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By Olivia Quintana, Host of So Far, So Good on KUCR 88.3FM

On August 22, Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was transformed into a paradise for indie music fans for the annual Just Like Heaven Festival. The all-day festival featured two main stages, the Orion Stage and the Stardust Stage, with performances happening throughout the day. Between sets, festivalgoers could sit on the grass, grab food ranging from poke to chicken tenders, while 21-plus attendees could visit bars offering drinks inspired by the festival’s “Just Like Heaven” theme. But the real attraction was the lineup, which included George Clanton, Twin Peaks, Dayglow, TV Girl, LCD Soundsystem, and The Strokes.

An additional factor I loved about this festival in particular was that there was plenty of grass and space to sit under the trees while still being able to watch performances. You could also bring your own blanket, which was especially helpful during an all-day festival when you needed a break from standing. However, if you plan to attend, don’t forget the sunscreen. The California sun was definitely something to prepare for, and by the afternoon, the heat was already taking its toll on the crowd.

The festival started with George Clanton, whose upbeat energy immediately set the tone for the day. I caught his performance at the Stardust Stage while walking through the festival, and the crowd was already jumping up and down. Even though the festival was just getting started, there was a strong sense of excitement in the crowd.

After George Clanton, Twin Peaks took the stage and hit me with a wave of nostalgia with the song “Blue Coupe.”  Their set was one of the performances I particularly enjoyed because they were very interactive with the audience. The band seemed comfortable feeding off the crowd’s energy, and people were jumping and dancing along with them. It felt like the kind of set that reminded you why live music is so different from simply listening to an album.

From there, I made my way over to the Orion Stage to catch Dayglow. Their energy was upbeat and kept the crowd moving. By around 5 p.m., however, the California heat was already taking its toll. Although the sun was beginning to set, the heat from the long day was still noticeable. The crowd seemed a little worn out from being outside all afternoon, but that changed once TV Girl took the stage. TV Girl’s performance was one of the most magnetic sets of the festival. Lead singer Brad Petering playfully acknowledged the popularity of one of their biggest songs, “Lovers Rock,” telling the crowd, “All right, everyone knows this one. It blew up on TikTok.” The comment was funny and self-aware, and the crowd immediately went crazy. People were jumping, singing, and dancing as the sun began to set behind the trees. “Louise,” another fan favorite, played in the background, creating one of those moments that felt almost perfectly timed for a festival. The combination of the music, the fading sunlight, and the crowd’s energy made the moment especially memorable. TV Girl also brought out George Clanton to perform “Summer 2000 Baby,” a personal favorite of mine. The collaboration made the performance even more memorable, especially because the two artists had previously worked together on their 2024 collaborative album Fauxllennium. Their chemistry onstage felt natural, and TV Girl made an effort to connect with the crowd between songs instead of simply moving from one track to the next. It was one of the performances where I felt the artists were genuinely enjoying themselves alongside the audience.

After settling into the festival, I decided it was time to head into VIP. There were  additional bars and seating areas, which made it a nice place to escape the crowds for a little while. However, getting to the media area was much more difficult than expected. Several staff and security members seemed unsure about where I needed to go and gave me conflicting directions. At one point, I ended up near a pit area that required a special wristband I did not have. I was pretty lost at this point, but I figured someone might be able to point me in the right direction.

Eventually, I ended up backstage, surrounded by stage equipment and crew members, while still trying to figure out where I was supposed to be. Although the experience was confusing, it also gave me a behind-the-scenes glimpse of everything happening around the festival that most attendees never get to see. It was definitely not the smoothest part of my day, but it became an unexpected part of the experience and made it all the better.

Then LCD Soundsystem took the Orion Stage, and the entire atmosphere changed.

The crowd was completely locked in from the beginning. They opened with “tonite,” and people immediately began dancing and singing. James Murphy’s stage presence was one of the highlights of the night. He commanded the stage while still feeling connected to the audience, making the performance feel less like watching a band and more like being pulled directly into their music.

My favorite performances of the night were “Home,” “Dance Yrself Clean,” and “All My Friends.” “Dance Yrself Clean” was especially immersive, while “Home” created a different kind of energy. The use of a disco ball and dimensional visuals added to the experience without taking away from the music. When they closed with “All My Friends,” the crowd completely erupted. Everyone around me was dancing, singing, and having a great time. After hours of being in the heat and on my feet, it was the kind of performance that made all the exhaustion worth it.

After LCD Soundsystem finished, there was finally enough space to sit down on the grass, grab some water from the festival’s water stations, and recover from the long day. About 30 minutes later, the final act of the night appeared: The Strokes. As soon as The Strokes took the Orion Stage, it felt like an entire wave of people moved toward the stage. The grass quickly filled with fans standing shoulder to shoulder, all waiting to see one of the most influential indie rock bands of the 2000s. The Strokes are an indie staple, and their position as the festival’s closing act made sense. This was the set that many people had been waiting for all day.

The band played recognizable favorites including “Hard to Explain,” “Reptilia,” and “You Only Live Once” to name a few,  along with newer material. One funny moment came during “Someday,” when Julian Casablancas forgot some of the lyrics. He apologized, corrected himself, and continued the song. Instead of ruining the performance, the mistake made the moment feel more genuine and human. The Strokes also incorporated laser effects into their set, adding another visual element. Even though their set had a different energy from LCD Soundsystem, the massive crowd showed just how much anticipation there was to see them. After a full day of performances, The Strokes were a fitting final act.

Overall, Just Like Heaven felt like more than just a concert. It was a full-day celebration of indie music, nostalgia, and the community that comes with the genre. Each artist brought something different to the festival, from George Clanton’s upbeat energy and Twin Peaks’ crowd interaction to TV Girl’s playful connection with its audience, LCD Soundsystem’s immersive dance-driven performance, and The Strokes’ status as one of the defining bands of indie rock. My biggest criticism was the California heat. By the evening, the heat had already worn down some of the crowd, and I think the festival would benefit from taking place during a cooler month rather than the peak of summer. Confusing directions from some staff also made navigating the VIP and media areas frustrating. Still, those issues did not take away from the overall experience.

Just Like Heaven is the kind of festival that indie fans should experience at least once. If you like bands such as The Strokes, TV Girl, LCD Soundsystem, or other nostalgic indie and alternative acts, this festival is definitely worth checking out. The combination of music, atmosphere, and a crowd that genuinely wants to be there makes it feel like a celebration of the indie scene itself.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

Would I go again? Absolutely. Just preferably with a little less California sun.

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