April 2009 Archives
were tremendous in the Palomino stage and the Mustang stage, respectively but had the misfortune of competing against Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney.
Alt-country artist Dale Watson was taking requests to a near empty Palomino stage but like a true veteran he took it all in stride and performed with all his energy. I heard him perform "Whisky or God," "California Wines," "Let This Trucker Go" and "Texas Boogie" while the appreciative audience danced and clapped along.
Hot Club of Cowtown did not take requests but their skill and precision was the same as Watson's with their bluegrass material of "Chinatown, My Chinatown" and what I believe was "Catch Me Down the Line."
I felt bad for these groups as their material deserved more listeners but Stagecoach is a great resume builder.
pretty much hit a home run here at Stagecoach with his material. When he finished, people in the crowd were leaving to go home (and this is BEFORE Kenny Chesney).
Rock performed a diverse set of songs which included "Picture" with Miranda Lambert (who performed earlier on the Mane stage), "American Bad Ass," "Only God Knows Why" and "All Summer Long" which got a huge response from where I stood near the stage.
I watched his performance at WrestleMania 25 and while I liked that one, at Stagecoach he interacted with the crowd more. He was able to perform a longer set where he showed off his knowledge of different musical styles (one set he took portions of hip-hop songs like Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" and mixed it with southern rock and even punk) to loud applause.
He also made it a point to show off that he actually sang/rapped live by loudly tapping the microphone during his performance, which the audience loudly cheered.
and the crowd has been keeping up with his entire set by singing every song.
From his latest single "Out Last Night" to "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" to "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" to "Keg In My Closet" he's been coming out swinging but he pretty much had to since he followed Kid Rock.
Since Chesney has 11 gold or higher albums (they announced this before his performance and it's on Wikipedia if you're interested) with 16 No. 1 singles it makes sense he would have the crowd behind him.
Oddly, he picked AC/DC's "Runaway Train" as his opener to warm up the crowd. I think it's strange because the song is harder than most (I think all) of his material.
But he did follow Kid Rock, and the audience woke up to the song so it worked. As did Chesney's dazzling array of lights, large screens and running all over the stage. .
to a less than half filled Mustang stage.
That's a shame because the group performed strong version's of Rowan's "Land of the Navajo" and "Waiting For Elijah" but people Sunday seemed to be at Randy Houser's set on the Mane Stage.
Speaking of the Mane stage, as I'm typing this Miranda Lambert is playing a great cover version of "I Love Rock and Roll" on the Mane stage.
packed the inside of the Mustang stage and he did not disappoint.
From the moment he simply said "Ya'll ready for some bluegrass?" to a throng of cheers, Scaggs' set caused a lot of nodding heads and dancing toward the edges of the stage/tent.
Scaggs performed "Lonesome Night," "Pig in a Pen" and selections from his latest Grammy award winning album "Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass 1946 & 47" which included "Toy Heart" and "Mother's Only Sleeping."
If you get the chance to see Scaggs, who likes to provide background on his music in between performances, don't miss out.
Scaggs basically said on Sunday he recorded his Grammy award winning album for the iPod generation who might otherwise not know the history of bluegrass, which includes the legend Earl Scruggs who performed Saturday.
I was surprised how the Palomino stage/tent was not that full roughly eight minutes before their 5 p.m. start time.
I was easily able to head to the front of the stage and find a great seat but I had to leave bluegrass legend Ricky Scaggs' amazing set to do it (which is probably why Poco's tent was not full).
Country-rock group Poco now is Rusty Young, Paul Cotton, Jack Sundrud and George Lawrence but former members Jim Messina, Timothy B. Schmit and Richie Furay (and even George Grantham) joined the group Sunday.
Poco performed with different members for different songs. Some of the material they performed included "Honky Tonk Downstairs," "Keep on Tryin,'" "You Better Think Twice" and even the Furay written Buffalo Springfield song "Kind Woman."
The group brought out Lynn Anderson, who performed on Sunday, to sing "Listen to a Country Song" which Messina co-wrote.
Poco's set featured a lot of singing along from the audience (which had grown by the time I had to leave toward the end).
Brad Paisley, despite the Indio wind and cold, kept the audience Saturday night entertained with a mixture of ballads and singalong hits. This guy is a megastar in the country world as both guys and girls loved his show.
Many of Paisley's songs I actually heard on the K-FROG 105.1 country music station in Colton and the Big 106.1 Coachella Valley radio station on the drive over to Indio from Ontario.
Pick a song and the crowd here knew them all. From "Letter to Me" to "I'm Still a Guy," "Watin' on a Woman," "The World" etc.
What was interesting to me is how Paisley goes out of his way to talk about how much better life gets from high school and how much of a nerd he was. You could probably figure that out from his lyrics but I respect his honesty.
I actually left close to two hours into his "Paisley Party" to try and beat traffic but even if you're not a fan of his music he gives a great show with a lot of video and elaborate stage lighting.
Reba McEntire sounded as strong as her albums when she started off under red spotlights with "We're So Good Together" and continued with her somewhat windy set (she made jokes of how the wind was basically destroying her hairstyle)..
Reba next performed "Why Not Tonight" (it's the song with "this song was used on the movie, 'Tremors' well pardon me you have my attention" lyric) and "Fear of Being Alone (with the chorus that goes "So don't say that word/Not the one we both heard too much/You may think you do but you don't/It's just the fear of being alone)."
The Oklahoma singer really connects to her audience as many people I saw were either dancing or mouthing the words to her songs.
Charlie Daniels was a definite rockstar at the Stagecoach festival Saturday.
Daniels kept the crowd waiting for approximately 10 to 15 minutes while his soundman kept checking what seemed to be every instrument under the sun. The crazy thing is the bass player's sound wasn't very good and almost overpowered the set.
