Saturday of Coachella weekend was a lot like junior year of college. On the one hand, you’ve settled into things, become familiar with your surroundings, and even built up some stamina. You, on the other hand, are still feeling fresh (at least assuming your friends don’t talk you into taking too many Malibu photos back at the campground after Lana’s show) and hungry for more, not to mention thirsty.
Best of all, you haven’t yet begun to feel the impending sadness of the weekend’s inevitable arrival on Sunday.
In other words, it’s the sweet spot of the holiday season (who doesn’t miss junior year?). But even then, even the best of times have some bumps in the road. Just like that time you thought learning French would be easy (it’s not), or you and your friends thought it would be fun to try eating ghost peppers (it’s not). But regardless, the good outweighs the bad, and that’s the case here.
Without further ado, here are our highs and lows from Weekend 1, Day 2.
Highlight of Coachella Day 2: No Doubt, Sublime, Blur reunite
’90s dreams come true this Saturday at Coachella, with much of the main stage primetime devoted to not one, not two, but three anticipated ’90s reunions occupy. Sublime started it all, with singer Jakob Newell proving himself a worthy replacement for his late father (if you closed your eyes, you might even think you were listening to KROCK circa 1997).
Next up was Blur, fronted by Coachella regular Damon Albarn, who still shows no signs of slowing down a year after sharing the stage with another band, the Gorillaz. But the best part was saved for last, as No Doubt turned back the clock with a brilliant performance that showcased Gwen Stefani’s rebellious rock-girl side (which she’s seemingly kept under wraps for the past few years ), as well as the band’s impressive catalog of hits.
Coachella Day 2 Highlights: The Bleachers Bring It
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone perform at Coachella better than Jack Antonoff, who hosted one of the most energetic sets I’ve ever seen at a music festival. one. But his energy was somehow matched by the saxophonists in the bleachers, who were on stage with him for much of the show and seemed almost vying for dominance. No wonder Taylor Swift is seen jumping on her wings. It turns out Taylor has great taste in collaborators/friends.
Highlights from Coachella Day Two: Vampire Weekend, but with a country twist
Vampire Weekend’s performance brings a few surprises to this weekend’s Coachella music festival. The first is that they actually show up, as the collection was a surprise addition announced on Tuesday. But the second thing happened, singer Ezra Koenig quipped that when festival organizers contacted him, he was initially unsure whether the band had been asked to play Stagecoach or Coachella, which was introducing a country medley that was decidedly un-Vampire Weekend-esque. Clever way. While this may not be what anyone expected, it was a pretty cool way to end the show. Maybe Goldenvoice should call them and ask about Stagecoach.
Coachella Day 2 Low: T-Pain-ful Line
For myself and a large group of others, the excitement surrounding the recent addition of T-Pain equipment to the Heineken Brasserie quickly faded as we strolled towards the stage, only to see a long line stretching all the way. .
About half an hour before the show started, word began to spread through the queue that the venue was full and no one else was allowed in. “The Bartender”. Maybe they can bring back T-Pain next weekend (originally only announced for Weekend 1) and put him on a bigger stage so his fans can enjoy “Booty Wurk” without having to worry about capacity issues.
Coachella Day 2 Low: Conflict Still Too Many
Coachella’s reputation may be built on rock ‘n’ roll, but there’s no doubt that the festival’s offerings in that area have become less and less over the years. So I can’t for the life of me understand why they scheduled not only Saturday, but the entire festival’s three biggest rock stars to perform within an hour and 45 minutes of each other. While ambitious (and fast) fans can conceivably see most of all three sets, there’s simply no way to see all three sets, which is certainly true for those who still want to rock out. A scoundrel at the festival.
Coachella Day 2 Low: No Taylor Swift Cameo
Well, Us Weekly got it right this time, and it’s so cool that the world’s most famous couple actually added the festival to their globe-trotting itinerary (eagle-eyed fans in the bleacher crowds themselves discovered this). Yes, even pop stars have the right to enjoy a day at a music festival without having to face the pressure of performing (although we doubt Taylor is feeling much at this point).
But if we’re honest, we have to admit to being a little disappointed that Taylor didn’t jump on stage to join Antonoff or Ice Spice and create the most memorable Coachella moment since at least Bechera. But while the wait for Taylor Cerra seems to go on, we won’t give up so easily: Hopefully Taylor enjoyed her time in the desert so much that she’ll be back in a singing mood next weekend.
Paul Albani-Burgio reports on growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter: @albaniburgiop and email [email protected].
