Bolt of Blue

Preview of Coachella

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Alright. I’m alive. I survived my first Coachella. It was magical.

I’m still sore all over. Got a tan. Cried twice. Saw so many bands and pseudo celebrities. Danced. Rocked out. Had a sick amount of fun.

Saturday:

• Blur. Fuck. Blur rocked my world. Best thing about the entire festival. Hands down. Managed to work my way up to second row. When the boys took the stage looking fly (no one can work rolled up jeans and barefeet like Alex James), I started crying. Tears were like pouring down my face. I was a babbling idiot. All these emotions took over… no Graham, being happy to see the guys… it was intense. I settled down rather quickly and enjoyed their set… Out of Time, Crazy Beat, Girls & Boys, Trimm Trabb, We’ve Got A File On You, Bettlebum, Song 2, and more were played. All to soon it was over. As we hurried the heck out of there (Queens of the Stone Age fans were getting aggressive), I started to shake and then proceeded to hug Remi and cry some more buckets. It was such an emotional performance and experience for me. Yar… but then we saw Jared Leto and all hell broke loose.
• Yes, took a photo with a long haired Jared Leto. Foxy. He’s a cool dude.
• Loved the Hives. Pelle was in fine form. Best line that I recall was when he said that The Hives were the only band to see at Coachella and that all the other bands playing were just dessert. That… and when this person was heckling him, he said “You shouldn’t talk, you have no hair.” Then proceeded to declare he could kick anyone’s ass and asked the crowd “Don’t I look like I could kick anyone’s ass?” Oh yeah.
• During the last song of the N.E.R.D set, started to make our way into the crowd for a good spot for The Hives. Right as it was ending, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore walked between me and Remi as they exited the crowd.
• Also seen that day: South, Idlewild (really impressive), The Rapture (only a song or two unfortunately), Blue Man Group (I swear the most pot smoking seemed to occur during this set), and The Libertines (only 2 songs before the plug was yanked). Also heard snippets of: Black Eyed Peas (really unimpressed), Beastie Boys, and the Donnas (really, just one long song).

Sunday:

• I figured this would be a more laid back day as there was no Blur or the Hives playing. For the most part, it was. I let Remi handle the mosh pits during Sonic Youth and Iggy.
• Opening band on the main stage was Whirlwind Heat. Like I had been told, they were rad. Mr. Jack White watched from the side. He is really insane. Reason? Aside from all the obvious, he was wearing a black suit and black bowler hat. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT!
• Suffered through Soundcrap of Our Lives. Way too classic rock for my tastes and I had to run away after a few songs.
• Johnny Marr and the Healers were fantastic (scored a place right in front for that) but their set was WAY too short. The whole Mojave Tent was fucked up both days.
• Seeing Rooney flags all around the place was trippy.
• Celeb sightings I missed: Elijah Wood, Kelly Osborne, Rosario Dawson, Juliette Lewis, Christina Aguilera. Celeb who was stalking me: Jared Leto. Other notables I saw: Tommy Lee, Danny Masterson, Eric Balfour (howl), Scott Caan, and that damn actor who looks like the Dell computer guy. I need to figure out who the hell he is.
• Also seen that day: The White Stripes (most of their set), Interpol (incredible), The Mars Volta (absolute hell), C-Minus, and Perry Farrell (what a wee man). Also heard snippets of: Jack Johnson (snore), Cafe Tacuba (wish I had checked them out if only for the dancing sombrero in the mosh pit), Ben Folds, Dirty Vegas, and the Polyphonic Spree.
• Hot Hot Heat (who I hear were outstanding), The Von Bondies, and Iggy Pop were my only regrets but they conflicted with other bands and I don’t have teleportation powers unfortunately.

Now… going to be driving down to San Diego today to see The White Stripes and Whirlwind Heat tonight. Then Laura goes home tomorrow. And then the midnight showing of X-Men 2 (it’s all about Bobby Drake!) at the Chinese. Then seeing it again on Friday night. Finally… Saturday, I actually get to sleep.

One last comment I need to make… Clay, you can build me up buttercup anytime.

So Blur isn’t doing the Coachella Festival. Oh well. I’m sad but have gotten over it.

Blur is coming to California!! Tickets go on sale Saturday for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. I don’t care all that much for any of the other acts except Weezer and Jane’s Addiction. I’m definitely going to try and go.