Coachella Day 1 - From 102 Degree Fever to 102 Degree Desert -- Cured!

Thursday night, down for the count with a 102 degree fever.

Friday morning, off to day 1 of Coachella weekend 2 -- where the desert heat was somewhere near that (well, actually, it was more like 95 degrees - downright cool for a day 1 of weekend 2), but you get my point ...

... which is ... it was COACHELLA!  My 7th straight.  I woke up not going.  But then I went!  Had to hit it, even if only for one day -- which is what I did.  Was my wife, Luisa's, first (she is wearing the hat in the picture) -- had to be there for that -- to inaugurate her into the tribe of peace-loving, garland-wearing, music lovers dancing about in the most beautiful setting that you could ever imagine.  That setting never gets old.  Those mountains, especially as sunset hits over the mountains and the ethereal festival lights -- and the crowd -- turn on.

Hits?  The War on Drugs -- great set!  And, of course, the Sahara tent is always a "can't miss" -- even with my throbbing head that matched the tent's throbbing EDM.  I simply didn't care.  Actually, I enjoyed it -- there was a certain mystical healing power that my buddy, Sean, promised me) (he's the one wearing my fedora).  You can stay at Sahara all day and all night and be fully satisfied (which is what many of the kids do).

Misses?  No astronaut this year!  VIP entrance?  Gone!  I gave my VIP pass away to a friend -- so I had a GA tix for the day -- but those who had VIP tix were misdirected and joined me in the GA entrance.  I know, I know.  No sympathy from many of you.  But, think about it.  VIP is $799/tix -- about $500 more than GA.  So, special access is one obvious and mandatory benefit.  One more "miss" -- which is an understandable one under the mandatory water restrictions in which we live -- there was no water zone in the middle of the polo grounds.  Gone were the classic water shenanigans that were a defining feature in past years.  But, the times have changed.  Reality sometimes sets in -- even at Coachella ...

... but not too much!  That's the whole point.

And, magically, fever gone!  Explain that one ladies and gentlemen.  If that doesn't demonstrate the healing power of music ...

Top 5 Reasons Coachella Weekend 2 Beats Weekend 1 (Your "Cheat Sheet" Rationalization ...)

This will be my 7th straight Coachella -- and first with my wife, Luisa.  We are setting sail for Indio in 2 days.

Virtually every year I go the first weekend.  But, not this year.  This year we're trying out Weekend #2 -- shaking it up ... (not because we couldn't get tix for Weekend #1 ... no, that couldn't be it ...).

... which begs the question ... which Coachella weekend is better?  Weekend #1 or Weekend #2 (especially when Weekend #1 is the more obvious answer to most of you)?

Here are my Top 5 reasons Weekend #2 beats Weekend #1 -- and is the way to go, especially this year:

(1) I'll concede that it's tough to argue with the "new-ness" of Weekend #1 for both fans and artists/bands -- ALL of it is new to everyone (which alone generates great anticipation).  BUT, Weekend #2's sets likely will be "tighter" than Weekend #1's sets -- many artists/bands will modify their sets based on what worked (and what didn't).  That's a good thing for hard-core music fans.

(2) Speaking of ... Yes, it's true, one main reason for "real" hard-core, non-poser festival-goers like me (yes, I happily make that claim and can back it up) to attend festivals is to discover great music by under-the-radar artists and bands.  Music discovery in its purest form.  But, this year's headliners and overall line-up are much weaker than last year's killer year.  So, those of us going this weekend benefit from knowing about Weekend #1's buzz-worthy artists and performances.  So, while serendipity will still be a huge part of the experience for me, Weekend #1's social media "curation" will help make the most of the weekend (at least that's what I'm telling myself ...).

(3) Last year, many of the most buzz-worthy surprise guests took the stage during Weekend #2 -- and those live collaborations are always cool to watch.  Let's hope this happens again this year during Weekend #2.

(4) This year (not surprisingly) Weekend #2 will be hotter (literally!) than Weekend #1 by about 10 degrees -- approaching a very desert-like 100 degrees.  "This is a good thing?", you ask?  Well, just hear me out.  For those of you who, like me, have attended for years, there is something downright magical about the oven-roasting heat that paradoxically brings out even more energy and sunshine vibes in the crowds -- and certainly more free unbridled individual personal expression (how's that for putting it?).  Expect thousands more to spend significant time and dance with garlands in their hair in the ubiquitous water zones for which Coachella is famous.  Water guns here, there, everywhere.  Who can resist that?  Not even I!  Water brings out a certain "not a care in the world" emancipation that is fundamental to the Coachella experience.  Fun.  Hilarious.  Invigorating.  You see, heat can be a good thing!

