COA-FUCKIN-CHELLA 2005, Part 2
COACHELLA 2005
SATURDAY
Woke up around 10:30am, and was actually first to wake up. Mostly because i wanted to beat the shower rush, and i didn't want to be asleep while people were milling around. While waiting till everyone was ready, i got a lot of catch-up reading done for Social&EmotionalDevelopment, so this weekend wasn't just a vacation. Pat me on the back next time you see me. Also in the meantime i slathered on the sunblock like crazy. Thankfully because of all the melanin i own, i don't sunburn easily. We hopped into the cab and hit the venue. Wow it was hot! But not as sweltering as last year. And i could already tell it wasn't as crowded either (i kinda knew it wouldn't be, lineup this year doesn't quite match the Radiohead/Cure of last year). But i was more than content with the prospects of seeing Razorlight, The Raveonettes, Bauhaus, and Bloc Party all in one day. Once we got inside, we all just kinda split off to do our own thing. I incidentally spent the whole day by myself and had a fantastic time!
The Raveonettes (Coachella Stage)
Couldn't have been a better band to see first! The Raveonettes, by setting their own constraints of writing songs that are only in Bb minor and under 3minutes long, are remarkably creative. I've always described their sound as "surf music for the Devil". Not surprisingly they weren't dressed in chic leather like they usually are.
Snow Patrol (Coachella Stage)
Decent band; the fun kind of Britpop-y (even though they're Irish). Not really sure they shoulda been on the Coachella Stage; they're the type of band who's name-dropped but not actually listened to. I left after a big single of theirs to get a good spot for Razorlight
Razorlight (Outdoor Theater)
Ok, so if you like Franzy Ferdi, or Bloc Party, or The Futureheads, you'd like Razorlight. Otherwise, you just won't get the hype. And i really like all the above bands. It's just my flava. But even if you're not totally into Razorlight, they put on a really energetic show, and their frontman is a classic rock showman.
After Razorlight, the clouds started rolling in and the weather finally became bearable; quite beautiful actually. I started to wander around, checking out some of the merchandise tents, then remembered that my cousin Cheska was volunteering at the Spin mag tent. So i paid her a visit. Coincidentally, the Spin tent is just 'round the corner of the Virgin Megastore tent, where BLOC PARTY were doing a signing! I didn't really want to pay $12 for an album that i've already downloaded (sorry, but i'm sure they won't mind) just so i can meet them and tell them i love them. Because i did that for Interpol, but only because it was my fuckin' birthday. Anyway, BP gonna be at Popscene soon, so i can just accost them and lick the drummers face there. Check out the covert pics i took of them, hehe!
I wandered around some more, cursed myself for having not brought more money so i could buy a 12-dollar Bloc Party album so i could meet them and lick the drummer's face, or to buy sunglasses to replace the ones i left at a gas station on the way down. I had enough for bite to eat, though.
U.N.K.L.E. (Sahara Tent)
I only stayed for a few minutes, but what i heard sounded really cool. apparently, he remixed U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" with some dance beats. but i guess i wasn't there.
Weezer (Coachella Stage)
Y'know, i used to like Weezer in high school (didn't everyone?) but never thought to schedule some time to see them. But i was glad i did! It was nice hearing a lot of their classics, but i don't really care for the new stuff. Rivers finally shaved off that silly beard.
Bauhaus (Coachella Stage)
Despite them being pretty damn old, and having a pretty narrow audience, they put on a really entertaining show. Peter Murphy performed their opener "Bela Lugosi's Dead" completely upside-down, suspended by his ankles, like a vampire bat! Then the band members crossed their forearms over their chests at the end of the song - how's that for dramatic! I'd say they were gothalicious. I was glad to hear their first few songs, but bad planning put them in contention with my beloved Bloc Party. i was kinda holding out for "Kick in the Eye" but i really had to jet.
Bloc Party (Mojave Tent)
I literally ran to the Mojave Tent (I'm sure they should have been at the Outdoor Theater, maybe even late afternoon) and caught the end of "Price of Gas" (i think?) and was just in time for one of my faves, "Blue Light". Ok... I almost cried. Maybe i've been a bit more (emo)tional lately, or maybe i've been hanging around Bev too much lately (love ya doll!) but i started to get overcome to near-tears because i'm finally hearing such a beatiful song live. A sensation that would not end there! Turns out i actually missed "Banquet" but was there for "Helicopter" and a couple others. God, I love them. Kele Okereke, their lead singer, is rather charming in his banter. They all seem like nice, clever boys. I want to lick the drummer's face.
