Regardless of logistical points, Portola emerges as phenomenal first yr pageant [Review]
What might be mentioned a couple of music pageant that books Flume, The Chemical Brothers, Jamie xx, 4 Tet + Floating Factors, Fred once more.., Caribou, Bicep, Fatboy Slim, DJ Shadow, Kaytranada, Charli XCX, James Blake, Peggy Gou, The Blessed Madonna, Yaeji, and extra? Legendary precisely describes the inaugural Portola Music Pageant held at Pier 80 in San Francisco this previous weekend.
Nestled southeast of San Francisco’s Mission District, Portola promised an eclectic lineup that includes principally headliner-level acts just like the aforementioned unfold throughout two days. Starting round 1pm and going till 11pm on Saturday and Sunday, 4 levels supplied a various assortment of acts with stay performances and DJ units.
Once we arrived at 5pm on Saturday, the pageant was already in full swing, however getting our credentials and tickets on the field workplace down Cesar Chavez St couldn’t have been simpler. Sadly, as we walked in, able to catch the start of Fred once more.. within the Warehouse stage, we have been met with throngs of individuals ready to be let in however being stored outdoors for some seemingly unknown purpose. Wanting on the mob of individuals, myself and my good friend (a seasoned artist supervisor and longtime pageant attendee) turned to one another and anxious for the worst, anticipating some doable altercation occurring throughout the mass of keen followers. Nonetheless, round 5-10 minutes earlier than Fred started, the gang began getting into the stage in a (comparatively) orderly vogue and we have been in a position to enter with no points. That being mentioned, we seemed again towards the doorway in the course of the set and safety was stopping others from getting into, regardless of the stage being possibly solely 60% at capability.
TMZ’s wildly exaggerated coverage initially in contrast the scenario to Astroworld, the place 8 folks died late final yr. In reality, the scenario was nothing near that, and a rep for Portola acknowledged, “There was a minimal, remoted challenge with a pageant stage entrance yesterday. This occurred throughout the confines of the grounds and was shortly addressed and corrected. There have been no reported accidents and the pageant continued for an additional 6 hours with out incident.” Certainly, by the tip of the night time, the pageant had erected switchback-style obstacles in entrance of the stage which tremendously decreased congestion and assisted in entry the remainder of the weekend.
One of many quick issues I observed concerning the crowd was how various it was. After all, this isn’t an enormous shock in San Francisco, the place numerous cultures are steadily celebrated. It’s not like Los Angeles is far totally different, however in comparison with the festivals I’ve been to in my hometown, Portola instantly felt extra inclusive, protected, and welcoming than another I’ve been to beforehand.
As talked about, we began the primary day with Fred once more.., after which we strolled previous Slowthai as he was enjoying his Gorillaz collab, “Momentary Bliss,” out within the Ship Stage as we made our option to the meals distributors. Strains have been exceptionally lengthy on the primary day, taking about 30-45 minutes to get to the entrance the place some objects have been already operating out as early as 7pm. The portapotties skilled related delays, with traces as much as quarter-hour to seek out an open stall. (Loos on the opposite facet of the Ship stage, on the center to Warehouse, have been much more accessible.)
We made our well beyond Caribou who was enjoying a stellar stay set as we as soon as once more braved the Warehouse stage to catch Jamie xx. He simply performed among the best units of the pageant, removing any visuals completely, as a solitary, giant disco ball hung behind him on stage as he combined home, techno, and drum & bass. From there, we made our method towards the far rear of the pageant on the Crane Stage to catch the legend Fatboy Slim. He was protecting the gang on the sting of their seats as he teased vocal samples from hits like “Proper Right here, Proper Now” and “The Rockafeller Skank” in between raucous, acid-filled synths and old style rave beats.
