Gracie Abrams' Outside Lands performance had one unexpected VIP
Perched in a VIP suite overlooking the Lands End stage on Saturday, Aug. 9,, the longtime San Francisco congresswoman appeared fully immersed in the music, mouthing every word to fan favorites like 'I Miss You, I'm Sorry' and Abrams' viral 2024 single 'That's So True.'
Wearing a bright yellow leather jacket and black slacks, Pelosi leaned forward against the metal balcony railing for most of the set, a subtle but unmistakable presence at the heart of San Francisco's marquee music festival.
Pelosi wasn't alone. Her husband, Paul, sat on a stool nearby — seemingly less engaged — alongside several younger members of their family, many clad in coordinating gray fuzzy hoodies. At one point, the Speaker was seen casually munching from a bag of popcorn, further blending into the laid-back energy of the crowd.
Abrams took the festival's main stage at 6:55 p.m., offering a mellow and introspective set that, while drawing a devoted crowd, was notably smaller than the one that turned out for rapper Doechii on the same stage the night before.
Opening with the upbeat 'Risk,' the lead single from her 2024 sophomore album 'The Secret of Us,' Abrams eased into a lineup of slower, emotionally charged tracks, including 'Friend,' 'Free Now' and the unreleased piano ballad 'Death Note.'
For much of the performance, the audience sang along softly — Pelosi among them — more attuned to the music's sentiment than to movement. But energy lifted in the final moments, as Abrams closed with her breakout hits 'That's So True' and 'Close to You,' finally coaxing some dancing from the crowd.
'I've never been to Outside Lands before,' Abrams told the audience. 'I feel really lucky being with all of you here tonight.'
The 24-year-old singer-songwriter, daughter of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens 'director J.J. Abrams, has quickly risen in the pop ranks. Her stardom accelerated after she joined select dates of Taylor Swift's record-shattering Eras Tour — including two nights at Levi's Stadium in 2023.
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