After five years of attending the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California, it should have been more apparent. It should have been more apparent that no one can catch all the music the festival has to offer. Even arriving a day earlier doesn't give enough of a warning to what is in store.
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Coachella Music and Arts Festival
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 Entertainment
Art
Empire Polo Field
Indio, CA.
April 27, 2007 - April 29, 2007
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There are parties that magazines host, and parties that festival goers throw. There are campers and there are hotel folk. Either way, the droves of people descend on a relatively little trafficked town in the middle of the desert for what has come to be known as the most premiere festival in the country. It even gets a nod from over the pond too.
In setting the stage to anyone who knows little to nothing about the festival, the valley itself should be mentioned. This little festival of tens of thousands is nestled in the Coachella Valley. It never seems to rain, and it never seems to dips to anything but the mid-80s during the day. Needless to say, if location, location, location is the most important aspect of any business, then this is the best palcement possible.
Now, when county fairs in Des Moines, Evanston, or Milwaukee shape up a bill, they call on old rockers ready to rock out acid washed jeans and mullets. That comment in no way puts down the county fairs in those cities. After all, I'm from Milwaukee myself and I've been known to indulge on Night Ranger or Whitesnake if the opportunity presents itself! Honestly though, Goldenvoice has it right. The operation has been responsible for showcasing the reunion of Jane's Addiction, the Pixies, and more. And the buzz surrounding the festival has grown to such major proportions that it's been extended to include another day, making it possible to offer more music and more capacity to enjoy to a wider audience.
Alas, over the span of a three-day festival of music and art, it's virtually impossible to take in everything. Even some of greatest acts get slotted in a time of day that would be the equivalent to walking on the surface of the sun, so it's necessary to save energy for the acts that would make all your friends jealous. It's okay. I'm no different actually. Regardless, it all started Friday...
Friday, April 27
Satellite Party - Whenever possible, it's quite necessary to see what Perry Farrell is currently doing. His new band, Satellite Party, is a perfect concoction of musical virtuosos that play cosmic music and bring a party to the equation. Even delving into the Jane's Addiction book of tricks with "Stop!" makes this new band a spectacle to behold. You might have caught them at Lollapalooza a few years back, but needless to say, when the record releases on May 15, it should change the world. Really.
Silversun Pickups - When a band has so much buzz surrounding them, the hipsters want to dislike them. Unfortunately, you can't dislike SSP. While their sound might best fit the clubs in Los Angeles instead of the main stage of a music festival, it was still a memorable set. Speaking of club bands, SSP still keep a great deal of humor with them by saying, "We'd like to thank the Arctic Monkeys, Jesus & Mary Chain, Interpol and Bjork for closing the set for us!"
Amy Winehouse - Something about musical Brits that hit the bottle too hard makes news stateside. Amy Winehouse is no exception to the rule. Performing with a live band that included horns, the sound was soft, but the crowd was heavy. Holding off from playing any "hits" prevented me, and many others, from staying. Did she sound okay? Sure. But then again, a lot of people performing in bars sound okay. With ticket prices what they were this year, you expect the best! Maybe "rehab" isn't such a bad idea despite saying, "no, no, no."
Arctic Monkeys - When it came to the young Brits, the first serving was a helping of Arctic Monkeys. A flawless set by the gents. If asked what stood out, one must say, "everything" in order to be accurate. Thank goodness they made it over the pond to play incendiary sets.
Jesus & Mary Chain - Wow. The last time many American audiences heard from the groom duo, Jesus & Mary Chain, it was at Lollapalooza in 1992. Most thought (myself included) the set would be a great reunion when songs from the famed Psychocandy album would be played, but to add more magic to the night, Scarlet Johanssen of all people got up to duet on "Just Like Honey" from that cult album. No one ever really knows what they're going to get when they're served some Coachella!
Peeping Tom - The long treks from stage to stage already wear one down, but in order to see Mike Patton's newest incarnation, Peeping Tom, it's worth it. Dishing out quirky vocals that translate as well live as they do on record, Patton brought the static sounds. Far from alone, Patton had Bay-area beat-boxer Butterscotch on hand, while the entire set featured the DJ skills of one Mr. Dan The Automator. Patton AND Automator? Make it stop! No, keep going!
Interpol/Bjork - While Interpol and Bjork are huge draws in this world, it's still difficult to formulate words to describe their sets. Not positive whether I was eating, drinking, talking or leaving, I had already had a wonderful serving of 'day one' at Coachella. Good night.
Saturday, April 28
Regina Spektor - Ah yes, Regina Spektor. I'd have caught this set in front of the stage had it not been for the militant security that seemed to enjoy wasting the time of people who had spent many dollars to witness great music. Oh well. From the line at security, Regina was quite good.
Travis - Vets of the music scene, Travis sounded much more heavy (in a good way) than on record. Spacing in and out of hits, the band sounded cohesive and overall matured. Again, if an entire set stands out from the slew of bookings, the band is doing everything right!
Kings of Leon - I may have had my reservations about the Kings playing a large outdoor festival, but as Satellite Party did the day before, they brought a party vibe to hot, sticky and sweaty onlookers. Gauging by the crowd, you'd think the band were old school classic rockers that just got back together. Either way, a welcome vibe to the afternoon sun.
