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Electrifies Doheny State Beach
October 4, 2024 Review by Jimmy Alvarez & Kevin Gomez
This has been quite the year for music festivals and uber tours. recently, the world of music descended up Doheny State Beach for The Ohana Festival.
The endless summer of 2024 landed in Southern California couldn’t have been better. Clear skies, pleasant temperatures and concertgoers from near and far, young and not so young filled the grounds to what would prove to be another epic event.
As the masses rolled in, Ohana staff were putting the finishing touches on everything cool that makes this event.
Being that the event leans heavily on environmental causes, and being good stewards of the planet, the Storytellers area was full of incredible artists and panels throughout the weekend.
Although music was the focus, many sat in to hear words of wisdom from speakers and panelists.
As the show began, there was a little bit of everything for everyone. The headliners were the topic of discussion, while other non-headliners provided high energy, and sonic ear candy.
One of the highly anticipated bands of the festival was Dogstar. The reason they had so many eyes and ears on them was because this was the Keanu Reeves band. OK, maybe not Bill and Ted’s Wyld Stallyns, but they are a very good facsimile thereof. Within seconds of taking the stage, Reeves proved to all that he could slap the bass, and the band was more than legit.
The L.A. based trio delivered a nice set that had its base of fans, and new ones hearing the sound of Bret Domrose (guitar and vocals), Robert Mailhouse (on drums) and Reeves (on bass).
The set was short, but had a few familiar tunes, “Blonde,” “How the Story Ends,” “Runway,” there was a big reaction to the crowd favorite “Maramalade,” and set closer “Breach.” I would have liked to see a little more of Dogstar, and I am sure some of the Reeves supporters would have too.
Another artist that impressed was Maren Morris. The crowd was starting to swell by now, maybe not all were familiar with her, but by the end of her set they most definitely were. The award-winning artist who is dubbed a “Country” performer is one that incorporates other genres in her music, and it works. Her sound is hard to explain, sure country, but there are snippets of pop, r&b and hip-hop sprinkled throughout.
That’s what most concertgoers love about Ohana Fest, you can bring in different types of music in your bag, the only thing that matters is that the artist or band bring it, and bring it Morris did.
Opening with “RSVP,” and “Church,” concertgoers got a perfect means of measurement as she blew everyone away with her cover of the Billy Idol (Generation X) alt rock anthem, “Dancing with Myself.” After that, it was a blur, but Morris captivated the audience with her sweet and sultry voice.
Other show standouts included ’80s legends, Crowded House. The Australian pied-piper, Neil Finn did not disappoint. Playing a slew of music from his career, which included mega-hits, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong.”
A special treat was also in store and Finn brought out Eddie Vedder to sing-along song from their days as Spit Enz, with “I Got You.”
The show was insanely good, and as the sun finally dipped into the Pacific, it was time to be revolutionized with DEVO.
Not originally set to play, DEVO was filling in for Garbage. But, you would never know it as Mark Mothersbaugh came out swinging ready to take no prisoners.
DEVO’s set list played like a greatest hits album, the crowed loved, loved, loved it! They electrified Doheny with “Peek-A-Boo,” “That’s Good,” “Girl U Want,” and their uber-hit, “Whip It.”
Despite the band getting ready to retire into perpetuity, you would not get that. The guys were excited, animated would be a good way to describe their onstage persona, they had an “Uncontrollable Urge,” to entertain. As they say, all good things always have to come to an end. And DEVO closed out to an insane segue featuring “Mongoloid,” “Jocko Homo,” “Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA,” before closing out with “Gates of Steel,” and exiting to the DEVO Corporate Anthem.
If that wasn’t enough, the crowd was all set for the closer, Pearl Jam. The moon was now high atop the Pacific looking down on the festival with the best seat in the house.
Vedder came out looking very dapper, losing the flannel look, instead very comfortable blue casual attire with a slick hat. He led PJ to a great balance of new and classic songs. opening with “Garden” and “Off He Goes,” and lead guitarist Mike McCready was killing it.
Vedder thanked everyone for coming out, and for me, what a special moment to see PJ go into one of my favorite songs off Yield, “Given to Fly.” It was a goosebump moment for everyone; it was a perfect mix of guitar, and gritty vocals that brought that song to life.
Other songs that caused a ruckus included, “Running,” “MFC,” “Wreckage,” and “Big Wave.”
The showstopper was to come as the opening guitar notes to “Black” followed by a soulful delivery by Vedder was a ten as they slid into “Better Man.” And just like that, PJ closed with “Rearviewmirror,” which was a perfect ending for day one of Ohana Fest.
Day two of Ohana Fest turned out to be another star-studded lineup. Cat Power played a strictly Bob Dylan set, opening with the bluegrass-with-a-bite “Tell Me, Momma.” She played the beautifully dreamy “One Too Many Mornings.” Cat Power said, “This is our time, your time. Fuck ‘em. Go slow because this is your time,” and led into a sexy take on Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man.” She closed her set with “Like a Rolling Stone” joined by Vedder.
Everyone was floored by the hard-hitting, “Didn’t He Ramble.” “Feast of St. John” culminating in a ripping violin solo that saw Gareth Quinn slashing at his strings. Vedder’s daughter, Olivia came out and sang “My Father’s Daughter.” Hansard pointed to a child sitting on his father’s shoulders, holding up a sign asking to play a song. Vedder held his hand and brought him to the mic where Hansard let him take lead vocals on The Frames’ “Star Star.”
Black Pumas really blew everyone away and had the entire crowd dancing from the first opening beat of “Fire.” “Gemini Sun” had a blazing guitar solo outro from Adrian Quesada. Black Pumas played the infectiously catchy “Ice Cream (Pay Phone).”
