Coachella 2022, Day 2: Billie Eilish’s highs, and other mania from a splendid Saturday

on
0
Billie Eilish at Coachella (Photo by Charles Reagan, courtesy of Coachella)

■ Day 1 gallery; Day 3 gallery

Almost a year ago, Billie Eilish released her sophomore album “Happier Than Ever.” On Saturday night, given the chance to sing away her coming-of-age and coming-of-fame demons to tens of thousands at Coachella, the 20-year-old Angeleno was giddier than ever.

“I should not be headlining this,” she said, smiling broadly as she guided fans through highs (literally — she performed two songs while elevated above the crowd on a lift) and more intimate moments (as when brother Finneas joined her for two songs acoustic). Damon Albarn of Blur/Gorillaz, rapper Posdnuos of De La Soul and the singer Khalid joined Eilish as guests.

Eilish’s set capped a frenzied Saturday that satiated ravenous Day 2 attendees. Among the highlights: Megan Thee Stallion’s brashly raunchy set; Cuco’s romantic turn at sunset; Disclosure’s electric 75 minutes (Khalid guested; the duo had six drummers for “Energy”); Caroline Polachek’s gripping 45 minutes in the Gobi Tent; Wallows’ rockin’ late-afternoon turn at the Outdoor Theatre; and Mercury Prize-winning Arlo Parks’ endearing set in the Gobi Tent, which featured a cameo from Phoebe Bridgers.

Fans turned out in big numbers for Flume, who took the gold medal for best array of guests (Beck, Vince Staples, Polachek, Tove Lo, MAY-A). The crowd flocked to bid farewell to Brockhampton, who have announced the Coachella performances will be their last. The label 88rising put on a wild 80-minute show on the main stage that featured a reunion of K-pop stars 2NEI, an appearance by China’s Jackson Wang, NIKI, Rich Brian and more. And Coachella veterans also squeezed in some pre-Eilish time in the Gobi Tent for a feel-good moment with Hot Chip, appearing at the fest for the fifth time (their first was 2007).

The set with the most breadth, though, was Danny Elfman‘s hour at the Outdoor Theatre. The 68-year-old film composer and former Oingo Boingo frontman, joined by an orchestra, choir and former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek, spiked his set with updated versions of his band’s songs, familiar tunes from his movie work and tracks from his 2021 double-album, “Big Mess.” “Love in the Time of COVID,” indeed.

Photos courtesy of Coachella