Coachella.2012.(Sunday).W2

Coachella.2012.(Day.3)

@Indio Polo Field (Indio, CA)

Sunday.April.15th

The last day of week 1 has arrived and I am starting to feel the pain.  it's warm and I am coming down with a cold.  $H!T!  It always happens every year.   

There was not much I wanted to see today.  Some of the bands and wanted to see are ALL outside in the main stage.  Why couldn't it be cloudy again.  Went to the Gobi tent to catch Housse de Racket and they killed it!!!  They are such a fun band to watch and what a great way to start the morning.

I sat faraway in the shade to listen and watch Metronomy.  I didn't want to be out in the sun, even though it was 70 degrees out, but that sun hits you hard.  

After my sit down for Metronomy, I went to the main stage to have a good spot for Santigold.  Band of Skulls where on and they where good.  I moved up closer to get a better spot, but I noticed the barricade down the middle of the field.  I was stuck on the left hand side with the VIP section.  DAM!

Santigold went on and she was good.  She did a couple of costume changes and I liked that the band members looked a little bit like DEVO members.  I was looking into the VIP section to spot any stars and I didn't.   I was gonna stick around for Fritz and the Tantrums, but my legs are killing me form Saturday.  I went and sat by the entrance near the ferris wheel.   

I watched Fritz and the Tantrums and they where getting down.  The Hives where up next and they where killing it.  I decided to get some food and head towards the main stage.  Howlin' Pelle Almqvist (Lead Singer) was a riot!  He asked ALL of us to sit down and we did.  Then he noticed that the VIP section didn't sit.  "What, only because you paid more, you think you can get away from seating down? I need you guys to sit and you are not that special", said Pelle.  The crowd went wild and the VIP section sat down.  

Justice was up next and I decided to stay.  The more I listen to the latest Justice album (Audio, Video, Disco), I like.  They did not go dub-step with their music and I bet some people wanted them to.  Justice started out fashionably LATE!  I was surprised that some people did not leave.  Once they hit that stage, 20 minutes late, they turned it out.  I happened to turn around and I saw Macy Gray getting down.  How cool is that?!?!  My first celebrity spotting at Coachella.  

I went to the Sahara Tent to catch Calvin Harris and the tent was packed!  I guess that single he produced for Rihanna helped.  When I got closer, I noticed this familiar voice, but I was not thinking anything.  I thought he was gonna be performing, but he was DJing.  I was gonna leave until he played the Rihanna song, "We Found Love".  I was saying to myself, "this girl singing is doing a great job and she sounds so close to Rihanna".  There was no JumboTron and I was to far to see anything.  When the song was over, Calvin said, "give it up to Rihanna!".  What?!?!  No wonder, this place was PACKED.  Of course, after that song was over and she left the stage, people started to move out. 

I walked around for a bit, taking in the last of my day here.  Even though I am coming down with a cold and my feet are hurting, I always look forward to Coachella.  Next year is gonna be my tenth year coming to the festival.  Round 10 is just around the corner and I can not wait.  Stone Roses? Maybe...

\m/ - FCVKn AWESUM!!!

Coachella.2012.(Saturday).W1

Coachella.2012.(Day.2)

@Indio Polo Field (Indio, CA)

Saturday.April.14th

Arrived early to catch Spector and they where good.  They had a technical problem with there laptop, they decided to go on with out it.  They really didn't needed it because they sounded great!  A MUST SEE again.

The Vaccines where up next.  Another show.  They played a couple of new one's that sounded promising.  I noticed that the Vaccines are slowly getting there look down.  Not bad.

I stuck around for Azealie Banks and she was FCVKn AWESUM!!!  I was up in front and noticed the gaggle of photographers inching there way to get a snap shot of this rising star.  She played 1991 and closed the set with 212 (which got the crowd, WILD).  She just got off the stage with her dancers and the DJ stayed for a second until he walked out.  Some people did not know if that was the end.  The only way I noticed, was when the VIP section cleared off.  

I headed to the Sahara Tent to catch, Jacques Lu Cont and he was okay.  I took off after 30 minutes and I went to the Mojave Tent to sit for a bit.  I was just doing my thing until a undercover cops came out of nowhere and arrested a kid that was behind me.  I guess they where watching him all day.  He might of been a drug dealer.  

