Who: St. Vincent at the Outdoor Theatre In 3 or Fewer Words: All angles. Memorable Because: Annie Clark first asked the modest crowd at the Outdoor Theatre to put their phones away. A few complied. Then she launched into “Bring Me Your Loves” as she and bandmate Toko Yasuda pulled off some robot marches around […]
Who: Ryan Adams at the Outdoor Theatre. In 3 or Fewer Words: Tip your waitress. Top Five Ryan Adams Zingers Between Songs 1) (opening his set) “Yay, sad music in the desert.†2) (regarding photographers on a crane) “Hey, you guys be careful up there in whatever that Transformer thing is you guys got up […]
Who: The Cribs in the Gobi Tent In 3 or Fewer Words: Hey, scenesters! Memorable Because: “How many people here came to Coachella to see us in 2010?” singer-guitarist Ryan Jarman asked the light crowd in the Gobi. A few hands shot up. “We’re worry we didn’t make it — we tried everything.” It was an […]
Who:Â Jenny Lewis at the Outdoor Theatre In 3 or Fewer Words:Â Jenny, Blake, Haim. Memorable Because:Â On the strength of her new album “The Voyager,” Jenny Lewis came to Coachella poised to give a transformative experience. And wearing a rainbow-and-cloud pantsuit and performing in front of pastel-colored backdrop, she did, making dreams come true for every fan […]
Who: Desaparecidos in the Gobi Tent In 3 or Fewer Words: Strident, thank you. Memorable Because: Conor Oberst walked onstage wearing a shirt that read “DEPORT CONOR OBERST!” (a new merch item, naturally) and later issued a warning. “Almost everything you’ll hear coming out of my mouth today is extremely negative.” Oberst’s resuscitated hardcore band […]
Who: Built to Spill at the Outdoor Theatre In 3 or Fewer Words: Where is everybody? Memorable Because: If Built to Spill can’t attract a midday festival crowd then maybe there really is no hope for classic indie-rock bands at Coachella. After all, they are the closest thing 1990s dad rock has to a jam […]
Who:Â St. Lucia on the Main Stage In 3 or Fewer Words:Â Safe and sound. Memorable Because:Â St. Lucia was a pretty safe bet if you wanted to chill and get some shade but still be surrounded by positive electro-pop vibes. The New York band was all smiles and sunshine, especially when they played their most well-known tune […]
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 […]