Who: RAC in the Mojave Tent In 3 or Fewer Words: Remixer ups game. Memorable Because: From renowned re-shaper of others’ songs to composer/collaborator on original music to live band — RAC principal Andre Alan Anjos has matched the growth spurts of his young fans over the past couple of years. Those fans packed the […]
Who: Mac DeMarco on the Outdoor Stage In 3 or Fewer Words: Tossed salad days. Forgettable Because: Maybe it was too hot for fart jokes, but Mac DeMarco’s slacker-songwriter shtick just left this writer pining for a Ween reunion. DeMarco daydreamed through the mellow affair, perfect for lazing about under a cloud of smoke, but […]
Who: The Orwells on the Main Stage In 3 or Fewer Words: Ignorance is strength! Memorable Because: When Orwells frontman Mario Cuomo lurched on stage looking confused, I wondered if someone had wandered in from the vendor loading area by accident. The posture held fast through the Orwells’ self-destructive set of proud-to-be-loud, too-cool-to-care garage-rock. All […]
Who: MØ in the Gobi Tent In 3 or Fewer Words: MØ, ‘mo, more! Memorable Because: Even after the sound completely cutting out during her first song, Danish pop singer MØ didn’t let those five stolen minutes bring her down. While stage technicians were desperately trying to fix the problem, fans were shouting her name until she finally […]
Who: Joyce Manor on the Outdoor Stage In 3 or Fewer Words: Sunday taken back. Memorable Because: Emo-tinged punk was a sub-theme across this year’s lineup and Joyce Manor from Torrance represented the poppy Epitaph Records variety with distinction. Sneering, groaning about girls, tales of watershed moments at parties gone wrong … It was all […]
Who: Saint Motel on the Main Stage In 3 or Fewer Words: Showtime. Memorable Because: The lesson here is: If you’re a recently signed band and the Fates (or your savvy label/booking agent) land you a slot on the Coachella Main Stage, do it up right. Even if it’s at 1:20 on a Sunday afternoon. […]
Who: Chicano Batman at the Outdoor Theatre In 3 or Fewer Words: Buenas vibraciones. Memorable Because: It’s quite possible that Chicano Batman sweated all the way through their powder-blue tuxedo shirts by their third song, but the L.A. quartet, one of the few Latin acts booked at Coachella in recent years, was still the coolest […]
Who: Night Terrors of 1927 in the Gobi Tent In 3 or Fewer Words: Coming on strong. Memorable Because: Jarrod Gorbel’s big, round voice is at the forefront of NTO1927’s anthems of love and longing, but it’s the gang choruses that stick in your head. The L.A. five-piece had no trouble selling a one-third-full tent […]
[We now begin posting our final batch of Coachella mini-reviews from Weekend 1 — hopefully, if you’re going to the desert his weekend, these will give you an idea of what to expect:] You suspected the third day of Coachella on Sunday might be special the moment you arrived on the grounds of the Empire […]
Photographer David Brendan Hall takes you on short tour around Saturday’s Day 2 of Coachella, starting with Benjamin Booker (top photo). Our Coachella mini-reviews
