On Saturday, Aug. 22, Pasadena’s annual alternative and indie-rock festival Just Like Heaven (JLH) returned to the Rose Bowl. Headlined by major names like The Strokes, TV Girl and LCD Soundsystem, the event brought more than 30,000 fans together for a day of music and nostalgia (although the sweltering summer heat felt like the opposite of “heaven”). With multiple stages, DJ booths and a diverse musical lineup, the festival offered something for everyone.
Last October, I attended Austin City Limits (ACL), a music festival in Texas, so I had some idea of what to expect for this festival. ACL felt like a city within a city, with huge crowds spread about a huge park. JLH, meanwhile, felt much more concentrated due to the smaller venue, and, much to my dismay, everyone’s body heat radiating onto another. The sun was relentless, and finding shade felt like its own activity. Cell service was spotty, which made coordinating with a group pretty difficult. When everyone wanted to see different artists, buy (insanely overpriced) food or locate a bathroom, keeping track of “just a few” friends became a game of hide-and-seek.
Still, the music made the difficulties worthwhile. As a superfan of The Strokes, my good mood persisted. Even though the band performed a few days earlier at another show in Japan, they still delivered a killer set. The show felt especially intimate, and it was awesome to see my favorite musicians perform in the middle of my hometown.
The Strokes recently released a new album, “Reality Awaits,” and its unique sound received more than a little criticism. The crowd was noticeably less enthusiastic during songs like “Lonely in the Future,” especially when compared to the mass excitement for familiar classics such as “Hard to Explain.” It was an notable reminder that festival-goers, especially at shows like JLH, often come for feelings of nostalgia rather than musical discovery.
However, this was not the case for everyone. For fellow attendee Lilah McConnell, a senior at Poly, LCD Soundsystem ended up being the highlight of the night, despite her original excitement for TV Girl. “Being in the crowd during their set was really special,” said McConnell. “It was something fun to dance to with all of my friends, even if I didn’t know all the songs before.”
McConnell also emphasized the festival’s importance to Pasadena. “It was really cool to see how many people came out,” she said. “There were so many different types of people and different ages all coming together.”
All in all, Just Like Heaven was a success. Not only did it show the Rose Bowl’s capability to bring together generations of fans, but it also provided a getaway for music lovers, if only for a day.
