September 27th, 2024
Ohana Fest - Doheny State Park
Dana Point, California

Setlist. . .
Lowlight/Sometimes/Corduroy/Got Some/Scared of Fear/Dark Matter/Daughter/Even Flow/Wreckage/Who Ever Said/Amongst The Waves/Waiting for Stevie/Habit/Leaving Here/Porch
Encore. . .
Future Days/Whale Song/Do the Evolution/Alive/Rockin' in the Free World/Yellow Ledbetter

---

We flew into Orange County the day before, arriving later in the afternoon/early evening. After getting our rental car, we headed to our hotel. We were staying close to the venue...pretty much the closest hotel to the "venue" (aka the PARK). As we got closer to our hotel, windows rolling down, we realized we could hear LIVE MUSIC by our favorite artist... one Mr. Edward Vedder. And what was he playing? COME ON! Sitting On the Dock Of the Bay - it didn't feel real. We pulled off to a parking lot near the beach and got out to wait for more but appears we were too late. It was still magical and a warm welcome to California!

We got to our hotel and were amazed by the sheer size of it - it did NOT appear to be that large. We had driven by it last time we went to Ohana...deceivingly small from the outside. Got to our room and needed grub...BAD. So we went to the rooftop bar and what a debacle in itself. Worst. Service. Ever. But we were hungry and the food wasn't bad.

Woke up the next day ready to take on Ohana. Headed to the venue. Bit of a blur when you start thinking about it months after a 3 day festival...but we waited for merch bc the line wasn't too bad. Cause MERCH. I also got a $10 Amazon gift card while waiting in line for taking a survey. AMAZING.

Met up with Rich and originally we thought we would stand with him for the show and even though it was upper 60s at that point, the sun was beating on us and it was hot as balls. Ridiculously hot. My bum ankle was already bothering me and we decided to abandon ship and be in a more chill spot. We made our way to the back of the grass to the palm trees where we ended up staying for the entire day. We had some good folks around us, an older couple and a family. And then randomly at some point, I saw Julie right in front of me. AGAIN, the magic of PJ shows. It doesn't take much to bump into friends. <3

Saw a lot of decent acts this day. Was floored by how hyped people were for Dogstar. Ryan Beaty was solid. Crowded House, wonderful. Maren Morris was great. But then it was time for Pearl Jam and I could no longer enjoy my ass in the grass. I had to stand.

I learned a long time ago to not set any expectations. Don't get your heart set on any particular song. Be here for the journey. And these shows at Ohana were a journey.

Beautiful Lowlight to open. Wreckage sounded great. Didn't really think we'd hear any Gigaton songs but there ya go...we did. And YES!!! Amongst the Waves...I say no expectations but come on - you KNEW this HAD to come. LOVE!

Habit? NEVER would've imagined. But even more than that? FREAKING WHALE SONG?!??!?!? WITH ZACK IRONS?!??!??! AHHHHH!!!!

What amazed me is that I haven't actively listened to Whale Song in a long, long time. And NO, it's not off Lost Dogs you nincompoop CHILDREN (I talked to some guy while waiting for wine the next night and he shrugged his shoulders about the song and mentioned it was off LOST DOGS, dumbass). So ANYWAY, I hadn't actively listened to it in a long time - but I knew every damn word. When I was in my teens man, I'm not joking, I LOVED Jack Irons. LOVED! I know I listened to that song on repeat a ridiculous amount of times. Ah, to be a teenager in the 90s...

Overall, great show, great time. Festivals suck, but Ohana DOES NOT.
 
 

12.27.24

---