TEMPE, AZ | Innings Festival took to Tempe Beach Park for the 7th year in a row. Founded in 2018, the festival combines the first weekend of MLB Spring Training with music, creating one of the more unique festival experiences. While the festival has had some legendary headliners in the past, this year makes a strong case for the best lineup in Innings Festival history.
Spanning genres across the board, the bill offered something for everyone and covered a wide range of decades as well. From artists who released their first album in 1984 to 2022, the program was one of the most diverse I have seen. The festival features five main attractions, two music stages, a baseball themed stage, speed pitch, and batting cages. The baseball stage, Left Field, was hosted by Off the Mound, a podcast presented by former baseball star Ryan Dempster. Ryan was joined by a mix of current and veteran players who fans could interact with. There were two music stages—Home Plate and Right Field—spread out with numerous vendors and stands for whatever the patrons needed. Innings Festival is an event folks traveled far and wide for, enticed by good weather and even better company.
2:00 PM: I kicked off Friday’s coverage with The Beaches at Right Field. The Beaches are a Canadian rock band formed in 2013. The group set the bar high for the rest of the day early in their set. The all female band perfectly balances attitude with their pop alternative-indie tunes. The band clearly enjoys what they’re doing, and early festival goers were treated to The Beaches and a sunny 77 degree Arizona day. I am quite confident everyone who experienced that set went home and searched The Beaches if they hadn’t heard of them yet. If they did, they would see that the ladies have been going viral on Tik Tok for a bit now, and I would imagine they will have a lot more viral moments in their future.
2:50 PM: Bully took to Home Plate while the sun was high on the crowd. Bully is the solo project of songwriter and guitarist Alicia Bognanno. Alicia plays with a band mixing hip-hop and rap with grunge influenced tones. Bully is very upbeat, creating momentum for the festival as the day went on. Alicia has been releasing music since 2013, and most recently released an album Lucky for You in 2023. Bully’s sound is a throwback to the ’90s, mixed with a more modern, alternative sound. With the pairing, the group has a wide range of fans.
3:35 PM: Back to Right Field for Matt and Kim. The couple took to the stage for their first show of 2024. Matt and Kim released their first album in 2009, and have not released an album since 2018. But don’t let the years fool you—Matt and Kim play like each show is their last. Smiles, jumping around, interacting with the audience—you would think Matt and Kim were completely new to the stage. It’s almost as if the more than a decade of playing live music has had no effect on them, and they could go on for another 30 years. They also make a lot of noise for two people—and at only 3:30 on day one—the Innings Festival was already off to a phenomenal start. Matt and Kim primarily play drums and a keyboard and fall beneath the broad alternative/indie genre.
4:40 PM: 311 took to the Home Plate, playing to a well warmed up crowd. 311, best known for their tune”Amber,” have a lot more to offer than their number one most streamed song. Frontman Nick Hexum has only gotten better as the years go on. Releasing their first album in 1995, 311 has obviously been around for quite some time. With a unique mix of reggae, funk, and metal, the band more than earns their later time slot in the day at most festivals. From their sound to the distinctive instruments they play, 311 is a band that certainly stands out. 311 recently released Music in 2023 which is the 30th anniversary and expanded edition of their original 1993 album.
5:45 PM: Phantogram took to Right Field while the sun was ever so slowly leaving its place high above festivalgoers. Phantogram is a NYC-based duo who started releasing music in 2010. Self-defined as street beat and psych-pop, the pair has an almost otherworldly sound. Featuring multiple instruments, Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter are very involved when they play. They were a great compliment to the other bands on the bill, bringing a very unique synth based sound to the experience.
6:50 PM: As the sun was really starting to set, Greta Van Fleet took to Home Plate. Renowned for bringing back an original classic rock sound, Greta Van Fleet certainly has an old soul. There is no one playing like they play right now—and they’re even better live. Influenced by one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Led Zeppelin, GVF has brought the hard rock sound to an entirely new generation. Bridging the gap between age groups, GVF is a perfect example of music bringing people together. The band stands for a lot of things, but they largely emphasize the idea of peace and unity at their shows. Greta Van Fleet has redefined classic rock and roll, and applied it to the modern world.
8:10 PM: The penultimate group, Jimmy Eat World played Right Field as the day was coming to a close. The hometown band took to the stage not far from where they were formed in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1993, Jimmy Eat World has had tremendous success over the years. It’s a very special thing to a band who have played for as long as Jimmy Eat World have, and to experience the breadth of their discography. The group is playing alongside Fall Out Boy into 2024, and has not shown any signs of slowing down.
9:15 PM: Back to Home Plate for the day one headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s near impossible to describe what RHCP has done for music, and is continuing to do to this day. The group that holds the most number-one singles (15), entirely lives up to their reputation and then some. It is remarkable to see a band founded in the 1980s standing the test of time and headlining a music festival in early 2024.
Deservingly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012, RHCP are known for mixing funk and pop rock into a new upbeat, positive sound. Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante look like they could go another 40 years. They still have just as much fun and energy as one would imagine. With their run, there is no telling when they will hang it up for good. To see them live after the journey they have had was an unforgettable experience.
BEACHES
BULLY
MATT AND KIM
311
PHANTOGRAM
GRETA VAN FLEET
JIMMY EAT WORLD
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
INNINGS FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 23, 2024
