Coachella | 04.17-04.19

Words by: Jorge Barriere | Images by: Dave Vann

Coachella Music and Arts Festival :: 04.17.09 – 04.19.09 :: Empire Polo Grounds :: Indio, California

Coachella 2009

Coachella Music and Arts Festival super-promoters, Goldenvoice, certainly outdid themselves in 2009 with their tenth edition of the festival, bringing legendary acts like former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, The Cure and The Killers, as well as up-and-coming, mind-blowing bands such as TV on the Radio, thenewno2 and Gang Gang Dance, to the oasis in the Southern California desert that is the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California. With tens of thousands of hipsters, scenesters, bikini bunnies, rock geeks and everyone in between participating in what was an epic weekend, the 2009 music festival season saw a grand kick-off last weekend.

The palm tree paradise of the polo field saw attendance figures in the 160,000 range, the second highest attendance figure in the festival’s history (the highest being in 2007 when 186,000 revelers watched Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DJ Tiesto, and Björk play the fest). In an economic climate of tight wallets and a sagging music industry, the numbers are a telling tale that the future of live music looks bright. The high ticket sales could also be indicative of a desire for people to escape the everyday stress of such a bleak economy.

Music aside, the art curators of the festival stepped up the massive, psych-tastic and interactive art exhibits by adding a bit of a Burning Man vibe to the grassy landscape, with exhibits like Gerard Minakawa‘s 90-foot tall “Bamboo Starscraper,” the Flaming Lotus Girls‘ “Serpent Mother” and Christian Ristow‘s “Hand of Man,” a large, glove-controlled, semi-truck sized mechanical hand tossing junked cars all weekend. Throughout my three days in the polo fields, I often wondered if this could be the setting to a modern Alice In Wonderland tale, with little adventures and amusing “rabbit holes” entertaining the masses throughout every corner of the 78-acre festival grounds.

The Do Lab and the popular Lucent Dossier Experience were in full effect as they took over the epicenter of the polo fields, showering beat junkies, both young and old, with water guns while wearing freakish gypsy rags and makeup. With a massive stage constructed by trashed loading pallets, and being in the center of the festival’s action, the Do Lab was a common pit stop between stages for those looking for a refreshing splash of water or the thump of killer DJs on the ones and twos throughout the weekend.

The weather forecast called for a cooler weekend this year, largely due to the festival occurring some days earlier than in years past, a smart move on the promoter’s part to ease the heat on those of us with less experience in desert climates. With a case of water in the trunk of my car, I arrived in Indio with my fiancé the evening prior to the festivities to rest before taking part in one of the world’s hippest music festivals.

Friday | 04.17.09

The Airborne Toxic Event :: Coachella 2009

For many, the anticipation of arriving in Indio, amongst the drove of Carpoolchella convoys and cars bearing Mexican or Canadian flags, is an exhilarating one. Some show up in costume, some in their tiniest bikinis/Speedos, and some in their favorite concert t-shirts. However, all show up with eager smiles, a kind attitude and ears hungry for live music. Making my way through what seemed like the largest parking lot known to man, I could feel the thump of Switch on stage, kicking off the Sahara tent. I’ve attended the last four Coachella Festivals and just as I expected, the lines at the gates were slightly slow but the fairly relaxed security and relatively cool 80-degree weather had festival early birds pouring into the Polo Grounds, eager to satiate their thirst with an ice cold beer or soju cocktail, while others made directly for El Gran Silencio or any of the other party-starting bands kicking off this year’s fest.

In my initial tour of the grounds, I happened to catch some of the hypnotic beat bolero of Brazilian DJ Gui Boratto. Coachella is often a balancing act, trying to catch at least part of one set but realizing you’re missing another set on the other side of the field. After making my way through the Do Lab to the main stage, aka the Coachella Stage, it was time for a little Heineken mixed with a little We Are Scientists. Although, WAS is primarily Keith Murray and Chris Cain, recently they’ve added keyboardist-guitarist Max Hart and drummer Adam Aaronson, whom some may remember from former Star Trak Records band The High Speed Scene. With its current personnel, this jammin’ quartet created an energetic, driving potion of danceable rawk. Wrapping up their set with their hit “The Great Escape,” they set the stage for the Airborne Toxic Event, who went on just after a brief stage change and for me, a slice of the famous Coachella “Spicy Pie” (that’s pepperoni, sausage and jalapeno pizza).

