The rain finally clocked in. Warm drizzle at gates, a quick dump over the boards, then on-off showers that turned ponchos into dance partners. Shuttles keep moving, security hands out waters like a pit crew, and the rail stays polite but loud. Day two is what festival life is all about; ponchos and vibes.
We start with Bumpin’ Uglies and the sand loosens up. It feels like a bar crowd agreeing to become a choir: easy sway, then bounce. They wink at the weather opening with “Dancing in the Rain,” and the sing-backs ride across puddles while phones hide under brims.
Guitars chime and the photo pit fills for Wheatus. Jason Biggs steps out to introduce them, a perfect full circle nod to the “Teenage Dirtbag” video he starred in. “Tipsy” and “Fourteen” warm the hands, “A Little Respect” gets the harmonies right, and “Teenage Dirtbag” does what it always does with no prompt, a full voice chorus bleeding past the food stands. You can see security smiling at the sound.
Natasha Bedingfield turns ponchos into capes. “Love Like This” and “Pocketful of Sunshine” shake water off shoulders, “These Words” puts the bounce back in the middle, and “Unwritten” becomes a hands-high reset. Instead of shrinking under rain, the field climbs.
En Vogue arrive precise and playful at the same time. “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” snaps the grid into time, “Give It Up, Turn It Loose” keeps it light on its feet, then “Whatta Man” and “Free Your Mind” push the aisles into motion while lenses fog and wipe in rhythm.
Good Charlotte hits like a time capsule that plays bigger in weather. “The Anthem,” “Girls & Boys,” “Hold On,” “Little Things” all land large, all punch through drizzle, and the back fence takes a few steps forward and decides to stay there.
Vampire Weekend are breezy and exact, like the weather finally met its match. “Mansard Roof,” “Holiday,” “White Sky,” “Unbelievers,” “This Life” build a clean arc that makes a poncho crowd feel like a summer matinee with extra chorus. Phones up. Feet light.
Noah Kahan closes with headliner calm in a wet night. “All My Love,” “Everywhere, Everything,” “She Calls Me Back,” “Homesick,” “Maine” stack quiet-to-big in a way that turns soggy into soft focus. By the last chorus, the shoreline is one voice and the rain feels like part of the lighting rig.
From ponchos at load-in to sneakers squishing at load-out, day two proves the crowd is not going anywhere. Sets keep people planted, singalongs pop without coaching, and the back fence keeps edging forward until it stops being a back fence at all. Safe, loud, very much together.
Photos: T. Cody Strubel / Rock Documented – Oceans Calling Day 2
