Music in the Desert - This was Coachella 2009
written by alexandrak
on May 13th, 2009
, 7 comments
(6 votes)
Lomography USA’s Boutique Sales Manager, Jeff Moore and Travis Williams (of the Lomography Gallery Store NYC) took a trip to the desert to witness one of the US’s favorite methods of dehydration, the Coachella Music Festival! Here’s Jeff’s report and their awesome LC-A+ and Diana F+ with 35mm back galleries.
Coachella 2009 was amazing. Flat out amazing. The sun sizzled. People gathered in uncountable numbers. The performances blew minds. Art installations covered the grounds, often interactive and always imaginative.
Mike Patton & Rahzel performed on stage while Paul McCartney strummed a few stages away. Mike egged on the crowd, taunting them for watching him over Sir Paul. Just then, the two vocal acrobats fall right into a cover of “Say Say Say” by Paul and Michael Jackson. After a roller coaster of beats, effects, and samples, Mike and Rahzel scanned the Palm Desert radio waves, free styling over everything that came over the radio, from Whitney Houston to car commercials.
Lykke Li’s set was simple but beautiful. Whether hitting high notes through megaphones or serenading softly in the afternoon sun, the girl owns the stage. Lykke Li and her band were a surprising highlight for the weekend.
I’ve never been a fan of Amanda Palmer’s studio work before. But after that stage performance, I’m sold. Her live performance revealed a vocal range I hadn’t heard before. With songs about “googling” your exes or Guitar Hero, I was entertained and enthralled. For her final number, she crowd surfed across a couple thousand people, sat on somebody’s shoulders, and hosted a sing along cover of Radiohead’s Creep (on the ukulele!).
Leonard Cohen’s voice was absolutely beautiful. Dance worthy DJ AM with Travis Barker simply rocked it. Vibesquad delivered delicious down and dirty beats.
If you can make it out to Indio, California next April, just head towards the music (or follow the thousands of cars). If the sun is down, look for the lasers pointing towards space. Coachella is kind of like the musical pot of gold at the end of a laser rainbow. But remember, it’s the desert. It is 105 degrees. Don’t forget your sunblock!
Jeff was also joined by Travis, one of the Lomography Gallery Store NYC employees who took a Diana F+ with a 35mm back with him to the festival.
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