| june - july 2007 Issue 12 |
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EVENT
Coachella 2007: Music over Laundry
by Jeff Cruz
Two years ago my good friend Chris asked me to join him in what was to be one of the best trips I had ever taken. It
was a road trip down to Indio, California where over seventy bands were to perform on five stages over the course of
only two days. I had contemplated if I could afford such a trip because I was saving for a washer and dryer. Chris then
said something that I will never forget. “Jeff, thirty years from now you won’t remember the washer and dryer you
bought. Thirty years from now you’ll be remembering what you were doing at Coachella.” Chris was right. After my
first taste of Coachella in 2005 I have been hooked and have been going every year since.
2007 was a record breaking year for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. In addition to new attendance
records, this year saw the festival expand to three days for the first time, as well as the first performance by a DJ on the
main outdoor stage. The heat was definitely record breaking with temperatures over 100 F (38 C) each day.
The main format of Coachella is to have as much variety as possible with the big names headlining toward the end of
the evening. The Friday headliner was Bjork, on Saturday the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and of course the wildly
anticipated Rage Against the Machine on Sunday.
Entering the gates of Coachella for the first time feels like a religious experience. From the sounds of blazing music
across the fields you realize that all the great musicians who make you feel good back home on your iPod are here in
one event to listen to and possibly even worship in person. Variety is the best part of Coachella as each of the five
stages and two dome areas house specific genres.
On Friday I exposed myself to the music of the Sahara Tent where the electronica acts are shown. My day started with
Digitalism, a German electro duo consisting of Jens Moelle and Ismail Tuefekci that have remixed tracks for the likes
of Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Klaxons, Cut Copy, and many others. Felix Da Housecat continued my Sahara Tent
experience with great Chicago House tunes. The crowd went wild when he ended his set with Tainted Love by Soft
Cell. Benny Benassi ended my Sahara tent night and left me with SATISFACTION (no pun intended) before I was
pulled away to DJ Shadow playing in the Outdoor Theatre.
Saturday allowed me to experience the Mojave Tent with the likes of Hot Chip and Peter Bjorn & John.
Coachella 2007: Music over Laundry
by Jeff Cruz
Two years ago my good friend Chris asked me to join him in what was to be one of the best trips I had ever taken. It
was a road trip down to Indio, California where over seventy bands were to perform on five stages over the course of
only two days. I had contemplated if I could afford such a trip because I was saving for a washer and dryer. Chris then
said something that I will never forget. “Jeff, thirty years from now you won’t remember the washer and dryer you
bought. Thirty years from now you’ll be remembering what you were doing at Coachella.” Chris was right. After my
first taste of Coachella in 2005 I have been hooked and have been going every year since.
2007 was a record breaking year for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. In addition to new attendance
records, this year saw the festival expand to three days for the first time, as well as the first performance by a DJ on the
main outdoor stage. The heat was definitely record breaking with temperatures over 100 F (38 C) each day.
The main format of Coachella is to have as much variety as possible with the big names headlining toward the end of
the evening. The Friday headliner was Bjork, on Saturday the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and of course the wildly
anticipated Rage Against the Machine on Sunday.
Entering the gates of Coachella for the first time feels like a religious experience. From the sounds of blazing music
across the fields you realize that all the great musicians who make you feel good back home on your iPod are here in
one event to listen to and possibly even worship in person. Variety is the best part of Coachella as each of the five
stages and two dome areas house specific genres.
On Friday I exposed myself to the music of the Sahara Tent where the electronica acts are shown. My day started with
Digitalism, a German electro duo consisting of Jens Moelle and Ismail Tuefekci that have remixed tracks for the likes
of Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Klaxons, Cut Copy, and many others. Felix Da Housecat continued my Sahara Tent
experience with great Chicago House tunes. The crowd went wild when he ended his set with Tainted Love by Soft
Cell. Benny Benassi ended my Sahara tent night and left me with SATISFACTION (no pun intended) before I was
pulled away to DJ Shadow playing in the Outdoor Theatre.
