The second day of the 2024 Beach Life Festival in Redondo Beach was just as exciting as the the first, with a fresh lineup of stellar musicians and great performances. If you missed our coverage of yesterday’s iteration, check out the story and the Beach Life Festival scene, here.
First up for us was Pepper, kickass reggae rockers originally from Hawaii and now of San Diego, in a fun and fiery set.
Along with other songs, the band drew from their latest 2023 6-track EP, Makai.
Next was Santigold, wowing the crowd with terrific vocals, costumed dancers, and wild, contagiously joyful rhythm. The indie alt-pop dance band offered a tight, compelling, get on your feet and stay on your feet set that was both party and performance.
Lead singer Santi White vibrated pure energy, including “High Priestess”, the lead single from her most recent fourth album Spirituals in her strong set.
Over on the smaller Riptide stage, Grace McKagan went wild, from kinetic dance moves and kicks to galvanizing vocals, the 26-year-old daughter of Guns and Roses bassist Duff McKagan is accelerating her rock n’ roll heritage big time. Short but brilliant set packed with intensity and fun.
Local Natives were powerhouses on the Hightide stage, starting off their latest tour with a beautifully paced, exciting hour and ten minute performance that was nothing short of electrifying. Lead singer Taylor Rice joked that they sing a lot about sunshine and they brought some to the beach on a previously gray day. Both literally and musically this was the case. Midway through the set, the band brought up singer Jordana, featured on yesterday’s Riptide stage, to join in on “Dark Days.”
Included in the mix were many cuts from the band’s just-released album “But I’ll Wait for You.” There was a first-time-live performance of “April,” and a lush version of the band’s “When am I Going to Lose You” in the tight 12-song set. An exhilerating perfromance and one that will be hard to top at the fest for me.
DEVO played their well-known “Whip It,” donned their signature red plastic flower pot hats, played quirky cool videos and packed the Lowtide stage’s sandy field and even the pathway onto it with new fans and old faithfuls.
“Don’t Shoot (It’s a Man) was the musical opener; there was a fun cover of the Stones’ “Satisfaction,” an “interlude” mid-set with Carl Sagan, and a cool version of “Going Under.” Fans drank it all in, proving “devolution” is still a thing.
At Riptide, the Santa Barbara based punk-surf rockers Cydeways held court to a packed house, thanking concert goers for listening to their sharp sound between songs. Lead singer Dustin Parks killed it, and the crowd loved every minute.
The final act of the night was Incubus, the alt metal funk band drew wildly enthusiastic fans for a strong set enhanced by terrific lighting, alchemic vocals, and a fast-paced set.
Starting with their hit “Quicksand,” they ran through a full 19 songs including their iconic “Pardon Me,” a fresh take cover of The Beatles ‘”Come Together,” as well as David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
Close to the water’s edge at the Speakeasy stage, festival goers got their dance on to the after-party dance mix sounds of DJ Paul Oakenfeld.
Looking very much forward to what the festival’s third day brings. If you’d like to take part, there are still single day GA and VIP tickets available for tomorrow’s show. Beach Life Festival single-day tickets are $159 (GA), $229 (GA+) and $399 (VIP). Sunday is still up for grabs, and huge recommends for doing so if you’re a music fan anywhere in the SoCal area tomorrow.
- Genie Davis; photos by Jack Burke