Day one at Innings Festival was nothing short of a grand slam. Now in its sixth year, the heads behind Innings have officially put forth an undeniable setlist with heavy hitters and a re-introduction to the beloved grunge era with bands that fit to bill to a tee. Scroll below to read the highs and lows from the fest, which was a love letter to the 90s and rock lovers.

More space:

In previous years, the 2-day festival would struggle with spacing and generally over-crowded spaces; however, this year proved to be a newly expanded space. The overall flow of the festival was notably different and provided more areas to relax. In addition to the above, there was a new entrance to the festival which helped with crowd control. The improvements, thus far, are a much-needed step in the right direction.

More Food Options:

Phoenix has such a great culinary scene. There was a variety of food options in the selections this year that highlighted the great mix of food options the Phoenix area has to offer. There were returning vendors such as Pupusa Princess, El Jefe Tacos, and of course, Island Noodles, however, the main winner of the weekend appeared to be Danzeisen Creamery which offered a cool creamy treat to combat the hot temps. The beloved creamery drew a crowd at all hours of the day on both days of the weekend. New to the culinary lineup, Tot Box, which offered fresh hand-made tots that were crisped on the outside and soft on the inside. If you're a tator tot fan, these provided the perfect bite crowned with top-tier toppings such as brisket and crema. 

311:

All of the feels came out during 311’s performance. The millennial-heavy crowd belted out every word during the set as a sense of nostalgia took over. The band, who has been together for over three decades, prove that they’ve got star power and that some things just never change. The hour-long multi-genre fluid set was a tribute to the good old days, which sent festival-goers on a trip down memory lane with hit singles such as “Lovesong,” “Amber,” “Beautiful Disaster,” and “All Mixed Up,” as part of the setlist.

Matt & Kim deliver an NSFW performance:

Are you even at a Matt & Kim show if there aren’t sex dolls and toys flying around? The super energetic set from this duo never disappoints. “You know it's a good Matt and Kim show when shit is already breaking,” Kim stated about 10 minutes into the set. The duo ripped through their roster and even sprinkled on a bit of “Ms. Jackson,” by OutKast at some point. “I will realize at some point in my life I will not be able to do this anymore. So I'm taking a mental picture,” Matt shared as they encouraged guests to move closer. The heartfelt performance was a perfect mid-day pick-me-up! 

Greta Van Fleet proved that rock is not dead:

With talent and a stage presence as undeniable, Greta Van Fleet is an iconic rock band. Taking their wardrobe as seriously as their performance, the band hit the stage in sequined and bedazzled outfits, which had the crowd losing it. Not short on talent that is kept (mostly) in the family, the band is led by Josh Kiszka as lead vocalist, Jake Kiszka as lead guitarist, Sam Kiszka on bass guitar, and Danny Wagner on the drums. In all honesty, Greta Van Fleet can honestly be thought of as a newer fast-paced Led Zeppelin. 

The set at Innings proved to festival-goers that true rockstars do exist and that the band will be legendary for many years to come. From the guitar riffs from Jake (who at one point had just about a 10-minute solo during an outfit change for Josh) to the effortless belting and incredible vocal range, Greta Van Fleet was easily the best set of the weekend. Charged with love, the set featured sparkle bursts, fire, and even a multi-color rainbow light show which may be a nod to the LGBTQ community since coming out in the latter part of 2023, per Instagram according to Billboard. The set was filled with so much energy and was truly an otherworldly experience. 

Jimmy Eat World:

Fans left Greta Van Fleet with such a high that carried over into the Jimmy Eat World set. Although, some fans opted to utilize this time to refuel, the set by Jimmy Eat World. A local band playing a local show, Jimmy Eat World hammered out the classics in true fashion. Of course, the staples were there and the fans delivered carrying the tune. With Jimmy Eat World there is always a level of sweetness (see what I did there) to the set that will always be palatable. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers:

Red Hot Chili Peppers closed out day one of the festival with nothing short of stellar energy. The band, who have been making their festival rounds as of late, always seem to connect with the crowd uniquely and we’re thrilled to see it. The beloved band has a catalog of singles that connect with every crowd and this performance held. Although a slower pace to end the opening night, you can never go wrong with the classics. The almost two-hour set consisted of classics such as “Californication,” “By the Way,” “Tell Me Baby,” and of course “Scar Tissue,” “Give it Away,” and more. Guests frolicked in the streets of Mill Avenue as attendees left the festival on a new high.

Day one of Innings proved to be a great start to the sixth inception of the two-day festival. Day two of Innings Festival will bring even more MLB legends and discussions in addition to performances from Hozier, Cannons, Macklemore, Cautious Clay, Young the Giant, and more! 

Cover photo: Greta Van Fleet by Roger Ho for Innings Festival 2024