Nonetheless Daniels came out in a white hat (with a white beard), yellow shirt and blue jeans to a thunderous applause. He loves to shake his fiddle when he performs and carries himself like a star. Naturally, the Palomino tent was sweltering from the bodies packed inside.
Daniels performed "The South's Gonna Do It Again," The Legend of Wooley Swamp" and other songs and despite his bass player, his voice (and the rest of the band) sounds tremendous.
Lame headline, sorry.
But if you get the chance to catch Dallas Texas' Reverend Horton Heat, like Earl Scruggs, go.
Unlike Scruggs' bluegrass, Heat-- real name Jim Heath who plays in a three-piece band -- plays rockabilly and punkabilly but the result is the same (at least for me). You won't be disappointed with his talented musicianship and catchy songs.
On Saturday, inside the Palomino tent, Heat performed "Galaxy 500" to an appreciative crowd who danced and sang along. He had the same result for "It's Martini Time," which had most of the front row audience holding up their beers and singing along.
He even played a couple of newer songs he said he would put on his next album which appeared to win over the audience really easily.
Granted, these people are drinking but the music didn't sound too bad to me.
Earl Scruggs, who just turned 85-years-old, was probably the highlight for me tonight. I saw this while Reba continues to perform and Brad Paisley has yet to hit the stage.
Scruggs put on a bluegrass clinic (as usual) inside the Mustang tent. The tent was only half-full when I entered at 6:20 p.m. but it was packed when Scruggs went on at 6:40 p.m. A negative was that Little Big Town's sound bled over but as soon as Scruggs and his high-powered band started, everything else stopped.
Scruggs and his band, which included sons Gary (who introduced a lot of the songs) and I believe Randy. Earl Scruggs performed the melodic "Stringline Cannonball," the speedy fiddle and (of course) banjo "Soldiers Joy," "Doing My Time" (where the audience clapping along to the beat), "Sally Goodin'" and others.
Earl Scruggs fingers are still as nimble as ever and he truly looks happy performing. Definitely check him out if you get a chance.
The bathroom and check I.D. lines I counted earlier? They're wrong. By a LOT. Try at least more than a 100 people per line (and I'm not the best counter by any means). The lines are a lot worse here than Coachella, that's for sure. Even the food lines look worse to me.
As an example, and this is when Charie Daniels performed, there were at least 70 people in the bathroom line.
The shortest lines, if you plan on coming here Sunday, appear to be when you first get in the festival and there are restrooms to your left.
Lets start with stage names.
Which, for the record, are Mane, Mustang and Palomino. For Coachella it's Coachella, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi tent, Mojave tent and Sahara tent.
The audience at the Stagecoach Festival runs from young to old, which was the case with Coachella also, at least on Friday (Paul McCartney and Leonard Cohen definitely helped).
A lot of cowboy hats, cowboy boots and blue jeans (I even saw a confederate flag syled bra) are at the Stagecoach festival Coachella tends to bring more diversity (so much that I can't actually think of a theme right now but I can tell you I didn't see any confederate flags).
The lines to the I.D. check here run what look to be 70 to 80 deep. Coachella's I.D. check was maybe half (but then again at Stagecoach you can take your beer anywhere unlike Coachella where you are stuck in certain areas).
Kidstown. There is nothing like this at Coachella.
Reserved seating. See above.
Stagecoach BBQ. See above.
Darius Rucker is to the right of me (I'm in the press tent) and just performed "It Won't Be Like This For Long" on the Mane stage. His band's sound is really crisp and his vocals sound as strong now as on his album "Learn To Live." On the way in I heard him singing the Hootie and the Blowfish hit "Let Her Cry" and now he's on their hit "Hold My Hand." I guess the thinking is if you have no idea about his country material you'll definitely know these songs (and I can hear the audience singing along so he's right).
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Redneck Ninja Featuring Pat Brayer & John York
PATRICK BRAYER
Patrick Brayer rose up out of the steeltown mire of Fontana California singing and writing, if not from, then about, a whole new dictionary of thought and word. His style has been called everything from Psychedelic Country, Catholic and Western, to Ezra Pound meets Hank Williams. His fans include the likes of everyone from Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, John Doe, Alan Jackson, and Barry Lopez. As he always likes to say, "My songs lead a much more interesting life than I do, and I want to keep it that way."
JOHN YORK
Through his work with The Byrds, Clarence White, Gene Clark, Rick Danko, and Nicky Hopkins, regional great John York has etched himself a permanent groove in the annals of American music. John currently has 5 CDs available. Arigatou Baby, Claremont Dragon, Sacred Path Songs, Clan Mother Songs (with Jamie Sams,) and Koto (with Yukiko Matsuyama.) The TV show "The Place Where I Am Dreaming" featured John's artistic collaboration with his wife, artist Sumi Foley. Recently, John has composed and recorded music for the lyrics of Kim Fowley on West Coast Revelation.
$10.00
Call (909) 624-2928 for concert times, ticket availability and more information.
Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. http://www.folkmusiccenter.com/
OPEN MIC NIGHTS - Last Sunday of every month. (THIS Sunday, April 26!)
6:30p (sign-ups and doors @ 6:00) Bring your own instruments; soundman and PA provided.
MANE STAGE
(Above) Kenny Chesney--9:15 p.m.
Kid Rock--7:30 to 8:45 p.m.
Miranda Lambert--6 to 7 p.m.
Lady Antebellum--4:40 to 5:35 p.m.
Zac Brown Band--3:25 to 4:15 p.m.
Randy Houser--2:15 to 3 p.m.
PALOMINO STAGE
Dale Watson--8:50 to 9:40 p.m.
Jim Lauderdale--7:40 to 8:30 p.m.
