Unlike last year, getting to Coachella was relatively easy. I had managed to hook up with someone from the forums, who was interested in carpooling down. Danny was going to drive down a day early, to visit with a few friends in LA, but if I was okay with that, I was more than welcome. Of course I said yes. So that's what we did. We spent Thursday in Hollywood. We stayed at his friend Erica's apartment, right off of Melrose. She works at
Puppies & Babies and is seeing Fiona Apple's touring drummer. He's nice. We woke up at a decent hour on Friday, and were setting up camp by 3pm.
We camped in square J18. It didn't take long for me to become convinced we had one of the coolest squares in the campsite. The people were awesome. We had the Texans who were SO not stereotypically Texan. These kids, they seemed very West Coast to me. I don't know, I'm just rambling and now I'm editing cos HAI ALEX AND PM AND OTHER TEXANS DON'T BE OFFENDED? I mean, they admitted themselves they weren't very Texan. Anyway. Then there were the Aussies. From the Gold Coast, although one is up in Whistler, skiing and bartending. In that order, I'm sure. Strangely, these two separate groups were both planning on going to Vegas post-Coachella. Great minds think alike, they say. That night we watched the Coachella film, and what made me laugh was the amount of people who ran on the stage to molest Morrissey. Four or five, maybe. And each time he'd hug them and just keep singing as they were hauled off by security.
Let's start.
Saturday
I'm going to start by posting a few pictures of the field itself. If you're not familiar with Coachella whatsoever, there are two stages, the
Coachella Stage or main stage, and the
Outdoor Theatre. Then you have the
three tents, which are, in order of size, Gobi, Mojave, and Sahara.
Here is a closer shot of the Sahara tent. This is during Paul Oakenfold. And because I've been asked many times, no I didn't see Madonna, who played in the Sahara tent. I tried, dude, but this year it seems every single set started late, and she was no exception. She was slotted for a 50 minute set; instead, she only played 30 minutes. As for the crowd--look at the Paul Oakenfold picture again, and put about four people in every single space you see. Go back and look at the tents picture and insert people in between the Mojave and Sahara tents, as well as in front. It was uncool. I peaced out rather quickly and headed to Mogwai. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
This year, us campers got a special entrance. It was technically the VIP entrance, where the press and those on the guest lists got to enter. We arrived at the festival right as it opened; the Houstoners had to pick up their tickets at will-call. Whilst we were awaiting for them, Danny and I were approached by a local CBS news affiliate lady to be interviewed. But her cameraman had walked away, so it did not happen. However, as it turns out, she interviewed one of the Texans later. He didn't enter with us, as he was waiting for his girlfriend to arrive.
The first act we walked by was Brother Ali. Didn't stay too long. We walked by the Outdoor Theatre, and caught a little of Head Automatica, but we weren't impressed. We'd been planning on seeing
The Section Quartet anyway, and they did not disappoint. If you hadn't heard of them, they are a string quartet that rearranges and covers various rock and pop songs. The highlight of the set on Saturday was easily their version of Paranoid Android. Eric, the leader of the Section, perfectly replicated Jonny's guitar solo, and the entire thing was just amazing. It gave me goosebumps. They also covered Take Me Out, Time is Running Out, and
Just, which we had heard them rehearsing during soundcheck as we waited outside the entrance. If you go to their
MySpace you can listen to more of their music.
After that, we wandered to The Like, who were enjoyable. I wasn't really familiar with their music, and I'm not really inclined to even after seeing them, but the lead singer had a gorgeous voice. After that we wandered back to the main stage to watch The New Amsterdams and this was helpful if only because I saw the lead singer the next day, enjoying another act. We managed to catch White Rose Movement and they were excellent. But it was time to go, because Hybrid, featuring Perry Farrell, was performing.
I've never been a big Jane's Addiction fan--one of my pet peeves regarding Entourage is the theme song. I don't like it. It irritates me. But oh my god, in person, Perry Farrell is so charismatic. Just watching him move around the stage. He has a very Peter Murphy-esque air about him. He performed three of the last four songs with Hybrid and they were all hypnotic.
On the way back to the main stage, we watched The Zutons, and I don't really have an opinon about them. Back at the main stage, we saw The Duke Spirit and the lead singer was adorable. I love her voice. We went to one of the food courts, ran into more friends, and saw Danny DeVito. Once more, my first Coachella celebrity sighting was Danny DeVito. If you're wondering, he's about 5 feet tall. Apparently he introduced an act, and since I saw him last year I'm guessing he's a mainstay at Coachella.
