While the stages haven't been taken down yet -- they still have two more weekends to go (the metal mayhem of The Big 4 with Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax next Saturday, and the country carousal of Stagecoach with Loretta Lynn, Wanda Jackson, k.d. lang, etc. at the end of the month) -- Coachella's turn on the Empire Polo grounds ended this year with the bang of fireworks during Kanye West's closing set Sunday night.
Even though I had to complete this adventure alone, I'd have to say that this was the most efficiently run and nicely balanced festival of the half-dozen-plus I've attended. Admittedly, when they first announced the lineup, I was underwhelmed, but as I travelled from stage to stage and tent to tent this weekend, it became apparent that Paul Tollett and his Goldenvoice crew really chose wisely this year.
Even though I had to complete this adventure alone, I'd have to say that this was the most efficiently run and nicely balanced festival of the half-dozen-plus I've attended. Admittedly, when they first announced the lineup, I was underwhelmed, but as I travelled from stage to stage and tent to tent this weekend, it became apparent that Paul Tollett and his Goldenvoice crew really chose wisely this year.
There is something quite special about being able to see combinations -- like Trampled By Turtles to Bomba Estéreo to Foals or Wiz Khalifa to CSS to Angus and Julia Stone -- all within the framework of an hour or two. It's that never-ending variance of quality live acts that has made this festival the sell-out-in-just-a- few-days juggernaut that it has become. With so many acts to choose from daily, it's cool to know that everyone's plate at the musical buffet is a uniquely configured combination. Mine on Sunday started with my only trip over to the Oasis Dome to see L.A. DJ TOKiMONSTA (aka Jennifer Lee). Playing above the crowd in what was designed as a treehouse, she had a sizable group of kids dancing in the midday sun.
Then it was off to see cheeky Brazilian rockers CSS, whose singer Lovefoxxx (Luísa Matsushita) rolled around the stage in a red matador outfit before stripping down to jean shorts and a t-shirt. Next it was over to Wiz Khalifa, who drew, by far, the biggest afternoon crowd of the weekend on the main stage. I was too late to get into the pit to take photos, but it's always fun to see that many people doing call-and-response while waving their hands in the air. As I weaved my way through the massive congregation of bodies while he played the hit song "Black and Yellow," I must have been captured on no less than 75 different cell phone videos. I'm sure I'm on Facebook pages across the nation and beyond by now.
Next it was off to catch Australian brother-sister duo Angus and Julia Stone at the Gobi, then back to watch Nas and Damian Marley play a set that had Danny DeVito doing a weird little shimmy-shakin' jig to in the crowd. Following that, I went over to catch the surprisingly moderately attended Ben Harper side-project Fistful of Mercy. As his wife, Laura Dern, and pal Rosanna Arquette can attest, it was a mistake to sleep on that one, as Mr. Harper and the boys were on fire. L.A. indie rockers Best Coast were next, and singer Beth Cosentino offered the crowd some useful encouragement -- "When I was 17, I came to Coachella. When I was 18, I came to Coachella. When I was 19, I came to Coachella. Now I'm 24 and I'm playing Coachella. So anyone out there with a dream, just stick to it and this could be you."
I then made my way over to the Mojave tent to see Danish DJ/composer Trentemøller, who was playing with a full band and had odd orange strips adorning the stage that weren't taken down until a few songs into the set. Thought there would be some kind of use for them later, but no dice. By the time I came out of the Mojave, a beautiful desert breeze had taken over the festival and didn't leave for the rest of the night, making it the most -- weatherwise -- enjoyable evening of the three-day affair.
Then it was off to see cheeky Brazilian rockers CSS, whose singer Lovefoxxx (Luísa Matsushita) rolled around the stage in a red matador outfit before stripping down to jean shorts and a t-shirt. Next it was over to Wiz Khalifa, who drew, by far, the biggest afternoon crowd of the weekend on the main stage. I was too late to get into the pit to take photos, but it's always fun to see that many people doing call-and-response while waving their hands in the air. As I weaved my way through the massive congregation of bodies while he played the hit song "Black and Yellow," I must have been captured on no less than 75 different cell phone videos. I'm sure I'm on Facebook pages across the nation and beyond by now.
Next it was off to catch Australian brother-sister duo Angus and Julia Stone at the Gobi, then back to watch Nas and Damian Marley play a set that had Danny DeVito doing a weird little shimmy-shakin' jig to in the crowd. Following that, I went over to catch the surprisingly moderately attended Ben Harper side-project Fistful of Mercy. As his wife, Laura Dern, and pal Rosanna Arquette can attest, it was a mistake to sleep on that one, as Mr. Harper and the boys were on fire. L.A. indie rockers Best Coast were next, and singer Beth Cosentino offered the crowd some useful encouragement -- "When I was 17, I came to Coachella. When I was 18, I came to Coachella. When I was 19, I came to Coachella. Now I'm 24 and I'm playing Coachella. So anyone out there with a dream, just stick to it and this could be you."
I then made my way over to the Mojave tent to see Danish DJ/composer Trentemøller, who was playing with a full band and had odd orange strips adorning the stage that weren't taken down until a few songs into the set. Thought there would be some kind of use for them later, but no dice. By the time I came out of the Mojave, a beautiful desert breeze had taken over the festival and didn't leave for the rest of the night, making it the most -- weatherwise -- enjoyable evening of the three-day affair.
I ended my evening, and festival, with a triple bill of Duran Duran (who made good and bad choices with a tribute to Bond composer John Barry and a cover of "Poker Face," respectively), the Strokes (who sounded great after the long hiatus), and PJ Harvey (my personal favorite of the weekend and just an outright amazing and gracious performer). It was another good day among three of them. So, thank you, Coachella, for another great weekend of music and enjoyable times. And, thank you, for some of the nicer little moments as well: the girl who deeply worried her friends by seemingly passing out from heat exhaustion, only to end up laughing hysterically as soon as the paramedics arrived; watching Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, armed with two cans of beer, gleefully bounce into the One Day as a Lion crowd; wandering into those strange, sonic patches on the polo grounds where the music from two stages give your ears some of the weirder mash-ups you've ever heard; the Transformer-esque stage manipulation, complete with lights and science-center soundtrack; and Katy Perry pinching asses in the photo pit.
Even though I feel like I've been in a fight with Mike Tyson where all he did is punch my feet, I'd gladly come back for another round next weekend, but, like everyone else, I guess I'll have to wait to see you again next year.
Even though I feel like I've been in a fight with Mike Tyson where all he did is punch my feet, I'd gladly come back for another round next weekend, but, like everyone else, I guess I'll have to wait to see you again next year.
Blogger Scott McDonald covers music in San Diego for a few different publications and is the editor of Eight24.com