The Chemical Brothers (Sahara Tent)
Well, Bloc Party put me in such a good mood, i had a better time at the Chem. Bros. tent than i'd ever expect. I planned on going there anyway. but dancing like crazy by yourself at the Sahara Tent is just as fun as dancing like crazy by yourself in your room. only clothed, and with really good live DJs. The Chem. Bros. themselves are actually really energetic, too - none of this pretentious-DJ-head-bobbing shit, they were really pandering for the crowd and the crowd loved it.
After a few songs, I figured it was time to meet up with Marissa and Richard and the rest of our party. On the way down this one guy approaches me and starts a conversation. He asks the whole would-be rapist "are you by yourself? can i walk with you" sort of thing. i say i was going to Spoon but he suggested we go to Coldplay. i figured that going towards that area would give me a better escape plan anyway. he then goes "lemme put my arm around you so we can look like we're together..." so he does and i very dryly say "umm... let's not." Soon after, I say I was meeting my friends at the Spin tent; he asked if he should come, i very politely say "no, i'll be alright" then ran the fuck away. i'm sure he was just some drunk loser. he was saying some weird stuff like "i wanna hear Coldplay do 'Yellow"... cause my pee is yellow!". yeah, what the fuck, exactly.
I get to the Spin tent and tell my cousin about what just happened. No big deal, i brush it off. But it was here that i remembered that Coldplay was playing at the Coachella Stage.
Coldplay (Coachella Stage)
I never planned on seeing Coldplay either. I didn't catch much of their set (just didn't pay much attention) but i did notice that Chris Martin was very friendly and thankful to the audience, just like any polite, dapper Englishmen. *shrugs* now i can say i saw Coldplay.
After "Clocks" i get a call from Marissa, saying she was back at the Sahara Tent (where i was just at). So i hop on back and after some phone tag i finally find her. She and Richard, during the course of the day, found Marissa's friend Josh. in a bit we were headed towards the merchandise tent to find everyone else (Marissa and Richard's friend Matt and his girlfriend; Marissa's sister Theresay and her boyfriend). From there, we braved the exiting crowds to get to Josh's car. And it took us probably two hours just to get out of the parking lot, work around some weird, long detours, get some gas, get some directions (thanks Richard) then arrive back home. In true People Power fashion i was "first one in, last one out" by being the last to cap off at around 3:30am, exhausted and excited for the next installment!
End of Part 2; wait your ass for Part 3!
SATURDAY
Woke up around 10:30am, and was actually first to wake up. Mostly because i wanted to beat the shower rush, and i didn't want to be asleep while people were milling around. While waiting till everyone was ready, i got a lot of catch-up reading done for Social&EmotionalDevelopment, so this weekend wasn't just a vacation. Pat me on the back next time you see me. Also in the meantime i slathered on the sunblock like crazy. Thankfully because of all the melanin i own, i don't sunburn easily. We hopped into the cab and hit the venue. Wow it was hot! But not as sweltering as last year. And i could already tell it wasn't as crowded either (i kinda knew it wouldn't be, lineup this year doesn't quite match the Radiohead/Cure of last year). But i was more than content with the prospects of seeing Razorlight, The Raveonettes, Bauhaus, and Bloc Party all in one day. Once we got inside, we all just kinda split off to do our own thing. I incidentally spent the whole day by myself and had a fantastic time!
The Raveonettes (Coachella Stage)
Couldn't have been a better band to see first! The Raveonettes, by setting their own constraints of writing songs that are only in Bb minor and under 3minutes long, are remarkably creative. I've always described their sound as "surf music for the Devil". Not surprisingly they weren't dressed in chic leather like they usually are.
Snow Patrol (Coachella Stage)
Decent band; the fun kind of Britpop-y (even though they're Irish). Not really sure they shoulda been on the Coachella Stage; they're the type of band who's name-dropped but not actually listened to. I left after a big single of theirs to get a good spot for Razorlight
Razorlight (Outdoor Theater)
Ok, so if you like Franzy Ferdi, or Bloc Party, or The Futureheads, you'd like Razorlight. Otherwise, you just won't get the hype. And i really like all the above bands. It's just my flava. But even if you're not totally into Razorlight, they put on a really energetic show, and their frontman is a classic rock showman.
After Razorlight, the clouds started rolling in and the weather finally became bearable; quite beautiful actually. I started to wander around, checking out some of the merchandise tents, then remembered that my cousin Cheska was volunteering at the Spin mag tent. So i paid her a visit. Coincidentally, the Spin tent is just 'round the corner of the Virgin Megastore tent, where BLOC PARTY were doing a signing! I didn't really want to pay $12 for an album that i've already downloaded (sorry, but i'm sure they won't mind) just so i can meet them and tell them i love them. Because i did that for Interpol, but only because it was my fuckin' birthday. Anyway, BP gonna be at Popscene soon, so i can just accost them and lick the drummers face there. Check out the covert pics i took of them, hehe!
