I can’t imagine working on a film for six-and-a-half years. Most festival films these days get plopped out every year. At least when you’re doing it that way you only have so many bands to choose from. I think there were 90 bands performing last year. So, assuming you caught each one over five years, you’re sifting through over 400 of ’em, yikes.
Thursday night at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, the Coachella Movie was finally unveiled to a very anxious audience. The past few weeks there has been tons of buzz about the potential lineup for 2006 and the movie premier. So much so that the first night sold out far in advance and they had to add another screening. Coachella has become a way or life, or a staple, for many Southern Californian’s. It’s rightfully considered one of the best music fest’s in the world and is unique because of the vast mix of musical styles and Goldenvoice‘s willingness to search for new music from all over the world.
Director Drew Thomas took the stage to applause from a grateful audience. He went through a long list of thanks and stressed the point that when this all started, they had no idea where it was going (keep that in mind kiddies, you don’t always need a plan). He mentioned that the first year they had two cameras and a stolen golf cart and last year they had a dozen cameras and had their golf cart stolen.
I got there a little late cuz Bessy wouldn’t leave first gear. Timothy and I ended up in the neck-break second row but I wasn’t complaining because we were also right in front of one of the speakers. As the curtain went up and the movie started, the first clip instantly brought everyone together. To get to Coachella you have to drive through the desert, and the windmills and giant dinosaur’s are landmarks that let you know you’re one step closer to to the polo grounds.
Spearhead kicked things off with the political anthem “We Don’t Stop”. It was an unusual choice but Michael Franti is one of the coolest people alive so in that manner, it was fitting. I’m not sure where to even go from there. There are over twenty performances in the movie and so many were unforgettable. Especially the one’s which brought flashbacks, like The Pixies, Arcade Fire, and Radiohead. “Emerge” by Fischerspooner showed how many artists take their opportunity at Coachella to do so much more than just play music. That set ended with either Fischer or Spooner in a sequins speedo and a bunch of confetti.
I guess i’m a sap cuz I got teary eyed during certain performances (Polyphonic Spree, Bjork, AF) that reminded me of why I do what I do. Live music creates feelings and emotions that can’t be found anywhere else. And you never really know when someone’s gonna blow your socks off. One of the best performances I’ve seen at Coachella occurred randomly as I was passing through a tent on the way to see Spiritualized the first year. PLEASE bring Cornelius back. And who actually ditched Coldplay last year to watch Fantomas. It had been a long day and that was the set that somehow convinced me I was still sane.
The interviews in the film tied in really well even if they were sometimes hard to hear. The verbal tennis between Noel Gallagher and Saul Williams over whether music, and more importantly musicians, should or should not try to change the world was hilarious. I vote for Saul cuz it gives me hope. Connor Oberst’s solo rendition of “Lua” was also a highlight that reminded me of seeing him on that same Orpheum stage last year. (review
here)
You could tell things were winding down quickly when Zero 7 appeared. Their sounds might be the ultimate late-night or come-down soundtrack. It allowed for everyone, or at least myself to get composed before hitting up the Z-Trip after party across the hall.
Due to still being frustrated over Bessy not making it and reminiscing about all the good times I’ve had at Coachella, it took me about a half hour before I made my way in. Z-Trip was killing it on the tables. He has an amazing way of blending the familar with the obscure to create tracks no one’s ever heard or imagined. After starting up some Metallica, he instantly dropped it, then called out the audience and said, “you’ve heard this before, here’s something you want”. He then ended up mixing Radiohead and LL Cool J together. I took to the dance floor for that one. When I went up to hand him a sticker and tell him that we had shots of him and Busdriver from last year at Coachella he handed me a couple of his CD’s and said thanks. What a perfect end to a great night. If you got 10K maybe he’ll even play your wedding?
We hung around til the end then kept chattin as we walked back to my car to get some ice cream. Damn, wouldn’t it have been awesome if they would have announced the line up for 2006 to the sold out audience?
Check out our Coachella Review from 2005.
