year’s Outside Lands Music Festival 2022 I considered writing about drunk high school students, unfortunate tan lines, or ridiculous things I heard people say. However, after 3 days at OSL, and after analyzing all the people and the outfits, I found myself thinking, “This place feels so 90s, could I describe this festival only using 90s movies?” And so here we go:

FRIDAY headliner: SZA with support from Lil Uzi Vert 

90’s movie that described the fans: CLUELESS (1995)

Friday is always the day that all the high schoolers make their biggest appearance. The vibe was young girls showing lots of tits and ass. The outfits echoed those of Cher, Dionne, and Tai. If I steal the bio from Clueless and change a few words to match Outside Lands I would say Friday felt like: Cher, a high school student at OSL, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life (She loved SZA and doesn’t know who Weezer is).

My friend said the festival felt like Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). But that’s not a 90s movie! I countered with the fact that it sorta felt a little Mean Girls. Cady Heron, a 16-year-old homeschooled girl and OSL attendee makes the mistake of falling for the ex-boyfriend of queen bee Regina George. While at the festival, Cady learns that high school life can be tough. She watched Phoebe Bridgers and might return Saturday for Green Day because the boy she likes listens to them (Quick reminder, on Wednesdays we wear pink).

No 90s music was featured on this day … just 90s outfits and attitudes. Also, that’s one of 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT OSL.

SATURDAY headliner: GREEN DAY with support from Jack Harlow

90’s movie that described the fans: Good Will Hunting. (1997)

Saturday’s audience felt a little older, definitely at least in college. Most of them were too young to know the movie Rudy (1993). Also I think The Waterboy (1998) doesn’t quite encompass the energy. Another friend recommended Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. (1999) There was a bit of a 70s vibe and color … but that’s not a college movie and the audience at OSL probably doesn’t know Michael Meyers except for the fictional character in Halloween (1978).

If I steal the bio from Good Will Hunting and change a few words for Outside Lands I would say Saturday felt like: A touching tale about a wayward college student named Will that attended Outside Lands. He struggles to find his identity, living in a world where he can solve any problem, except the one brewing deep within himself, until one day he meets a Teacher at Standford University (or MIT) who opens his mind and his heart. Stressed about his busy schedule his best friend Chuckie suggests they vent some steam at OSL. They both created a mosh pit at Green Day. When the night was over Will got a girl’s phone number and asked the douche crowding her, “You like apples?”

SUNDAY headliner: POST MALONE with support from Weezer

90’s movie that described the fans: Reality Bites (1994)

Sunday’s audience always feels a little older, at least post College. I considered saying it gave me Mallrats (1995) vibes, but decided that wasn’t the perfect movie to describe the movie. However, it does feel fitting that Weezer’s song “Susanne” is on the soundtrack!

Again, if I steal the bio from Reality Bites and change a few words to fit Outside Lands, this is what Sunday felt like: Post college Millennial Lelaina, the valedictorian of her college class, makes TikTok videos of her friends in a mock documentary of post-education life. She went to Outside Lands with her best friend, Troy, (Gen Z) a perpetually unemployed musical slacker and Vickie (also Gen Z ), a manager at the Gap (Vickie’s currently worried about the results of an CORONA test). They run into their friend Sammy who is grappling with his sexuality. While at OSL Lelaina meets a guy named Michael, an influencer on Instagram. They watched PUSHA T together and after she must decide if she hangs out with Michael (He’s in the gap between Millennial and Gen X), or go back and hang out with her friends and hear the philosophical musings of Troy. Her friends are watching Illenium, Michael wants to see Weezer and then Post Malone.

Other great movies that were considered are: Empire Records (1995) due to the theme of music • PCU (1994) because it’s a college movie • Private Parts (1997) • Spiceworld: The Movie PG (1997) because of the outfits • and Meet the Deedles (1998) because Weezer’s song “You Gave Your Love to Me Softly” is on the soundtrack

OUTSIDE LANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022 LINE-UP

Friday, August 5
SZA, Phoebe Bridgers, Lil Uzi Vert, Disclosure, Oliver Tree, The Marias, Dayglow, Purple Disco Machine, Hiatus Kaiyote, Washed Out, Ashe, ROLE MODEL, Anna, Best Coast, Duckwrth, Rostam, Faye Webster, Sampa The Great, Lido Pimienta, Del Water Gap, Inner Wave, The Beths, ODIE

Saturday, August 6
Green Day, Jack Harlow, Kali Uchis, Polo & Pan, Anitta, Mac DeMarco, Local Natives, Larry June, Parcels, Sam Fender, Franc Moody, Empress Of, Zoe Wees, Anna Lunoe, KennyHoopla, Maxo Kream, Robert Glasper

Sunday, August 7
Post Malone, Weezer, Illenium, Mitski, Dominic Fike, Pusha T, Mt. Joy, Kim Petras, 100 gecs, Surf Mesa, Wet Leg, Baby Tate, The Backseat Lovers, Amber Mark, Pussy Riot, Griff, Briston Maroney, Tyla Yaweh, Glaive, Petey

The full breakdown of artists is below. View the daily lineups HERE.