Outside Days has come and gone leaving behind only sweet memories of a weekend well spent dancing in the sunshine in the heart of Denver. The festival formerly known as Outside Festival moved from its original home at Civic Center Park to the Auraria campus this year and it was a decision that served the event beautifully. The whole event was nicely spaced, allowing for a feeling of comfortability in the vast crowd that served as a welcome antithesis to how packed in the festival felt when it was held at Civic Center. Everything was centered around the stage, the music the main attraction. However, the event is more than a music festival, more a display of everything beautiful about living in Colorado. There were a myriad of vendors, speakers, food trucks, a Jeep exhibition, a karaoke bar sponsored by Montucky beer, a giant shoe that people rode like a mechanical bull, so much it was basically impossible to see everything in one weekend. The bar and bathroom lines were long but they always moved quickly as was the case with the food and vendors. The event could have probably benefitted from another bathroom area or two but all in all everything was incredibly easy to access. The event was overflowing with smiling happy people draped in color and sunshine ready to dance.
Despite the sheer amount of activities on display, Denver Dive focused on the music which was the main draw for most in attendance. We had such a lovely time dancing and spinning around in the grass, kicking our shoes off and laughing in the sunshine. All the photos you’ll see here were captured on our phones from the crowd. Read on for a recap of all the sets we saw.
Friday, May 29th
Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast’s set felt like a summer’s breeze, the kind that brings memories of warm grass underfoot, laughter shared between old friends, a sense of innocence that still exists in all of us no matter how we age. The set radiated warmth as front woman and mastermind behind the project Michelle Zauner used the whole stage, swirling around in a small white summer dress, dancing with her band as her vocals swept through the crowd and had them moving and smiling sweetly at those they loved and strangers alike. As is the case with all Zauner’s music, it was a very personal performance as images of her late mother were projected behind her throughout. It felt as if Zauner was sharing her memories with all in attendance, inviting the crowd into her mind and sharing a piece of her soul. She bounced between albums, most notably playing songs from 2021’s Jubilee and last year’s For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women). The set culminated with “Be Sweet” which had the crowd singing every word, raising their arms in jubilation and dancing with abandon.
Goth Babe
Goth Babe hit the stage with such palpable energy, running to each of its edges as they greeted the crowd. The set felt like a love letter to the fans, frontman Griff Washburn interacting with the crowd throughout. At one point, he brought out an inflated mattress and called on a fan in the front row to get on it and crowd surf as long as they could hang on. Turns out they couldn’t hang on that long, falling off and getting back on multiple times but you tell how good of a time they were having. At another point in the set, Washburn split the crowd for something of a dance off. He tested which side could dance the hardest, get the loudest. The winning side was awarded a Kitchen Aid blender while the losing side was gifted a vacuum. How those items would be shared remains to be seen but it was a fun, tongue-in-cheek moment that had all laughing. Many in the crowd also went rather feral throughout the set, losing their minds at songs such as “Crocodile” and “Weekend Friend.” It was a loving set meant for those that love the music.
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie’s Friday night headlining set saw the biggest crowd of the weekend. It was a thing of beauty, felt like witnessing a crack in time, a glimpse into younger days filled with confusion and angst, the days when lead singer Ben Gibbard stood as an almost messianic figure, a guide to figuring out simply how to live. The nostalgia felt like an almost physical thing, something to be held onto and treasured forever. It was like seeing a dream that was never quite forgotten. The band sounded so damn good, echoing through the hearts of all standing in that massive crowd. Even from the back, the sound carried beautifully as the band moved through favorites such as “Cath…” and “Transatlanticism.” The true standout of the set came abut halfway through when they played “I Will Possess Your Heart” and it sounded just how you remember it coming through the speakers in your first car. When the song ended, the band left the stage, leaving only Gibbard and an acoustic guitar. He wasted no time before playing “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” The entire crowd sang the whole thing. It was something to behold, 30,000 people singing every word to a song that has been etched into their hearts since childhood. It was a momentous set that will stick with all who saw it forever.
Saturday, May 30th
Dawes
Dawes came out absolutely swinging. The whole set was a masterclass in electric performing. The band ripped that stage apart, trading solos and singing all the way to the heavens. The crowd, baking a bit in the hot sun, headbanged despite the heat, jumping and moving almost in unison, making the crowd seem like a single-minded entity united by the music. The energy from the stage pervaded throughout. Even those in the far back felt the love. When the band moved into “When My Time Comes” around the halfway point of the set, everyone who knew the words sang them at full volume, creating an almost deafening, all-encompassing experience that felt like being part of something bigger than the individual. It was a hell of a set that set the stage beautifully for the rest of the night.