Went to the Gobi tent to check out Buzzcocks.  I was looking at the stage and I noticed that their roadies where young Mexican kids.   They where setting up and sound checking the equipment.  At first I was a bit confused.  I was, "are not Buzzcocks older"?  Yea, they are.  These kids did a great  job with Buzzcocks equipment because they sounded good.  I stuck around for a couple of songs so I can catch Noel Gallagher at the main stage. 

Kaiser Chiefs where on and they where playing, "Modern Way".   Ricky Wilson (Lead Singer) of course was all over the place that he ended up 10 feet away from me.  AWESUM!!!

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Bird where up next.  When they where setting up the stage, I noticed that they brought out Noel's Goodlike Genius Award from NME and placed it on a speaker near the drums.  I love that he brought it with him.  NGHFB where good and they played two Oasis songs, "Little by Little" and closed the set with, "Don't Look Back in Anger".  Love those two songs.  I guess he really did stop playing "Wonderwall" after all. 

I headed to the Mojave Tent to catch Kasabian.  Squeeze was performing (not a fan) and it felt like I was watching a cover band at Magic Mountain.  They had some cool visuals, I give them credit for that.  When they left the stage, I moved in and ended up, 5 feet away from the stage.  The crowd started to get rowdy and once they hit the stage, it got really crazy.  People where trying to push there way up front, but what a show Kasbian put on.  performed. 

It was a long Saturday and what a perfect way to spend my birthday.  Here at the first week of Coachella, enjoying the people walking by and hearing GREAT music.  

I went to the main stage to catch Radiohead.  I saw them from faraway because it was crowded.  I stuck around for a couple of songs and I decided to take off to avoid the traffic.  I couldn't believe how cold the night was today and how did some of these people knew to bring, scarfs, parkas and jackets.  How did they know?  All I brought with me was a lite thermal.

\m/ - Awesum

Coachella.2012.(Friday).W1

Coachella.2012.(Day.1)

@Indio Polo Field (Indio, CA)

Friday.April.13th

Here we go and the latest fashion trends are present at this year festival; floral prints, bright neon, 1800 century, some P.O.C. (pop of color) and that native American looking prints.  I noticed a couple of changes this year.  For example, the parking.  They moved the free parking to the other side of the street.  The traffic was not bad when I got close to the venue.    

It's 12:15 and I got to see the last 10 minutes of Abe Vigoda and they closed their set with, "Throwing Shade".  

I walked around for a bit and watched some bands that I have not heard of; Wolf Gang, honeyhoney and Other Lives.  They where all okay.

 It started to drizzle a bit (now that's a first) and the temperature dropped 10 degree's.  Then 5 more at night of 10 and there was a lite wind blowing making it a bit more chilly. 

I went to check out what EMA is all about and I can't believe the hype.  I took off after the second song. 

Went to the main stage to catch James.  FCVK, the last time I saw them was somewhere in 1990 when Laid album came out and they performed at The Palace (now called, The Avalon).  They kicked a$$ then and today.  I was happy that they played "Sit Down" and Tim Booth (Lead Singer) decided to climd down from the stage and sing with the crowd.  AWESUM!  Tim Booth (Lead Singer) looks a bit like Michael Stipe which his head shaved.

I went to the Mojave Tent to catch Grouplove.  They where okay.  I loved the way they clashed Whitney Houston song, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" with their song, "Tongue Tied" and that almost brought me into tears. 

Arctic Monkeys was AWESUM once again and I was stuck for a second between going to see Madness and then come back for Pulp at the main stage.  When the Monkeys went off, I moved up close to the main stage and decided to stay for Pulp.  It was the best thing because they kicked a$$!!!  Sorry Madness.  Jarvis Cocker (Lead Singer) was all over the place and what a performer.  Even the visuals where cool.  The last song they performed was "Common  People" and the crowd went bananas.  I think I made the right choice.

I checked out Mazzy Star and she was too mellow for me.   I stuck around for a bit and after three songs, I left.  

I went to the Mojave tent and The Rapture was playing to a packed house!  I waited for M83 after The Rapture.  They started a bit late and that weird looking alien came out first.  Hey!!!! Why didn't they do that when I saw them at Nokia?  Of course they killed and once they played, "Midnight City", some of the crowd left.  WTF?!?!  