I wandered around some more, cursed myself for having not brought more money so i could buy a 12-dollar Bloc Party album so i could meet them and lick the drummer's face, or to buy sunglasses to replace the ones i left at a gas station on the way down. I had enough for bite to eat, though.
U.N.K.L.E. (Sahara Tent)
I only stayed for a few minutes, but what i heard sounded really cool. apparently, he remixed U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" with some dance beats. but i guess i wasn't there.
Weezer (Coachella Stage)
Y'know, i used to like Weezer in high school (didn't everyone?) but never thought to schedule some time to see them. But i was glad i did! It was nice hearing a lot of their classics, but i don't really care for the new stuff. Rivers finally shaved off that silly beard.
Bauhaus (Coachella Stage)
Despite them being pretty damn old, and having a pretty narrow audience, they put on a really entertaining show. Peter Murphy performed their opener "Bela Lugosi's Dead" completely upside-down, suspended by his ankles, like a vampire bat! Then the band members crossed their forearms over their chests at the end of the song - how's that for dramatic! I'd say they were gothalicious. I was glad to hear their first few songs, but bad planning put them in contention with my beloved Bloc Party. i was kinda holding out for "Kick in the Eye" but i really had to jet.
Bloc Party (Mojave Tent)
I literally ran to the Mojave Tent (I'm sure they should have been at the Outdoor Theater, maybe even late afternoon) and caught the end of "Price of Gas" (i think?) and was just in time for one of my faves, "Blue Light". Ok... I almost cried. Maybe i've been a bit more (emo)tional lately, or maybe i've been hanging around Bev too much lately (love ya doll!) but i started to get overcome to near-tears because i'm finally hearing such a beatiful song live. A sensation that would not end there! Turns out i actually missed "Banquet" but was there for "Helicopter" and a couple others. God, I love them. Kele Okereke, their lead singer, is rather charming in his banter. They all seem like nice, clever boys. I want to lick the drummer's face.
The Chemical Brothers (Sahara Tent)
Well, Bloc Party put me in such a good mood, i had a better time at the Chem. Bros. tent than i'd ever expect. I planned on going there anyway. but dancing like crazy by yourself at the Sahara Tent is just as fun as dancing like crazy by yourself in your room. only clothed, and with really good live DJs. The Chem. Bros. themselves are actually really energetic, too - none of this pretentious-DJ-head-bobbing shit, they were really pandering for the crowd and the crowd loved it.
After a few songs, I figured it was time to meet up with Marissa and Richard and the rest of our party. On the way down this one guy approaches me and starts a conversation. He asks the whole would-be rapist "are you by yourself? can i walk with you" sort of thing. i say i was going to Spoon but he suggested we go to Coldplay. i figured that going towards that area would give me a better escape plan anyway. he then goes "lemme put my arm around you so we can look like we're together..." so he does and i very dryly say "umm... let's not." Soon after, I say I was meeting my friends at the Spin tent; he asked if he should come, i very politely say "no, i'll be alright" then ran the fuck away. i'm sure he was just some drunk loser. he was saying some weird stuff like "i wanna hear Coldplay do 'Yellow"... cause my pee is yellow!". yeah, what the fuck, exactly.
I get to the Spin tent and tell my cousin about what just happened. No big deal, i brush it off. But it was here that i remembered that Coldplay was playing at the Coachella Stage.
Coldplay (Coachella Stage)
I never planned on seeing Coldplay either. I didn't catch much of their set (just didn't pay much attention) but i did notice that Chris Martin was very friendly and thankful to the audience, just like any polite, dapper Englishmen. *shrugs* now i can say i saw Coldplay.
After "Clocks" i get a call from Marissa, saying she was back at the Sahara Tent (where i was just at). So i hop on back and after some phone tag i finally find her. She and Richard, during the course of the day, found Marissa's friend Josh. in a bit we were headed towards the merchandise tent to find everyone else (Marissa and Richard's friend Matt and his girlfriend; Marissa's sister Theresay and her boyfriend). From there, we braved the exiting crowds to get to Josh's car. And it took us probably two hours just to get out of the parking lot, work around some weird, long detours, get some gas, get some directions (thanks Richard) then arrive back home. In true People Power fashion i was "first one in, last one out" by being the last to cap off at around 3:30am, exhausted and excited for the next installment!
End of Part 2; wait your ass for Part 3!