The Arcade Fire - Having played just a few years back, The Arcade Fire graduated from the Outdoor Theater stage to the Coachella Stage (main stage). Bringing the often dark Canadian sounds to a jubilant California lot, The Arcade Fire have what people seem to want and it's noticeably a sense of originality. Thank goodness for our friends to the north.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Even though just the day before, I spoke to Anthony Keidis at the Jesus & Mary Chain's set, the Peppers tend to hold back quite a bit, whether in person, or on stage. Not the Peppers of yore, the energy was obviously curbed, despite the antics and dynamic sounds. Definitely worth the listen had you not seen them in the late 80s. Wow, I'm actually putting that music snobbery in print huh?! Wow!
Tiesto - World famous DJs hold a special place in peoples' hearts. Tiesto is one of the largest DJs in the world right now, and all he does is twiddle knobs right? Not exactly. To close a set at a festival, a performer has a duty, a responsibility if you will. You don't want to expire the crowd's energy too soon or they'll leave. You don't want to do it too late or they'll want more. Regardless, Tiesto is a party planner. And Saturday's party was planned perfectly. The beat hits you in such a way, you want to stay, but you know you can't keep that feeling forever, so your musicality exhales a sigh of relief before, during and after the last note plays.
Sunday, April 29
Explosions In The Sky - Instrumental bands get a bad name. EITS is a band that gets it right every time. Often compared to the likes of Mogwai, Explosions keep any and all vocals out of each song. Finding the perfect rising action, climax, falling action and resolution to each track, Explosions are similar to a timeless story being told through musical instruments.
The Roots - A letdown above all letdowns. The Roots are one of hip-hop's only real acts out there that utilize a live band nowadays, but unfortunately, the set consisted of covers and medleys. Knowing the band is capable of so much more, it's hard to hold it against them, but it's tough to stomach when expectations were so great.
Willie Nelson - Despite the montior levels, Willie's set was something to behold. Knowing he'd be playing Stagecoach (Coachella's take on the country music festival scene); it brought a vibe musical history for everyone to witness. Willie played various songs that were familiar, as well as those they weren't, but nonetheless, he played to music fans, new and old.
Kaiser Chiefs - Overtaking the outdoor theater is not an easy feat. The Kaiser Chiefs did it with party anthems and attitudes to match. Thankfully, their raucous flow translated to positive party vibes as girls in bikinis sang along with the backwards hat Rage fans.
Placebo - Placebo's been around for years. Placebo's been played on radio airwaves for years. But then they just kind of stopped. Quite the shame since Placebo's set may very well be the one to rival for the best set on Coachella soil this year. Even if they don't win that title, Placebo mesmorized the overflowing fans throughout their set. Easily in the top 5 performances of the festival.
Klaxons - Klaxons are forecasting the end of the world on their record. On stage, they may as well have forecasted the beginning of it...musically at least. As one of the best bands to emerge as of late, Klaxons possess the ability to slow the pace down and croon a la radio-friendly alt-rock, or kick it up a notch and almost make ears bleed. High energy and high showmanship, Klaxons will be the band to watch for the rest of the year. God willing, they'll be on a tour that takes them to all ends of the U.S.
Lily Allen - British hip-hop has had a pretty good run, from The Streets to Plan B, and Lady Sovereign to Lily Allen. Now, Sovereign played last year's Coachella, but now it's Lily Allen's turn. The overflowing tent should be somewhat indicative to Allen's popularity, but her sprite-like appeal got the crowded tent going. Even flubbing her own lyrics didn't seem to keep the revelers away!
Paul van Dyk - Much like Tiesto, Paul van Dyk is a world-renowned DJ. Music like Tiesto, van Dyk was on party planning duties. Instead of spinning on the main stage though, van Dyk spun his web of beats in the largest tent on the grounds. Jumping, pumping his fists in the air and singing along with his own sounds made van Dyk the man of the hour. Raising climaxes to a new level, he closed with an atypical lightshow that kept everyone dancing long after the music stopped. Now that's a world class DJ.
Happy Mondays - Unbeknownst to most, the Happy Mondays were introduced by one Mr. Tony Wilson where he welcomed everyone to "Manchester" where the Mondays call home. Mr. Wilson credited the Manchester movement to the Mondays, and brought out Shaun Ryder. Shaun Ryder, the ringleader and malcontent behind the Mondays, was depicted in the film 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE. It seemed that Ryder's past had either caught up with him, or repeated itself, since the frontman seemed out of sorts. From supposed "sound issues" to onstage tantrums, Ryder even needed the assistance of a teleprompter though one of the Mondays' most popular songs "Hallelujah". A derailed train? Maybe, but a spectacle one can say they witnessed.
Rage Against The Machine - All the talk and all the hype of the sold out day rested on the shoulders of Rage Against The Machine. Dipping into the very best of the band's catalog (there really aren't any bad tracks, rather just some more popular than others), RATM pummeled onlookers with their politically conscious message, accompanied by crushing guitars and pounding drums. The air was thick with tension. Maybe it was anticipation. Whatever it was, the audience did not riot despite the message of anti-establishment. The audience did not revolt. Albeit, there were some knuckleheads that scaled the soundboard, but that seemed to be acts of stupidity by a select few. All in all, Rage closed the night with class, and in Rage-style...with "Killing In The Name". The house lights came on, and those same tens of thousands of festival-goers had just unknowingly shared similar musical memories.
Good night Coachella. Good night nameless faces. And good night artists, you just made history.
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