- 29
- Apr
Superlatives get tired quick, but here goes ... Saturday may have been the greatest single day festival experience we've had yet. Staving off the 106ยบ temps and sun with a mix of sunscreen and adrenaline, we marched across the Coachella grounds fueled by the excellence of every act we saw. Nobody missed the mark, and as the sun set and Arcade Fire played "Wake Up," "Tunnels," "Ocean Of Noise," et al to their expectedly massive audience, pretty sure everyone around had one of those shared "this is the shit" moments.
Earlier in the day, we took in the ever-polarizing Kings Of Leon at the Coachella Stage, playing one of the fest's most acclaimed sets. The Followill boys were tight as always, opening with "Black Thumbnail," killing "On Call," and generally enjoying their moment in the mainstage sun. The Decemberists were well worth the walk to the Outdoor Theater, with Colin bedecked in a stylish seersucker suit, opening with "Crane Wife 3," shifting into the entirety of "The Island," and the Colbert Nation taunting "O! Valencia." Meloy instigated another dance contest. Also, there was a whale costume.
Much later, not-a-DJ Girl Talk did what he does best: make the stage a giant dance party, by spinning mostly Coachella artists (Spank Rock Vs. Peter Bjorn & John!) and inviting the likes of Paris Hilton on stage. Our night ended with avant-pop deconstructionist Cornelius, who absolutely scorched the Gobi Tent with playful jabs at prog, thrash, electro, and dreamy day balladry. He has a stateside tour coming (first in five years), so do what you can to be there.