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Words by Forrest Reda :: Images by Dave Vann
Coachella Music Festival :: 04.29 & 04.30 :: Indio, CA
Coachella Crowd :: 2006 |
I pulled onto the highway and gunned the Jetta to 80 as I hit the onramp. Nothing left untied, let's roll. Bite the bullet. Buy the ticket. Enjoy your friends. Don't drink the yellow water – it's beer! Don't do drugs!
I really want to see Matt Costa, but no one else is in much of a hurry Saturday morning. Traffic has been diverted, so the back-way doesn't work and the flow is heavy. By the time we're inside, Costa is finished, but the smiles on the faces of the girls that were watching him summed up his set.
Jón Bór Birgisson of Sigur Ros
Coachella 2006 |
Nine Black Alps was laying it down in the Mojave tent, and the shade made it a nice place to start. My muscles got loose, and the song from Madden 06 sounded good. Video games have overtaken FM radio for delivering new music. Nine Black Alps became the 100th person to tell me Wolfmother was good and to stick around, but first, a quick jog over to the Outdoor Theater for the Zutons.
A close friend had sent me the MySpace link for the Zutons, "Dude, there is nothing like this." He was still stuck in traffic, but I was inside digging the surf rock with horns, instrumental tube rides, and neuvo-Mexicali blues. Whatever you want to call their music, it's fantastic. I stayed as long as I could before running back to Wolfmother.
Every time I hear a Wolfmother song on KROQ, I think it's Jack White's new band because the vocals sound like White. This is unfair to The Raconteurs and Wolfmother, but that's my first audio impression. Whatever the case, Wolfmother is the first band on my "Is It Hype or Tight?" list, and it's evident from the first power chord that they are very, very tight (and playing way too early in the day). Wolfmother kills, and I didn't mind sticking around for the entire set. It's loud, but with a purpose. Rock's new gods have arrived.
Jim James of My Morning Jacket :: Coachella 2006 |
It seemed that the entire capacity crowd at Coachella was eagerly awaiting My Morning Jacket. MMJ had not been a priority for me at Bonnaroo in 2004 because I am slow, but they were the band I was most excited to catch at Coachella. As the gap between Bonnaroo and Coachella grows ever closer, MMJ seems like one of the crossover bands. Jim James has a voice like no other man with a microphone today. MMJ delivered a ferocious assault that induced head-banging, smiles, and tears. It was a full-body religious experience that exceeded expectations, and even though I missed TV on The Radio, it was worth every second.
It was decision time - Sigur Ros or Damian Marley? Sometimes Coachella is so good it sucks. I was at Marley with friends and already close to the stage, so I stayed, planning to leave after a few songs. Factor in a late start, an instrumental medley of classics, and an extended introduction, and a few songs quickly becomes half a set. But that's OK; Marley is special. He takes his father's music and pays homage in a new style. Excellent on the mic in every way, Marley also looks like an MC version of his father, with five-foot-dreadlocks and overflowing charisma.
Damian Marley :: Coachella 2006 |
I was restless thinking about missing Sigur Ros so I finally made my break, leaving my friends behind.
Unfortunately, Sigur Ros was wrapping up their last song, but I enjoyed the last ripples of sound instead of sulking before running back across the field while Marley delivered a majestic rendition of "War" > "Exodus."
I didn't stop because I was on my way to the Gobi Tent for some of Devendra Banhart's crooning mojo, which floored me in a good way. His voice plucked my heartstrings; his passion elevated the music to a religious place.
The Eagles of Death Metal are the complete opposite of Banhart. I saw them open for The Strokes a month ago, and they were decent. Loud, proud, and full of love for the ladies – what's not to like? At Coachella they were worn-out from tour and a little sloppy and raspy, so I appreciated the raucous cover of "Stuck in the Middle With You" from afar and found some ground to relax on for Franz Ferdinand.
Eagles of Death Metal :: Coachella 2006 |
I will admit to being tired, but Franz Ferdinand did very little for me. They are so polished in the studio that hearing them live felt disjointed. The popular songs were OK, but that was it.
I willed myself to the Sahara Tent and proceeded to get blasted with electronic energy. I was exhausted, but this was something special. Surpassing expectations and looking like spacemen, Daft Punk put together a mix of trance favorites that nearly lifted the whole tent off the ground. I danced until my reserve was spent and stumbled wearily to my car.
Day 1 was done.
Depeche Mode :: Coachella 2006 |
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Before the set, I had been hyper-critical of this so-called Hasidic Reggae Superstar, but Matisyahu won me over entirely. His youthful joy extends from his mic over the crowd.