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are always such a good time, every set they play dripping in color and creativity. The band took their time coming out, encountering some kind of technical difficulties most around us attributed to their elaborate stage set up which featured a screen separate from the festival’s main screen that projected each word sung and giant inflatable robots. As they were figuring it out, legendary frontman Wayne Coyne spoke to the crowd from backstage, thanking them for their patience and promising they were almost ready. When they finally did hit the stage, Wayne spoke for a bit more as the giant pink robots inflated and the band launched into “Yoshime Battles the Pink Robots.” The robots seemed to dance and we couldn’t tell if it was the wind or if there were people in them or shaking them from behind. The whole spectacle had everyone smiling and laughing as they sang along. After, Coyne spoke more to the crowd, joking about how they had to cut four songs from their set due to the technical difficulties and time restraints, saying that the band would come back to tour everyone in the crowd’s basements to make up for it. They played all the favorites, “Fight Test,” “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” and many more. They eventually arrived at “Do You Realize?” which had many in tears while they wrapped their arms tightly around those they love. A beautiful, if imperfect set.
My Morning Jacket
I must admit to a bit of bias here as My Morning Jacket has been one of my favorite bands for a very, very long time. But I believe they played one of the best sets I’ve seen this year Saturday night. The band hit the stage without a word, fittingly kicking things off with “Wordless Chorus.” Legendary frontman Jim James (also known as Yim Yames) oozed cool with each passing note, rocking heart sunglasses and these giant furry boots that made him feel like the mythical figure he is. They sounded so damn good. No matter where you were in that crowd, the music almost bowled you over. The band sounded immaculate. Known for not necessarily jamming, more playing extremely extended solos, the band melted faces throughout, many in the crowd jumping and spinning and moving however the music hit them. It was like sharing a collective consciousness, longtime fans of the band smiling wide throughout as the band converted new listeners to their cause. I don’t know if I even truly have the words to capture how huge the set felt, how soul-shaking, ribcage rattling it was. The band moved through so many classics including “Off the Record,” “Mahgeetah, the massive “One Big Holiday,” and so many more before ending with “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2.” A damn near perfect set that showcased why My Morning Jacket is widely regarded as one of the best live bands around. (Apologies for the lack of photo. We were having too good of a time.)
Sunday, May 31st
Tash Sultana
I will admit to getting a bit of a late start on Sunday. The weekend’s fun had taken its toll a bit. But any lack of energy we were feeling was quickly brought back by Tash Sultana’s set. They had been one the weekend’s most anticipated act. Each day, people when asked would say that this was the set they were most looking forward to and it didn’t disappoint. The Australian multi-instrumentalist/looping master makes music so rich with life and feeling, each song feels like stepping into their head and looking around for a bit at the stories that have made them such a beloved performer. It was a masterclass in pure talent as Tash — wearing a jersey with her own name on it — moved from guitar to trumpet to vocals to drums, their band filling in when needed but Tash themself handled most of what was heard. It was such a vibrant set. You could see how deeply Tash feels the music, wearing an almost permanent stank face throughout, the hallmark of a person making some damn good music. It was a revitalizing set, one that brought all that might have been feeling a little rundown back to life and it had more than a few fighting tears.
Cage the Elephant
I have been listening to Cage the Elephant since middle school but never have gotten the chance to see them until Outside Days. This was a dream come true, a true display of raw rock and roll. The band is one of the best rock groups working today and, given that they are hard at work on a new album, this set was one of only four they’re playing this year. This helped make it feel like something so special, so powerful. Lead singer Matt Shultz seemed so grateful to be there, so happy to be alive after a bit of a troubled life thus far. He’s gotten his shit together and swaggered all over the stage like a true rockstar, emulating the great frontmen of history, echoes of Roger Daltry, Mick Jagger, Julian Casablancas, Isaac Brock and many more. But he stands on his own, a storied performer that knows exactly what he’s doing. The set featured blazing pyrotechnics, towers of flame erupting from the stage whenever the music got hot enough. The crowning moment came when they hit “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” throwing me personally back to days when life was simpler and all I really cared about in the world was rock and roll. It was a hell of a set, proving rock ain’t dead quite yet. I can think of no better way to end such an incredible weekend. (Sorry for the lack of photo once again. We were continuing to have too good of a time.)
All photography captured on iPhone from the crowd by @ramblin.genevieverose and @thomasthomas321.
