Though Sunday evening was projected as the culmination of all things great, I wasn’t about to disregard the vibrant line-up that was scheduled for Saturday. I had stated earlier that “Saturday would be the greatest challenge” because of all the great bands playing: Hot Chip, Kings Of Leon, Peter Bjorn & John, The Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, RHCP. It was almost too much to engage in because where would I find time to eat? Where would I find time to meet the randoms (this year’s Coachella was just a surplus of fabulous people)? When would I indulge in an overpriced Heineken at the beer gardens? How many polaroids could I take throughout the day without stopping by a tent and losing myself in a steady snare hit or riff? These were all crucial elements to be improvised throughout the day, clearly for the sake of creating the greatest experience possible.

What ended up happening was a thorough rendezvous with a desert landscape that was partially excruciating and mesmerizing. The night before, I had encountered the silouhette of a mountainous terrain behind Julieta Venegas, and Saturday it was no different, (since the majority of the bands I wanted to see were shaded under the Gobi, Mojave, or Savanah tents). Hot Chip, PB&J, Yeva, The Fratellis, and The Cribs were all a delight underneath sufficient shade. Being plastered up against a bikini clad seductress and grooving “Over and Over” via Hot Chip was beyond extravegant. Simultaneously, I was being enamored by a delightful Coachella patron who was enthusiastic about every gig I wanted to catch: Coachella romance is fabulous.

Yet, the highlight of the event would come under moonlit skies. The Arcade Fire was scheduled to perform before RHCP & Dj Tiesto, and there was no way that I would miss it. The top priority this year was Rage Against The Machine, but the adrenaline rush began when those lovely Canadiens took to the stage. The crowd was flooded with delicate melodies and rambunctious lyrical escapades. The night sky lit up with a sensational rhapsody comprised of solarized angst and orgasmic harmony. You couldn’t negate the happiness that echoed throughout the crowd during the Arcade Fire’s set. During “Wake Up, off of their album ‘Funeral, the crowd exposed a refined elation that I’d never encountered before. Raised arms and echoes of their monumental chorus could be heard as far as Los Angeles’ city limits. For a moment, the explosion of joy I felt suddenly turned to sincere nervousness. The elation I had felt had spawned into a mixture of anxiety and wild-eyed fantasy. In less than 24 hours I would be reunited with them…

to be continued

Coachella Saturday [LAWeekly]
A Lot More Coachella News [Brooklyn Vegan]
Coachella’s first two days a rollicking rock-dance party [LATimes]