Saturday allowed me to experience the Mojave Tent with the likes of Hot Chip and Peter Bjorn & John.
| Hot Chip rocked the tent with their singles “And I Was A Boy From School” and “Over And Over”. |
After Chris’ raving about MSTRKRFT I had to go see what the hype was about, so it was back to the Sahara tent for
me. Before MSTRKRFT came on I got to see the tail end DJ Heather’s set. The Sahara Tent was hot, hot, hot. Much
to my delight I found out that MSTRKRFT hail from East York, Ontario. Their style of electronic is difficult to describe in
one word. It is a combination of electro pop with a techno base, and a twist of dirty. Needless to say they rocked the
house during their 1.5 hour set.
me. Before MSTRKRFT came on I got to see the tail end DJ Heather’s set. The Sahara Tent was hot, hot, hot. Much
to my delight I found out that MSTRKRFT hail from East York, Ontario. Their style of electronic is difficult to describe in
one word. It is a combination of electro pop with a techno base, and a twist of dirty. Needless to say they rocked the
house during their 1.5 hour set.
| MSTRKRFT by far was my favourite act of the whole weekend. |
Girl Talk was next on my hit list of artists I wanted to see. Girl Talk is the stage name for Gregg Gillis. His specialty is
to mix samples where he cuts up at least a dozen different songs to create one new song. This appealed to me but
his live performance was an utter disappointment. First, he had no headphones to cue up the next song which led me
to believe it was all a show. Second, he had volunteer teeny-bopper barstars dance on the stage in front of him
virtually eliminating any view you had of him. Girl Talk is best left to listening on your iPod.
One great discovery was Mike Relm. Classified as a Turntablist DJ/VJ, he had won the International Turntablist
Federation’s USA competition in 1999. Using his Pioneer DVJ1000 he is able to scratch and mix tracks along with
DVD images on screen. The performance was surreal and at times it left me wondering if he was actually human.
to mix samples where he cuts up at least a dozen different songs to create one new song. This appealed to me but
his live performance was an utter disappointment. First, he had no headphones to cue up the next song which led me
to believe it was all a show. Second, he had volunteer teeny-bopper barstars dance on the stage in front of him
virtually eliminating any view you had of him. Girl Talk is best left to listening on your iPod.
One great discovery was Mike Relm. Classified as a Turntablist DJ/VJ, he had won the International Turntablist
Federation’s USA competition in 1999. Using his Pioneer DVJ1000 he is able to scratch and mix tracks along with
DVD images on screen. The performance was surreal and at times it left me wondering if he was actually human.
| Mike Relm is a pioneer when it comes to audio/visual DJ’ing. |
The night was still not over as after I moseyed over to the Coachella Stage to listen to a bit of the Red Hot Chili
Peppers. Not being a true fan of the Chili Peppers, I cannot comment on their performance but I have heard that they
were a disappointment since all of their songs were California this, California that. Also what made me raise an
eyebrow was the fact they played into DJ Tiesto’s timeslot by 30 min. They broke the cardinal rule of music festivals:
Do not play over your timeslot! I don’t care who you are or how big of a fan base you have, festivals run on strict
timelines and they were cutting into my Trance time. Finally, 1 hour late, DJ Tiesto came on stage. He was on stage
with his signature stage setup with LCD monitors surrounding him like clouds suspending an angel in the sky. I think
it was party due to the lateness of his start, the venue setup and his unwillingness to stray from his regular
progressive trance style. Tiesto is Tiesto; no doubt he was great, but not amazing. The Coachella Outdoor Stage was
not the best venue for trance music. The low end of the music had no walls to bounce off of so the sound left you
wondering if you were actually listening to a trance DJ or a rock group.