(5) Drum roll please for Reason # 5 ... did I mention the heat?

See you at Coachella!

(okay -- keeping it very real -- I can easily make the case for Weekend #1 -- but why try? -- why not rationalize this year's choice?  Use this as your cheat sheet!)

Bonnaroo 2015 Lineup First Class (While "The Other Guys" Fly ... Coach?)

Bonnaroo 2015 lineup just announced earlier today.  Coachella 2015 lineup announced last week.  Which is better?  YOU be the judge.  The judges already have my scores .... (here's my review of the Coachella 2015 lineup) ....

Coachella Clash - "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" - This Year's "Must See" Artists

Coachella 2015 -- "To go, or not to go?  THAT is the question!"  (Or in the immortal words of The Clash, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?")

Last year's Coachella line-up was outstanding (here is my post about it from last year).  This year, not so much.  More bluntly, and sadly (in my view), not at all.

The long-awaited unveiling of this year's line-up occurred early this past week (here it is).  As I received the official email in my inbox, my fingers twitched with anticipation (with rumors of U2 swirling in my head).  Then reality set in as I first focused on the three headliners -- (1) AC/DC (a classic band, no doubt, but headliner ... really?), (2) Jack White (talented of course, but same question), and (3) Drake (ditto).  A triple head-scratcher.  A massive disappointment.

OK, those are the headliners.  But the rest of the line-up must be great, I thought to myself.  Right?  After all, Coachella is massively successful, so they absolutely can attract the absolute best.  But, as I very carefully mulled the list, I was beyond disappointed.  Very few of the artists and bands even remotely grabbed my interest.  And, long-time readers of my blog know that I follow the contemporary music scene very closely (and believe I have some fairly deep awareness of the artists and bands "of the day" across multiple genres).

I wasn't alone in my shock & awe.

In my informal poll taken in the aftermath of the "great Coachella unveiling," others whom I respect as (1) being music lovers, (2) having music depth (and who are taste-makers), and (3) are experienced Coachella/festival go-ers, like me -- all felt very much the same.  Virtually all of them also scratched their heads (several, more deeply than I)  -- and expressed not just deep surprise, but also deep disappointment.  And this theme carried through conversations during my past week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Whereas last year's list of "must see" artists and bands was long (again, here is the link to last year's post that followed last year's line-up announcement), this year's is downright diminutive.  Here are my picks -- day by day:

Friday -- Tame Impala (but, although a great band, second billing ... really? ... worthy of that kind of prominence already?), Lykke Li (maybe a "must see", but that is generous).

Saturday -- alt-J (definitely!  Although I have already seen them 4 times), Kasabian (maybe), Perfume Genius.

Sunday -- Florence and the Machine, Vance Joy (maybe ... but, again, that's a generous designation).

That's it!  That's all that even remotely "excites" me.

Yes, I know, I know -- festivals like Coachella are very much about music discovery.  I "get" that -- and know that several artists whom I do not know right now likely will impress me when I see them play.  But, I also know most of the artists in the line-up.  And, very few of those do.

So, what to do at this point?  Coachella is an annual ritual for me and my fellow music compadres.  We have made the annual pilgrimage to Music Mecca 6 of the last 7 Coachellas.  And, we purchased our VIP passes and La Quinta Resort room reservations months ago.

After seeing this year's line-up, my initial reaction was "Nyet."

But, due to the coaxing of others, I have now pulled back a bit ... and have not made my final decision ... not yet.

I'll stream the music I don't know -- (see, streaming really does lead to music discovery) -- and then make my final decision.  But, in the end, I likely will go ... for the ritual of it all ... and because, after all, 2015 would have a gaping hole without the Coachella experience ....

[UPDATED SUNDAY JAN 11 -- OF COURSE I'M GOING!  It's Coachella after all.  There is nothing like being out in the desert -- with great friends -- and getting lost in the music ... my year would not be complete without it ... no matter what line-up ...].