Outside Lands 2021 heralded the return of live music to San Francisco in spectacular fashion, flaunting in the lineup legendary names like Tame Impala and Vampire Weekend. Ever since, both indoor and outdoor concerts have been restored to their former glory.
With almost every major Bay Area venue fully operational and a litany of cooped-up artists eager to tour again, the music scene is thoroughly revitalized just in time for summer. We’ve assembled some of the most exciting concerts slated for this summer happening in and around San Francisco to aid hip-hop lovers, pop lovers, rock lovers, and funk lovers alike in their live music exploits.
See also: 85th Stern Grove Festival Announces 2022 Lineup
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The Fillmore / June 1
One of the most promising independent artists to have surfaced in the late 2010s, Dijon’s music is truly genre-defying, elegantly weaving together strands of psychedelic pop, melancholy folk, and experimental indie rock into an innovative soundscape all his own. This current tour will feature Absolutely, his first formal album release. Some favorites off this 2021 record include the endlessly replayable earworm “Many Times” and the delightfully romantic “The Dress”. The Fillmore’s intimate environs are the perfect context for Dijon’s stripped-down sound.
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The Great American Music Hall / June 2
At the forefront of the 2010s surf-rock / post-punk revival has been Vundabar, a three-piece Boston group that paved the way for the likes of Surf Curse, The Buttertones, and even Mac DeMarco. Though having always been appreciably successful, they skyrocketed to the upper echelons of the punk scene when “Alien Blues”, a brilliant single from their 2015 album Gawk, blew up on TikTok; the track combines unforgettable, mournful vocal melodies with rambunctious guitar riffs.
This commercial hit shouldn’t outshine their newest 2022 record Devil for the Fire, though; “Heatwave” is a mellow, jangly delight.
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The Greek Theater / June 10
Erykah Badu, the legendary R&B vocalist who has been dropping game-changing projects since the late 1990s, would certainly be more than worth seeing in isolation. The gods of the Greek Theater, however, have chosen to bless us with something truly divine: performing before Badu as the opener is Noname, one of the most electrifying voices in contemporary hip-hop.
Noname’s formidable lyricism - introspective and politically charged - is bolstered by jazz-fusion instrumentation very much akin to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.
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The Warfield / July 12
The Shins practically defined indie rock as a genre with their 2001 magnum opus Oh, Inverted World. The album’s most popular track, New Slang, became the predominant sobbing-in-the-shower anthem with its deeply sad, nostalgic lyrics and hauntingly beautiful melodies. Fortunately for those longing to reclaim that blissful mid-2000s simplicity, The Shins are embarking on a 21st anniversary tour celebrating Oh, Inverted World, and The Warfield’s cozy atmosphere will lend itself perfectly to the album’s wistful acoustic stylings.
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The Greek Theater / July 16-17
Berkeley’s The Greek Theater is really knocking it out of the park this summer with its double features. Joining Khruangbin, the masters of funk-fusion, is Men I Trust, the savantes of danceable dreampop. Though both groups diverge slightly in genre, they are united by a crucial common denominator: head-bopping basslines.
The Greek’s picturesque outdoor amphitheater overlooking both the UC Berkeley campus and the entire San Francisco bay will beautifully supplement the upbeat grooves. Wander up to the grassy seating area at the top of the amphitheater to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline.
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Chase Center / August 23
Should you crave more mid-2000s nostalgia, the decade-altering pop-rock supergroup The Killers is coming to Chase Center. Not only will you be able to pretend it’s 2006 again and scream every lyric of “Mr. Brightside”, but so too will you be transported back to the 1980s. The Killers will be joined by none other than Johnny Marr, the revered guitarist for the generation-altering rock supergroup The Smiths. Whichever decade - 80s or 2000s - harbors the most fond memories for you, this concert will be sure to tug at all the right nostalgic strings.
See also: Emo Brunch Is Officially Coming To San Francisco On May 28th
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Oakland Arena / August 31 - September 1
Rounding out our list is arguably the most anticipated live music event of the summer. Following the release of his long-awaited album Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers, modern hip-hop’s titan Kendrick Lamar is coming to Oakland Arena, flanked by rap and R&B powerhouses Baby Keem and Tanna Leone. Lamar has not toured since dropping his pioneering 2017 record Damn, making this event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a living legend at the height of his powers.
See also: See Who's Headlining And More At Outside Land's Star-Studded Summer Return
From young, independent artists making their first ripples in the scene to veterans recapturing the splendor of days gone by, the many venues sprinkling the San Francisco Bay Area offer something for everyone this summer.
Photography by: Luca Iaconelli/Unsplash