Knitters--6:30 to 7:20 p.m.
Poco--5 to 6:10 p.m.
Pure Prairie League--3:45 to 4:35 p.m.
Jerry Jeff Walker--2:35 to 3:25 p.m.
The Duhks--1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
James Intveld--12:40 to 1:15 p.m.
MUSTANG STAGE
Hot Club of Cowtown--7:30 to 8:20 p.m.
Ralph Stanley--6 to 7:15 p.m.
Ricky Scaggs--4:25 to 5:40 p.m.
Peter Rowan--2:50 to 4:05 p.m.
Greensky Bluegrass--1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
MANE STAGE
(Above) Brad Paisley--9:30 p.m.
Reba McEntire--8 to 9 p.m.
Little Big Town--6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Darius Rucker--5 to 6 p.m.
Danielle Peck--3:50 to 4:40 p.m.
PALOMINO STAGE
Charlie Daniels Band--7:25 to 9 p.m.
Reverend Horton heat--6 to 7 p.m.
Kevin Costner & Modern West--4:45 to 5:35 p.m.
Lynn Anderson--3:35 to 4:20 p.m.
The Sacred Cowboys--2:30 to 3:10 p.m.
Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven--1:35 to 2:05 p.m.
John Linn Band--12:45 to 1:20 p.m.
MUSTANG STAGE
Earl Scruggs--6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Doyle Lawson--4:50 to 6:05 p.m.
The Infamous Stringdusters--3:25 to 4:25 p.m
Chris Stuart and Back Country--2:20 to 3:05 p.m.
Waddie Mitchell (and hosting all day) 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Standing on the speakers The Kills' guitarist and lead singer Allison sang along to an edgier version of "URA Fever," to open their set.
From the start the crowd
was ready to jam, clapping along to "The last day of Magic."
"Hello people that came to Coachella" she said.
I was also able to catch "Tape Song", "Getting down" and "Alphabet Pony" before I had to leave for The Cure.
So I might have been a day late, but in honor or Record Store Day I headed to Zia Records on Sunday.
The tent was over by the Gobi
tent and after Devendra Banhart's set made my way to the store.
From what Wes tells me,
Virgin Record store use to occupy that space. This store is based in
Phoenix and also has locations in Las Vegas.
I was a little disappointed
to realize that had I gone in earlier I could have met some of the day's acts.
Oh well.
But I bought three cds: Beirut and Dr Dog acts and then the
latest ep from Death Cab for Cutie.
Even though I was a day
late I still got a commemorative "Record Store Day," plastic bag with my
purchase.
Los Angeles may have been more than 120 miles away from the Polo Field grounds in Indio but from what I hear and saw there was no shortage of celebrity sightings.
I actually had a few of my own.
In the first day I spotted Kate Bosworth and I believe promoter Brent Bolthouse. I actually saw Bosworth later on that night looking for a spot to catch Paul McCartney.
Also it was rumored that Ann Hathaway as well as Twlight actor, Robert Pattinson were there on Friday but I never saw them.
On Sunday my sister said she spotted reality star "Mystery," from the dating-advice show on VH1.
As I watched Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs I saw Alicia Silverstone pass by and fresh off their performance, Peter and John were seen making their way back to the VIP area.
To someone who has never been to Coachella, it might be easy to laugh at the notion of someone not being able to find his or her car.
But with six parking lots and thousands of cars, it actually can be easier than you think.
Last year I was among one of
those people wondering around the parking lot looking for the car.
But this year my sister and
I vowed that it wouldn't happen to us again.
Apparently many made the same
promise because this time around I noticed several cars with balloons. That
could only mean one thing: they were using them as markers to find their cars at the end of the night.
I have to give them props for being
innovative, my sister and I based our car-locating efforts on landmarks.
Needless to say one of those
was a balloon, and we found the car in a manner of minutes.
Next year I'll probably bring
a balloon.
That's if I can remember.
The bongos came out during Peter, Bjorn and John's set and that could only mean one thing, they were getting ready to play "Young Folks" or the "whistle song," as described by a fan at the third day of Coachella.
Besides bringing out the
instruments, the trio also brought out some guests for a couple of their songs
during their set.
The band, which is best
known for their single "Young Folk," brought out fellow Swedish singer Lykke
Li for the performance. Just prior to that they had brought out Robyn for their latest single "Nothing to Worry About."
The group was making the
leap from a tent performer in 2007 to the main stage where they were on Sunday.
"We played two years ago
but this better," Peter said. He was talking about how Paul McCartney had
played that very stage just two days before.
They played several songs
from their new album "Living Thing," opening up their set with "Just the Past."
But almost immediately into
their set, the crowd was thrown off with the sound. The bass was so high your
body vibrated.
That prompted a fan nearby
to say that's "a little more bass than I need."
But the fans didn't seem to
faze by it and just continued singing along with Peter.
As the indie band got into
their second song, "It don't move me," a group of fans moved their way through
the crowd waving a Swedish flag.
From "Lay it down" to "It
beats me," off their 2005 album Falling Out, they seemed to be having fun. I enjoyed watching Peter, who was
either dancing in place or bopping around. At one point Peter went down the
stage and danced with the fans.
But the inevitable occurred
during their set, a "fan" asked who was who?
It's almost as if Peter had
heard her, or they must get that question a lot because he introduced himself
and his bandmates.
"This is Peter," he said of
himself, "this is Bjorn and this John."
but it took people a little while to warm up to them (they were on the main Coachella stage before The Cure).
Unlike the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, there was plenty of room to find a seat (at least according to people who sat near me) but I didn't mind because I was able to see them from up close.
Guitarists and singers Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher were both tremendous, as was the whole band, but hard to hear above the fabulously loud music
It was, at least to me, ironic when I walked to Public Enemy and their first song was "Bring the Noise" because My Bloody Valentine is the definition of that.
