Coachella 2011 | Review | Pics
By Team JamBase Apr 20, 2011 • 2:26 pm PDT

Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival :: 04.15.11-04.17.11 :: Empire Polo Club :: Indio, CA
Jump right to massive photo gallery for Coachella 2011 here!
Check out live clips from Coachella 2011 here!
Friday, April 15
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With the short sets (45 minutes or less) and close stage proximity, the festival was a music sampling of sorts. My first stop was The Morning Benders, who were a must-see on my list. Despite a rough go with some sound issues, it was hard not to feel like a high school girl crushing over frontman Chris Chu. His melodic voice and endearing smile captured my heart. I would give them another chance in a smaller venue, somewhere where “Excuses” would reverberate and the audience would feel more intimately engaged.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart was my next stop. There was a lot of hype to this band and their performance lived up to it. They were one of the stronger new bands of the day, ranging in sound from heavy to sweet.
Next stop was WarPaint and this rock-n-roll girl band gave a memorable performance. Effortlessly stylish and sexy, these girls rocked it hard, then brought it near and dear to your heart with “Undertow.” From there, I was off to Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, which took memorable to a whole new level. “Menopause Man” is a constant on my playlist and I was eager to see whether the frontman lived up to those lyrics. Where The Morning Benders took their sound issues in stride, Ariel Pink had a progressively fascinating meltdown, and at one point, he worried the crowd that he might light himself on fire with the lighter he held. The show was a spectacle, to say the least.
Lauren Hill brought back the beat, with strong support from friends and her fellow artists (incredible drummer) onstage. She gave her audience what they wanted: A ride down memory lane. She kept engaged with the crowd, standing front and center in a blue and white striped flowing dress. She did one of the best jobs of translating her melodic, slow tempo songs into something a bit more upbeat, catchy and Coachella friendly.
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The sun had long set, but the night began with Cut Copy, who infused dance-your-face-off energy into a packed tent on Friday night. Lights and music stole the show and the festival with a build-up like you’ve never felt, even from the most seasoned DJs. The connection between band and audience left every person feeling like we were one. This was a mind-blowing, ‘jumping in sync’ performance. Do yourself a favor and check them out. Oh, and bring a pair of dancing shoes.
Crystal Castles was the perfect complement to Cut Copy. Although set in a much bigger venue at the Outdoor Stage, one was equally captivated. There wasn’t an audience member who could take their eyes off of this performance. Alice Glass scaled the stage, slinking around while pounding out her voice. It was sexy and eerie all at the same time.
Next it was Gayngs, a mishmash of 20 or so of indie’s best musicians collected on one stage. “Gaudy Side of Town” set the tone of the show with every performer perfectly complementing and contributing. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver was incredible and captivating as per usual, and he brought some excitement with a rumor about joining Kanye during in his Sunday’s finale.
Saturday, April 16
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After a disappointing show at the SF Fillmore this past February, I was eager to give Radio Dept a second shot. While the performance was improved, they were lacking the needed oomph to win the crowd’s heart. However, the keyboardist brought his A-game and was the star of the group. I’ve heard that they put on good shows, but I’ve yet to be impressed.
You would be hard pressed to find a single person in the packed Gobi Tent that didn’t dance their ass off during the incredible performance by Yelle. This French band hosts an incredibly gorgeous cast, including front-girl Julie Budet. With a stylish, partially shaved ‘do, this rail thin beauty was adorned in a red cheetah print catsuit. With a tiny French lesson and incredible crowd interaction, it was apparent that Yelle was a favorite among festival goers.
An inspiring set by the large and unique Broken Social Scene brought the Coachella Stage alive. An incredible performance of “Anthem For A Seventeen Year Old Girl” sent chills down my spine. They are truly a must-see band, never fading with age, and always putting on an incredible show.
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A quick detour to the Outside Stage brought mystique and entertainment when Empire of the Sun performed. Adorned in costumes that ranged from a swordfish to armored warriors, this band was anything but short on performance mojo. But, the stage might have been misjudged since only those with a good view were able to fully appreciate what was happening onstage. From what I saw, I will definitely check them out again.
Arcade Fire, as expected, completely rocked the night. Their stage presence is unparalleled, with band mates regularly changing instruments and completely owning the entire floor. Despite a four-song slowdown, their hits, such as “We Used to Wait,” had the entire audience fist pumping and singing along. Their finale, complete with a balloon dump from the top of the stage, included an incredible rendition of “Mountains (Beyond Mountains),” belted out by the ever-sweet yet incredibly salty Regine Chassagne – one of the best moments of the festival.
Sunday, April 17
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Best Coast brought a soft feel to an otherwise edgy face. Frontgirl Bethany Consentino began the show by reaching out to a younger generation and inspiring them to take a walk in her shoes. In an earnest voice, she told them that she made her Coachella debut at 18, only to find herself onstage again at 24. That honest sentiment echoed her whole performance and especially her lyrics, which were a perfect representation of the band: visceral yet endearing.
Trentemoller put on a fiesty performance at the Mojave Tent. Accompanied by a talented band, this DJ commanded your attention. He is a master of the slow build and took the crowd along with him on an incredible ride.
I’ve been eager to hear The Strokes for some time. Although leader Julian Casablancas was a bit off-putting with his snide comments, but his performance made up in energy and personality what he lacked in his crowd interaction. And the ever stylish Nikolai Fraiture wasn’t to be forgotten. This band was perfectly in sync, and with incredible hits like “Hard to Explain,” The Strokes gave new definition to the idea of perfectly cool rock ‘n’ roll.
The finale had promise with Kanye West, who has recorded with some of the biggest and most talented musicians in the business. The stage production was incredible – white ballerinas danced throughout the stage and Kanye made a commanding entrance, rising out of the crowd. Yet, Kanye himself seemed to be the death of his show. Despite an incredible performance by Justin Vernon, it felt like a missed opportunity that he couldn’t get past his ego and really share the stage. It was abundantly clear that Kanye wanted all of the attention on himself, even taking a five-minute break to tell the fans how much he needed this performance. All in all though, few walked out early, but that likely could be attributed to not wanting the festival to end more than Kanye’s actual performance.
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JamBase | California
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