My family and I (that's us below -- Luca, 12, with the dust-protecting bandanna, Hunter, 15, friend Izzy, and my wife Luisa) attended the dust-storm that was the
Desert Daze music festival yesterday in Mecca, California -- only miles away from the
Coachella mega-festival a few weeks back -- but a world away in virtually all else. While
Coachella is lush, grassy, and downright pristine --
Desert Daze was literally a dust storm and nothing but dirt (we are still coughing up that dirt). While
Coachella is expansive and massive --
Desert Daze was small and narrow. While
Coachella is EDM-driven --
Desert Daze was dark Indie-driven (with headliner
Warpaint killing it on the main stage late night). And while
Coachella is filled with garlands in hair and white lace --
Desert Daze has no flowers at all -- and certainly no white frill.
But, all THAT is precisely why
Desert Daze works! It's the perfect 1-2 Coachella Valley punch -- the anti-
Coachella, if you will. And neither is "better" for most who attended, they are just fundamentally different. Yes,
Desert Daze's Mecca location is "random," but the small tent city and artisans who filled it were organized in their own very organic and earthy way -- a new kind of hippie society. My kids loved it (above is a picture of them grasping
Warpaint lead singer Emily's hand after they fought their way to the very front row like the true festival warriors they have become) -- my wife, Luisa, am not so sure. But we all agreed that
Desert Daze was an "experience" in every sense of the word.
And, isn't that what music festivals are all about? (Other standout performances included goth-artist Chelsea Wolfe and guitar-driven DIIV.)
Sun God is impressive -- student organized, student run. Virtually only open to UCSD students (as part of their student services fees -- no separate purchase required) -- about 20,000 of them (I attended as an official member of the press). In a bold move (surprising to me given generally conservative college administrations), the festival featured Snoop Dogg as the headliner -- and Snoop did not disappoint. Not your usual Snoop show to be sure, as the wafting of smoke was minimized by some of the tightest festival security I have ever seen. OK Go (pictured to the left) also stood out amidst the festive, carnival-like atmosphere where EDM was also minimized this year (certainly in an attempt to rein in the general EDM "state of mind" -- which is frequently altered as part of the genre's definition). Sure, the festival this year was held on a Sunday -- and sure it ended just after 8 pm (in further nods to an increasing conservatism). But, it was held. THAT is what matters. Students look forward to it all year. And, Sun God organizers pulled off this mini-major once again-- no small feat given myriad challenges in an official school sponsored event.
