Innings Festival 2024 Day Two - Third Eye Blind, Macklemore, Hozier, and Take the Stage
Day two of Innings Festival was another perfect depiction that you really can have it all! Music and baseball fandom in one centralized location - why not? The lineup for the second day was just as stacked as the initial day. Simultaneously guests jetted from stage to stage for the never-ending music with one of the best lineups to date of the fest.
Photo courtesy of: Charles Reagan for Innings festival 2024 Innings Festival
Brands such as Espolon Tequila, Corona, Sierra Nevada, (and more) had their activations and provided a small retreat from the shade, but no one truly maximized the space like JaM Cellars. JaM Cellars, a new partnership for the festival, provided the perfect in-between stage destination. Complete with photo opportunities, lounge chairs with the background of “Hey! Butter Butter!” JaM Cellars had it all. Before this partnership, Innings Festival didn’t have a wine sponsor, so the addition to the beverage options was well-received.
Cautious Clay:
Cautious Clay is a true artist and has talents beyond the microphone. He gave new fans an inside look at his multi-layered talents such as playing flute, and saxophone, and of course, added commentary to ease the mood of the heat-barring crowd. At one point, the artists asked for guests to toss beach volleyballs to the stage between singles.
Young The Giant provided a bit of a wake-up call:
Young the Giant never seems to disappoint. The beloved band began their set list with their single “Wake Up,” which sort of seemed to work a smidge. At one point frontman, Sameer Gadhia joked with the crowd that the current time was going to be the “peak of energy” for the day. What was once a crowd laying on blankets sprawling the home plate stage, soon became an energetic crowd just looking for a reason.
Gadhia, creator of the new Sirius XM podcast “Point of Origin,” which is “dedicated to amplifying voices of color from around the world while challenging the homogenous narrative in alternative and indie rock music,” (per Variety) has always pushed the envelope. The band's latest album, American Bollywood, shines a light on Gadhia’s upbringing and leans into the cultural infusion of his heritage, and rightfully so. Although the set fell short of playing all of the beloved hits (i.e.: “My Apartment”) the hour set was a much-needed pick me up from the midday slump.
Macklemore:
Macklemore had the crowd hyped! Photo courtesy of: Dusana Risovic for Innings Festival
Macklemore may have been one of the most underrated sets through the grumbles from the crowd, however, he did not disappoint. Other than being about 7 minutes late to a pretty prompt schedule. Fans began to grow irritated waiting for the artist to hit the stage, but he made it worth the wait. Most of the set was a bit of talking between hits with some encouragement and thought-provoking stance including the current matters at hand. “Art in its purest form is resistance,” Macklemore said as he raised attention and he encouraged “Free-Palestinian.” “I stand here with the message of liberty and equality for all human beings. Not being focused on our separate identities but what brings us together as humans,” he continued. “Don't get it twisted, it will always be the message (and) the message is love.” Macklemore continued to spread love and positivity in the set and encouraged attendees to speak up for matters that are happening in the world today.
Third Eye Blind:
Third Eye Blind! Photo courtesy of: Ismael Quintanilla III for Innings
Seeing Third Eye Blind on the bill brought much anticipation and joy. The beginning of the set began with a lower energy, but as soon as hits from their debut album were played the stage beamed with energy. The crowd began getting a bit rowdy (in the best way possible) when “Graduate” played. However, frontman Stephan Jenkins coyly mentioned the next song was more of a “sing-a-long,” before leading in the last two songs of the evening, “Jumper,” and “Semi-Charmed Life.” The crowd belted at the top of their lungs as the sea of people jumped up and down through the nostalgia-filled tunes. Strangers connected with neighboring festival-goers as a sense of unity took over while singing “Semi-Charmed Life.”
Hozier took the crowd to church:
Photo courtesy of: Roger Ho for Innings Festival 2024
As the evening and festival were coming to a close, the Irish-born singer led a heavy two-hour set filled with powerful vocals and chilling instrumentals. Even after a long weekend of dust and heat, the crowd swayed and stayed until the very last chord was struck.
Innings Festival continues to make a name for itself in the festival circuit. For its 6th year, the festival has immensely grown and has drawn in a more diverse crowd than previous years. Next weekend will be Extra Innings, the festival's first take on a double-hitter complete with a more country-inspired lineup.
*Cover photo courtesy of: Dusana Risovic for Innings Festival