-Forrest Reda on Matisayu
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Photo by Dave Vann
Coachella can be whatever you want it to be. It can be fueled with drugs or you can relish in purity. You can stay at a resort hotel or camp on a polo field. You can groove in a tent or dance under the stars. You can find a girl in the beer garden or find a new song in the early sets. You can hear your favorites or find new ones. It's the easiest festival to get to and the hardest to convince your LA friends to experience.
Michele Stodard of The Magic Numbers :: Coachella 2006 |
Quickly, Mates of State were decent, Los Amigos Invisibles provided some flamenco energy that got me dancing, and The Magic Numbers delivered the feel-good music, smiling through a poppy set as bright as the sunshine and coercing the crowd to sing along to "Forever Lost."
Matisyahu was about to come on stage. No introduction, no frills, just soulful reggae delivered with staccato speed. He dances like he is the embodiment of a spirit, like a marionette being twirled by a master, gracefully and smoothly lifted about the stage. Before the set, I had been hyper-critical of this so-called Hasidic Reggae Superstar, but Matisyahu won me over entirely. His youthful joy extends from his mic over the crowd. He doesn't preach as much as share the love that he has found, and it is something to behold. He briefly talked about the Israelites traveling through the desert after they had been delivered from slavery, and the fact that they were purifying themselves on their journey. I felt the spiritual benefits of my memories from church, without the ingrained fear of God.
Digable Planets :: Coachella 2006 |
After Matisyahu, I reconnected with my friends and we dug the end of Wolf Parade, another MySpace friend recommendation that came up pure gold. Original, moody, multi-instrumental, and full of fuzz, just the way I like my Canadian rock.
We dipped into the dance tent for Oakenfold, but after Daft Punk the previous night, it didn't grab me.
There was too much going on to stay at Oakenfold - stellastarr* was going off in the Mojave Tent but Gnarls Barkley, the pairing of Cee Lo and Danger Mouse, was happening too. It was experimental but commendable for Gnarls Barkley to use a 14-piece band while playing live for only the second time. It worked better then most live hip-hop. We sat outside and enjoyed the tunes as the sun dipped low in the sky.
Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
Digable Planets and Yeah Yeah Yeahs presented another scheduling conflict. I started at DP but was soon migrated to the Coachella Stage, mesmerized by Karen O's presence and delicately searing vocals. "Maps" was the destination I wanted. Someone exposing their soul or pouring out their heart on guitar gets me every time, and I wasn't alone.
Walking past Digable Planets, I heard "Cool Like That" and freestyle walked to the Gobi to check out Seu Jorge, whose soft Portuguese strumming was a perfect come-down from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
It was Madonna time, and I half-heartedly argued my friends as we walked toward the already-past-capacity Sahara Tent. There was absolutely no reason for Madonna to be in the dance tent. The dumbest Coachella trivia question of all time is "Who had the largest dance crowd ever?" Of course she got a late start. Of course she arrived in a helicopter. Of course the sound was shite in the back. She asked for drugs and got mad when someone threw water. They were probably just trying to cool off their neighbors. It was freaking hot in the dumb tent. It was so ridiculous that dozens of girls were sitting on top of porta-potties so that they could see a video screen of Madonna. She wore a guitar for "Ray of Light" – big deal. We were gone.
Massive Attack :: Coachella 2006 |
My boy sent me a text message, "Mogwai – AWESOME," and they were. Wow - zero to 60 in two seconds. Just pure layered melodic noise played really loud and really well.
It was now time for Massive Attack, so we found some grass to stretch our legs. This was the time to chill, tell stories from the day, and enjoy the moonlit evening. The mountains still had snow this year, the palm trees stood still, and the deep purple of the sky seemed like a lighting trick. The Tesla Coil came to life in the distance, spitting electricity.
Massive Attack blends together pop music from the past and future for a menagerie of vocal sounds backed by drums and bass. It's a kind of world music, peaceful music with soft undertones and tropical dreams. It was come-down music for some of the fans – a cooling-off period for others still amped for Tool.
The Go Team :: Coachella 2006 |
Now for the final decision - the Scissor Sisters or Tool? First, a quick listen to The Go Team because they are opening for The Flaming Lips and Ween at Red Rocks this summer. Eclectically loud – I would definitely go early to see them. On the schedule, Tool was supposed to start ten minutes before Scissor Sisters, so I walked back to the main stage.
In my head-banging days, there was no band more powerful then Tool. I never got A Perfect Circle and was distressed that project sold more records. I decided to see Tool first because I'll probably never go see them in concert again, while Scissor Sisters may still play small rooms on their next few tours.
