Kevin Bronson on April 18th, 2022

0

■ Day 2 gallery; Day 3 gallery

Coachella returned Friday to the Empire Polo Club in Indio for the first time since 2019, a full bloom of youth in a desert oasis — and a smattering of elders reliving theirs, and dispensing their accumulated wisdom.

Generations collided during headliner Harry Styles’ set, when, after performing a One Direction song, the 28-year-old Brit brought on his surprise guest, singer-songwriter Shania Twain, who is twice his age. They teamed up on two of Twain’s songs, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “You’re Still the One.” They shared a moment of mutual admiration, with Twain saying, “When I was writing this song, you were just a kid.” Styles also debuted two new songs from his forthcoming album “Harry’s House” (out May 20).

It was one of many surprises on Day 1, Weekend 1 of the festival’s 21st edition. Brazilian star Anitta was introduced by Snoop Dogg and had Saweetie and Diplo as guests. (The latter had popped in to the DoLab’s stage earlier.) Daniel Caesar welcomed Justin Bieber. Big Sean was joined by both YG and Jhene Aiko. Tinashe and Earthgang guested for TOKiMONSTA. Phoebe Bridgers brought on Arlo Parks for the end of her set.

Promoters Goldenvoice sprang perhaps the biggest surprise when the set times were announced Thursday — there in the Mojave Tent, in the early evening, was Arcade Fire, veterans of four Coachellas (2005 was their first) and two-time headliners (2011, 2014). When they first played the festival, “we were children,” frontman Win Butler told the crowd, who were ready for a tent revival and got one. “We’re not children anymore.”

Their set, interrupted at the outset as Butler sought medical aid for a fan up front, started with “The Lightning I, II,” from their forthcoming album “WE” (out in May). Their set sailed into a greatest-hits affair, which seemed to be as emotional for the band as it was for those who witnessed it. In the first verse of the new song “Unconditional I (Lookout Kid),” Butler teared up and paused when referencing his son, who turns 9 next week. They concluded their set with “Wake Up” and its massive “whoa-ohhh” sing-along, a nice communal moment that all but obscured the song’s core lament, which is the loss of innocence. “Children, wake up,” indeed.

The kids certainly seemed all right elsewhere. Bridgers, slotted on the Outdoor Theatre at approximately the same time (though on a Friday) that Billie Eilish staged her Coachella debut in 2019, played a subdued (by festival comparisons) set for all the canoodlers as the night turned chilly and blustery. She bookended her windblown turn with “Motion Sickness” and “I Know the End,” performing in front of spectacular visuals depicting a series of pop-up books.

Elsewhere, a very pregnant Bishop Briggs belted out songs old and new at the Outdoor Theatre, though time restrictions forced her to truncate set-ender “River.” The Marías seduced in two languages in the Gobi Gent, also including their cover of Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time.” The Regrettes covered Avril Lavigne and, starting with “Anxieties (Out of Time),” played highlights from their new album “Further Joy.” L.A.-based NIKI became the first Indonesian American artist to play Coachella, including in her set the Los Angeles/New York City parallel tale “La La Lost You.” And MIKA and Princess Nokia played back-to-back feel-good sets in afternoon sun on the main stage.

Photos courtesy of Coachella