Kevin Bronson on April 19th, 2009

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Saturday afternoon bloomed hotter than Friday at Coachella (and today temperatures promise to reach triple-digits), but the heat hardly discouraged early arrivers to the tents, where Ida Maria, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti and the Bob Mould Band had the most promising early sets. Stickers touting Ida Maria’s chorus “I Like You Better When You’re Naked” seemed to be everywhere.

Ariel Pink [above] is not be ready to graduate from small-tent status, but it might not be long. His quintet makes sometimes-beautiful, sometimes-shambolic psych-pop, and Pink commanded the stage as if were under the influence of his own music. He whistles, he croons soulfully, and his ’60s-influenced songs taken so many sudden turns that make you anxious for the next moment. I thought I heard him sing “Pop music makes it so easy / any sound will do.” Indeed.

Mould carried the veteran banner high (as Superchunk would later at the Outdoor Theatre). In the undersized (for this set) Gobi Tent, Mould, 48, did a set worthy of the title “Life and Times,” the name of his new album. The shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, though absent much in the way of middle-aged moshers, got some of that, along with Husker Du and Sugar material. The volume was turned up to 11, and Mould’s brash guitar tones were more searing the desert heat. It was something to behold.