SCENES FROM COACHELLA

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

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.