After “More Than a Fantasy” the rest of the band left as lead singer Eric Burton strapped on an acoustic guitar and was joined by Vedder. The duo did a soulful, stripped-down version of “Dock of the Bay” that would have made Otis Redding smile. The band re-joined for the powerful “Oct 33” before finishing with “All My Favorite Colors.”
Turnpike Troubadours came in playing “red dirt” honky-tonk straight out of Oklahoma. Opening with “Men Red Sun” before launching into the crowd favorite, “Good Lord, Lorrie” featuring a mean harmonica riff from lead singer and guitarist, Evan Felker.
They played the rambunctiously rowdy “Gin, Smoke, Lies.” Before playing their last song Felker said, “Something I never thought I’d say: we’ve got one more song and then it’s time for Sting” alluding to the evening’s headliner. They finished with “Long Hot Summer Day” leading into a harmonica and violin/fiddle solo.
To kick off his set Sting began the opening bass riff for the Police’s “Message in a Bottle” joined in by an iconic backbeat from drummer Chris Maas. One of the highlights of his entire set was a deeper cut, the ska-driven sing-along, “Englishman in New York.”
Sting explained that he lived in a castle in England a few miles away from Stonehenge, surrounded by barley, which inspired his next song, “Fields of Gold.” He played “All This Time,” a song that has a lot of nostalgia and positive memories. The Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You” saw a brilliant solo from guitarist Dominic Miller. Sting’s band played “Can’t Stand Losing You,” which transitioned perfectly into “So Lonely.” Sing would finish the night with a trio of Police classics, “King of Pain,” “Roxanne” complete with red houselights, and finally the crowd sing-along, “Every Breath You Take.”
Sunday saw alt rock legend, Kim Gordon playing a solo set on the Tiki Stage. Gordon kicked off her set with “BYE BYE” the lead single off of “The Collective” released in March. She also featured “The Candy House” and “I Don’t Miss My Mind,” from the new album. Each song seeming to get louder and heavier with each head-vibrating bass loop, all culminating in one mind-bending meltdown to end her set to a huge ovation for a grunge queen.
As soon as The Breeders took the stage, lead singer and guitarist, Kim Deal, (Breeders are currently on a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal album “Last Splash,”) kicked off with a song perfect for this festival entitled, “No Aloha.” They played “Divine Hammer,” and Kelley Deal led a guitar-heavy “Saints.”
They ripped through fan favorite “Cannonball” and Glen Hansard’s violinist joined them for a gorgeous rendition of “Drivin’ on 9.” They finished their set with Kim picking up a bass and saying, “I was in a band called the Pixies and this is one of their songs,” as they played “Gigantic.”
I imagine many people were still talking about Idles the day after Ohana. I wouldn’t say Ohana was their target audience, but anyone who was unfamiliar with the Bristol, England band certainly knows their name now.
“Colossus” begins as such a slow, unassuming song lulling you into a false sense of security as it gradually amps up like a horror movie evolving into a fast and loud climax of madness.
They dedicated “Gratitude” (off of their recently released album, “Tangk”) to The Breeders. Lead singer Joe Talbot’s performance is part of why Idles have earned a reputation as a can’t miss live act, dancing, running around the stage, pacing menacingly with uneasy eyes staring daggers. They leveled the entire festival with “Danny Nedelko” and “Rottweiler” leaving nothing in their wake.
A short video spanning Alanis Morissette’s career played as her band took the stage. At the video’s conclusion a familiar harmonica riff started playing before Morissette walked on stage singing, “Hand in My Pocket.” She strapped on a glittery guitar for “Hands Clean” before switching to acoustic for “You Learn.”
Her vocals seemed perfect and unchanged, almost inhumanly so sounding just as sharp and powerful as she did 30 years prior on “You Learn” as images behind her flashed from that time showing former drummer, Taylor Hawkins.
Watching her sing and perform, you can easily see the influence she has had on everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Olivia Rodrigo. “You Oughta Know” saw an entire generation sing along loudly in unison before a truly haunting performance of “Uninvited.” She ended her performance, as always showing gratitude by simply singing, “Thank U.”
Pearl Jam took to the stage as the night sky blanketed Doheny State Beach. They opened with “Garden” before a heartfelt rendition of “Off He Goes.” They played “Big Wave” for the first time since 2016 and the painfully sorrowful “Black.” They played fan favorite “Better Man,” which eventually transitioned into The English Beat’s “Save It for Later.” “Rearviewmirror” ended in an epic jam session that would conclude their first set.
Lead singer Eddie Vedder was joined by daughter Harper as they did a mashup of “Last Kiss” with Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day,” with impromptu lyrics Harper sang about her father.
While still solo acoustic he welcomed Glen Hansard back for a duet of “Song of Good Hope.” When the band returned, Vedder, a proud Chicagoan sporting a Walter Payton jersey, introduced longtime Pearl Jam producer, Brendan O’Brien on stage.
Vedder said that 30 years ago they recorded a song for the “Music For Our Mother Ocean” compilation, a cover of the novelty ‘60s song, “Gremmie Out Of Control.” As Vedder stated, “We’re gonna play a song tonight that we’ve never played before, and very well may never play again.”
They played “Alive” turning into one gigantic sing-along. The band welcomed back all prior guests including Vedder’s children and mother to jam with them as they closed out with Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” featuring Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins on drums. The night ended to the screaming roar of the crowd with the beautiful palm trees lit up like Christmas trees.
It was another epic event put on at Ohana Fest, concertgoers can’t wait to see what happens next year!
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SID 242006 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
