Andrew Veeder on April 16th, 2016

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Veeder’s Day 1: Carla Morrison, Låpsley, HEALTH, Joey Bada$$, Ibeyi, Gallant, BØRNS, Underworld, Sufjan Stevens, LCD Soundsystem

Coachella 2016 kicked off in epic fashion out in the desert on Friday. From rising young stars, to “Back From The Dead” reunions, the diverse array of artists on the bill had a little something to offer everyone, and kept the surprises coming in the form of guest stars, tributes, and unexpected spectacle.

||| Also: More highlights; see Kevin Bronson’s Day 1.

Unfolding chronologically:

1:30: Mexico’s Carla Morrison strutted on the Outdoor Theatre stage and barely stood still during her set, singing and slinking her way around. Her young band, a drummer flanked by three multi-instrumentalists, was tight and dynamic, playing with such gusto that it was hard to believe it was so early. “This is a song where you kiss and make out. It’s already hot so you may as well touch each other,” Carla said before playing “Eres Tú,” a sexy number that captivated the light but enthusiastic crowd. “No Vuelvo Jamás” had the hundreds in attendance swaying to the sultry and synthy slow burner, sounding even more powerful live and with a roaring response from the lawn.

1:59: After a few songs, British artist Låpsley dropped her composure and copped to be nervous by the crowd, which had mostly filled the Mojave tent. Once she got that off her chest, she seemed more relaxed, even smiling during “Operator (He Doesn’t Call Me).” The stunners from her debut album “Long Way Home” shined even brighter live, including “Hurt Me” and “Love Is Blind.” “Station,” one of her oldest songs, found her bopping between her mic and a modulated mic, deepening her slow-stopping voice and adding another dimension to the mix. Near the end of her set, the 19-year-old exclaimed, “I’ll probably see you later in the beer garden, I got a fake ID!”

2:37: Echo Park trio HEALTH wasted no time, commencing a sonic assault on the Mojave audience with the seamless, rapid-fire run of “Men Today,” “Die Slow,” “Flesh World (UK),” and “New Coke.” The newer, more accessible tracks like “Dark Enough” and “Life” really had people grooving, but HEALTH didn’t shy away from their abrasive side, also pummeling through the blistering “Salvia” and “We Are Water.” As they were just starting their last song, they were stopped for time and were none too pleased.

2:54: While passing the Gobi tent en route to the main stage, Mavis Staples was in the middle of “I’ll Take You There,” and it was the perfect sentiment of the afternoon.

3:07: Backed by a bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and DJ Statik Selektah on the 1s and 2s, Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ blazed through his set while the crowd continuously blazed up. Rocking a red jacket and a dope 2pac “All Eyez On Me” shirt, Joey’s lyrical prowess was on display as he rapped “Paper Trail$,” “95 ’til Infinity,” “FromdaTomb$,” and “Waves,” which dozens of youngins rapped along with almost every word. He then performed two new songs, the first of which had a 70s soul vibe that found him singing in parts, as well as “Devastated,” which he proclaimed was his favorite, spitting, “Now we on our way to greatness / And all that ever took was patience.”

3:52: The one-man dance-pop band that is Robert DeLong was a fun force to be reckoned with, alternating between four different percussion setups on stage, as well as pulling out other toys along the way, including angled keyboards, shakers, a synth-spewing Wii controller, and a joystick that, when operated, was like he was flying a fighter jet through a dubstep thunderstorm. “Don’t Wait Up” and “In The Cards” found him stretching out the tracks with live embellishments, often hitting most or all of his stations to add new sounds to the mix while a few thousand people danced on the grass. In addition to the toys, he also had guests, bringing Kamasi Washington out to slay on the sax, and violinist Lizzie Sterling for “Long Way Down,” as well as both of them for his last song, “Global Concepts.”