Scissor Sisters :: Coachella 2006 |
Turns out, making decisions based on future events is not the way to live. Tool was 30 minutes late, and as I heard the bass lines of "Take Your Momma Out" wafting from the Outdoor Theatre, I actually cursed. My mood was perfect for Tool, I guess, and "Sober" was fitting for my festival experience. Antagonizing the audience is part of Maynard's shtick, but at festivals as exhausting as Coachella where you make choices about what you're going to see, it doesn't go over well - at least not with me. I waited two songs for something I knew, but the new Tool isn't as visceral as the old Tool and they were playing new stuff.
I made it to Scissor Sisters, who were thanking the crowd for staying for them. The Scissor Sisters played their disco take on "Comfortably Numb," and it was fun. They are flamboyant, groovy, and extremely tight.
The Scissor Sisters were done, and I had time to walk back to Tool as the old songs were played, capped off by "Aenima," which is still a master work of destruction and a great way to end the festival.
If this was the last Coachella at the Polo Grounds, it holds up well with appeal that wasn't obvious on the lineup. Like past festivals, your favorite band six-months from now was probably on the bill.
Coachella Scorecard:
Set of the Festival
My Morning Jacket
Similar Name Game - Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs win this because Karen O is one hell of a front woman and "Plans" was f'n awesome.
Wolfmother or Wolf Parade
Wolfmother by a nose. It's not like Jack White was going to sit on his laurels anyway, but Wolfmother will help motivate him. Sick, sick, sick.
Dance off - Daft Punk or Paul Oakenfold
Daft Punk wear spacesuits and get friggin busy on the tables to create absolute sickness. Oakenfold plays with his hair, pumps his arm, and waves to the crowd. This wasn't even close.
Reggae MC - Matisyahu or Damian Marley
TIE. Both are important voices with dynamic presence and inspired lyrics.
Coachella 2006 |
Continue reading for more of Dave Vann's Coachella 2006 images...
JamBase | Coachella
Go See Live Music!
COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
04.29 :: IMAGES BY DAVE VANN
Coachella :: 2006 |
Coachella :: 2006 |
My Morning Jacket :: Coachella 2006 |
Jim James - My Morning Jacket :: Coachella 2006 |
Kanye West :: Coachella 2006 |
Kanye West :: Coachella 2006 |
Damian Marley :: Coachella 2006 |
Damian Marley :: Coachella 2006 |
Sigur Ros :: Coachella 2006 |
Sigur Ros :: Coachella 2006 |
Cat Power :: Coachella 2006 |
Eagles of Death Metal :: Coachella 2006 |
Eagles of Death Metal :: Coachella 2006 |
Danny Devito raging Eagles of Death Metal :: Coachella 2006 |
She Wants Revenge :: Coachella 2006 |
Carl Cox :: Coachella 2006 |
Franz Ferdinand :: Coachella 2006 |
Franz Ferdinand :: Coachella 2006 |
Franz Ferdinand :: Coachella 2006 |
Depeche Mode :: Coachella 2006 |
Depeche Mode :: Coachella 2006 |
Continue reading for Dave Vann's Saturday, 4.30 Coachella images...
COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
04.30 :: IMAGES BY DAVE VANN
Coachella :: 2006 |
Coachella :: 2006 |
The Dears :: Coachella 2006 |
The Dears :: Coachella 2006 |
James Blunt :: Coachella 2006 |
The Magic Numbers :: Coachella 2006 |
The Magic Numbers :: Coachella 2006 |
Matisyahu :: Coachella 2006 |
Matisyahu :: Coachella 2006 |
Coachella 2006 |
Bloc Party :: Coachella 2006 |
Bloc Party :: Coachella 2006 |
Sleater-Kinney :: Coachella 2006 |
Sleater-Kinney :: Coachella 2006 |
Sleater-Kinney :: Coachella 2006 |
Sleater-Kinney :: Coachella 2006 |
Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
Rescuing the Crowd at Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
Rescuing the Crowd at Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
Karen O - Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Coachella 2006 |
 Digable Planets :: Coachella 2006 |
Digable Planets :: Coachella 2006 |
Madonna :: Coachella 2006 |
People hanging out on poop to see Madonna :: Coachella 2006 |
The Go! Team :: Coachella 2006 |
The Go! Team :: Coachella 2006 |
Gilles Peterson :: Coachella 2006 |
Dungen :: Coachella 2006 |
Dungen :: Coachella 2006 |
Dungen :: Coachella 2006 |
Dungen :: Coachella 2006 |
Dungen :: Coachella 2006 |
Scissor Sisters :: Coachella 2006 |
Scissor Sisters :: Coachella 2006 |
Scissor Sisters :: Coachella 2006 |
Coachella 2006 |
JamBase | Coachella
Go See Live Music!
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