We went to the tents to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah but we were late, and it was packed. People were spilling out of the tent. And, frankly, I'm not really into their music. It's not bad, but it doesn't draw me in. Plus it was hot and crowded, so at this point I took my leave. On my way back to the main stage, I ran into one of the Aussies and his friend, who actually had shown up very late the night before. I sat with them for a bit, but then it was time for Kanye West.
Kanye was a last minute addition; in fact, no one knew he was on the bill until the set times were released and suddenly it was like WHOA KANYE FUCKING WEST? Needless to say, he was brilliant. In fine form. He had a small portion of his set in which he played us songs he loved when growing up, which were Let's Stay Together, Rock With You, and Take On Me. The latter was the best, as he played it for a bit, danced around like they do in the video, and even sang it. Fantastic.
Next up was Sigur Ros. I was intending to leave halfway through their set to catch Ladytron, but it didn't work out. I was completely absorbed into their set and lost track of the time. Before I knew it, it was over. Fifty minutes, gone just like that. If you ever have the chance to see them, do it. You will not be sorry.
So, Franz Ferdinand. At this point I was just going to stick by the main stage and push my way forward for Depeche Mode. I've never really been a fan of the Franz. I don't really know why. But I was completely blown away by them. It was a strong set and now I can understand why
couplandesque just finished up her Franzypants 2006 tour. I'm a sucker for bands that are awesome live--it's why I fell so hard for Coldplay, after all, even though they ended up turning into a wannabe U2 cover band. I don't even know the song they finished with (Kris, help?), but it ended with three of the band members playing the drums on the same kit.
And then it was time for Depeche Mode.
By this time I'd managed to move even further up, and I was about fifteen feet, maybe less than that, from the stage. They opened up the way they did on the last NA leg, with A Pain That I'm Used To, and then A Question of Time. They also performed Precious and Suffer Well from the new album, as well as Nothing's Impossible, which was a new addition. I'm not giving this in order at all. They also kept World In My Eyes, Behind the Wheel, I Feel You, Walking In My Shoes, Home, as well as the concert staples of Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, and Never Let Me Down Again. However. They played Stripped, which made me cry. Seriously. I've always wanted to hear that song live, and they didn't perform it when I first saw them, back in 98. They did an encore, which threw off the less-faithful who had started to take off. Even though the orb was still on and flashing. Martin included his acoustic version of Shake the Disease, which made me all kinds of \m/ as during the brief break, we were discussing what he would sing. They also played Photographic and it was totally a random-letter kind of moment. Of course, I sang it "I take... pictures... PORNOGRAPHIC PICTURES."
After DM I was in a total daze and I was actually crying again, but sad tears. I always go through a post-DM depression. It wasn't so bad last November because I knew they were playing Coachella. But now, who knows when I will see them again. Four years, five years?
I went back to the tents and I saw a few songs by The Rakes. Then I saw Daft Punk, whom I had been so so so excited for... but I just wasn't in the mood to dance. My feet and back were killing me, as I had been standing nonstop since Kanye, so that was something like four straight hours of standing. It was also really crowded, so after a little while I headed back to the Outdoor Theatre and watched She Wants Revenge and that's how I closed out my night. And they were great. The lead singer sounds exactly the way he does on the album, and he was talking about how as a Californian and an Angeleno, he was proud to be part of Coachella.
During this time, I had reconnected with the boys (they were actually behind me during Franz but I lost them when I surged forward before DM) as I saw one of them walking towards SWR. We walked back to the camp and commenced boozing.
Sunday
On Sunday I opted to do the entire day by myself. Everyone else wanted to see bands I wasn't interested in, or the bands they really wanted to see conflicted with those I wanted to check out. Also, at this point I hadn't had any type of alone time since Wednesday and I was feeling the desire for solitude, if you can call bouncing around a festival with 50,000+ people that. It was good times--I ended up befriending new people at every set I attended.
Also, Sunday was hotter than Saturday. I did a shoddy job of keeping hydrated before the festival, so on the walk to the actual entrance, I started to feel very woozy and lightheaded. Right past the entrance, they had two giant fans blowing mist set up, so I stationed myself there for about ten minutes. Then I got water. And then I went to the KROQ air-conditioned tent, and hung out for about half an hour. I finally started to feel a little more steady on my feet, so I checked out Youth Group at the main stage. They were alright; nothing particularly interesting. I then wandered over to Giant Drag and I swear I've only heard of them because of Annie Hardy on MBP. Another boring group. I walked down a little further and hit Murs, who was awesome. I was on a role, so I went to listen to The Dears and then Gabriel and Dresden. I went back to the Sahara tent for Louie Vega and then I decided it was time to eat. Again. I probably spent the bulk of my money on food. I chowed down on a beef gyro whilst I listened to Mates of State and then headed back to the main stage. I watched a little of Los Amigos Invisibles before it was time for The Magic Numbers.
