Coachella Day 3
I don't feel as rough as I usually do on a Day 3, which is comforting. We take our time getting there, having a leisurely breakfast. Traffic is once more a non-issue (where are all the cars?) and we get to the polo fields in pretty short order.
It's supposed to be the hottest day of the weekend, but there's a little cloud cover that masks the heat a bit--it's actually quite lovely.
Have just enough time to catch the last two songs of Holy F*uck. They are great! Hypnotic, melodic, driving soundscapes; like a more kinetic M83. Great energy. I definitely want to check out more of them. B+
Heading over to the main stage, I catch the last two songs of the Shout Out Louds. They actually sound greatly improved from when I last saw them. Perhaps their live act has improved with some seasoning on the road. B
The Field was cancelled, due to problems they had getting into the country. Boo.
DeadMau5 wore a mouse stuffed head for a good part of the set. That didn't change the fact that the music sounded like all the other new hottness djs. Well mixed, but I think I'm already sick of the sound. C -
Stars are still on and I catch the last portion of their set. They also sound much better than the last time I saw them at the Fillmore. Go Canada! Get to hear a few of my favorites while lounging in the grass. B
Swervedriver look old, heh. They sound good though and I relive some college music days with JD. B
Does It Offend You, Yeah? had the place hopping -- electro dance party with good energy, but feels very flavor of the month to me. C
Gogol Bordello was a raucous gypsy dance party. Very impressed with their energy levels and though it wasn't really my thing, musically, it was fun to watch for a bit. C+
Metric overcame some tech issues (when do they not have them?) to put on a good show, though I have seen them better. I think they are probably more suited to an indoor show, where the sound can bounce around and fill the room a bit more. Still, it was quite enjoyable. Emily was working a space-disco leotard/skort thing and was her usual crazy freaked out ringleader self. B
Love and Rockets were the highlight of my day. They were loud and tore up the outdoor stage with a fantastic set that included: Dog End of a Day Gone By, Haunted When the Minutes Drag, Kunalini Express, Ball of Confusion, No New Tale to Tale, Motorcycle and a few others. There was also a surprise appearance by the Bubblemen that culminated in a pillow fight. I hope the do a tour because I'd like to see them again. A
Had a bit of a sit down after that and took in some of Roger Waters. Most impressive visuals -- huge projection(?) screen with very neat visuals (started with an old time radio with a bottle of whiskey and a hand would tune in different stations. Then huge balls of fire and other visuals. The sound was insane -- they had set up surround speaker cabinets all around the field so that as they were playing, weird ambient textures would wash up around/behind you. Very trippy. He played some different stuff off of different albums before an intermission and then Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. I had left by then, but caught a few songs, including Wish You Were Here, which was pretty special. I did come back to catch some of the Dark Side performance, which was pretty impressive as well. B+
Simian Mobile Disco were disappointing. I figured out what's bugged me about most of the djs and electronic performers this weekend: a complete lack of narrative -- it's all just song after song. Here's the formula: play decent to good track, get the crowd pumped. Drop the bass. Tweak the EQ a bit, maybe shuffle a beat or too. Drop the beat. Crowd goes wild. Chris get irritated and confused at why people seem to be satisfied with this. C -
Chromeo was even worse. They haven't changed much from when I saw them several years ago. Then they were like an electronic comedy act--more entertaining for the farce they perpetuate than for their actual music. Seems the kids really dig them now. "This is the new sound," he "sang." Uh, no. It's not -- it's old sounding and boring and you suck. D
At least Chromeo's suckage gave me the opportunity to check out Black Mountain, who were awesome. Huge, heavy sound -- sound as if they stepped right out of 70s guitar heaven. They had a keyboard too to add some interesting textures and a male and female singer. I very much plan to check out more of them. B+
Justice closed Coachella. They had some good beats/tracks, but see earlier above wine-a-bration about my thoughts. C
Overall, it was a pretty good weekend. I initially came for the electronic music, but it was the rock and roll that did it for me (plus Kraftwerk). Go figure. My faves for the weekend:
Black Lips
Kraftwerk
Prince
Holy F*ck
Love and Rockets
Roger Waters
Black Mountain