The group actually made some people in the audience put their hands over their ears on their last song where they thrashed along continuously for more than 10 minutes
performed their entire "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" album and despite some small snafus with the live bass and drums (I wish they would have stuck to the original beat of "Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos" the performance was tremendous.
Flavor Flav stage dove three times and one guy ahead of me pointed out it was the first time he had ever seen anyone stage dive feet first but I didn't see any injuries.
One weird thing was during the instrumental parts of the songs Professor Griff would should "Obama Deception" over and over.
Chuck D seemed to support President Barack Obama, as he essentially asked what they thought of his winning, while he warned the crowd to think for themselves.
Before the "Black Steel" song he asked people to remember "R and B" or former presidents Reagan and Bush, and how they wiretapped.
The group, after performing "Party For Your Right To Fight," went into "Welcome To The Terrordome" and "Fight The Power" which actually caused the set to go long.
I don't think people minded.
and just got done with a great sounding "Pictures of You" on the main Coachella stage.
Robert Smith's voice sounds great and the band's strong basslines and crisp drums sound really clear while the stage lighting is what you would expect in dark purples and blues.
The Cure is now on "Lullaby," which caused the crowd here to break out in loud cheers.
Go here:
Here's whose next:
| 4:00 PM | Brian Jonestown Massacre |
| 5:00 PM | Peter Bjorn and John |
| 6:00 PM | Okkervil River |
| 7:00 PM | Paolo Nutini |
| 8:00 PM | Jenny Lewis |
| 9:00 PM | Public Enemy |
| 10:10 PM | The Cure |
$7 for a barbecue chicken sandwich
$2 for 16.9-ounce bottled water
$4 for 20-ounce Gatorade
A one and a half hour wait on Jefferson St. in Indio to get to the Coachella festival Saturday afternoon (this is the amount of time it takes to get from Ontario to Indio on a good day)
One hour to find my car in Lot B Saturday night as I did not remember where in Lot B it was. Note: This same problem happened to me last year after Prince's performance
$7 for a 12-ounce beer
Anyone else ... feel free to put more facts in ...
Believe it or not, there were 12 vehicles stuck in the mud at Coachella Saturday night.
"Even the tow truck got stuck," said Indio Police Department spokesman Ben Guitron. "We had a water leak in an irrigation area. How do you predict a leak, that then turns into a guiser?" he said.
Eventually, police were able to clear the scene, Guitron said.
"It keeps us on our toes," he said. "It's like figuring out a Rubik's Cube. How fast and efficient can you do it where the public feels comfortable and not experiencing any major issues."
Coachella at night is fun to watch because people will sit and watch a flaming art piece called Serpent Mother instead of watching a headliner (which I saw Saturday night during the Killers) which my colleague Liset Marquez reminded me of today.
Not that there's anything wrong with this but it just seems like a waste of a $100 one-day ticket or $269 three-day ticket to basically watch a serpent type thing on fire.
I think you could light a plastic dinosaur on fire for much cheaper.
brought out Lykke Li to perform "Young Folks" on the Coachella stage for their Sunday performance at the Coachella stage. I didn't see this (I was writing my festival story here at the press tent) but my colleague Liset Marquez caught it and texted me the scoop.
was great in the Gobi Tent, even if he started at 4:35 p.m. Sunday with the audience somewhat sluggish from the heat. The Somalian born hip-hop artist got the crowd to dance along to songs like "T.I.A." and "ABCs" despite not having Chubb Rock (who might be best known for "Treat em Right" for all you old hip-hop heads like me) on the latter.
Lately, K'naan has been known for giving another viewpoint about Somali piracy. Check it out here if you're interested (and no I didn't hear him mention any of this but I could only stay for four songs) as it's educational.
Karen O is screaming behind me the lyrics to "Zero" on the Coachella stage but I'm waiting to see if my editors call me back. She sounds tremendous, as does drummer Brian Chase whose distinct drums are rumbling also. I've seen the Yeah Yeah Yeahs twice before and they never disappoint. Especially Karen O who is one of the most charismatic performers in rock to me.
sounded great Saturday night on the Coachella stage Saturday night but a lot people appeared to leave their set after they performed their second song "Somebody Told Me."
While I was taking notes, a "fan" who was leaving their set said The Killers best work was "Hot Fuss" and they should stop making new music.
I actually left their set to check out Atmosphere, Gang Gang Dance, Mastodon and MSTRKRFT (all of which were really, really strong) and came back during their finale of I believe "When You Were Young" where fireworks shot off (but it paled in comparison to Paul McCartney's fireworks and triple encore set).
had probably the least amount of fans I've seen this weekend at the Coachella festival.
It's not the band's entire fault, however. The electricity filled rock group performed at 8:35 p.m. inside the Mojave tent and were competing against Outdoor Theatre's Band of Horses, Gobi tent's Junior Boys, Sahara tent's Crookers (they produced a remix to Kid Cudi's "Day and Night" and the line forming for M.I.A.'s set.
was a highlight for me, even if singer Tunde Adebimpe couldn't always be heard above the pulsating bass and horn section of his group.
I tried to watch both TV on the Radio and Calexico, as they were on different stages but performed at nearly the same time, but that didn't work out so well as TV on the Radio won out.
Their material, especially from the album "Dear Science," is really creative with their use of multiple instruments and its cohesive sound.
Calexico's sound is the same way but is less dark to me. They drew a decent amount of people to the Outdoor Stage to check them out but both groups had fans leave after a number of songs, which is typical of Coachella. There's a lot to do and see.
really woke the crowd up in the afternoon sun Saturday on the Coachella stage.
