Coachella 06, the review

By melchoir on May 8, 2006 7:06 PM | Permalink |

So the Wang has been resting from a Weekend long fun time in the desert that most of us call Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The Wang must admit, after seeing the lineup this year the Wang wasn’t as excited for the festival as the Wang was last yr. When the lineup was soo packed that the Wang barely had time to walk between stages. This year rather, Mr. Starfizzy had some last min. emergencies that took him out of the party-o-fun that is Coachella 2006. So instead the Wang hooked up with old co-worker friend Mr. Rock and his entourage.

The Wang must admit the Coachella fest was definitely a lot more fun once u realize that the true fun of Coachella isn’t trying to see as many bands as u can, but rather to enjoy the fact that u r with some 60k ppl, hanging out in the middle of the desert to watch some sweaty dude scream into a receiving end of a electrified cable. And especially since some of these 60k ppl, are hawt women. Still the Wang caught some good music, had some good snacks and had a fun time just chilling and vegging out on the grass this yr. Plus the Wang has discovered his liking to post rock. Thus the usual 7p-9p Coachella block, that consist of cool post bands that bring in the beautiful desert dusk. This yr, the Wang was treated to the likes of Sigur Rós, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (ok not so post… but nice), and Mogwai. IN fact the Wang was having the funnest time on Sunday really enjoying the post/ambient rock and watching girls spin lights.

The Wang also ended the day with a lot of weird lighting/shadow pictures… Think it had something to do with being stuck in the masses of ppl walking out, and all the spot lights in the parking lot.

Much as the Wang would like to give the list by list view and review of all the bands the Wang saw, I’m quite sure u, the gentle readers would have better things to read than my opinions on individual bands. So the quick and dirty list/bullet style sum up of the weekend:

Bands I saw…

Saturday

The Duke Spirit: they were cool, a bit country. And the only country the Wang likes r and Chan Marshall of Cat power… (ok Altanta is like High South, but still country right?)

Clap Your hands and Say Yeah: The first full act the Wang saw. Great stuff, rocking, and the Wang even met Josh Radnor from How I Met Your mother. Also CYHASY gave us this moment of Digital Photography Zen.

My Morning jacket: The Wang hoping that they would play more of their non-singing post rock songs. They didn’t.

Imogen Heap: Dispite some Keyboard, mixer, iBook issues, Ms. Heap pulled off some cool electronic tunes for the crowd. Having the perfect “golden hour" time slot, she gained some cool soft warm lighting with her freaky flower keyboard stand.

Sigur Rós: Nothing like watching the desert cool down into the night and listening to the cooness of Sigu Rós. The wang still has no idea what the hell, jónsi sings about. But he sure looks like he’s singing his soul out of his neck. Here’s an example of a Sigur Rós experience.

Franz Ferdinand: Whom plainly rocked out like it was 2005

Corndog: diner.

She Wants Revenge: SWR’s Justin Warfield clearly had a Prince fetish growing up. ( u cant really see his open shirted dancing stylings, but trust the Wang…) But SWR did bring out these hawt hawt punk brides that is probably somehow related to one of the most spankable cover ever.
Rushing home in traffic to meet Mr. Rock @ his place.

Sunday

James Blunt: Who was poppy good. He didn’t play the Wang’s favorite “Goodbye Lover" song though. But this was definetly part of the more main stream Coachella lineup. The Wang thinks the tent was filled with OC watching, Vans wearing, American Apparel ‘s running short wearing, hippsters. Which isn’t a bad thing… specially how this was definelty a yr of short shorts and summer dress…

Heineken: Beer time in the beer garden.

Matisyahu: The Wang and Wang friends caught Matisyahu from a distance… He was definetly one of the best dressed singers… Shirt and Black pants and all. Not the Wang’s style of music but that song they always play on the radio is catchy… “King Without a Crown."

Sleater Kinney: The Wang parts from the Wang friends, as they all flock to the Techno tent in preparation for the 3rd coming of Madonna. The Wang hangs around the main stage for the girl-on-girl action of Sleater Kinney. Though entertaining, I think the Wang should of went to see Bloc Party. The Wang think’s that last years Bloc Party experience was rather disillusioned and they deserve a second chance. But Hawt Hacky sack girl and her skirt-flip kicking technique entranced the Wang… til…

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: All the Wang can say at this point, that the Wang was sooo tripped out that the Yeah yeah yeahs were some sort of distant soundscape. All the Wang can remember was that Karen O was awesome and red… But they were good. The Wang wished that he was more coherent at the time to enjoy more of the Y^3s. But then the dusk time in the desert is a magical time… magical.

Mogwai: They were also magical. This is when the Wang learned that some of the best things at Coachella inst necessarily the Music stages. But sometimes its just about hanging with the ppl near the stage, having the music in the background, and taking weird photos of swirly lights. But Mogwai played a great post-rock set. Combined with the chilling desert air and the quietness (everyone was at Madonna tent) of the fields, this was one of the best moments of Coachella 06.

The Go! Team: Not that they were bad, I think the Wang made a mistake picking them, and just wandered off to watch some more cool ppl and basically taking photos and drifting around.

Scissor Sisters: They rocked. The Wang met up with Mr. and Mrs. Rock and Rocked out at the Scissor Sister performance. More folks danced out jumping up and down. Beach balls flew and women shook it like it was the 80s. The Sisters were just Fabulous, gorgeous… Filthy Gorgeous. They played some of the Wangs’ favorites, like “Laura", “Filthy Gorgeous", and “Take your Mama Out." It was a partying time and great way to end a fun yr of Caochella.

Walking out with the crowd:

Items of note

The Wang even found Mr. Starfizzy’s long lost love:

Photo by gcomnz

Gayest Coachella ever! -as stated by Mr. Rock’s friend, whom writes for some sort of publication for Las Vegas.

Coachella made the Wang felt the back home with the Island spirit of Aloha!

I heard Daft Punk was also playing…

And Madonna proves to us that she uses deodorant.

Dude!

Video: Scissor Sisters

Video: Tesla Coil

Use the grappling hook, Luke

Not sure who these folks r, but the Wang saw them running around the fields and dubbed them The Coachella Power Rangers and Alpha 5, on the left.

Regrets…

The Wang is now an official fan of Annie from Giant Drag. too bad the Wang missed u, next time…

Missing Be Your Own Pet. here’s Adventure Video to wet ur whistles.

Or missing the sultry voice of Cat Power

On missing The Zutons and their sexaphone hawtness

Missing the Like girls…

Not seeing the Metric

Not meeting Master Shake

Need to get closer and/or a photo pass, cause this dude got a much better picture of the SWR Punk Brides.

On the interweb:

For more stories, the LJ, Coachella Community probably one of many…

A cool LA Weekly Review of Coachella by Alie Ward. Which can be best described as the Blog-style of journalism. Rather witty and funny… and with cool journalistic whips like:

As fans chuck glowsticks into the dangerously large crowd, I think to myself, “Someone’s gonna get beaned in the head with one of those." A moment later, I am beaned in the head with one of those.