Coachella Day Three - April 22, 2012

The Final Frontier 

Checking out Gardens and Villa.

It's strange, the last day is here, but it still feels just as exciting as the first. Maybe even more so? Maybe it's that our bodies have finally adjusted to the scorching heat. Maybe its pride knowing that we've survived this whole journey and we're on the home stretch. Maybe it's - dare I say - relief knowing that we will be out of this desert in 12 hours haha. Mostly though, it's probably the excitement of the first band we will see today - a new love interest of mine called Gardens and Villa. Hailing from Santa Barbara, CA, this 5 piece band combines all the traditional 'rock' instruments with beautiful vocal stylings as well as flutes, synth and keyboard. I have only recently come across this band - actually only because of their placement on the Coachella 2012 line-up. But they're one of the bands I'm most pumped to see over the weekend. The early start time of 12:05 is no trouble as we've been up since dawn as usual. We arrive at the stage right on time to join the crowd that is small by Coachella standards, but who's joy instantly radiates. Again, everyone is here for the same reason, and everyone is just as delighted to see this new band as we are. Out come these five boys - smiling from ear to ear - who are just as grateful to be here as we are. Every song is done beautifully, and completed with a gracious bow from the lead singer. At one point we are told that we are witnessing a 'dream come true before our eyes'. How enlightening. To go from watching Radiohead - a band who's music is featured on the soundtrack of nearly my entire life, who sell out festivals all the time - to a band who has never had as big an opportunity as this and can only hope to one day be a headliner. They so graciously share song after song with us and you can see that when their set is over, they are doing all they can to drink in the applause and stay on stage - making that moment last as long as possible. Just as we fans are doing the same to let every moment of this weekend linger on just a little be longer. Of every band I've seen this weekend, this is a definite highlight. What a way to start the day. 
"Do us all a favor, shout about it!" 'Sweet Sour' by Band of Skulls

Dancing in the Do Lab!

Of course, there were a few hi-cups along the way. The personal cooling system I invented on day one which had become just as much a part of me as my ruby red cheeks had been confiscated by security on the way onto the grounds earlier Sunday. "It's just a spray bottle full of water! It's just water! I'll dump it out and refill it inside, pleeeeease, you can't do this to me - it's 42 degrees outside and I'm OLD"...I felt like someone had taken away my first born child. Yes, I'm only 27, and yes, I was probably being a bit dramatic, but it's was %*#&ing hot out okay? Not my finest hour... Needless to say the majority of Sunday was spent in the Do Lab - a magical area that plays dub step all day and soaks attendees with cold water. We danced until we were cooled off and drenched enough to brave the sun. I removed my soaked dress and wore it over my head as a tent for the rest of the day. It was dubbed 'the Safari Tent' and it was wonderful. Genius. 

My Safari Tent

I spent most of the day under my tent where I danced my face off to Santigold who was adorable. Her set blew me away - she has the most wonderful energy and stage presence. We danced like crazy. The rest of the day was great - caught a few songs from Band of Skulls, Beirut, Justice, Calvin Harris, Girl Talk and Florence and the Machine. I got to watch At the Drive-In's reunion which was outstanding. One Armed Scissor!!!  We wrapped up the evening with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent - to name a few. Oh - and Tu Pac haha. 
We had packed up our car that afternoon so when the show was over we headed straight off of the festival grounds. It's funny how we were in such a hurry to leave when looking back, I wish we could have stayed for days and days. We drove back to LA through the night - I dozed in and out of sleep - dreaming of the weekend. Of Radiohead, and Gardens and Villa, and Santigold, and of Dear Hunter and John Fogerty and Holograms and Childish Gambino and of Cole and Alissa and smiles and water and heat and love. I'm in no hurry to wake up - the sooner I do the sooner it's actually over and we're going home. I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience this weekend. It took a lot of planning, a lot of penny pinching and sacrifice - but it was well worth it all. We knew the second we bought out tickets that we were in for the trip of a lifetime - but l never could have imagined just how incredible it all could actually be. <3

Coachella Day Two - April 21, 2012

Me looking back (not in anger).

Feeling hot hot hot! So day two - it's still hot as hell, but we expect it now so we're coping. Still no caesars for breakfast though ha. Sure, there's a little guilt for neglecting the 60 of vodka we bought for 20 BUCKS but we've gotta be responsible irresponsible adults sometimes. I'm pumped for today. PUMPED! On my must see list are the likes of Manchester Orchestra, Noel Gallagher, Kaiser Cheifs, Jeff Mangum, The Shins, Bon Iver and Radiohead. Yeah, that's right, Radiohead. But more about that later....Now I don't want to spend too much time bragging about this day. I mean, anyone who knows me can probably guess just how special this day was to me. Halfway into the day I lose my friends, never to find them again until the end of the night. This might sound bad, but looking back - I don't think I would have it any other way. Of course, sharing this amazing day with friends would have been top notch, and being alone made me long for the love of my life more than any other time on this trip - however, he was there with me in my heart and I know he knew how important every moment of that day was to me. Also, I was surrounded by thousands of people who were just as full of love for music as I was - so I was not lonely. Watching and hearing Noel Gallagher sing Don't Look Back in Anger was something I could only dream would happen - and it did. You could have turned the heat up to 50 degrees and I wouldn't have noticed - thanks Noel Gallagher for that. Hearing In The Aeroplane Over the Sea - one of my all-time favorite songs live was perfection - thanks Jeff Mangum. I must have looked like a crazy person walking around alone with a shit eating grin on my face the entire day. 
 "You ain't never gonna burn my heart out" 'Don't Look Back in Anger' -Oasis

Just a few thousand kindred spirits. 