They were fantastic. There were a large number of Magic Numbers fans in the crowd, so that was fun. This is where I had my second celebrity sighting, as Mischa Barton pushed her way past me, followed by her posse. Later on I saw her during the set, singing along as she sat on someone's shoulders. At least she has good taste in music? Also, there was a group sitting on a blanket right in front of me. One of the guys stood up and promptly keeled over. A small crowd clustered around him and tried to help; we poured water on him and tried to take his shirt off. Finally two guys picked him up to take him to first aid.
After the Magic Numbers, I went down to the Mojave tent to see Metric. Metric was fucking packed. People couldn't fit into the tent. I was on the fringes, trying to get a look to see if I could slip inside, when Kate Bosworth slid in front of me, apparently with the same goal. I didn't know it was her at first, and then she turned around and smiled at her friends, who were behind me. It was kind of startling to realize she was about three inches away. She said, "I guess we're not getting in!" so yeah, it was her. Voice, smile, height, etc. No Orlando Bloom, though.
I gave up trying to see Metric, and went back to the Sahara tent to watch Kaskade. It was pretty empty--most people had been using the tent as a place to hang out since all of the shade tents were packed. And then I had my grand idea. Paul Oakenfold was going to DJ after Kaskade. So I'd just stay there until it was time, and get a good spot. So that's what I did. Because of Madonna, they had put up barriers inside the tent to create a pit. However I was only about 20 feet away from the stage. It was there that I saw Mischa Barton again. Her bodyguard looked extremely bored, but she was having a grand old time. I saw her another time, just wandering the field.
An hour later, Paul Oakenfold came out to thunderous applause and cheers, and he lived up to his reputation. I had intended to check out Sleater-Kinney and Bloc Party at the two stages but I got too caught up in dancing and by the time I realized it, it was too late. No matter. Paul Oakenfold is easily one of the best DJs in the world and my opportunities to see him are rather limited, as opposed to Sleater-Kinney and Bloc Party. Sorry, Mindy. I heard Bloc Party was awesome, though.
I left Oakenfold to check out the very end of stellastarr*. They were good. The lead singer sounds like Robert Smith, which was a bit strange. I didn't stay too long because I wanted a churro. Seriously. I told you, I was all about the food this year. I went back to Paul for a bit and then I returned to the Mojave tent for Editors. I was in the fifth row. They were fucking amazing. I was just blown away. The lead singer is very magnetic and has a magnificent stage presence. He's one of those people who can gaze into a crowd and it feels like he is making eye contact with you, like he is STARING at you, even though you know he can't possibly see you. I got goosebumps.
Like I said, I didn't see Madonna and I detailed my experience above, so I won't go into that again. I don't know a lot of people who saw her, and those I know who did see her weren't very satisfied. I wouldn't be either. Putting up with a crowd like that for six songs? Whar ever.
I went back to the Outdoor Theatre to watch Mogwai. It was relatively empty at first, but as more people gave up on Madonna, it became crowded. I'd seen Mogwai before, at the Curiosa Festival and once again they were brilliant. However, I left early to catch Massive Attack.
Depeche Mode and Massive Attack were the two bands I refused to compromise about. Like, I could deal with missing the Walkmen or Bloc Party. No big. I could even leave Editors early to try my hand at the Madonna crowd. But I refused to miss a second of DM and Massive Attack's set. They did not disappoint, not for me. They played a handful of songs from Mezzanine, which was awesome. Everyone cheered when Horace came out. When Liz Fraser first came out to sing Teardrop, people around me literally screamed and then they all seemed to whip out video cameras in unison. Debra Hill came out to sing a few songs and that elicited cheers from my section as well.
There really wasn't anything to do besides wait for Tool. I left about halfway through their set, though. The night before, it had taken a very long time just to get out of the venue. And then it took even longer to get back into the campsite. I was tired, my feet and back were killing me, and I wanted to go to sleep. So I took off and listened to Tool from my tent. Before leaving I took
this picture.
And there is it. My Coachella 2006 experience, wrapped up for posterity. There's so much I am forgetting--stuff I told myself to remember, but couldn't write down because security confiscated my pen (seriously). I suppose it doesn't really matter. I love Coachella. It doesn't matter how hot it gets, or how many scenesters and Hollywood wannabes come out to play. Some people in
coachella have kicked up a fuss about how mainstream it has become. I suppose it has, because I'm attending and we all know I'm anything but an early adopter. Whar ever. It's a good time and as long as you keep it about the music, you'll have a good time too. All that other stuff is trivial and it's just on the surface.