I caught the opening tunes from the Airborne Toxic Event, whose clenched fist ballad “Sometime Around Midnight” proved to be the best soundtrack to my walk to go catch Molotov, whose bombastic and youthful energy had the crowd literally hopping. They’re a band that reminds me of a cross between Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but in Spanish. With “Puto” as their closing number, they certainly left the best for last, and provided one of the first crowd-pleasing moments of the day.

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band :: Coachella 2009

Since I was already on that side of the field, I shuffled my way through the crowd to catch Los Campesinos! in the Gobi Tent. I must confess, being of Latin-American descent, I once thought Los Campesinos! was a Latin rock act, until the weeks leading up to the festival when I was going through my routine of checking out bands unknown to me. Turns out they’re from Cardiff, Wales! Who would’ve thunk!?! In Spanish, ‘los campesinos’ means “the rednecks,” but there was certainly nothing redneck about their set and the crowd’s overwhelming enthusiasm. It’s been my experience that the Gobi Tent was reserved for the quieter, more intimate artists, especially since it’s the smallest stage of the festival. Los Campesinos! could have easily played any other stage with their bombastic electro funk.

I had just enough time to hit up the Sahara Tent to see Felix da Housecat for a few minutes before heading to see The Black Keys. As we arrived at the already steamy Sahara Tent, my fiancé, Pam, who’s a fan of Felix, commented on the pop-worthiness of his tracks, a nice contrast to some of the more industrial, heavy beats normally thumping from that corner of the field.

Arriving back at the main stage, before The Black Keys, I had a chance to grab Heineken #2 and settled in just in time to hear lead singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach carelessly wail a bluesy guitar riff that set the stage for one of the most impressive sets of the weekend. With two beers in me and the temperature rising, the blues-infused aural swagger of the Keys had me bobbing my head and looking for a cigarette. I’ve quit smoking (for the most part) but I certainly felt like a modern Marlboro man, with Pumas instead of cowboy boots.

Leonard Cohen :: Coachella 2009

By this time, the crowds coming from the main gates were massive, arriving in waves much like a Florida beach during a hurricane. In the spirit of seeing as many bands as possible, I ran out to the Sahara Tent to catch the closing number of The Ting Tings. Just as I suspected, it was the jump rope anthem “That’s Not My Name” that had everyone in the tent singing along to every word. Prior to seeing Paul McCartney later that evening, The Ting Tings were leading one of the biggest sing-alongs I’d ever seen. Such a cool song!

Again, jetting back to the main stage via the Outdoor Theater, I happened to catch a little of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. There is something to be said about great weather and an inimitable power pop band that just makes you feel good. I was glad to catch them before I snagged a patch of grass in preparation for Franz Ferdinand, who went on to get the now impressively large crowd on their feet and dancing to “Ulysses,” “No You Girls” and, of course, the anthemic classic “Take Me Out.”

With the sun setting, it was time to slow things down and witness the genius that is Leonard Cohen, whose set proved to be a nice break from the knock-down, crash cymbals and distorted guitars of these “younger” bands. After closing his set with a tear-jerking rendition of his masterpiece “Hallelujah” just as the sun went down, I felt oddly complete and content and re-energized to finish the evening with a little Morrissey, Silversun Pickups and Paul McCartney. All I could think was, “Is this a dream?!”

Morrissey :: Coachella 2009

It was rumored that Moz’s set would turn into a Smiths reunion, so there were a few disappointed fans but most were blown away by one of my personal favorite songs of all time, “How Soon Is Now.” Can you believe he turns 50 in a month?! I could tell some of the lyrics were changed to reflect his age but his command of the stage showed no signs of aging. Moz can most definitely rock the socks off fans, both young and old!

It was tough leaving Morrissey to catch a little of Silversun Pickups but that’s usually how the ball bounces at Coachella. You miss something in hopes you’re going to catch something even better! Although Silversun Pickups and Morrissey are in a different league, this was my first time seeing the Pickups live, and yes, they rocked! With new album, Swoon, having dropped the week prior to Coachella, most of their set was packed full of new material still unfamiliar to me, but I can tell they’ve stepped it up and are headed toward iconic status. Feel free to quote me on that!

