10. Saint Luna

I had big expectations for Saint Luna and they did not let me down. I saw them two years ago at the Music Box and since then they have only grown in their stage presence, group chemistry, and flashy showmanship. Their renditions of The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy” and Tame Impala’s, “Half Full Glass of Wine” were spotlessly performed, and while it sounds like they’re still trying to find their identity within their original material, their boundless talent and improving musicianship is very promising for their upcoming creative direction. I had a chance to speak with Wick Hauser, the band’s guitarist and singer, who said, “We’re writing new music and hard-launching a new style that, at the moment, I am calling ‘Desert Rock.’” He said his influences for this new sound were, “The Black Keys, Khruangbin, and Iggy Pop.” It was inspiring to see a local growing band hold their own beside big-name artists and they are definitely a band to keep an eye on.

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9. Carly Rae Jepsen

Jepsen got the crowd going before she even stepped on stage. Leading up to her entrance, they played Whitney Houston’s “I Want To Dance With Somebody” over the loudspeakers and the crowd was roaring the lyrics as Jepsen took the stage and dove into “Run Away With Me.”  Jepsen primarily played material from her most recent record, “The Loveliest Time,” which wasn’t my favorite, but she is undeniably an excellent and professional performer, turning these less-than-exciting songs into a fun live experience. As expected, everyone lost their minds when she sang “Call Me Maybe” and she didn’t seem to begrudge or care whether the song was infamous or not, her dazzling persona on stage screamed optimism in a way that finally helped me understand what Hanif Abdurraqib has been talking about.

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8. Paris Texas

“Whoever don’t f**k with us, make some noise!” This hip-hop duo (plus a third man behind the tables) made a huge splash during this set. Their show was characterized by humorous stage banter, ineffable group chemistry, and undeniably talented vocal chops. From jumping into the pit to calling out their audience, “If you’re not turning up you’re WEIRD,” this band got the evening going. They’re trap-influenced hip-hop felt fresh, vibrant, and unique, bringing a much-needed bounce to the early moments of the festival.

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7. Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Going into this set, the only song I was familiar with was “Hunnybee,” but the band proved they’re more than a one-hit wonder. Their on-stage professionalism was appreciated and respected, and despite their own self-described “technical difficulties,” they played a near-flawless set of creative, technically fascinating, and innovative indie pop music. The drum set and keyboard were especially cooking, it was as if Supertramp and Boston had teamed up on stage for a tribute show. The lead singer ended the show thanking us for “dealing with that, thank you so much,” but again, I was unable to notice any mistakes or irregularities.    

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6. T-Pain

Unique to any artist this weekend, T-Pain was able to crank the bass to 11 and still make himself heard on stage. Not only heard, but SEEN, the man has got some incredible dance moves that are already going viral on TikTok. He seemingly gave it his all from start to finish, measured by the growing sweat marks on his shirt, but the man was working up there. At the hottest part of the day, T-Pain was making moves that would make MJ proud, and singing through all of his hits while he was at it. In an age of young rappers ad-libbing over pre-recorded tracks, it was refreshing to see this living legend laying it down.  

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5. Poolside

When Weezer asked the audience, “Who’s ready to get some weeez up in this b***h?” I said, “Ew no,” and went to go check out the side stage, and I’m so glad I did because I got to enjoy an incredible set by Poolside. This yacht-rock, nu-disco band from L.A. borrowed the best from bands like Sade, The Blue Jean Committee, and Gilberto Gil. They were effortlessly cool throughout complicated rhythm patterns, sweaty sax solos, and shone so brilliantly, that I had to put my sunglasses back on at 9 p.m. Their disco cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” brought a tear to many an audience member’s eye and got the taste of weeez out of my mouth.

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4. BADBADNOTGOOD

BADBADNOTGOOD can boast the best sound quality of any act at the festival. I expected no less from the band behind some of my favorite remix albums, and it was incredible to see that attention to detail translate to a live show. Their guitar and sax-driven melodies were fast-paced, hypnotizing, and atmospheric, but kept my brain focused and engaged. Their drum set/percussion duo pulled alien rhythms right out of Neptune and peaked when they performed a tribute to the music of MF DOOM. Their showering rays of synthesizers brought the house down leaving me astounded and struggling to find an act that day that could match it.

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3. KAYTRANADA

This set was so chill and vibey I almost could have been doing my homework if I wasn’t so occupied grooving. KAYTRANADA guided his audience through a 90-minute set of house and chill-wave electronic music that never missed a beat. The producer, who looked to be having a lot of fun above the four rows of lights he towered over, danced and grooved along to remixes of popular songs from across his catalog, even dropping remixes of recent hits from the likes of Beyonce and Aminé. His ability to mix live and read the audience was impressive, picking up or dropping down the pace of the tunes like an expert dog walker at the Westminster Dog Show; he had us on a leash. 

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2. Dominic Fike

San Diego loved Mr. Fike. Whether he was playing his massive hits like “Babydoll” or just screaming into an echo machine over distorted pigeon screaming, the crowd could not get enough of his charming stage persona and authentic performance aura. “I’m real around y’all. If you ever meet me in a bad mood? Unacceptable.” Fike, who personally stated he doesn’t like his new album, mostly played his older material as well as some new, unreleased singles. His sound was characterized by a tasteful indulgence in feedback, roaring layers of guitar, and a respectable sound quality buried under the distortion. Of all the artists, Fike was the most outwardly grateful and respectful of his crew, bandmates, and attendance, carrying himself with an attitude that suggested he was more than just a performer, but an artist. I look forward to his future studio releases and seeing him perform again.

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1. JID

Amid all this rap beef, no one is keeping an eye on the man who might topple everyone in the “Big Three” to the ground. JID came on stage larger than life, spitting his bars faster than I could read them from the screen behind him. His live delivery is astounding, never missing a word or a beat; it’s as if he can breathe through his skin. Accompanied by a live band, JID threw down bars relentlessly, never stopping to catch a breath except for the moment he let a man propose to his girlfriend on stage. From “Stick” to “Surround Sound,” JID carried himself with a ferocity and swagger evoking the spirits of Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar. Keep your eyes on this man, like Stage-One Frieza, he has barely begun to unveil his awesome rap power. 

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