Coachella Day Two: 4/20 with Moby, Hot Chip and Phoenix

Music connoisseur Elizabeth Kahn recounts her journey from Syracuse to her favorite place in the world: The Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.

Saturday, April 20: Jour Deux

10 a.m: I can’t manage to sleep in any later. Damn it’s hot, but I’d rather be in dangerously high temperatures than back in Syracuse.

Things accomplished: My first shower in the campsite showers was way cleaner than expected. Although there was a VIP Shower option for $10, my camping neighbor Ana and I decided that it was worth it to just wait it out for the free showers since other girls leaving the area said it wasn’t so bad. Felt very refreshed and ready for the second day of the festivities.

Things to note: 4/20 is only “celebrated” in America. Explaining why people smoke weed on this day to my foreign friends made me realize how absurd this “holiday” is.

3 p.m.: Baauer in the Sahara Tent (See Vine here)

Most of us are probably familiar with Baauer without even knowing it – That song “Harlem Shake”? Yeah, that’s him. Baauer (Harry Bauer Rodrigues) is a producer of trap and bass music. He got all the early birds in the Sahara tent dancing helplessly to his groovy and trip-hop beats.

4:15 p.m.: Allen Stone in Gobi I walked through Allen Stone, wish I had stayed longer. He’s got a soul rock sound, which was a nice contrast to the “whomp whomp” of the Sahara tent. It’s always nice to check out other acts, even if you’re just going to do a “walk through.” Mix up your genres.

6:30 p.m.: Left campsite with a neighbor to see Major Lazer set in the Sahara tent. Lost him after going through the entrance and decided to fly solo to see the end of Hot Chip on the main stage. They sounded amazing.

8:50 p.m.: The Postal Service on the Coachella Main Stage

This was one of the best sets of the weekend. I’ve been a huge Postal Service fan since the second line of “District Sleeps Alone Tonight” resonated with me when I was 10 years old (“Your palms are sweaty”… I have a condition called hyperhyrdrosis so my palms are always sweaty). They sounded wonderful and started the “chill” night before The xx took the stage.

9:55 p.m.: A Ruth’s Chris cheeseburger followed by Moby at the Sahara Tent

Yes, that’s right. Ruth’s Chris, the expensive, but delicious steak house, had a booth in the Food Court, and I ate one of their cheeseburgers while heading over to the Sahara Tent to shoot Moby. In all honesty, it makes me sad to say I wasn’t as impressed with Moby’s set at Coachella, probably because it was a DJ set. Either way, it was a lot more of the “unce unce,” and I was looking to chill out. He did seem excited to be there, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

10:30 p.m.: The xx at the Coachella Stage

The xx sounded very true to their album — mellow and relaxing — which was no surprise for this duo. This was one of those sets where you just had to lie down, enjoy the desert cooling off, and gaze up at the Balloon Chain in awe. Appreciate your surroundings.

11:35 p.m.: Phoenix at the Coachella Stage

I was surprised there was no appearance from R. Kelly — another Weekend 1-exclusive experience — but Phoenix’s performance made up for it. Closing out the show on the Coachella Stage, they had a very balanced set list and gave the crowd a mix of their sound off the new album Bankrupt! while still playing my favorites like “Long Distance Call,” which they managed a sick remix of.

Phoenix

Midnight: Knife Party for a “hot second” at the Sahara

Walking into the Sahara tent during Knife Party’s set was just what one might expect, bass on whomp on bass. The Australian duo of Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen (two members of Pendulum) knew how to tear up the Sahara tent while providing some very cool visuals. Listen to “Bonfire” while working out.

Knife Party

12:15 a.m.: New Order for a “walk through” at the Mojave Tent We just happened to walk through the Gobi tent as the beginning chords of New Order’s “Blue Monday” were being plucked. Perfect timing. There’s no better feeling than catching a classic ‘80s band playing the only song you know. Score.

12:30 a.m.: Booka Shade at the Gobi Tent

Booka Shade are electronic musicians and by that I mean they actually play instruments to produce the EDM music, something a rare out of the other DJs I saw at Coachella. Hailing from Germany, Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier have a reputation for being the godfathers of what is known as Frankfurt electronic music scene. For people who aren’t familiar with this duo, their upbeat, funky-house sound is very original and for any activity that requires energy. End of night two.

TOTAL ACTS SEEN: 10

Things I wish I caught: Simian Mobile Disco, Pusha T, Two Door Cinema Club, Bingo Players

 

Coachella Day Three: Tame Impala, Pretty Lights and RHCP >>

Post new comment

* Field must be completed for your comment to appear on The NewsHouse
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.