Coachella 2008

[Alex]

I don't care that they released it, but if they wanted it back I'm surprised they didn't install some method of tracking it.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

I don't care that they released it, but if they wanted it back I'm surprised they didn't install some method of tracking it.

Some sort of anti-publicity chip?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

I don't care that they released it, but if they wanted it back I'm surprised they didn't install some method of tracking it.

The people saying they want it back are the Coachella promoters, not Roger Waters.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

for the sake of art.

Oh and speaking about "For the sake of art."

Have you all seen the work of

Chinese artist Li Wei?




Love it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Okay, so enough about the pig. It was definitely the most theatrically amazing moment, but it was a weekend full of amazing moments.

Most Anticipated Act that lived up to/surpassed expectations:
Man Man. I fell in love with their music a few weeks ago, bought their newest album. It's hard to categorize the music. A bit of Tom Waits on speed, a bit of the Baltic sound, a bit of the Zutons. High energy, great lyrics. Then there's their stage performance. Wow. Nonstop madness, props flying, lead singers flying, noise and music and theatrics and jumping and near-injury. Pure awesome.

Most anticipated act that failed to deliver
M.I.A. We made the mistake of leaving Kraftwerk early to check out M.I.A. She seemed like she'd put on a hell of a show. Unfortunately, it just wasn't to be. She was playing in the largest tent. By the time we got there it was overflowing with people out the sides and back. We started to work our way through the crowd to get as close as we could, and immediately we were passing people going the other way coming out of the tent grumbling about how horrible it was inside. There was just no way we were getting in there, and it didn't sound like we would have wanted to be in there anyway. We later learned that she started to encourage people to come on stage, which led to a bit of chaos, bitching about security, and a long pause in her act. In the end, she did all of six songs. Total disappointment and we should have stuck around for the Kraftwerk robots.

Best "not holding my breath" act that beat my expectations
Portishead. Actually, this is a close one with Roger Waters, but that was so over the top that I can't even consider it together with the rest of the weekend. So that leaves Portishead. Simply amazing. After essentially an 11 year hiatus, they got onto that stage and absolutely nailed the old stuff like they had just walked of the studio, and their new stuff keeps the essence of the band while progressing their sound into the new decade. She felt every word she sang, and the audience felt it with her. Stunning performance.

Best walk-by that convinced us to stop and check an act we didn't know out
Holy F*ck. We were headed elsewhere, but the music coming from the tent stopped us in our tracks, and we stayed for the remainder of the set. Another high energy act with a frantic feel, aided by the constant plugging and replugging of various electronic devices througout, even in the middle of songs. Later research revealed that unlike most electronic acts, they use no pre-looped recorded samples, they do everything live. Including running, by hand, 35mm film through a machine to play the sound track at high speed. An entirely unique sound that had to be danced to.

Best Tina Turner impression
Sharon Jones and the Dapp Kings. I'm tired just thinking about her performance. This is a throwback act in the best sense of the word. She got up there and brought the house down. A frenetic bundle of dancing and wailing. Sensational, I'm thoroughly jealous of NA and € who get to see here again at the Hollywood Bowl.

Most danceable
Gogol Bordello. This comes as no surprise to many here on LoT, but it's the first chance we've had to see them, and they lived up to their reputation. They went up at the most brutal time of day, with the sun low and in our faces and the humidity skyrocketing. But nothing could stop me from 50 minutes of near nonstop jumping and dancing. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Most disappointing thing of the weekend
Tesla Coils. Unless we somehow missed it, which is highly unlikely, the giant Tesla Coils never did their thing. On day one, we knew it was a bad sign when we saw a bunch of people hovering around the thing with a multimeter and eventually a soldering iron. I guess they never got the part they needed from Lithuania because we never saw it fired up. Coachella felt a little empty without it.

[Capt Jack]

I 2nd the 'disappointing' winner. I was bummed when it didnt go off...even moreso that it turned out to be terminal

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I got to listen to Coachella! For all of 45 seconds, in a voice mail from madame and mssr. Pallor-Delight, who phantom-dialed us and left a message-less phantom-message full of thobbing base. Thanks, guys!

[Not Afraid]

I agree with GD on all accounts but would like to add Demetri from Paris in his own category for "Most Awesome DJ Performance". If you are an Ursula fan, try to see this guy in the future.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

I got to listen to Coachella! For all of 45 seconds, in a voice mail from madame and mssr. Pallor-Delight, who phantom-dialed us and left a message-less phantom-message full of thobbing base. Thanks, guys!

Haha, I thought I saw my phone hanging up on you for a second. I was wondering whether you'd answered or not. If I recall, that would have been soon after we arrived on Saturday and we would have been in the Sahara tent listening to one of the DJs from Institubes.

Another award to give out:

Best Decision made:
Taking our time before the show each day: Leisurely breakfasts, dips in the pool, afternoon departure times. It's still a long hot day, but made far more tolerable when started off that way and when arriving at the venue after the hottest part of the day rather then being there as it heats up.

[Not Afraid]

Where's my pool? I went out back this morning and it is gone!