What was crazy is there was a lot of space in front of the stage so I easily found a seat to watch Franti, who doesn't wear shoes,, and then watched a bunch of people run up next to me after he started performing.
Franti's blend of chants ,reggae, positive messages and strong basslines are made to please audiences and they delivered.
At one point, he covered Stephen Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" which drew a lot of cheers as well as his own material like Say Hey (I Love You). .
something felt a little flat during her performance on the Coachella stage Saturday night. At the end of her set, after she went into her hit "Paper Planes," she actually said she would ask to be "in the tent again."
Her performance was marked by crazy colors (many in the same scheme as her album "Kala") on the big screen behind her that was well thought out.
When she started her set, she brought out about five or six dancers who all wore neon colored outfits and went into some entertaining dance routines (some that looked to be out of a Bell Biv Devoe video) while M.I.A. herself wore neon green shades, a police officer type hat and neon on her jeans.
She started off rhyming behind a podium with a bunch of microphones, like she was at a press conference, which threw the crowd in a frenzy. .
But the crowd appeared to lose some interest midway through despite performing material from both her albums until she brought a bunch of fans onstage with her and ended with the crowd pleaser "Paper Planes" before she actually went into the audience to shake hands.
I guess it was fitting that I checked out Dr Dog a day after seeing Paul McCartney since the band has drawn several comparisons to 60s bands such as the Beatles.
As the band performed "Army of Ancient," I was drawn to Toby's emotion as he belted out "I don't want to wake up, I don't want to move."
The band played upbeat versions of songs such as "My Friend," and "From." As Scott wrapped up "From," he told the crowd gathered at the Mojave tent someone had put a hex on his electronics. "Seems like I can't play with out distortion," Scott said.
As the trio danced and jammed around the stage you could tell they were having fun.
The Philadelphia-based band will be a nice addition to my music catalog.
With such an
eclectic sound that includes accordions, trumpets and the ukulele, Zach Condon
and his band Beirut did not miss a beat.
Condon, opened up his set
with "Nantes," which drew an applause from the audience.
For the third song he got
out the ukulele to a cheer from the crowd as he sang, "Elephant Gun," At the
start of the song, Condon fumbled over the lyrics a little but the crowd who
was singing along were there to help him out.
During his set, Condon
mentioned to the crowd that he thought the ukulele would "be loud to cover that
noise around us." He was referring to the music coming from neighboring tent
where I believe Peanut Butter Wolf was performing.
As he went into "Postcards
from Italy," the crowd did their best to muffle the noise by clapping along.
After finishing up "Scenic
World," Condo picked up the ukulele and told the hundreds that had gathered to
watch him "I'm very proud to play for you guys."
As Condon got ready to sing
"Sunday Smile," he told the crowd "I don't care if you know the lyrics or not
you can kind of sing along."
And sing they did.
I arrived to the sound of
"Do You Want To" blasting from the main stage of Coachella. It was no
recording; it was the band Franz Ferdinand singing.
They also played, "Turn it
on," "Ulysses" as well as "Walk Away," from their earlier album.
As the band performed, some played hacki sack, danced while others, weary from the long
day, sat back on the polo fields and listened.
"Take Me Out," got many up and dancing to the bands popular hit.
- I only caught a little bit of Ghostland Observatory but I was quite impressed. The Sahara Tent was bursting at the seam as people were jamming along. I also caught a little of Girl Talk which was also in the Sahara Tent. The only downside was I couldn't see the stage but the few glimpses that I did manage to get, it looked like there was quite a party going on there as well.
-Finding
parking can always be tricky especially when your car can get stuck in the dirt
mounds. As my colleague and I arrived we found a red car stuck and about ten
guys trying to lift it out. After a couple tries they were able to get it out
of the dirt. Hope the rest of their day was better than that. Remember to look
around you as your getting ready to park.
Visit our photo galleries to see what our photographers have captured.
The
cameras were out for the ever-interesting N.A.S.A.
DJs Squeak
E. Clean and DJ Zegon did not hold back on their space themed set, which
included intergalactic dancers and a robot.
As the
DJs performed on a raised stage that resembled a spacecraft, they were
accompanied on the stage by two dancers painted in green and wearing silver
suits, and robot. The DJs were not to be left behind; they also had silver
jumpsuits.
During
their set Fatlip, once a member of Pharcyde made an appearance.
I first
got to see N.A.S.A., which stands for North America/South America, in Austin at
South by Southwest and at that time they brought people on to the stage an put
on quite a show.
As I
waited for Beirut to start, following the DJs performance, I could still here
people talking about them.
With dedications to his late wife and former bandmate to recounting memories from his youth, Paul McCartney got personal at Coachella.
He also dedicated a song to John Lennon.
At one point, he admitted that it can be tough performing because he gets distracted by the signs fans hold up.
As I walked away from the Coachella stage, I have to admit, I did have fun.
Visit www.dailybulletin.com for McCartney photos and other performers at Coachella.
Morrissey was so depressing at the Coachella fest, I literally had to go and check out Girl Talk to try and forget his negativity. Not the performance, he sounded great out there.
His stage presence is cool because he appears so dismissive of what he's singing. He'll give these gestures like he just wants to hurry up and leave but it works because, well, it's Morrissey.
"I smell burning flesh and I hope to God it's human," Morrissey said to awkward silence. After another song, it was "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others," he said "the smell of burning animals is making me sick."
This was enough for me.
were amazing at the Coachella festival.
Because I was stuck on the 10 Freeway, you'll have to take my co-workers and various audience member testimony.
I know the Akron, Ohio duo sold our their Glass House show in Pomona last week and their album "Attack & Release," produced by Danger Mouse, is another stellar effort from them so I wouldn't doubt it.
spun a nice mix of The Doors "Break on Through" as I walked by the Gobi Tent around 9 p.m. before going into "Land of a 1,000 Dances."