As the Coachella stage geared up for Sir Paul McCartney, I too geared up for Sir Paul, with an ice-cold beer and the company of a few friends. It was surreal to believe I was about to watch a Beatle perform on one of my favorite stages in live music. With Leonard Cohen, Morrissey and Paul McCartney performing within a few hours of each other, the crowd seemed just a bit older than I’m used to, but McCartney appeals to everyone. I can remember being ten-years-old stealing my dad’s Beatles tapes to listen to “Drive My Car” and “Yesterday,” among others, and boy did I relive my youthful kleptomaniac moments during a perfect evening in Indio, CA. The set list was deep with classics like “Eleanor Rigby,” “Let It Be,” “A Day In The Life,” “Paperback Writer,” “Back in the USSR” and many songs new to me, which nonetheless had me mumbling lyrics I didn’t even know. His set was scheduled to end at midnight but the encores were plenty and he played well past 1 a.m. I guess if you’ve been knighted curfews are merely suggestions.

Paul McCartney :: Coachella 2009

Continue reading for Saturday coverage of Coachella 2009…

Saturday | 04.18.09

Joss Stone :: Coachella 2009

Even in the morning, I could tell the temps were a bit higher on Saturday than Friday, but once again, the tickle of excitement kept me cool and walking at a brisk pace to catch Joss Stone, whose cute (read: skimpy!) white dress and the flower in her hair was a nice touch on a sunny Saturday afternoon. But man, can that white girl wail with the best of them! Stone’s diva pipes and festive presence were very much in command of the dance-addict audience.

I realized I had enough time to see thenewno2, who had already begun to play the Mojave Stage. For those unfamiliar with this group, it is Dhani Harrison‘s band, i.e. the son of Beatle George Harrison, though he has made a name for himself among tastemakers and has developed a fan base all his own. thenewno2 reminds me of The Vines but without the annoying, whiny singer. I caught a song and a half, which was enough for me to say, “I’m a fan!”

On my way to the Coachella Stage, I listened to a bit of Blitzen Trapper‘s set. These guys were truly a breath of fresh air, with well-written songs and instrumentation that took you back to an era of rock ‘n’ roll when songwriting was king. My friend likened them to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers meets The Eagles with a twist of Dylan. It’s a winning combination, and I know the future looks bright for Blitzen Trapper.

As the afternoon moved on, I decided it was time to lay down on the grass with Paolo Nutini, whose folky brand of Southern rock with a dash of traditional jazz was the right companion for a little rest on the lawn. Who knew that a trumpet could add such a nice twist to an already cool sound? And when he transitioned into his hit “New Shoes” midway through the set, I felt the need to stand and get my groove on!

Coachella 2009

There is quite the buzz around songstress Amanda Palmer. I read a note she wrote recently to music industry blogger Bob Lefsetz describing how she’s eager to get out of her record contract and be an independent artist. I watched a bit of her set and was blown away. What a cool chick! At the most random moment between songs in her set, she began crowd surfing to Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” only to cover Radiohead’s “Creep,” while in the crowd, on someone’s shoulders, accompanied by her own ukulele, and then later she covered Muse’s “Time Is Running Out” back on stage. These moments are the ones that make the Coachella Festival a fabled destination for music fans.

Next door to Amanda Palmer, on the Mojave Stage, was former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins. He didn’t come to Coachella to punk it up but rather to give a rousing, politically charged, charismatic address to the “kids of this generation,” calling the audience a group of people who are “academically switched on” and in control of humanity’s destiny. It was an inspiring moment, and personally, a more stimulating address than Sean Penn’s rant two years ago.

Feeling good about being a progressive-thinking citizen, I walked over to catch Glasvegas and although I waited anxiously with other fans, a stage manager grabbed the mic to let us know that lead singer James Allan was in bed with a fever and thus had to cancel. The air was thick with disappointment as everyone shuffled out of the tent looking for a back-up plan in our mini-programs. You would have thought that little booklet held the secrets to life with the way people were fixed on their next move. For me, it was time for some TV On The Radio, whose anthemic rock carried me toward the main stage. Although they’ve been a band since 2001, they’ve recently seen a spike in popularity with their stellar 2008 release Dear Science and the subsequent run through the late night talk show circuit, including an appearance on The Colbert Report.

