Kevin Bronson on April 13th, 2014

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And on Saturday, the desert rose up again.

Just short of a year after a windstorm turned Red Hot Chili Peppers’ headlining set into a dust bowl, the skies unleashed a torrent of sand and grime on Coachella 2014. Though tepid compared to the sting of last year, the storm turned the skies an apocalyptic brown [no color correction on the top photo], wreaked havoc with tents and flags and made bandanas and surgical masks the fashion accessories of the day.

Undaunted, Coachella’s performers carried on, and carried the masses with them. It was a day you could make Top 5 Highlights list and not include anything from the Main Stage: There were guest-star-riddled sets from Pharrell Williams and Nas at the Outdoor Theatre; Skrillex and Empire of the Sun delivering their epic bombast in the Sahara Tent; Beyoncé crashing sister Solange’s set; massive tent parties with old guarders the Pixies and Pet Shop Boys; Capital Cities’ coming-out moment at the Outdoor Theatre; and Lorde’s sermon of gratitude thereafter. And oh-by-the-way Muse and Queens of the Stone Age played.

It was a lousy day for fans with respiratory problems. It was a good day to arrive early and be blown away by young New Yorkers Unlocking the Truth. Our Saturday coverage follows.