We stopped by Flume on the mainstage for about 20 minutes earlier than we ended our night time at Bicep, again within the Warehouse as soon as once more, after which left at round 10:30pm to beat the push of individuals leaving. Rideshare and Muni have been accessible, and we selected to hop on the Muni for a pair stops after which Uber as soon as we have been out of the mass of individuals. Nonetheless, we have been solely in a position to make it one cease on the Muni because it was so excruciatingly packed we needed to get off.
It took us fairly a bit to get better from the primary day as we wakened on Sunday and relaxed in our lodge in Union Sq. earlier than heading again as soon as once more at about 5pm. Instantly, the vibe felt extra peaceable than the primary day. The field workplace had been moved nearer to the doorway, further obstacles had been positioned to extra successfully management the move of individuals, and it appeared general that there have been much less folks on Sunday — one-day tickets have been accessible, lots of which have been doubtless bought to catch Fred on the primary night time.
With a bit extra freedom to maneuver round, I finished by DJ Shadow for my first set of the day who was enjoying tons of classics in addition to new materials, all of the whereas scratching up a storm on the decks. I additionally determined to cease by the merch sales space as day 2 was forecasted to be a lot colder and I solely had a lightweight jacket with me. Hoping to select up one of many cream Portola-branded hoodies, they have been sadly offered out however the pageant supplied transport in 4-6 weeks for any out-of-stock objects. Figuring out I’d be chilly, however happier in just a few weeks for getting my desired merchandise, I made a decision to courageous the weather in lieu of an in-stock hoodie and await my prize within the mail.
I opted to get to James Blake early to safe a spot on the primary stage, the place Toro Y Moi was ending up with a stay rendition of “The Distinction” with Flume, which was attention-grabbing to see from their perspective because it was crammed with much more power as Chaz Bear bounced round stage.
Numerous the gang left after they have been completed, presumably to catch the tip of The Blessed Madonna or go catch Duke Dumont. They ended up lacking a stellar efficiency from James Blake who performed hits like “Restrict to your Love” in addition to bringing SwaVay out for “Frozen.” At one level, somebody on the very entrance of the gang shouted out completely happy birthday to James, who sheepishly admitted it was his birthday on Monday. After teasing “Joyful Birthday” on his keys the gang responded by spontaneously singing completely happy birthday, an extremely candy second that felt actually particular to be part of.
From there, it was solely a matter of time earlier than the “primary” occasion of the pageant… The Chemical Brothers. Having solely seen them as soon as earlier than in my 12 years of going to EDM occasions, at HARD Summer time 2015, I knew this was one thing that we couldn’t miss. As they opened with “Block Rockin’ Beats” and swiftly moved into “Go,” all my suspicions have been quickly confirmed. Over the course of the subsequent hour, the English duo awed the gang with intensely inventive mixing and visuals protecting the gang shifting and leaping even within the chilly climate. By the tip, and within the days after, I’d see loads of associates who have been additionally in attendance sharing their ideas and the overwhelming settlement that it was an all-time set, one which we’d bear in mind for years.
General, Portola began off a bit rocky however completed with a flourish. Regardless of lengthy traces and a few logistical snafus, with a lineup like that, you’ll be able to’t actually go unsuitable. The Ship and Crane levels have been horribly inclined to overcrowding, with folks spilling out of the again and sides particularly for acts like Fatboy Slim or Caribou, however the sound was nonetheless fairly crisp. The most important challenge with the levels, other than the Warehouse stage on the primary day, was the sound bleed between Ship and Pier, whose crowds have been virtually intermingling at peak hours. Throughout Flume’s set at Pier when Arca was at Ship, the dissonance was so intense we needed to go away.
It’s onerous to think about how this lineup might be topped if it was to have a second yr (which has not but been introduced or teased), however there are many acts that would step up and fill in or rise to headliner standing by subsequent yr. We may have imagined seeing The Crystal Technique, Sizzling Chip, Digitalism, or Bloc Occasion on the pageant this yr, so possibly subsequent? Both method, we’ll positively be there.
Photograph by way of Scott Hutchinson