Coachella: Kanye West, featuring … Kanye West

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Who: Kanye West on the main stage
In 3 or Fewer Words: Mano-a-Indio
I’ll Remember This Until the Next Time: Coachella ends too soon. Few would deny the cultural gravity of Kanye West, but meta-narrative and sterling record production don’t automatically translate to headliner virtuosity at Coachella. Aware of the distinction, West gave festival attendees one of the most spectacular entrances in festival history. Dancers and fireworks dazzled the audience while Yeezy transcended the crowd on a crane and took stock of his horde. He unleashed “Dark Fantasy” unto the night and it seemed the sky was the limit as to what might happen next. Well, what happened was that West courageously went it alone. Rumored high-profile guests didn’t materialize. Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon was the only one to show. The crowd seemed disillusioned when neither Jay-Z nor Nicki Minaj arrived for “Monster.” What else did Rick Ross have going on this weekend? Excepting a bare-bones backing band and occasional appearances by his ballerina harem, West spent most of the time carrying the whole set on his back. More than anything, the set was a love letter to Coachella goers. Kanye West’s sincerity is undeniable. He may have hinted at suicidal thoughts when he ruminated “There’s many times I thought about not being here, but you all make it worth it.” He informed us that he wanted badly to headline Coachella, and added “This is the most important show since my mom passed.” I believe him. I believe he had a vision for this show, a gift he wished to give. He could have used a little more help to bring it to fruition. No one man should have all that power.
What I’d Tell My Friends Who Were Beating The Traffic:
A couple extra hours of sleep are no substitute for seeing one of the world’s biggest stars. When in doubt, go!
– Ben “Mouse” McShane
Photos by Jim Donnelly