DIGITAL JOURNALIST
Massive art pieces have always been a defining part of the Coachella experience, even if it’s just to use the shade produced by the hulking structures.
One of my favorites below:
For folks attending the festival in the days to come, know it’s a long, arduous journey — and that’s just the walk from the parking lot!
If you turn out to be as lucky as I was and park in Lot 5, count on passing by a mobile home park off Monroe (with two wary-looking security guards standing outside), turn left and walk down a looong backstage area (far from the real backstage antics), then traverse a vast parking lot (see below):
After traversing the parking lot, a temptation in the form of massages offered for $1 for every one minute may attempt to distract you from your course.
You’re almost there … well, not really. Continue along a corridor of chain-link fences. Take a break to smell the horses. Stables line the walkway.
Also, watch out for the fountain of muddy road water that may splash you as cars drive by.
Once you see the open clearing of grass, you’re there. Enjoy the show … and hopefully you remember how to get home at the end of the night.
Dan Deacon does a surprise workout with the crowd.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
The lines to get checked by security before entering are divided by sex, meaning most groups of people attending Coachella together get split up before reuniting on the other side of the security officers.
This proved troubling to a young woman who clung to her boyfriend and didn’t want to leave him behind when the girls’ line moved faster than the boys’ line.
Rock the Bells favorite Murs is playing Coachella on Sunday but he was out in the field heading towards the tents on Friday.
He also wore a bandana over his face. That didn’t really keep him from being recognized by some fans, because you could still see his wild hair and identify him.
Maybe he should have opted for a hat.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has kicked off and Bay Area band Rogue Wave is the first act playng the main stage.
Rogue Wave has just kicked off their set on the Coachella Stage, ringing in what is sure to be a host of great performances for 2008.
The bands haven’t started yet but the festival is already getting positive feedback with a modified layout.
The ticket area and gates have been pushed closer to the road and there’s an open area leading to the field, with lockers and the home of environmental group Global Inheritance’s Energy Factory–where you can charge your BlackBerry by riding a bike. I have a feeling I’ll be hitting that up later today.
Anyway, there are a ton of lockers this year by the entrance, and the line to rent one was already growing long.
“There’s a four-hour stretch in the Sahara where I don’t want to be hindered,” said Chase Harrison of Portland, Ore, as he finished putting stuff in his locker.
He’s excited to check out Diplo, Pendulum, M.I.A., Santogold and Aesop Rock.
The gates have opened and people are starting to file into the Empire Polo Field.
Just a note that on the way here, just near the exit for Rancho Mirage off the 10, I spotted a billboard promoting the Raconteurs’ new album.
Are there really that many Raconteurs fans in the Coachella Valley or was that billboard just put up for the benefit of the Coachella crowd?
Come enjoy fun in the sun at the 2008 Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio