Kehlani performs at the Greek in Berkeley on June 23, 2017. STAFF file.

Every year, while I’m at Outside Lands, I do a column of five bands I think you should see at Outside Lands. You may have noticed that Outside Lands is next weekend, and yet my column of bands you should see is running this weekend, specifically, right now.

Well, you see, Halloween is also next weekend. And Halloween is better so it takes precedence. Sorry, organizers of the festival, but Halloween is the most wonderful time of the year.

Anyway, if you’re braving the crowds and the plague and possibly rain to go to the festival next weekend, here are some bands I think you should see. And I have impeccable taste so you should trust me. I even put them in chronological order for you.

The HU — “Wolf Totem”

First up is my favorite active Mongolian folk metal band, The HU. You may remember them from my review of The Metallica Blacklist, or possibly from their cover of Metallica’s “Sad But True” prior to that. And what’s amazing is that while I’m a huge Metallica fan, that’s not even what put them on my radar. But boy was I excited by it.

If you’re there, do not miss seeing one of your new favorite bands on the main stage at 1:15 p.m. Friday. If you’re not there, they’re playing Bimbo’s on Saturday night. Or if you’re going to neither, just click through the music videos on their YouTube page. But seriously: The HU.

Khruangbin — “Evan Finds the Third Room”

If you’re in San Francisco, in Golden Gate Park, and you don’t want to hear some psychedelic funk rock… I just don’t even know. Who are you?

I’m pretty sure Khruangbin was at the festival before, probably in 2017, and I remember them being good. But I liked their latest album and it’s thematically appropriate for the city and the vibe. So definitely check them out at 5:10 p.m. on the main stage. You don’t even have to go anywhere after you watch The HU, just chill and watch Trevor Daniel and Sharon Van Etten in the interim.

Rexx Life Raj — “Where I Belong”

On to Saturday. If you can show up relatively early and catch the 12:45 p.m. set at the Twin Peaks stage, you absolutely should. Rexx Life Raj is a local and is fantastic. He should have had a later time slot.

Additionally, while I like his music, beyond that he’s a great dude. Summer of 2020 we handed our platform over to Black artists from the Bay Area to let them say their piece and Raj was one of them and that conversation made me a fan for life. He’s a brilliant man and people should listen to what he has to say.

Lizzo — “Juice”

Of everyone at the festival, beyond even The HU, I’m most excited about Lizzo. I love Lizzo. She’s unspeakably amazing.

You’ll notice I didn’t actually link the video for “Juice.” You know that video, so you’re good. Instead I linked the video of her NPR Tiny Desk concert from 2019. You see, I have these 17 minutes bookmarked, and when I’m feeling down I take a break to watch it. It never fails to help.

Seriously, guys. Lizzo’s gonna be there.

Kehlani — “Nights Like This”

You know if I only get to pick one act from Sunday, I’m gonna take the one from Oakland.

She’s up against Sunday night headliner Tame Impala, but as far as you’re concerned she’s the headliner. Because Oakland. Maybe, maybe, I would pass on supporting a fellow East Bay native if it was an actual tame impala on the main stage and I got to pet it. Maybe. But Kevin Parker is not an actual impala so Kehlani it is.

Follow editor Daniel J. Willis and tweet column ideas to him at Twitter.com/BayAreaData.