Review: Coachella '09

Braving the elements, the first act of Saturday was Liars on the Outdoor Theatre. Positively smashing out their edgy tunes, they excel and even detract away from the blistering elements. George Harrison’s son Dhani fails to impress with his band Thenewno2 at Mojave, while Michael Shanti & Spearhead on the Coachella Stage were just plain awful. Solace of sorts was found in the backstage area where Agyness Deyn, Remi Nicole, Nick Grimshaw, Daisy Lowe and co. made it seem like Shoreditch twats on tour rather than a festival in the sun. As always with Coachella, an epiphany or two is never far away. On day two it came courtesy of TV on the Radio, who positively shone at sunset – ‘Golden Age’ lived up to its name for one. Then an extremely nervy Fleet Foxes proved they really have nothing to be nervous about with a stunning lesson in vocal harmonies on the Outdoor Theatre.

After topping up on a few exorbitantly priced half-pint beers alongside pissed-up Beverly Hills rich kids’ in the VIP area, it was time for some M.I.A. Coming back with more than just power, power after child birth, Coachella’s heroin triumphed in every possible sense. Theatrical, energetic and bombarding us with killer tune after killer tune, Ms Arulpragasam peaked with a stage invasion and a then a weekend-defining ‘Paper Planes’. Realising The Killers couldn’t match such a dizzy zenith even if they re-wrote their irksome material, the beguiling of sounds of Gang Gang Dance proved a fitting alternative to end Saturday night. Quite why the Gobi tent was only quarter full is beyond me.

Slightly weary from the persistent heat, Sunday was to be a day of shade. Thank fuck all the best bands were inside anyway. An astonishingly awesome Friendly Fires inspired a rave-up in Gobi, Sebastien Tellier saved an otherwise tired set with a gorgeous ‘La Ritournelle’, while M.A.N.D.Y twisted some tired heads with a lesson in trippy electro in Sahara. Such highs continued later courtesy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who, armed with material from the stunning ‘It’s Blitz!’ managed to excel their already lofty standards. Only the aforementioned strangely sedated atmosphere detracted away from the moment. My Bloody Valentine clearly didn’t let this bother them as they blitzed Coachella with walls and walls of white noise, leaving some of the passing music fans bewildered.

Having seen The Cure a handful of times already in the past year, my worthy festival climax came courtesy of Etienne De Cracy at Sahara. Complete with his innovative cube lighting (very much a ketamine trip gone wrong) and wonky electro, the Frenchman provided a suitably trippy ending to an otherwise straight-edged event. Coachella, then – an impeccable line-up and glorious setting, it’s a festival that has to be experienced. Just don’t get your hopes up for a weekend of debauchery.