It was 11 o'clock and I was having second thoughts about watching The Horrors and I decided to just go.  I wanted to beat the traffic.  It was a good thing that I did because there was a little traffic getting out from the parking lot.  FVCK IT's COLD tonight!!! 

\m/ - AWESUM

TRUST and Blood Orange (L!VE) @EchoPlex...

TRUST.&.Blood.Orange.2012

@EchoPlex.(Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday.April.10th

You can call me crazy, but yea, I am at a concert after arriving from New York City a couple of hours ago.  Once they added TRUST to this bill, I really had to attend this show.  TRUST is my accidentally new find.  I saw them last year in NYC opening up for Balam Acab and they blew me away.  The progressive beats and that unique haunting voice made my night.  I left the concert after a couple of Balam Acab songs because they where not drawing me in. 

I arrived early so I can get a good spot for Trust and sure enough, I did.  The venue was a bit sparse and Trust went on as schedule.  They added a new member to the band and Maya Postepski (Synth's) is now the drummer.  I guess the other guy is temporary for the tour.

Robert Alfons (Lead Singer) voice sounded like the album which is hard to pull off sometimes.  The new album TRST is so FCVKn AWESUM!!!  Every track is a hit.  The stage was simple and they got the crowd going from the moment they dropped the first beat..  They did not play "Candy Walls" and I was looking forward to it. 

Blood Orange was next and I noticed the venue getting busy.  Dave Haynes was setting up his stuff and the way he was placing everything, it looked like it was only going to be him.  Sure enough, he was... AMAZING!  If you don't know who Dave Haynes is, He is  a genius!  Dave constantly reinvents himself and he does it right, all the time.  Starting off as a Techo-Rave rock band called Test Icicles (Awesum), but they break up because of the non-stop touring.  Dave decides to move to Brooklyn and start a folk band called, Lightspeed Champion (another Awesum band he created).  I saw them a couple years ago at The Troubadour.  He was good and he had a band with him.  I guess he put Lightspeed Champion on hold and started Blood Orange.  

He had visuals, but then the music that was programmed in his laptop started to skip a couple of times that he decided to just play his electric guitar.  He was...KILLING !T.  If that was to happen to someone else, they would of stormed off stage.  Maybe, cancel the whole show after that.  I was proud that he did not do that.  

After a couple of technical difficulties, Dave Haynes (Blood Orange) pulled out a GREAT show!  I decided to leave after Blood Orange and I was not sticking around to see Oh Land.   Before I left, I stopped at the shirt stand and wanted to pick up a Trust shirt.  I noticed that Robert Alfons (Lead Singer) was there and I complimented him and his band on what a great show they did tonight.  He was very thankful, but they did not have my size...DAM!

\m/ - AWESUM!!!

Vitalic & Riton (L!VE) @Webster.Hall.(NYCity)...

Vitalic.2012

@Webster.Hall (NYC, NY)

Friday.March.30th

It's almost 12:30am and they have not let us in the main room.  I saw that Of Montreal performed tonight, Groovy.  I am walking around to every different room and it's all the same stuff practically (Top 40 electro techno pop).  At least they are playing the new single by Calvin Harris, "Feel So Close".  I went to the new XL night club the other night and I noticed the crowd was young.  Then on the screen on stage said, "20 something Thursday"...REALLY?!?!  FCVK.  Made the best of it with my friends, Steven and Joe.  

It's 12:40am and they opened up the main floor.  It was easy to get to the front of the stage.  Of course, there was a couple next to me making out, grinding and humping each other.  What is going on with me being next to couples lately? It's better then drunks, right? 

Nobody Beats the Drums are the opening act and they are killing it.  I like the fact that they are using live instruments ( Korg, Laptop and other stuff that I am trying to make out on how there are mixing these songs).  Not bad.

Vitalic went on after Nobody Bests the Drums and he played a killer set. He was playing stuff that was so underground.  It was like smelling fresh air.  He started out his set with one of his songs,  "Poison Lips" (Perfect).  The dance floor was not that crazy packed.  I liked that.  More room to dance.  

An hour into his set (Vitalic), Riton was setting up and started to play with Vitalic for a bit.  I wanted to stay longer, but it was getting late.  The party doesn't end in NYCity until 4am and this man (me) is tired.

\m/ - AWESUM!!!