The San Jose native DJ also cut up visual images it looked like. True story: He actually was behind me while we stood in line for a Q-Tip concert (with the Knux and Pacific Division) at the House of Blues in Hollywood but since I don't know him I wasn't going to act like I did.
I've seen him before and I own his Peanut Butter Wolf's Jukebox 45's so I didn't stay for long but he's definitely worth watching (if you don't have to write about a bunch of other bands at a festival),
If you get the chance to see Girl Talk, go EARLY. I arrived 10 minutes late for the man, who is known as Gregg Gillis, at the Sahara Tent and the place was packed with so many people it spilled outside.
Gillis, who uses samples to create new pieces of music, mixed together Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy," Ludacris' "Move B****".and a bunch of other pieces I am having trouble immediately remembering as I tried to listen in to him and Beirut at the same time.
Beirut, whose mix of horns and acoustic sounds is incredible, were in the Mojave tent which was located next to Girl Talk.
During Beirut's set, the bass from Girl Talk's opening number overflowed into their tent which is one of the negatives sometimes about the tents.
Well, after Paul McCartney's DJ spun Beatles tunes for what seemed like forever (it actually cut into 20 minutes of Sir McCartney's set) the Beatle came out in a black jacket with a white shirt to an enormous roar from the Coachella crowd.
He started with "Jet" and the sound was the cliche, picture perfect. There was no Ringo Starr in sight, however, despite the fact that Ringo has played at a casino in Indio before.
The next song was "Drive My Car" and again, the sound McCartney gets out of the speakers and his voice is tremendous. The crowd seemed to cool when he performed a solo song, I believe "Fireman."
The set is still going on as I'm typing this. The press area is surrounded by the VIP area and when I came back to type this the entire section appeared to be standing and watching McCartney's set.
Well, I could hear Franz from outside the gates in the Empire Polo Grounds parking lot (I had to write four other stories before I could come out to Indio from Ontario) performing all of their hits and the sound quality (especially singer Alex Kapranos) was great.
Their versions of "You Could Have It So Much Better" and "No You Girls" sounded just like the record while the instrumentals were a bit looser (which was fine to me because if the band sounds like the album, you might as well just listen to it at home).
For Mr. Fedora's set, striking blue and red lights were used on the Outdoor Theatre while Coachella's bright skyline turned to nightfall.
An extra speaker was placed at the Outdoor Theatre to hear Cohen's signature bass-heavy voice, which took the first song to warm up.
Cohen's first song was "Dance to the end of love," which elicited a loud cheer from the audience. As his set went on, which included "The Future" and his other hits, it appeared younger audience members were leaving the area to walk around or texting others.
To be fair, there were those who were slow dancing or kissing as well.
Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for Wilco at the Fox Theater in Pomona, the biggest act at the venue so far. Tickets are general admission with a $30 face value.
There's a presale today with the password ASHES.
To avoid service charges, you can buy tickets next week, perhaps as early as Monday, at the Glass House Record Store. They're expected to go fast.
As a friend put it: "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Pomona!"
at the 2009 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. McCartney is scheduled to perform at 10 p.m. on the Coachella stage.
From the Holmes release:
Sir Paul became a fan of Chris after hearing his DJ set at the Grammy afterparty for Radiohead. He personally gave Chris a call asking him to DJ before his set at Coachella. For his 20 minute set on the main stage, Chris is putting together his own remixed versions partially culled from the old STAX Beatles covers by classic soul artists like Otis Redding, Booker T and Isaac Hayes.
Chris Holmes DJ Bio
As a DJ Chris has had several residencies in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. He djs with Felix Da Housecat regularly, and has djed with Radiohead, Busy P, Daft Punk, Tommie Sunshine, Soulwax, LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Prince, Metro Area, The Faint, Death in Vegas, Bloc Party, The Fields, Interpol, Bauhaus, Billy Corgan, Tiga, Justice, Placebo, LA Riots, Spank Rock, Fischerspooner, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Whitey, Peaches, Erol Alkan, She Wants Revenge, Chemical Brothers, The Juan Maclean, MSTRKRFT, Lazaro Cassanova, Hot Chip, Derrick Carter, Greenskeepers, David Holmes, Mark Ronson and many others. He has played at Coachella, WMC, South by Southwest, Lollapolozza, and CMJ. Chris recently has along with Ana Calderon been the chief resident djs and promoters at Amanda Demme's new club Hwood. Chris was also chosen to dj the radiohead grammy party.
As a remixer Chris and electronic music producer Chris has worked with Felix Da Housecat, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, She Wants Revenge, Fischerspooner, Tommie Sunshine, Dandy Warhols, Hole, the Bravery, Usher, Prince, Britney Spears, The Pippettes, Regina Spekter, Greenskeepers, Usher, Rachael Yamagata and others.
In December of 2008 Chris collaborator with Hip Hop Icon Talib Kweli and the LA Opera and performed a live remix Bizet's Carmen for the Art of Elysium Gala Ball.
As an artist Chris signed to Atlantic Records, releasing the record "Dan Loves Patti" under his "Yum Yum" moniker, which Rolling Stone Magazine heralded as "more than holds it own in comparison with influences as the Beatles, and Beach Boys circa Pet Sounds". Chris then went on to tour and record with the Smashing Pumpkins and Felix da Housecat. Over past the few years he has been busy co-producing tracks for the P. Diddy record with Felix Da Housecat, working with Billy Corgan on his solo album and co-writing with Rachael Yamagata and Mandy Moore, in addition to producing Joshua Radin's successful "We Are Here" album, which received a four star review in Rolling Stone.