M.I.A. :: Coachella 2009

After a quick cocktail, out came one of the acts that truly made the hair on the back of one’s neck stand on end. Travis Barker and DJ AM, whose DJ/drummer combo has become somewhat of a phenomena, were the sole survivors of a plan crash a few months ago, which made their appearance this year a remarkable one in many ways. I’ve had one of their live bootlegs on rotation in my iTunes for months and was curious to finally see them live. After taking the stage to a thunderous crowd reaction, AM took to the turntables and began a scratch-tastic solo, which was followed by a spin of just about every hit song on the radio today as well as some throwbacks, including Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the Rocky theme, a little Notorious B.I.G. and Rage Against the Machine. About two-thirds into the set, a familiar beat dropped and Warren G walked out and rapped “Regulators” to a screaming, disbelieving audience. It was an epic set, probably my favorite of the entire festival. Travis Barker, I think, unseated Danny Carey (Tool) as my favorite drummer in rock music today!

I realized I was missing Thievery Corporation so I rushed over to the Coachella Stage just before Travis/DJ AM finished their set and caught a wild variety of beats, singers and genres, all within Thievery Corp’s set. I’m bummed I missed most of it but I’m not sure I could have justified leaving TRV$DJ-AM any earlier! After a little dinner, I gathered some friends to watch M.I.A., who took the stage in a presidential press conference style with her Excellency on the mic(s). This crowd was certainly younger than Friday’s and a bit more energetic. M.I.A. created quite the security fiasco when she asked as many people as possible to take the stage and dance with her as the beat to “Paper Planes” began to play, and the crowd reacted in elation!

Mastodon :: Coachella 2009

This had to have been my busiest day as I trekked back to the Sahara Tent to dance to the Chemical Brothers, whose audience was certainly digging the sounds. I had promised my fiancé we’d dance for a bit and for a moment, while dancing to some of the best trance music, I forgot that I was “working.” It’s absolutely a great time when a musician/band/DJ can take you to another place where it’s all about the music, the vibe and the energy! Thank you, Chemical Bros!

The Killers had already gone on stage when I was able to race back to see at least a few songs. I was never a diehard Killers fan but I did see them in 2004 at the Mason Jar in Phoenix, AZ when they were opening for stellastarr* at the tiny venue, where I was blown away by their mesmerizing chord progressions and Brandon Flowers‘ delicately fierce pipes. This 2009 set couldn’t have sounded or looked more grand! “Human,” “Mr. Brightside” and many of their ubiquitous songs had the crowd reciting every word. I was torn whether to stay and watch The Killers finish their set or run to see Mastodon and MSTRKRFT before the end of my night. I decided to go for it and run to the Mojave Stage to catch Mastodon who were performing their new album Crack the Skye to a hypnotized audience and a ferocious mosh pit (read more on Mastodon in our exclusive feature/interview here). Next door, the Sahara Tent had MSTRKRFT throwing down the beats and heavy grooves, only to have John Legend appear on stage to sing a dance version of “Green Door,” which concluded Saturday’s festivities.

The Killers :: Coachella 2009

Continue reading for Sunday coverage of Coachella 2009…

Sunday | 04.19.09

Karen O – Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2009

Sunday was to be the hottest day of the festival, with temps breaking into the 100s but this was it, the last day and better make the best of it!

First up for me was Canadian hardcore band Fucked Up. Lead singer Damian Abraham, also known as Pink Eyes, was up to his crazy antics, which resulted in a bloody mess when he hit his head. I didn’t see him actually strike his head but he was certainly gushing blood by the end of the set. Along with the Red Bull in my bloodstream, this proved to be a very powerful start to my last day on the Polo Grounds.

Lupe Fiasco opened his set with radio hit “Kick, Push,” which was a nice dance friendly track to begin the afternoon. I had Peter Bjorn and John, Perry Farrell and Murder City Devils to see within the span of an hour and a half, which flew by. But, I managed to hear some of my favorite PB&J songs, jump into the Murder City Devils’ mosh pit and dance to a bit of Perry Farrell’s well-performed set. It will be interesting to see what project Perry brings next year (crossing my fingers for Jane’s Addiction).

Apparently Glasvegas wasn’t the only act to cancel. Clipse did as well. I never heard why but it was too bad I couldn’t catch just a little more hip-hop. Instead, it was time for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with the lovely Karen O leading the show dressed in a shirt/blouse composed of palm-sized mirrors. She always impresses both vocally and fashion-wise. “Zero,” “Y Control” and “Maps” were the highlights of their sunset show, with Karen O strutting her stuff as only she can. Along with Amanda Palmer, Karen O has become one of my Coachella ’09 crushes!

