Coachella Report: Day 1

Coachella Report: Friday, April 16

After getting a very late start on my day (the traffic and the admission line were both brutal) I was able to catch a very diverse mix of acts.

Playing on the main stage when I entered was Street Sweeper Social Club. I didn’t spend a lot of time listening to the band, but the crowd seemed to really enjoy its performance. I liked what I heard, and was hugely disappointed that I had left so soon after later learning that SSSC is comprised of Rage Against the Machine rocker Tom Morello and hip-hop artist Boots Riley. Morello is a fiend on the guitar and I wish I could have caught more of his act–I highly suggest folks check SSSC out.

As I oriented myself with the grounds (the vastness of Coachella is impressive in itself) I found the stage featuring Zooey Deschanel’s group She & Him. Although the bouncy music was sweet and reminded me of driving to the beach, it wasn’t enough to keep my interest for very long, and I was eager to get back to the main stage for The Specials (a band I had heard lots about during my two and a half hour wait to get in) and Them Crooked Vultures. Read more