Coachella @ Empire Polo Fields

Ahhh...the music festival. I keep telling myself I am retiring from these big, all day events - this one times 3 - (the last was Big Day Out in Sydney 2008) but I keep getting dragged back. The big draw this year was both The Cure and the fact that my cousin, Moz, was making the trek over from Australia to start a festival tour of the US. We (I actually mean me, but having Moz allows me to share the blame) decided on a hotel in Palm Springs, not knowing how far we were from the venue the Extended Stay was the cheapest option next to camping. We were about 45 minutes away, which is what I drive to work anyway, so no bother for me.

Being good kids, we followed directions into the massive parking lot and followed the crowd into the long line to get into the Empire Polo Fields. Once we were in we had a quick look around the venue before Moz and I went our separate ways in hopes of meeting back at the car later that night.

I started at the Coachella Stage seeing We Are Scientists. Great show but I think the stage and the 2.50pm kick off weren't right for them. They could played a tent for a better set. None the less a good performance enjoyed by all, especially the 9 -10 year old kid who rocked out on his dad's shoulders singing every word of every song.

We Are Scientists @ Coachella

Next to The Hold Steady in the Mojave (middle size) Tent. As per last Monday, The Hold Steady were great. Their energy really projects onto the crowd, who react accordingly. I was disappointed at the size of the crowd, but not the enthusiasm. Man this band is good!

The Hold Steady @ Coachella

I left The Hold Steady a little early to get my spot for The Black Keys on the Coachella Stage. This was a band I was really keen to see, and they didn't disappoint. They played a blistering set, but again I wish they were on a smaller intimate stage. They've never been to Vegas (that I know of), but I'd love to see them in a small to mid-size venue here. Blues rock is alive and well thanks to The Black Keys.

Black Keys @ Coachella

After dinner it was back to the Coachella stage for Franz Ferdinand, and as the sun went down, the party started. Perfect pop was blasted to the fun loving masses. Franz Ferdinand were much better than I expected and certainly picked up the mood once Big Yellah had set for the the day.

The end of Franz Ferdinand bought the first conflict of the festival. I want to see Leonard Cohen - he is no doubt a legend - and previous personal experience is they don't get to that status by doing crap shows, but I also want to get a good spot for Paul McCartney later in the evening. I forgo Cohen, and instead have to endure Morrissey (Oh Henry Rollins, will you ever forgive me?). In hindsight I could have gotten to see everyone. Morrissey came across as wanting to be anywhere but at Coachella. He labored through his songs as well as some Smiths stuff. While it was good to hear This Charming Man and How Soon Is Now, his whining killed the set.

Then Sir Paul McCartney. Now I was expecting to hear some Beatles and Wings, but I wasn't even close in assuming how fucking awesome his show would be. From the very first chords of Jet, McCartney absolutely blew me away. His showmanship, band, and choice of 36 songs was a great ending to a good day at the festival. Whether he was ukeleling and dedicating Something to George Harrison, blasting fireworks through Live & Let Die or just rocking out to everything. This show now ranks as the 2nd best I've ever seen (The Cure in Portugal in 1998 is #1 and Nirvana in Sydney in 1992 is now #3). One of the biggest surprises was to hear McCartney reflect on the fact that today was the 11 year anniversary of Linda's death - which silenced 50000 people instantly - an eerie hush throughout the field. I thought he may have lost it then, but saved himself with a poignant version of My Love. At 12.50am, 2.5 hours after he came on stage, the greatness finally finished and we were left to make our way of the venue and talk about what we had just seen for the next 2 hours, while we tried to get out of the parking lot.

The Crap Facts
This is my 280th concert.
Empire Polo Fields is the 76th venue I've seen a concert in.
Indio is the 40th city I've seen a concert in.
This is my 2nd concert in California.

This is my 88th concert in the USA.

This is my 2nd We Are Scientists concert.
This is my 2nd Hold Steady concert.
Black Keys are the 338th band I've seen.
Franz Ferdinand are the 339th band I've seen.
Morrissey is the 340th band I've seen.
Paul McCartney is the 341st band I've seen.