Moonlight on the beach? Check. Crash pad? Check. Good vibes and good times? Check! Check! This past May 15-18, 40,000 music lovers descended upon the beautiful white sandy beaches and emerald green waters of Gulf Shores, Alabama, to celebrate the fifth annual Hangout Music Festival. Though still in its infancy, it’s easy to see why this event is gaining popularity in the festival circuit and quickly becoming a highly coveted spot for both fans and artists alike. There is no pretentiousness; it’s all about people coming together to enjoy the music.
This year, Hangout Fest hosted its most diverse lineup yet! With acts ranging from Jamtronica to Americana, from contemporary soul to good, old hip-hop, there was enough to satisfy any and all musical palettes. From the Thursday night Kick-Off party to the farewell by Outkast on Sunday, there were amazing moments to be had by everyone.
Though HOF doesn’t officially start until Friday, any veteran knows the fun to be had at the Thursday night Kick-Off party. Set on three stages, the early acts included the Bleachers, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Iron and Wine. As the night fell, Dumpstafunk raged on the Red Bull Stage. Over at the Palladia the excitement of the festival-goers grew as the Australian power trio, Wolfmother, played face-melting rock, inciting everyone to howl at the full moon. Next door at the Boom Boom tent Girl Talk, aka Greg Gillis, a well-known mashup DJ, brought the crowd into a frenzy, with dance versions of the Pixies, Arcade Fire and Queen. The hour-long set turned into a huge party as balloons dropped onto the crowd, disco balls spun high in the air and confetti and toilet paper were shot out into the audience, closing out Thursday night with a big bang.
The music kicked off at a 11am on Friday, spread out over 5 different stages, with well-known bands that included the Black Lips, 1975, Wiz Kalifa, STS9, The Dawes, Conner Oberst, and the impressive Childish Gambino, (aka Donald Glover, aka Troy Barnes). Later in the day, Austin-native Gary Clark, Jr. and Company, dressed in all black, took to the Hangout stage and blazed through the set with tracks from their break-out album “Black and Blu,” delivering a modern day Hendrix-esque performance. As the sun went down, gritty rock and roll took over the Chevy stage as Queens of the Stone Age kicked off their set with “You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire” and “No One Knows.” The edgy desert-stoner rock bank kept the crowd engrossed with their brash high-energy, heart-thumping performance. Closing the first full day were the boys from Akron Ohio, aka, The Black Keys. Donned in black, the HOF alumni brought the crowd a smoking set of new and old songs alike. The crowd was also treated to a first time performance of “Got to get Away.” Dan and Patrick ended the night with their signature closer “I got Mine,” leaving the crowd awe-struck as they stumbled back to their collective all night ragers.
Garage punk-rockers Diarrhea Planet started Saturday off right, with people crowd-surfing on inflatable donuts. This band shreds on guitar while playing behind their back and with their teeth. It’s easy to understand why these Nashville natives were one of the most talked about bands at the festival. Tegan & Sara, Matt & Kim and Trombone Shorty were additional high energy acts that played on Saturday afternoon. As the sun set, Modest Mouse played the Hang Out stage. These professionals have been in the circuit for a while and their live shows do not disappoint.
Later in the evening The Flaming Lips appeared on the Chevy stage. Anyone who has ever experienced one of their live shows knows they will bring you a performance to remember. It pays to be up close at the show because of the interaction the band has with its audience. Before the set started, frontman Wayne Coyne came on stage and threw out multiple giant inflatable rubber ducks into the crowd. The band opened with “She Don’t Use Jelly” and then launched into “Do You Realize” while people in costume created a whimsical scene complete with the sun, rainbow and mushrooms dancing happily around the stage. One of the most memorable moments was when the band covered David Bowie’s “Heros” and The Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” A few times Wayne Coyne invited everyone to come to an after-party later that night where they would be playing with a few other bands at a house on the beach. Unfortunately, he never gave out the address.
As the night came to a close, everyone congregated back to HO stage to see The Killers finish out the evening with an unforgettable performance. The boys were on point and kept the crowd enraptured throughout their nearly two hour set, opening with “Spaceman” and ending with “Mr. Brightside.”
The concert ended and the crowd dispersed, with some people going back to their pads to rest up, and others going to the local bars to drink with friends and listen to local bands, and still others going off in search of the after-party the Flaming Lips spoke of (but that’s another story).
By Sunday the venue was familiar and everyone had settled into the spirit of HOF. Between shows, Hang-Outers had plenty to keep them busy. When not riding the giant ferris wheel, the mechanical shark or the waterslide, people wandered around grazing on food ranging from smoothies, salads and rosemary grilled chicken to smack and cheese, smoked gator burritos (a must-try) and creole specialties.
Sunday’s lineup included Soja, Capital Cities, Zedd, Andrew W. K., Los Lobos, Jack Johnson, Portugal the Man, The Avett Brothers, and Alabama’s own St. Paul and The Broken Bones, who paid tribute to the greats like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.
The festival ended with the recently reunited OutKast and the duo put on one hell of a show! The crowd danced in the sand with euphoria as the duo delivered hits spanning their entire twenty year history. At one point Andre 3000 made a point of thanking the fans for staying with them throughout their long journey. There was not an encore…..but there was no need for one, Outkast had delivered the perfect performance.