My Bloody Valentine :: Coachella 2009

After a quick walk to the Gobi Stage, we arrived just in time to watch Devendra Banhart and his band of super-musicians. I haven’t kept up with Devendra in a while but since I last saw him at Coachella in ’06, his music seems to have received a facelift to where he now rocks a little heavier with hooky riffs and lyrics in all types of languages. He is indeed a hipster’s hipster, who finished his set just as I could hear My Bloody Valentine sound-checking. MBV, along with bands like Built To Spill and Sonic Youth, are credited with precipitating the popularity of the indie rock, shoegazer movement. They had only played a handful of show in the States over the past decade, so the anticipation was a bit intense. As they took the stage and played their first few chords, it seemed as if the main speaker levels had been turned up to 11. Man, they were loud. For some, that’s exactly how they liked it but for many non-fans it was a bit on the extreme side and many moved on to see The Horrors or Late of the Pier, but I imagine you could hear MBV as far as Palm Springs, which may not have gone over well with the other acts! I personally found solace in the pillow of sound created by the jangly guitars and wailing riffs.

The ’80s were represented fairly well in the lineup this year with the über popular and nostalgic Cure taking the stage late in the evening, but not before Public Enemy brought down the house performing their 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in its entirety, opening the set with “Bring the Noise” and closing with “Fight the Power” (which appears on 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet). Of course, Flavor Flav was up to his hype-man antics, energetic as ever and now 50-years-old! Unbelievable. Chuck D, the mastermind of Public Enemy, and turntablist Terminator X both lived up to the standard of a Rock And Roll Hall of Fame act and delivered one of the best sets of ’09.

Flavor Flav and Chuck D – Public Enemy :: Coachella 2009

My fiancé is a huge Cure fan and we set ourselves up with a great view of the stage as Robert Smith and crew began their set. It started slow but a few songs in we got the classics like “Pictures of You,” “Love Song” and “Just Like Heaven.” As we looked out into the sea of heads, there was a joyous feel to the evening’s mood. Couples were embracing, even making out, and it was a fitting end to this three-day soiree. Apparently, The Cure isn’t afforded the same slack as Sir Paul, and at 1 a.m. festival organizers started powering down the sound system and bringing up the lights during the finale of “Boys Don’t Cry,” which eventually turned into an acoustic, audience-lead sing-along.

The speculation now begins as to who will play next year. Let the rumors fly! Conversations I overheard throughout the weekend had fans digging the idea of the Smashing Pumpkins (or whatever is left of them) taking the stage, or perhaps Daft Punk wowing the masses with new material currently being fine tuned in the studio. The rumors are always as interesting and funny as they are hopeful, but they bolster the idea that only the best bands in the world can possibly take the stage at such a fabled festival.

For some, Coachella is the ultimate camping experience, with tremendous music rounding out the madness, and for some it’s a pilgrimage that takes months of penny-saving and liver conditioning as preparation. Whatever the motivation, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival has once again left a mark on the 2009 festival season, with a recession-proof kick off of the most enjoyable sunburns and sore feet one will experience this year.

The Cure :: Coachella 2009

Click here for a bunch of video highlights from Coachella 2009.

Continue reading for more pics of Coachella 2009…

Friday :: 04.17



Molotov
Molotov


The Courteeners
The Airborne Toxic Event
We Are Scientists
Noah and the Whale

Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
The Black Keys
The Black Keys
Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band
The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady with Patterson Hood
The Hold Steady with Patterson Hood


Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Ghostland Observatory
Ghostland Observatory
Bajofondo
Bajofondo
Morrissey
Morrissey
Silversun Pickups
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney

Continue reading for more pics of Coachella 2009…

Satuday :: 04.18



Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Paolo Nutini
The ladeis be lovin’ Paolo Nutini
thenewno2
thenewno2
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Calexico
Calexico
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio


Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation with Perry Farrell
Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses
The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers
M.I.A.
M.I.A.
M.I.A.
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT
Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance
Mastodon
Mastodon
The Killers
The Killers
The Killers courtesy of Coachella
The Killers courtesy of Coachella
The Killers courtesy of Coachella
The Killers courtesy of Coachella

Continue reading for more pics of Coachella 2009…

Sunday :: 04.19


Okkervil River
Okkervil River
Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
The Do Lab
The Do Lab
The Do Lab
Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs



BLVD
BLVD
Etienne de Crécy
Etienne de Crécy
Etienne de Crécy
Etienne de Crécy
BLVD
My Bloody Valentine
My Bloody Valentine
My Bloody Valentine
My Bloody Valentine
Public Enemy
Flavor Flav – Public Enemy
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure
The Cure