For some, Memorial Day weekend is a time for backyard BBQs and the first beach trips of the season, while for others, it means three days of music and wine with a hundred-thousand of their closest friends at the 2016 BottleRock Music Festival in Napa.

On paper, this year's lineup for BottleRock Music Festival in Napa may have seemed a tad milquetoast, but come the day of the event, this wasn't the case. The various stages built across the Napa Expo fairgrounds gave concertgoers an easy time of dashing from act to act, and the smaller line-up meant longer sets and a chance for most of the artists on stage to really shine. In a time where discourse on the appalling lack of female headliners at festivals has reached a fever pitch in the music journalism world, let it be noted that BottleRock bucked the trend by having the supremely talented Florence + the Machine close out the event’s second night. Two sub-headliner acts – Rodrigo & Gabriela and The Lumineers – also featured female artists, and Friday night brought diversity in the form of Lenny Kravitz ceding the mainstage to Stevie Wonder.

Yes, there were plenty of frat brothers in tank tops and a bevy of cringe-inducing sunburns throughout the weekend, but while BottleRock may still not have the cache of older siblings like Outside Lands or Treasure Island, it is definitely maturing into a destination worthy event. In celebration of BottleRock’s fourth year, we decided to honor the 2016 installment with a series of superlatives to recap the festival.

Best Sweat-Inducing Hip-Hop Set
The Pharcyde
Playing a late afternoon slot on Saturday, The Pharcyde had to contend with a crowd at the apex of its sun exposure. The Los Angeles crew did its best, running through many of its best numbers, including its biggest hit, the Beastie Boy-sampling “Drop.” While members Fat Lip and Slimkid3 are no longer active in the group, The Pharcyde brought with them an admirable energy that carried the heat drenched fans at the Midway stage through to the blessed relief of early evening. Still, seeing the crew and hearing the familiar strains of singles like “Passin’ Me By” and “Runnin’” did invoke a bittersweet desire to have seen The Pharcyde back when they were still at full strength.

Best Party of the Weekend
Gorgol Bordello
How do you dance to Gogol Bordello? The answer, at least for the mainstage BottleRock crowd that caught the Gypsy punk band’s set on Saturday, was “however you want.” There was skanking, there was high steps, and more generally, there was merriment. Lead singer Eugene Hutz embraced his role as a Romani Iggy Pop. Shirtless and ripe with chaos, he goaded a sluggish crowd into action. The music itself, a wonderful blend of punk song structure and attitude with the gypsy sound of Django Reinhardt on amphetamines was just what the doctored ordered. It’s a shame Hutz doesn’t offer lessons, as many of the weekend’s other acts could’ve used a refresher in how to own a stage.
Best Time to Give in to Your Heatstroke
The Lumineers
Perplexingly, one of the most crowded sets all weekend was Sunday’s sub-headliner performance from twee folk outfit The Lumineers. There were selfies and slopping kisses aplenty when then band launched into “Ho Hey,” but the show was in large part a snooze. The Lumineers are the skinny chai soy latte of music, a bland dilution of harmonies and strings. There was no spark to be found in their incredibly lengthy 90-minute set, which was especially hard to fathom given that Ozomatli, playing opposite the group on the Midway stage, was given half the time. It was a good time for a sun-soaked nap, especially late on the festival’s third day. Many succumbed and those who didn’t were rightly jealous.
Best Cameo Appearance
Robert Trujillo with Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rodrigo y Gabriela were already well into a remarkably tight and captivating set when they brought out Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. The two guitarists had the Midway crowd jumping, which was no small feat given the Red Hot Chili Peppers were due to take the main stage momentarily. Still, those who stayed were treated to an incredible collaboration as Trujillo laid down some thunderous bass during covers of Metallica’s “Orion” and “Battery.” Gabriela’s ability to emulate percussion with her knuckles and Rodrigo’s scintillating Latin guitar lines were already a highlight, but the added power of Trujillo turned their set into something truly special.