Recently Chris has been collarborating with Brian Liesegang on Ashtar Commnad. The first fruit from the tree yielded a song entitled "Summers End" sung by Sinead O'Conner and collaborated on with Marius DeVries (Massive Attack,Madonna,Bjork,Moulin Rouge,Kylie Minogue,Rufus Wainwright,Annie Lennox etc...). Part new millennial Pink Floyd, part confrontation of dirt meets transcendence, and part open-ended ambition and concept. Choosing to exist outside label constraints, the two have contributed songs to Fox's "The O.C.", scored music for Microsoft's Zune campaign, licensed "On The Way Down" for a four part Nissan Altima campaign with top ad house Chiat Day. The record is being recorded with a host of contributers, becoming part of the larger "Ashtar Collective", a partnership of other talent and insight including Matt Walker (Filter, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Morrissey), Oliver Kraus (Beth Orton, Josh Radin, Sia, Rachael Yamagata, Tom McCrae) Siggi Baldersson (Sugarcubes), Hanson, Cory Nitta (Pink Enemy, Phillipians), Solomon Snyder (Morrissey, Vincent Gallo Year Of The Rabbit), Alex Ebert (Ima Robot), Rachel Yamagato, Priscilla Ahn, Z Berg (the like), Har Mar Superstar, Taylor Goldsmith (Simon Dawes), Warisi Brothers Qawalli Singers, and are working on collaborations with Brian Wilson.
Chris was listed in URB magazine's next 100 for his remix and DJ work in 08, and was regularly featured in BPM and has a photo editorial quarterly with them on his dj travels.
Chris Holmes will be available for interviews Friday, April 17th in the afternoon before his set. Please contact me for scheduling.
For more on Chris and his various projects including Ashtar Command, check these sites out:
www.myspace.com/chrisholmesmusic
www.myspace.com/ashtarcommand
Here is an e-mail interview with Coachella artist Mexican Institute of Sound's Camilo Lara. The group performs at 12:45 p.m. Sunday.
1. Where were you when you got "the Coachella call" and how did it feel?
I screamed really loud. I was with some people that don't give a s*** about it. So when I told them, they where like "uhh...what is Coachella?"
Funny!
2. How important has television been in reaching new audiences for your music and what made you choose television as a way to reach people? MTV, mun2, etc?
Well...it is hard to really know. They have been very supportive but I don't know how much kids watch TV nowadays...
I believe the CNN of the moment is youtube. MTV is myspace and Big Brother is twitter...
3. Is there anyone at Coachella you're looking forward to seeing?
Yes!! Zizek - love them...also Buraka Som Sistema...and my favorite band on earth...My Bloody Valentine. I can't stop listening to the new Horrors album - so I guess I will see them too!
4. When people speak of your band in the same breath as Kinky and Nortec Collective is that unfair since each group is so different musically in approach?
No, it's all good - they are friends and I understand why people say that. But it is like saying that Bob Marley is the same as Peter Tosh. I guess from a tourist point of view, yes, it is the same.
I guess we all have some similar Mexican roots. So we do have something in common.
5. What are your thoughts on being lumped together with other "Mexican electronica" groups?
I see that not only in Mexico, but all over Latin America. It's an amazing bunch of creative people. I feel more close to Toy Selectah, Disco Ruido, NSM PSM, or Silverio. I always wanted to be an electronic artist, but every time we are in a festival they tell us we are not electronica. Instead, they tell us we are rock. So at rock festivals, they tell me I do cumbia. And at cumbia festivals, they tell me I do shit. So I'm a total stranger to everyone. Sad...
6. How important is sampling to the Mexican Institute of Sound sound? What do you look for in a sample?
Very important. I don't sampler other people's music. I sample speeches, voices, sounds, etc. I love how it sounds. I love music that is not perfect. I love the scratching...lo fi sounds.
7. Do you see a time where sampling is not used as the group goes forward?
No, it is part of me. If I do something sample-free, I will call my project another name.
8. What is the difference live using live bass and drums instead of just using DJ equipment?
I never DJ...don't like it...never been good. In the past, we did a pseudo live show. Now it is totally live and it is more chaotic...more crazy!
I simply love the energy of live music.
9. Do you have any thing special planned for Coachella (guests, a different set, etc.)?
Yes, a brand new set - playing tons of "Soy Sauce" and an amazing neo mariachi outfit designed by the famous Mexican designer Paola Hernandez.
Below are DJ AM's answers to eight quick questions posed to him (while Travis Barker's will be below that. There is one question they didn't answer, which was about if they felt they had gotten back their chemistry since the horrific September plane crash where four people died and they were critically injured). The duo has since fully recovered. They'll perform at 7:20 p.m. Saturday inside the Sahara tent.
1.) What was your reaction when asked to play Coachella this year?
I s*** my pants. i love the festival and can't wait to get out there.
2). Are there any artists you want to check out at Coachella?
Many, but I am most excited for MSTRKRFT and Etienne De Crecy
3). Will you be performing new material at Coachella?
Oh yes, we made a mix of some of our fav songs to play and some SAHARA tent bangers'
4). Has it been hard getting back your chemistry in the live show since the plane crash?
5.) Is using the live drums and a DJ concept something you feel will catch on among other acts (meaning do you feel you're creating a trail for other acts to follow)?
I don't now about that. All I know is what we do sounds good to us, so we keep doing it.
6). For your live shows, what is your goal?
Have people scream, cheer and forget about life for a while.
7). How do you determine a set list for a show like Coachella?
We based it around the tent were in. Its a very dance music based tent, but we play everything. We just leaned a little more towards the dance side, but still do "us" and play music we love.
8). Will there be any special guests during your performance at Coachella?
Yes, if you want to know who, come see :)
Here are Barker's answers ...
1.) What was your reaction when asked to play Coachella this year?
Stoked, hoping I would be healed, my dream came true.