5:02: French-Cuban sisters Ibeyi (pronounced “ee-bey-ee,” which means “twins” in Yoruba) had a basic setup, Lisa-Kaindé Diaz on keys and Naomi on percussion, but their sound was anything but, fusing exquisite harmonies with eclectic drum sounds to create something unique and special.  On “Mama Says,” Naomi played herself, tapping her thighs, chest, and snapping on beat; on “Lost in My Mind,” she played the cajón she sat on; but then on closing track “River,” she dropped a deep boom-bap beat that reverberated through the Mohave tent. The worldly sound of their music transformed their Jay Electronica cover “Better In Tune With The Infinite” into something new and vibrant. The excitement of these sisters was infectious, with them often playfully jumping up gleefully after songs to pump the crowd up even more.

6:07: From the first time his falsetto soared on opener “Talking To Myself,” Gallant had the packed Mojave in the palm of his hand, with spectators spilling out on every side. Playing mostly songs from his recent album “Ology,” he channeled the emotion of every lyric, sometimes knocking over his mic stand or throwing his water bottle around while dancing wildly around the stage. Later in his set, he said he’d like to do a cover of a Seal song, beginning “Crazy” as an aviator-clad Seal joined him to an uproar. Afterward, Seal said about Gallant that he “loves him to death, loves what he’s all about, and loves that he’s paving the way,” and stayed on for their collaboration “Weight In Gold.” Of all the sets today, Gallant’s stood out the most as an announcement, an undeniable notice that he has arrived.

7:01: The Do Lab was full of bass, bubbles, and bouncing as Wave Racer got the onlookers moving in a structure that looks like someone vomited the color wheel on the set of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” complete with a ship mounted 15 feet in the air.

7:18: Dressed straight out of the 60s with bell bottoms, rose-tinted glasses, and a teal lace long-sleeved shirt, Garrett Borns led BØRNS on a victory lap in the Mojave, proving one of last year’s albums sounded even better and tighter live following the constant tour cycle of the last year. “10,000 Emerald Pools” had everyone singing along; “Dug My Heart” had everyone dancing; and “Electric Love” had everyone doing both, cruising through his gleeful indie pop at twilight.

Meanwhile, on the main stage, Kanye West was joining A$AP Rocky during his set.

7:54: Over in the Sahara tent, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of the UK group Underworld were in the midst of casting their electronic spell on the masses, mixing older songs like “King of Snake” and new ones like “Low Burn,” from the recent album “Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future,” and everyone was feeling the percussive trance, vibing to the beat in their own world — except for when the laser show dazzled above.

8:45: As soon as Sufjan Stevens began his set, it was clear why he was slotted after sundown. Opting to only play one song from 2015’s melancholy delight “Carrie & Lowell,” “All Of Me Wants All Of You,” he focused instead on his funky and spirited “The Age of Adz.” After opening with “Seven Swans” wearing a huge pair of angel wings, Sufjan smashed his banjo, jumping into “Too Much” while neon-dressed backup dancers twirled around the six-piece band. The spectacle of his performance was on par with The Knife’s 2014 Coachella set, or a Flaming Lips show, in that it was highly choreographed and stylized, yet unlike any other act of the day. He shredded his guitar on “I Want to Be Well,” noting, “This is for Slash,” and capped off his set with fan favorite “Chicago.”

11:10: Last weekend, I pulled my copy of LCD Soundsystem’s “The Long Goodbye” 5LP set of their final show off the shelf and removed the shrink wrap, spinning it for the first time. I put this band to bed when they called it quits after three albums and played their last show at Madison Square Garden in 2011, and was waiting for a special occasion to play the record that captured it — a special occasion like knowing it will not be the final show. As soon as they started playing “Us v Them” to open, and the biggest disco ball you’ve ever seen rose over the stage, it was like no time had passed during the last five years.

LCD Soundsystem was back, and they were still as dynamite as ever. As the name of their documentary suggests, they mostly did “Shut Up and Play the Hits,” giving the lawn patrons nearly every song they were craving: “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House,” “Someone Great,” “Losing My Edge,” and “Dance Yrself Clean.” They also treated the audience to “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down,” interpolating the beginning of Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” within it, and covered David Bowie’s “Heroes,” before finishing with the perfect closing track, “All My Friends.” As far as second acts go, that’s how it starts.