(no subject)
So, Coachella was amazing. I’m just going to say every thought that comes to mind, rather than break down the festival with any sort of organization.
Revelation of the festival? Manu Chao & Radio Bemba Sound System. I’ve got two of Manu Chao’s albums, but when he plays with Radio Bemba Sound System, he apparently rocks the fuck out. SO loud, SO much fun. That was unlike any show I’ve ever seen, and blew me away. Easily one of those shows I’ll look back on years from now and still think of as one of the best I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was so amazing. Bloc Party last year took the cake because of the audience experience. This was just purely mindblowing performance, though. I just got the live album, and it’s one of the best I’ve heard at expressing the energy of a live performance. Totally awesome.
Tony put it nicely. Manu Chao was like a “prelude to a communist revolution.”
Which would be Rage. Which was totally and thoroughly and completely awesome. I was really glad they mostly let the music do the talking. One great speech during “Wake Up” (in which they called for all American presidents to be hung, tried, and executed for war crimes, particularly the current one) but otherwise just great music. Tom Morello is a guitar god. And Zach de la Rocha, back from the wilderness, was exploding with energy.
That said, I hate hate hate Rage fans. Total asshats, total morons. More interested in beating each other up than enjoying a show. I’m all for mosh pits when they come from the energy of the music, but when the crowd is moshing 3 hours before the show and throwing shit at the bands before Rage, you know you’ve got a ton of fucked up people. Just totally disrespectful assholes, the lot of them.
Arctic Monkeys gave a great performance. Amazingly polished, they had their shit down. They don’t go crazy all over the stage, but they play with a confident energy that’s just great. They also look like they’re 15. Trippy. Because they’re amazing.
Arcade Fire was, naturally, incredible. Bombastic and theatrical, the kind of religious performance that turns people into lifelong fans. They played everything I wanted to hear with more energy than any other band in the festival (or possibly ever, in my experience). I’d be seeing them again when they come to LA, but tickets sold out in like 30 seconds. They’re probably the hardest act to get tickets for these days, so I’m glad I saw them.
Oh, and Scarlet Johansson came out and sang with the Jesus and Mary Chain. They didn’t introduce her, but it was her, and it was way cool. She sang the backup on “Just Like Honey,” which was the song at the end of Lost in Translation. Nice.
Rodrigo y Gabriela had probably the best audience reaction of the festival. They had their tent overflowing to the point where I couldn’t get inside, and this was in the early afternoon, when nobody pulls that off. A full audience singalong to Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” full-on clapping (as in everybody, I couldn’t find anyone not clapping. and in legit unison! wow!) to every song. It was wild to watch and be a part of.
Biggest bummer? Air coming out 30 minutes late. But that wound up leading to us checking out Manu Chao earlier, so there’s a silver lining.
Grizzly Bear were like an acoustic Radiohead, rocking out very nicely.
Sonic Youth played a noise-heavy set with lots of stuff from their latest album, “Rather Ripped,” and I ate it up.
Bjork is just weird, but incredible when she rocks out instead of staying mellow.
The Chili Peppers put on a very solid show, though it wasn’t quite as awesome as I’d hoped.
Kings of Leon were another band that just rocked so much harder in concert than they do in their albums, and I love love loved it. I was actually glad I caught them instead of The Decemberists.
Lupe Fiasco was sweet, bouncing all over the stage. And the New Pornographers played a set that I very much enjoyed, thanks to my recent falling-in-love with “Twin Cinema.”
And I think that’s most of it. Only Air really let me down. RHCP were a bit disappointing, though it may be because they had to follow Arcade Fire. My top 5 acts? Manu Chao, Rage, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Grizzly Bear, and Sonic Youth. Wait, that’s 6. Dammit.
Oh well. Heaven '07 is over. Pictures will come soon.
Revelation of the festival? Manu Chao & Radio Bemba Sound System. I’ve got two of Manu Chao’s albums, but when he plays with Radio Bemba Sound System, he apparently rocks the fuck out. SO loud, SO much fun. That was unlike any show I’ve ever seen, and blew me away. Easily one of those shows I’ll look back on years from now and still think of as one of the best I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was so amazing. Bloc Party last year took the cake because of the audience experience. This was just purely mindblowing performance, though. I just got the live album, and it’s one of the best I’ve heard at expressing the energy of a live performance. Totally awesome.
Tony put it nicely. Manu Chao was like a “prelude to a communist revolution.”
Which would be Rage. Which was totally and thoroughly and completely awesome. I was really glad they mostly let the music do the talking. One great speech during “Wake Up” (in which they called for all American presidents to be hung, tried, and executed for war crimes, particularly the current one) but otherwise just great music. Tom Morello is a guitar god. And Zach de la Rocha, back from the wilderness, was exploding with energy.
That said, I hate hate hate Rage fans. Total asshats, total morons. More interested in beating each other up than enjoying a show. I’m all for mosh pits when they come from the energy of the music, but when the crowd is moshing 3 hours before the show and throwing shit at the bands before Rage, you know you’ve got a ton of fucked up people. Just totally disrespectful assholes, the lot of them.
Arctic Monkeys gave a great performance. Amazingly polished, they had their shit down. They don’t go crazy all over the stage, but they play with a confident energy that’s just great. They also look like they’re 15. Trippy. Because they’re amazing.
Arcade Fire was, naturally, incredible. Bombastic and theatrical, the kind of religious performance that turns people into lifelong fans. They played everything I wanted to hear with more energy than any other band in the festival (or possibly ever, in my experience). I’d be seeing them again when they come to LA, but tickets sold out in like 30 seconds. They’re probably the hardest act to get tickets for these days, so I’m glad I saw them.
Oh, and Scarlet Johansson came out and sang with the Jesus and Mary Chain. They didn’t introduce her, but it was her, and it was way cool. She sang the backup on “Just Like Honey,” which was the song at the end of Lost in Translation. Nice.
Rodrigo y Gabriela had probably the best audience reaction of the festival. They had their tent overflowing to the point where I couldn’t get inside, and this was in the early afternoon, when nobody pulls that off. A full audience singalong to Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” full-on clapping (as in everybody, I couldn’t find anyone not clapping. and in legit unison! wow!) to every song. It was wild to watch and be a part of.
Biggest bummer? Air coming out 30 minutes late. But that wound up leading to us checking out Manu Chao earlier, so there’s a silver lining.
Grizzly Bear were like an acoustic Radiohead, rocking out very nicely.
Sonic Youth played a noise-heavy set with lots of stuff from their latest album, “Rather Ripped,” and I ate it up.
Bjork is just weird, but incredible when she rocks out instead of staying mellow.
The Chili Peppers put on a very solid show, though it wasn’t quite as awesome as I’d hoped.
Kings of Leon were another band that just rocked so much harder in concert than they do in their albums, and I love love loved it. I was actually glad I caught them instead of The Decemberists.
Lupe Fiasco was sweet, bouncing all over the stage. And the New Pornographers played a set that I very much enjoyed, thanks to my recent falling-in-love with “Twin Cinema.”
And I think that’s most of it. Only Air really let me down. RHCP were a bit disappointing, though it may be because they had to follow Arcade Fire. My top 5 acts? Manu Chao, Rage, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Grizzly Bear, and Sonic Youth. Wait, that’s 6. Dammit.
Oh well. Heaven '07 is over. Pictures will come soon.