Peppers. Not being a true fan of the Chili Peppers, I cannot comment on their performance but I have heard that they
were a disappointment since all of their songs were California this, California that. Also what made me raise an
eyebrow was the fact they played into DJ Tiesto’s timeslot by 30 min. They broke the cardinal rule of music festivals:
Do not play over your timeslot! I don’t care who you are or how big of a fan base you have, festivals run on strict
timelines and they were cutting into my Trance time. Finally, 1 hour late, DJ Tiesto came on stage. He was on stage
with his signature stage setup with LCD monitors surrounding him like clouds suspending an angel in the sky. I think
it was party due to the lateness of his start, the venue setup and his unwillingness to stray from his regular
progressive trance style. Tiesto is Tiesto; no doubt he was great, but not amazing. The Coachella Outdoor Stage was
not the best venue for trance music. The low end of the music had no walls to bounce off of so the sound left you
wondering if you were actually listening to a trance DJ or a rock group.
| Tiesto’s performance was disappointing. |
Sunday was a saving grace to fill my trance addiction. Paul Van Dyk in the Sahara Tent was not just great, he was
AMAZING.
AMAZING.
| Paul Van Dyk in the Sahara Tent. |
Lily Allen in the Mojave Tent proved with her great vocal talent that she is more than a teen pop star. She definitely
added at least this fan to her list that day. Although I didn’t get a chance to see Willie Nelson, I listened to his music in
the beer gardens beside the stage. I am officially convinced that the best way to listen to Willie Nelson is with a cold
one in hand. The night ended with me checking out Infected Mushroom, another disappointment. They left me with
utter astonishment at how badly electronica and heavy metal go together. I left their performance glad that I had
brought ear plugs to the concert. Although the high energy from their previous work remains, it pales to the
overbearing sound of electric guitar and drums. Half the time I couldn’t even hear what Duvdev was saying but I knew
he was screaming into the mic.
added at least this fan to her list that day. Although I didn’t get a chance to see Willie Nelson, I listened to his music in
the beer gardens beside the stage. I am officially convinced that the best way to listen to Willie Nelson is with a cold
one in hand. The night ended with me checking out Infected Mushroom, another disappointment. They left me with
utter astonishment at how badly electronica and heavy metal go together. I left their performance glad that I had
brought ear plugs to the concert. Although the high energy from their previous work remains, it pales to the
overbearing sound of electric guitar and drums. Half the time I couldn’t even hear what Duvdev was saying but I knew
he was screaming into the mic.
| Infected Mushroom performed most of their new material which I find to be too rock and industrial. |
Coachella is a smorgasbord of musical and artistic talent. Carrying their own weight alongside the musical
heavyweights were the many sculptures and exhibits adorned throughout the grounds. Many were interactive as in the
cell phone charging station, where you would pedal a stationary bicycle hooked up to a battery charger for your phone.
Others left you in awe like the 40 ft. tall three legged creature titled I.T. which shot laser beams into the crowd below.
heavyweights were the many sculptures and exhibits adorned throughout the grounds. Many were interactive as in the
cell phone charging station, where you would pedal a stationary bicycle hooked up to a battery charger for your phone.
Others left you in awe like the 40 ft. tall three legged creature titled I.T. which shot laser beams into the crowd below.
| 40 ft. tall three legged creature titled I.T. |
And then there were the pretty visuals that left you wondering, like the Field of Sunflower Robots by Stefano Corazza.
The sunflowers charged themselves by day with solar panels then illuminated automatically at night.
The sunflowers charged themselves by day with solar panels then illuminated automatically at night.
| Field of Sunflower Robots by Stefano Corazza. |
Now that Coachella 2007 is over I can’t help but think warmly about the memories, friends, and new experiences
discovered over the 3 day event. After going three years in a row I might take a break in 2008, but I definitely
recommend Coachella to everyone who loves a variety of great music and performance, and hot weather, and
beautiful people.
More photos:
The Dome
Cell phone charging station
Sahara Tent in full party mode for Paul Van Dyk
A packed night for the the Sahara Tent
The Gobi Tent
Jeff Cruz is a traveler on the road of life. Jeff lives in Calgary, Alberta.
discovered over the 3 day event. After going three years in a row I might take a break in 2008, but I definitely
recommend Coachella to everyone who loves a variety of great music and performance, and hot weather, and
beautiful people.
More photos:
The Dome
Cell phone charging station
Sahara Tent in full party mode for Paul Van Dyk
A packed night for the the Sahara Tent
The Gobi Tent
Jeff Cruz is a traveler on the road of life. Jeff lives in Calgary, Alberta.