Episode #126: Treasure Island Retrospective + Preview
After a year-long hiatus and relocation, Treasure Island Music Festival has returned–this time taking place in Oakland’s Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. What has consistently been our favorite festival in the Bay was able to make the transition incredibly smooth retaining the aspects that have made it so successful–beautiful views and no overlapping sets. Check out our 10 favorite moments from this year’s festivities below and give a listen to our TI-dedicated episode of TMN Radio which includes all the artists in this roundup as well as some from previous years.
JPEGMAFIA
An early slot and small crowd didn’t prevent JPEGMAFIA from having the most electrifying performances of the weekend. The talented Baltimore rapper and producer brought a fierce energy to his one-man show. In a rare move for a festival, Peggy (as he’s lovingly known by fans) spent more time out in the crowd than on stage which made for the perfect way to kickstart the weekend. – Ash
George Fitzgerald
English producer/DJ George Fitzgerald’s early Saturday set was a delightful mish-mosh of intricately layered samples and synth-lines, and featured live vocals. The set capped off with oft-remixed track “Burns”. – Geoff
Polo & Pan
In only their second show in the San Francisco Bay Area, Polo and Pan pleasantly surprised a largely unfamiliar audience with the best DJ set of the weekend. The Parisian duo impressed with flawless mixing and seamless blending of all sorts of eccentric, quirky, and dancy beats. – G
Laff Trax
The collaborative project between Toro y Moi and Nosaj Thing was definitely one of the most intriguing sightings on this year’s lineup. When it turned out to be a back to back DJ set, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the result was the perfect sunset dance party. The mix ranged from essential House cuts, a couple unreleased gems and Toro y Moi’s stellar remix of Nosaj Things “UG.” – A
Pusha T
The president of G.O.O.D. music hyped the crowd with the first set in full darkness on Saturday night. Replete with his signature “yeeugh” ad-lib (I imagine everyone has their own spelling of this), Pusha ran through the discography with polish and poise. Highlights included his performances of Cruel Summer track “New God Flow” and Daytona “Come Back Baby”. – G
Sunset/Scenery
One of the unsung stars of Treasure Island Music Festival’s triumphant return was the location itself. After being moved from the namesake Treasure Island nestled between San Francisco and Oakland, the festival found a new home at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland. It proved to be a worthy successor to the shores of Treasure Island, providing a stunning skyline view of the city, complete with perfectly placed sunsets illuminating the iconic Bay Bridge and lighting downtown San Francisco ablaze. – G
Pond
Pond are best known for their affiliation with Tame Impala, with whom they share a few band members. While Tame Impala are tight and polished, Pond choose to draw outside of the lines with their impeccable take on psych rock. Their performance brought that sound to life perfectly and drew a pretty large audience for such an early show. -A
U.S. Girls
U.S. Girls were probably the most pleasant surprise of this year’s festival. The ensemble, equipped with horns and some pretty sweet dance moves, left the crowd in awe by the end of the performance. -A
Jungle
Fresh off their stellar new album, Jungle showcased once again why they are a must-see act with their radiant and soulful sound. Kevin Parker put it best during Tame Impala’s headlining set–”Jungle makes God’s music.” – A
Tame Impala
Much anticipated headliner Tame Impala did not disappoint– delivering a wildly satisfying finale to a spectacular weekend. Frontman Kevin Parker and band took us on a musical journey of Tame Impala over the years; songs were performed from all three of their studio LPs. An undeniably great moment was when they played “Jeremy’s Storm”, the finale track of their debut LP, a song they had not performed together since 2012. Parker and crew capped off yet another successful Treasure Island Music Festival. – G
Photos 5,6,8,9,10 by Geoff Hong, rest by Ash
