RIFF Magazine

Outside Lands: aespa electrifies in Outside Lands’ K-pop debut

aespa

Aespa performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023. STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — There’s a first time for everything, even 15 years into a hugely successful music festival. South Korea’s aespa provided just that first at Friday’s opening night at Outside Lands, becoming the first K-pop act in the fest’s history. The big moment even had a little added pressure, with member Giselle unable to perform due to having the flu. The show must go on, and the group appeared as a trio to a sprawling crowd at the Twin Peaks Stage.

The group didn’t address her absence on stage, instead pressing forward and delivering an electric performance.



The 50-minute set was a dazzling over-the-top fusion that provided a festival-sized spectacle.

aespa

Aespa performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023.

“Outside Lands!” the group yelled from backstage as a dramatic metaverse intro video played on the projection screen over a James-Bond-esque musical score. It was all that was needed to send the crowd into a frenzy. The opening track was fierce, a hard rocking rendition of “Girls” that felt stadium-rock sized. The backing four-member band charged in and a team of dancers flanked aespa’s Karina, Winter and Ningning.

“How is everyone doing? This is our first time here!” Karina announced early on in the set. Then each member introduced herself. “We’re so happy to be here!” Winter added.



“You all have such great energy, are you ready to have some fun tonight?” Ningning followed.

aespa

Aespa performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023.

If there were any nerves brought by performing one member down, they were quickly erased just a few songs into the set.

Playing tracks like R&B jam “Thirsty,” the English version of guitar ballad “Life’s Too Short” and “Hold On Tight,” the group adeptly jumped between genres, each passing song offering a new and fresh energy. The latter song sampled the theme song of computer game “Tetris,” turning it into a banger.

The trio briefly left the stage for an instrumental dance breakdown of “Savage.” The group’s dancers owned the stage while the band rocked out with guitar solos and syncopated, proggy drumming.



 

aespa

Aespa performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023.

The trio made it a point multiple times during the set to thank the band—well-deserved praise—which delivered a high-energy performance that built the musical foundation for aespa to work from.

“Our new song ‘Better Things’ is coming soon,” Winter announced toward the end of the set, teasing what’s to come.

The group returned to the stage for melodic power ballad “Welcome to MY World,” and kept the energy up from there, following up with the industrial-leaning “Next Level” and “Black Mamba,” which was another compelling riff-heavy arrangement.



“Are you feeling spicy?” the trio asked  before launching into the closing song of the same name.

It may have been a debut for K-pop at Outside Lands, but given producer Another Planet’s dedication to curating a diverse festival, it certainly won’t be the last.

Website by