Mind you - everyone there had that same grin really. The Shins covered Crosby Stills Nash and Young's 'Helpless', and my heart sang along. Everyone swayed together - hearing these classics in a new light always made me smile straight from my heart. Skinny Love by Bon Iver - another favorite - surrounded by thousands of others who also know all the words. Beautiful. And then....the moment I've been waiting for for as long as I can remember. Tom Yorke. Radiohead. Finally. DID YOU HEAR RADIOHEAD MIGHT BE TOURING IN CANADA?! Every song was a work of art that resonated beautifully and then glided effortlessly into the beginning of the next. Everyone listened graciously, harmoniously. Tom Yorke danced madly around the stage engaging everyone in the audience. Entranced, my body moved with every beat, my smile widened, occasionally tears moistened my cheeks. 'Weird Fishes' took me to a whole nother level. This is a song that had never really stood out to me before this day. But the melody and lyrics to this song entered my ears, made their way lovingly through my heart, and landed at the core of my soul where they remain today. Thank you. Every song was done perfectly imperfectly. Karma Police sounds so much better when sang by thousands of people in unison - who knew. The set wasn't long enough - are they ever? Everyone agreed so we were blessed with an encore. "This is off In Rainbows" brought us into 'House of Cards'. Thank you thank you. And then 'Reckoner'. Thank you thank you thank you. And then 'Bodysnatchers'. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. What a show. I was euphoric. What a perfect day. This could not get any better.....except that actually it could...a second encore? Wow. What's better than euphoria? Tom Yorke singing 'Exit Music for a Film' right before your eyes is better than euphoria. And then hearing 'Paranoid Android'. I may spontaneously combust. I can now die happy. I glide home with the masses, reunite with my friends at camp, and drift asleep peacefully after the most perfect of days. 
"Everybody leaves, if they get their chance to leave. And this is my chance"  'Weird Fishes/Arpeggi' - Radiohead

Coachella Day One - April 20, 2012

So by 8am it is 30 degrees and climbing. The idea of sleeping in is out of the question, as well as is the idea of caesars for breakfast. Water - I'll have another water. And another, and another. Not gonna lie, morale at camp is pretty low. It's shockingly hot and we're moving pretty slowly. I don't think any of us knew what we had signed up for here... By the time we're on the move to catch The Sheepdogs'  set at 1:05pm it's 41 degrees. Needless to say, the 10 minute walk to the festival grounds takes a little longer that is should; we miss The Sheepdogs... My counterparts decide to seek shade and water but I am determined to catch Dear Hunter - a band from Rhode Island whom I have heard little about - but that which I had heard is super promising.
"Be alive, cause nothing lasts for good or like you thought it would"  'What Time Taught Us' - Dear Hunter

To say I'm impressed just wouldn't be fair - this band is outta control. Their timing is impecable, the vocals are chilling, every lyric is hitting home with me over and over again. Their fan base here is relatively small, but the passion they're emitting for this band is heart warming. I stand back and drink it all in and am quickly joined by my friends who obviously feel the same about this outstanding band. We listen to the rest of the set, my calves scorching in the sun unnoticed. 

So if I'm being honest I have to say - day one is a struggle. Adjusting to the heat paired with some unfortunate set time conflicts keep us from seeing a few more bands than just The Sheepdogs. But I am grateful for what I do see - Jimmy Cliff is a legend who I can proudly say I have had the honor to watch perform - along with the unlikely partner Tim Armstrong - who I've seen many times but never quite like this. The Arctic Monkeys are a favorite for my bestie, and though they're not at the top of my "must see" list, seeing her face light up when they're about to hit the stage lights mine up too. I hide in the shade provided by a garbage can while she braves the crowds and makes her way to the front. Everyone goes crazy as they play. They kill it - their set is amazing. Alissa is jacked. I'm stoked.

The rest of the day is awesome, Datsik, Refused, The Black Keys close the show and are just sick as always. Nothing could prepare me for a special guest performance by JOHN FOGERTY though. Together with The Keys he sang "The Weight" to honor the late Levon Helm. What a dream come true - you couldn't peel the grin off my face if you tried. I wish Curtis was here to see this so so bad.  Caps lock on, text message sent. 

"Take a load off, Annie. Take a load for free. Take a load off Annie, and you can put the load right on me" 'The Weight'  -The Band

Coachella Arrival Night - April 19, 2012

So three Canadians walk into the desert....

The festival's line up
poster as we arrive.

It's funny....now...looking back we probably should've thought things through a little better. Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2012, Indio, California - with tickets in hand the 4 month wait is over. We leave Canada and it's snowing, we arrive in California, 1500 miles later and it's 42 degrees celsius. If my body could talk..... We roll in at 1am and the anticipation for the 50+++ bands we will see over the weekend is evident. Strangers are immediately jumping out of their cars and coming together to share beers, stories, hugs, songs. Excitement to set up camp and explore is sky high so sleep is fleeting. We're here! We're at Coachella! We're in the $&#@*&! desert! We wander through the night in awe - knowing only greatness can come out of the next three days. We fall asleep wearing smiles and not much else.