2). Are there any artists you want to check out at Coachella?
The Killers, Mastodon, Mstrkrft
3). Will you be performing new material at Coachella?
Yes and some oldies as well.
5.) Is using the live drums and a DJ concept something you feel will catch on among other acts (meaning do you feel you're creating a trail for other acts to follow)?
I don't know, were just having fun and keeping things interesting.
6). For your live shows, what is your goal?
To have fun and make people dance.
7). How do you determine a set list for a show like Coachella?
Jam out songs and see what's appropriate and what jams.
8). Will there be any special guests during your performance at Coachella?
It's not a special if I tell, wait and see.
On the group's Myspace page they have information about how to give to their friends Chris Baker and Charles Still's families after they passed away in the plane crash. Here is that information:
Chris Baker Memorial Fund
1840 S. Milliken
Ontario, CA 91761
Charles Still Memorial Fund
1840 S. Milliken
Ontario, CA 91761
you can watch it through an AT & T site located here:
Here is the schedule for today:
Lineup Friday, April 17th:
Artists and Times Subject to Change
| 2:50 PM | The Courteeners |
| 3:20 PM | The Aggrolites |
| 4:05 PM | The Airborne Toxic Event |
| 4:55 PM | Alberta Cross |
| 5:45 PM | White Lies |
| 6:35 PM | Franz Ferdinand |
| 7:25 PM | The Hold Steady |
| 8:15 PM | Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band |
| 9:00 PM | Morrissey |
| 10:00 PM | Paul McCartney |
The news release is below:
Check Out the Live Webcast of Coachella Friday starting at 2:50 PM PT
Tune in for the live webcast today featuring performances from Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, The Airborne Toxic Event and many more!
Watch Paul McCartney LIVE on select AT&T handsets Friday at 10PM PT.
Rock legend Paul McCartney will be the headlining act on Friday, April 17. AT&T will exclusively stream 45 minutes of his performance live here at AT&T Music and on select wireless handsets of AT&T customers via MobiTV and MobiVJ.
AT&T wireless customers with a compatible handset can get a link to download MobiTV on their mobile phones by texting TV to 386. Standard text and data messaging charges apply. Unlimited data plan required. Or, customers can visit AT&T MEdia Mall from their handsets or online at www.att.com/mediamall to download MobiTV or MobiVJ. (Not available in all areas. Programs subject to change.)
All fans can watch the video online at music.att.net.
Come back to music.att.net on Saturday and Sunday for more great performances! On Saturday, check out The Killers, M.I.A, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Glasvegas among other great artists. Then again on Sunday, we have another packed day of music including The Cure, Peter Bjorn and John, Public Enemy, Okkervil River and many more!
Don't forget to check back after the festival to watch highlights of the shows right here at AT&T Music, on your AT&T Wireless handset and on AT&T U-verse.
For more information about this event, visit www.coachella.com.
Sunday, April 19, 2009 • 4:30 - 6:00pm
When I was young my mother gave me a drum
and told me to beat it.
I'm still not sure what she meant by that,
but I might find out at this weekend's Bodhrán Workshop at the Folk Music Center in Claremont.
The bodhrán is the heartbeat of Irish music.
This ancient frame drum is traditionally made
with a wooden body and a goat-skin head, and
is played with a double-headed stick called a cipín, tipper, or beater.
The modern Irish word bodhrán
is properly pronounced bow-rawn,
like "COW brawn," with a slight emphasis
on the first syllable.
You can bring your own bodhran or borrow one
from the Folk Music Center with valid picture ID.
Workshop cost: $20.00
Word has it that the Chieftains is looking for a new
bodhrán player. Here's your opening.
Call (909) 624-2928 for information. Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave.,
Claremont, CA 91711. http://www.folkmusiccenter.com/
(Graphic by Magical Mystery Imagery)
Thursday • April 16th • 6:00-8:30 p.m. • $20
An introduction to ukulele basics.
"Once you get hooked on this little guitar,
you can't stop playing it."
No prior music experience necessary.
(That makes all of us at Music Now blog eligible to attend.)
John, Paul & George loved ukelele.
(Ringo used his for bongos.)
Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant is a big uke fan.
Will.I.Am of Black Eyed Peas creates instant uke cool
with his ukulele.
Made of everything from plywood and plastic
to rare Koa wood and steel -- It is a mighty instrument
in a miniature package.
The event is Thursday, April 16 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Just think, $20.00 for the workshop and you are on your first step to Carnegie Hall ...
Shea Stadium ... or Arthur's Bath & Grille on lower East End.
Call (909) 624-2928 for information. Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave.,
Claremont, CA 91711. http://www.folkmusiccenter.com/
(Photo courtesy Magical Mystery Imagery)
Marc Ford • Saturday, April 11, 2009
Guitarist Marc Ford, who is best known for performing and recording with The Black Crowes and Ben Harper, began his career with the blues-rock outfit Burning Tree in the late 1980's.
Ford continued his association with Ben Harper and his band through the close of 2004, when he was called to rejoin The Black Crowes for their "All Join Hands" reunion run.
Few guitarists radiate such composure and dexterity on stage as Marc Ford and his searing licks and soul-jarring solos are often compared to those of Hendrix, Clapton, Allman and Page.
Call (909) 624-2928 for information on future concerts. Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. http://www.folkmusiccenter.com/
Indie singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson will perform April 13 at dA Center for the Arts in downtown Pomona.
Dawson is perhaps best known for her songs used in the film Juno.
Also on the bill for the 7:30 p.m. show are Halloween Swim Team, Voice on Tape, and Moses Campbell. The flier also says a "special guest" will be joining Dawson.
The show is $10 and open for all ages.
dA Center for the Arts is located at 252 South Main Street, right around the corner from the Glass House.
