Coachella 2006

So Coachella was last weekend. I've been meaning to post about it all week, however I've been swamped at work and only just got the chance to sit down and type.

We had a great time. Krista flew in from Colorado and we picked up Long Hai in Santa Monica and headed off to Indio. We decided to camp on the grounds this year. It is insane how many people are actually there and how many people say so many stupid things. We started a quote journal writing down stupid things we said as well as others. Quote books are fun times. I recommend them, especially at work. It's amazing what dumb things you say at work sometimes, especially in the service industry. Priceless.

Saturday was by far the best day of Coachella. We started off by seeing Infusion who were so into their music that it was infectious. After that we walked around and vegged in the sun until it was time for Wolfmother. This was the main reason that Long Hai came and the tent was packed. They were a great rock band but not my favorite. I wasn't able to even get in the tent to see Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah! after that. I did manage to get to the edge of the entrance and listen to one of their better known songs and I was ok with that.

After that Deanna and I hooked up with Long Hai and Krista again and we headed off to the main stage for Kayne West who by far put on one of the best shows of the event. He played all his hits and had a great sense of humor. He started to play DJ at one point and topped it off by playing his favorite song, "Take on me" by Aha. I kid you not. Watching Kayne rock out to Aha was priceless.

After Kayne, Long Hai and I moved up in the crowd to get closer for Franz Ferdinand. Unfortunately we had to suffer through Sigor Ros who neither of us were familiar with. Deanna and Krista couldn't stand the press of people coupled with the music and bailed about 10 minutes into the set. (later after getting home a friend said that if he had known Sigor Ros was going to play at Coachella he would have come. I stared at him in disbelief) Despite the fact that Long Hai and I were tortured for about 40 minutes it was worth it to be able to push our way closer for Franz Ferdinand which was so much fun. We weren't right next to the stage but we were dead center and I could see the band pretty clearly.

We ditched the crowd after that and moved to the back for Depeche Mode. I have to say I was overall disappointed with Depeche Mode. It could be because I didn't stick around for the older stuff which I know they played later but I just wasn't into it enough to really stick around. Long Hai and I decided to head over to Daft Punk. We got a space early in the middle of the tent and I am so glad we did.

Daft Punk was AMAZING. I have never had so much fun at a show. The reality is that everything after them was a let down. I think it is the main reason that my Sunday was no where near as fun as Saturday. The crowd was so into the show and Daft Punk just worked it. When they played Around the World all I could think of was the summer Michele, Kristen and I heard that song all over Europe and how Michele and I told Kristen that there was no way they were saying Around the World. I don't know what we thought they were saying but it sure as hell wasn't around the world. I would pay $150 just to see Daft Punk again. Unfortunately they are not playing anywhere else in the states this year. sigh.

Sunday I saw James Blunt, Kaskade, Paul Okenfold, Madonna, Go! Team and Tool. James Blunt was great as well as Paul Okenfold. We were dead center in the tent again for Madonna but the stupid press were in the sound area and a foot taller than everyone else so that you couldn't see anything. Madonna started her 50 minute set 20 minutes late meaning she only played for 30 minutes. After waiting in that press of people we ended up outside 10 minutes after she started as we couldn't see anything. I'm so sorry that I left the tent because even though I couldn't really see anything the sound was much better in the tent. sigh. Most people have said the show sucked. It sucked for me because I was constantly trying to find a better view, however I feel that if I had at least a partial view it would have been a great show. She is after all a performer. Rude but a performer none the less.

After Madonna I pretty much crashed and was ready for bed. Long Hai left that night with some friends from LA and Krista, Deanna and I headed home on Monday morning. Overall it was a great trip and I'm so glad we went. There are some pictures posted here from Deanna's camera. Long Hai is supposed to get me the doubles from his camera soon and I'll share them when I can. Otherwise pleae find our quotes from Coachella below.

"Jesus loves me. Repeat and Believe" - Billboard on freeway (It actually said Repent and Believe but I read Repeat which I think is much better.)

"I'm one of those bitter fucks" - Long Hai

"Feel the power" (of the breakfast burrito) - Deanna

"I'm starting to need to go to the bathroom again and I'm scared." - Deanna

He's a sexual Intellectual!" - Random camper

"Isn't it Pabst beer? Did you just say papsmear?" - Tent Villager

"Alright white people, this is the only time you can say Nigga." - Kayne West

"Well it's not going to lick itself" - Tshirt of Fellow Music lover

"There's an over population of bacteria in my mouth and I just performed genocide." - Krista after brushing her teeth.

"The eagle has landed." - Portable John Occupant.