Thread by @toxic

#outsidelands was interesting this year (I'm skipping today, though I'm bummed about that). On one hand it was a big celebration of TheBeforeTimes. A vaccinated crowd outdoors in a highly-vaccinated city might be the equation that works.

I certainly hope so. For a lot of people (including a lot of the artists who played), this was what they've been waiting almost 2 years for. A chance to play to a real crowd. A chance to be in a real crowd. A chance to shout "I've Got ASS!" with 50,000 @Lizzo fans.

A number of acts mentioned that this was their first gig back (and in a couple cases, their only gig of 2021). The sense of sheer joy in the crowd over the fact that we get to do this again was palpable.

The classic SF weather (SUN! then extra beautiful FOG!!) certainly helped.

Sharon van Etten: "We're glad you all are risking your lives to be here."

070 Shake: "It's OK, we're all vaccinated."

Arizona (the band, not the state): "We've been working through some things, and our feelings about big shows right now are mostly good, but complicated."

The event was a balance of all three. Everybody wanted to be like 070 Shake, but for most, it was by far the biggest risk that we've taken in a long, long time, So @sharonvanetten's words were also in our minds.

So a lot of folks felt like @arizona, I guess.

This is SF. We've got some experience with how to manage risk vs. fun and humans' need for visceral pleasure.

With some luck and good behavior, #outsidelands will be remembered as a source of joy for all, and not as a superspreader event.

But... if you took a risk, take a test.