Live Shots: Over 60 open-air SF Porchfest acts dispelled the June gloom

The June gloom had gently dispersed by 1pm one Saturday afternoon in the Mission District, as if nudged into a balmier state by the musicians and music fans who crowded the sidewalks, porch steps, driveways, and street corners for SF Porchfest. A mostly annual concern (with occasional time off for pandemic distancing and life stuff), the event was one of around 200 bespoke satellite festivals nationwide inspired by the original in Ithaca, New York. 

After a college friend of Beth Gould organized a Porchfest in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Gould took on the challenge and in 2015, she landed the first edition in the Mission. This year, with 13 confirmed stages and over 60 acts, music lovers could avail themselves of nearly every possible kind of music, presented in all manners of portals.

It was so hard to choose among the performances! But I enjoyed my time with soloists à la the personable RadFlute—who scored a spot in front of the Mission’s newest gelateria, Hila—duos such as the esoteric YaM (Yeung and McClure), holding it down on Lexington, and sprawling ensembles like the high-spirited cover band the Bogues, and the Fancy Monkeys, who played earnest originals inflected with solid, catchy melodies.

I was especially glad to catch a full set by the rightfully lauded Mae Powell, whose Jolie Holland-reminiscent vocals wove a friendly spell over the late afternoon, the tail end of Wall of Fog featuring the incredible sax chops of Rent Romus, and a tight-knit punkabilly duo Lost Puppy Forever, who dressed up like Aliens, gave out dog treats, and sang about pizza. What’s not to love?