Doechii turned Day 1 of Outside Lands into a master class. Framing her 7 p.m. Land’s End Stage set as a “School of Hip Hop,” the 27-year-old Angeleno delivered a tightly choreographed, high-concept performance packed with crowd-pleasers and spoken-word interludes, supported by more than 10 dancers and a stage dressed as a giant vintage boombox. The result felt less like a festival slot and more like a stadium-scale spectacle—essentially a Super Bowl halftime show without the football.
Across hits including Nissan Altima and Anxiety, Doechii wove in a commanding cover of Beyoncé’s America Has a Problem and infused Persuasive with shimmering, Daft Punk–like textures. The production showcased her range: rigorous choreography, theatrical staging, and a boldly sensual presence that drew comparisons to pop heavyweights while still sounding unmistakably her own. The set was unapologetically Black and expressly aesthetic rather than overtly political, centering bodily autonomy and self-definition—fitting for an artist whose rise has doubled as a rebuke to anyone who underestimated her when she pivoted to music after being fired from Chipotle in 2020. Judging by the roar in the field, she stood out as the day’s breakout act, echoing last year’s undercard-to-headliner momentum shift sparked by Chappell Roan.
Over at the Sutro Stage, Gen Z singer-songwriter Role Model (Tucker Pillsbury) opened with Writing’s on the Wall from his latest album, Kansas Anymore, then slipped into a cover of the 1975’s Somebody Else. For his signature closer, Sally When the Wine Runs Out, he surprised fans by welcoming queer Australian musician and actor Troye Sivan to embody “Sally,” embracing him onstage to cap the set. It continues a pattern of star cameos in his live shows—previous guests have included Natalie Portman, his co-star in the forthcoming Netflix rom-com Good Sex, and Saturday Night Live standout Bowen Yang—turning Role Model’s performances into pop-culture easter-egg hunts.
Why it matters:
– Doechii’s theatrical “School of Hip Hop” concept and boombox staging nod to the culture’s origins while presenting a modern, arena-ready vision of rap performance. Festival stages increasingly reward artists who bring narrative and choreography, and she executed both at a high level.
– Role Model’s surprise-guest strategy deepens fan engagement and broadens reach across film, TV, and music audiences, a savvy move in an era where live moments drive online conversation.
What to watch next:
– With buzz building, Doechii looks poised for bigger-font festival billing and a potential headliner trajectory.
– Role Model’s collaborative streak—and the visibility of artists like Troye Sivan on major stages—signals a continued blurring of boundaries between indie pop, mainstream pop, and queer culture in the live circuit.
Summary:
– Doechii delivered a concept-driven, choreography-heavy set at Outside Lands, complete with a Beyoncé cover, Daft Punk-flavored production moments, and a boombox stage design—earning breakout-of-the-day chatter.
– Role Model opened with Writing’s on the Wall, covered the 1975, and brought out Troye Sivan during Sally When the Wine Runs Out, extending his run of high-profile surprise guests.
– The day underscored how theatricality and cross-medium cameos are reshaping festival performances, with rising artists seizing the moment and audiences rewarding ambition.
A hopeful note: If Day 1 is any indication, this festival season belongs to artists who blend craft with concept. Doechii and Role Model both leaned into storytelling and community onstage, making the field feel a little larger—and the future a little brighter—for bold, genre-bending pop.