Category Archives: Music

As the third day of Coachella kicks off, there’s one thing everyone might be wondering: What is Sean Penn doing here?

Penn was added as a “performer” to Sunday’s lineup on Tuesday, though no explanation was given for his plans. It’ll probably be something political.

My friend and colleague Kim Pierceall found out it might have to do with his sponsored movement dubbed the “Dirty Hands Caravan.” On their Web site (Dirtyhandscaravan.com) the movement explains that a string of biodiesel buses will carry 300 people across the country, performing charitable community service acts until the final destination of New Orleans on May 4 for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

The Academy Award-winning actor is slated for a 30-minute set on the Gobi Stage at 2:10 p.m. and again on the main stage for 15 minutes at 6:45 p.m. It should be interesting, especially if someone insults Jude Law.

John Asbury
jasbury@PE.com

Here I am, back for day three at Coachella and I’ve already had today’s first celeb sighting — Elijah Wood, known for his work as a ring guardian named Frodo in “The Lord of the Rings,” and for going head-to-head against Macaulay Culkin in “The Good Son,” was just hanging out near the press tent.

He looked stylish — western style shirt with skinny jeans and a messenger bag. He looks like a Coachella fan, but the jeans? It’s gonna be hot today, Frodo. At least you left your cloak at home.

By the way, he is TINY, like, he’s so wee you could pick him up and put him in your pocket.

So Prince has been onstage for about an hour now.

Prince came on stage in a flowing white tunic, adorned with sequined trim, leading the Coachella congregation in a sermon of funk.

They brought people from the audience onstage to dance, the band members singing “Hallelujahs” and Prince playing guitar and hiding behing speakers and just being coy.

The first 20 minutes was a reunion of sorts, with Morris Day and the Time around to do “Jungle Love” and Sheila E. to do “Glamourous Life.”

Finally, he launched into 1999, getting the crowd (which had slightly thinned during the 1980s reunion) pumping and jumping.

He also played “Little Red Corvette,” at a slower pace and implored the crowd to sing along with the line leading into the chorus, “It’s Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right.”

But many of the songs seemed drawn out, with Prince and his band doing weird, meandering covers, such as Sarah MacLachlan’s “Angel” and the Beatles’ “Come Together.”

I think Prince was really trying to relate to the Coachella crowd, though. He played Radiohead’s “Creep” and I half-expected Thom Yorke to show up.

He didn’t.

It’s 1994, I think I just heard “Sour Times” and I’m not in my friend’s basement in Severna Park, MD.

Nope, it’s another Coachella reunion and Portishead’s only performance in the U.S. this year.

Oh, and it’s 2008.

Fellow blogger Kim Pierceall misses Kraftwerk’s beeping and booping computers. I miss the German lessons.

However, I am enjoying being the envy of all my college friends who listened to “Dummy” like it was going out of style. By the way, when I was in college, it was out of style.

Kraftwerk is currently on stage, playing their most well-known hit, “Trans-Europe Express.”

But the group also provided a public education service. During one of its songs, the band counted to 8 in German and English!

And the trippy backgrounds make it feel like the pinball number game on “Sesame Street.”

Every single Coachella story says, “Bring sunscreen.”

It is implied that since you’re in the middle of a field with little shade in a desert in the spring-to-summer season, you might get a little crispy.

But by about midday Saturday, you could tell who hadn’t heeded the warning.

Everywhere you look, you can see people wearing their sun-scorched skin like some pink badge of courage.

I get it, I guess: You wanna go back to work with a burn so you can talk all about how bad your back hurts, but it was the Greatest Coachella Ever.

But, dude, take pictures!

Death Cab For Cutie is on the main stage and the band is hitting some of my favorites on their setlist, including the LA-dissing “Why’d You Want To Live Here,” “The New Year,” and new single “I Will Possess Your Heart,” off the band’s upcoming album “Narrow Stairs.”

They closed their set with “The Sound of Settling,” probably my favorite song, but they did not do the handclaps. It’s ok, I did them from the audience.

Lead singer Ben Gibbard asked the crowd if they were excited for Prince and when they responded with a loud cheer he said, “Me too.”

“He’ll be landing in his purple helicopter soon,” he mused. He said Prince would then climb into a purple limo to drive him 100 feet to walk down a purple carpet to the stage.

Oh, and during the set, someone in the band said, “Hello Bonnaroo.”

And by the way, it’s 7:17 p.m. and David Hasselhoff just walked by me and fellow blogger Kim Pierceall again.

7:06 p.m., in front of the main stage while Death Cab For Cutie played, a beleaguered-looking David Hasselhoff walked by wearing a backwards blue visor advertising the movie “Click” and a gray tank top.

I didn’t ask him if he ate a cheeseburger today. I didn’t want to hassle the Hoff.

Kimberly Pierceall/ The Press-Enterprise

The Hoff, second from the left and surrounded by ladies, walks by during Death Cab for Cutie’s set. Nobody hassled the Hoff.

See Saturday’s early acts at Coachella.

Slideshow: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival – Day 2

Last night, when I went to see Fatboy Slim, the tent was at capacity. I couldn’t even ease my way in using my patented tactic of slipping my foot into a space, then pretending, “Where’s my foot gone? How did it get over there? I should catch up,” and moving closer to the stage a foot at a time (pun intended).

I thought it was loaded simply because it was Fatboy Slim.

Even my mom has heard of Fatboy Slim. (Though, to be honest, she’s also a Vampire Weekend and Kate Nash fan.)

But I came to the Sahara again to catch Hot Chip and the tent is full AGAIN. Wall to wall people. Fans have congregated in groups of 4, 7 and 20 in the massive area outside the tent, as their plans to dance inside the tent have been foiled.

What is it that makes the Sahara tent such a must?

Maybe it’s time for a bigger Sahara tent, or to move some of the artists to the bigger stages? What do you think?

Could Junkie XL play the Coachella Stage?