BeachLife is quietly becoming one of the premier music festivals in the US. With nearly 40,000 turning out, attendees could not have asked for more over a picture perfect, 3-day weekend in beautiful Redondo Beach. Fans from all over the world rocked out to over 55 bands across four unique stages featuring some of the best live music on the planet today. Whether you were into classic rock, alternative, or reggae, there was something for everybody at this year’s festival.
My initial mission on Friday was to get a lay of the land and better understand some of the improvements BeachLife had implemented since last year’s festivities. Right out of the gate, it was clear that concertgoers encountered a much-improved check-in process where fans experienced few (if any) lines heading into the festival grounds. And if check-in efficiency wasn’t enough, attendees probably noticed a few general layout changes that allowed fans to move about the festival effortlessly throughout the day. For me, moving from stage to concessions to restrooms and then back to the action was as simple as I’d ever seen it at a festival (and I’ve been to many).
From a musical perspective, Weezer and 311 co-headlined BeachLife on Friday. These are some of the ’90s finest, and by the reaction of the capacity crowd at both the Hightide and Lowtide Stages, delivered in fine fashion. Weezer ripped classics like “Hash Pipe,” “Undone – The Sweater Song,” and “Say It Ain’t So,” while 311 tore up standards like “Beautiful Disaster,” “Transistor,” and “Down.” In addition, The Black Pumas and Cold War Kids crushed their respective sets with contrasting sounds and styles that clearly illustrate why BeachLife is such an awesome music festival. Special recognition goes out to DREAMERS, Hoist the Colors, and The Aggrolites for their incredible Day 1 performances.
Bottom line, Day 1 was the kickoff to BeachLife 2022 I was looking for. The weather was perfect, the musical diversity was dope, and fans were digging the 2022 festival vibes from Jim Lindberg’s opening salvo to Weezer’s final curtain call. Outside of a few sound issues that were worked out relatively quickly, everything seemed to run smoothly on opening day for bands, production staff, and ultimately the paying festival attendee. If Day 1 is any indication of things to come over the 3-day weekend, fans are in for a real treat courtesy of BeachLife.
Overheard: “I didn’t know DREAMERS was on the bill but am glad I caught there set. One of the best on Friday for sure!” “Getting into the festival was a snap—no lines, friendly folks, and drama free. Why can’t all festivals I attend be like this?” “The Black Pumas were unexpectedly one of my favorite acts across the three-day event—so good.” “The Riptide stage was in a much better spot this year than it was last year, making it easier to rock out without the hassle of incoming festival traffic—well done.” “Watching 311 during the golden hour overlooking the Pacific was a dream come true—they still got it!”