Best Now That’s What I Call Music Throwback
Lenny Kravitz
There were no wardrobe malfunctions for Lenny Kravitz this time around, just slick guitar jams and far too many singalongs. Watching Kravitz, it was surprising to see just how many hits he’s amassed in his long career. Familiar cuts like “Are You Going to Go My Way,” “American Woman” (a cover of Canadian outfit The Guess Who), and “Fly Away” all resonated with the fans, but on the latter, Kravitz refused to say the chorus, instead deferring to an audience that would much have preferred for him to sing his own damn song. Kravitz may have some gravitas as a guitarist, but as a performer, his set felt cookie-cutter, a “shut up and play the hits” autopilot run before cashing his check. Fly away, indeed.
Best Wake Up Call
Fantastic Negrito
“Damn." That was the word on many fans' lips after watching Xavier Dphrepaulezz, aka Fantastic Negrito, slay an early Friday set. During his performance, Negrito spoke about Oakland mothers burying their children, played a mournful reworking of “In the Pines / Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” and represented his hometown admirably. A dapper dresser with pristine pipes, Negrito’s songs cut through the heat and went straight to the heart of all who were gathered in the canopied auspices of the Miner Family stage. With a new album due for release this week, it was a true pleasure to see the Oaklander get the reception and respect he has long deserved.
Best Way to Celebrate the Warriors’ Game 6 Win
Florence + the Machine
It was the best of times and the worst of times. With five minutes left in the Warrior’s must-win game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, more than a few BottleRock attendees were bent over smartphones, sweating out the score. Above them, Florence Welch and her band, the Machine, were giving the best performance of the weekend, a soaring celebration of love, perseverance, and Florence’s otherworldly voice. When the Warriors found a way to win, it was to the rollicking “Shake It Out.” As the song concluded, a chant of “Warriors!” broke out in the crowd, as grateful fans could stand at ease and take in a truly dominant performance from a group that is clearly headliner material.
Worst DJ Set
Stevie Wonder
When Stevie Wonder was playing his many iconic hits, things were great. For an hour, this was the case during Wonder’s Friday night headlining set – and then he decided to become a DJ. “Just call me DJ Tick Tock Boom,” he told the crowd before launching into a 25-minute stretch where he simply played studio recordings of other peoples’ music. In a defacto “in memorium” segment, Wonder played Prince, Bowie, and The Eagles. Seeing him cover any of those artists would’ve been incredible; listening to a crowd of drunk white people mumble their way through “Hotel California” while Wonder – sorry, DJ Tick Tock Boom – stood stationary was less than ideal. Closer “Superstition” helped to ease the pain, but the damage was done.
Best Surprise Find
The Struts
Luke Spiller didn’t dress for the heat – he dressed for glory. The lead singer of The Struts took the stage in a gold and black sparkling blouse and started a fire all his own. The Struts are English glam rock at its finest: part Queen, part Oasis, and all sneers and over the top hooks. Many may not have known the band before seeing them at BottleRock, but I overheard one festivalgoer tell his friend that they should travel to Detroit to catch a Struts gig taking place next month. It’s not as crazy as it sounds – these guys were bonkers in the best way, able to work the crowd into a tizzy and armed with a series of songs that seemed destined for the charts. One doubts they’ll be playing in the daytime for long.
Best College Déjà Vu
Death Cab for Cutie
Sure, it wasn’t the most captivating setlist Ben Gibbard and company have ever assembled, but the beauty of seeing Death Cab for Cutie live overshadowed any grievances over the song choices. Relying heavily on songs from their hit-and-miss most recent albums Codes and Keys and Kintsugi, the musicianship was there but at a disconnect. Then came “I Will Possess Your Heart,” “Soul Meets Body,” and “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” and all was right. The most joyous moment was set closer “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” a song not often played and a gorgeous ode to love and longing set in the splendor of Big Sur. It was a reminder of why Death Cab continues to draw crowds and be ferociously defended by certain writers. They just have that magic.

Quick Hits:

- The Red Hot Chili Peppers gave props to Stevie Wonder with a spot-on cover of "Higher Ground."

- BottleRock making festivalgoers throw away canned sunscreen does not seem like a move that highlights safety.

- All weekend long, the Williams-Sonoma Culinary stage brought bizarre combinations of chefs and celebrities to the stage to cook together. Green Day's Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool helped Iron Chef Morimoto break down a massive tuna fish, while Cheech and Chong took the stage smoking a joint and looking very confused about their purpose.

- Worst clothing item of the festival goes to a woman wearing a black "Champagne is My Spirit Animal" tanktop. Just no. 

- Many artists mentioned the importance of voting during their sets, with Wonder betraying his allegiance when he said it was "probably time for a female president." 

- There was plenty of good wine, but the most refreshing elixir goes to Anchor Brewing's Mango Wheat beer. Mmmmmm.