COACHELLA: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE IN THE DESERT.Byline: Stories by George A. Paul Staff Writer The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is a three-day (formerly a one or two-day) annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. is a journey in search of sounds both new and familiar. Once you've spent a weekend at the gorgeous Empire Polo Field, you come away with an unforgettable entertainment experience unlike anything else in America (some would say the world). For the eighth edition, organizers raised their own incredibly high reunion stakes (prior fests have included Jane's Addiction Jane's Addiction was an American rock band featuring Perry Farrell (vocalist), Dave Navarro (guitarist), Eric Avery (bassist), and Stephen Perkins (percussionist). The band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s and dissolved in 1991. , Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iggy & The Stooges, The Pixies pixies prank-playing fairies; mislead travelers. [Br. Folklore: Briggs, 328–330] See : Mischievousness , Gang of Four and Bauhaus reformations) by landing the first live appearance from Rage Against the Machine since 2000. Initially announced as a "one off" gig (Rage has since been booked at Rock the Bells Rock The Bells is an annual hip hop festival that took place in California, until just recently when it was announced that the festival travel to multiple locations. in San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. this summer), the presence of the politically charged Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. rockers definitely elevated the usual Coachella excitement level. The event, newly expanded to a third day, sold out two months early for the first time. That was definitely a surprise, considering a three-day pass is $252 plus surcharges. Add lodging and food expenses and the price tag is quite hefty. Attendance is capped at 60,000 people per day, in line with last year's record attendance. Goldenvoice, the L.A.-based promoter that puts on Coachella, reportedly made 50,000 of the passes and 10,000 single-day tickets available for the Sunday when Rage plays. The company quietly released a limited number of weekend passes a few weeks ago, mostly to accommodate Inland Empire and other Southern California residents who might have been caught off guard by the rapid sellout. During the early years of Coachella, attendees primarily came from surrounding Western states. It has since gained such an esteemed reputation that purchasers hail from nearly every state in America with a good chunk from other countries. Overall, 7,500 weekend tickets went to fans in Southern California, while another 4,500 were purchased by people living in Northern California. Out-of-state sales totals included 1,500 tickets in Texas and New York's 1,300. A stronger lineup than last year stoked stoked adj. Slang 1. Exhilarated or excited. 2. Being or feeling high or intoxicated, especially from a drug. more interest in Coachella 2007, including returning headliners Rage Against the Machine (1999), Bjork (2002) on Friday and Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. For most of its career, the group has consisted of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Chad Smith. (2003) on Saturday. The latter band is currently among the top 20 hottest touring acts, according to concert industry trade publication Pollstar. CONCERT PREVIEW COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL 2007 Where: Empire Polo Field, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio When: Friday-Sunday Cost: Single tickets $86 Friday only (Saturday and Sunday sold out). Weekend passes $252 (sold out; try ticket brokers, www.ticketmaster.com, www.coachella.com). Information and daily lineups: www.coachella.com SIX PICKS FOR COACHELLA AMY A`my´ n. 1. A friend. WINEHOUSE (Friday) Reminiscent of classic R&B and girl group pop (think Etta James, The Supremes, plus a dash of Lauren Hill), Winehouse is a breath of fresh air. The young vocalist's 2003 bow, "Frank," garnered several awards in her native Britain. Now, the party hearty gal has won converts in America with second effort "Back to Black" (Universal). It debuted in the top 10 here and contains a deft Ashford & Simpson sample. DAVID GUETTA (Friday) French DJ Guetta is a popular Ibiza nightclub fave fave Informal n. One that is preferred above others or likely to win; a favorite. adj. Favorite. [Short for favorite.] and dance-floor sensation across Europe. Since the early '00s, he has produced soulful, funky house music jams and remixed David David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. Bowie, OMD OMD Doctor of Oriental Medicine. OMD, n.pr Doctor of Oriental Medicine. OMD 1. Oculomuscular dystrophy 2. Organic mental disorder and Deep Dish tracks. Guetta's enticing sophomore disc "Guetta Blaster" (Ultra/Perfecto) features Stereo MCs, a mashup with The Egg and remix by Paul Oakenfold. Upbeat dance hit "The World Is Mine" spotlights vocalist JD Davis. JARVIS COCKER (Friday) As the leader of Pulp, Cocker helped lead the mid-'90s Britpop invasion via distinctly English hits like "Common People," "Disco 2000" and "Do You Remember the First Time?" After the group's dissolution, he penned tunes for Marianne Faithfull, Air and the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" soundtrack. "Jarvis" (World's Fair) is Cocker's excellent solo debut CD, and Coachella is part of his first U.S. solo tour. THE FRATELLIS (Saturday) You might recognize the Scottish alt-rock trio (all of whom use the last name Fratelli) from the stomping tune "Flathead," which was used in an Apple iTunes commercial. Some T-Rex/Jet guitar crunch, jittery Arctic Monkeys rhythms and fun Supergrass-styled attitude are all woven into their initial offering "Costello Music" (Interscope). THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN (Saturday) Unfortunate name, but a stellar lineup for this new collaboration between Blur/Gorillaz main man Damon Albarn, ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen. The atmospheric rock tunes on their eponymous Virgin debut, colored by Albarn's lyrical observations about London, were produced by Danger Mouse. MANDO DIAO (Sunday) These Swedish garage rockers took their moniker (1) A name, title or alias. See alias. (2) A COM object that is used to create instances of other objects. Monikers save programmers time when coding various types of COM-based functions such as linking one document to another (OLE). See COM and OLE. and current album title "Ode to Ochrasy" (Mute) from band members' dreams. Singer/guitarists Bjorn Dixgard and Gustaf Noren have a memorable harmonic rapport on vibrant new tunes "The Wildfire" and "Welcome Home, Luc Robitaille." The group's songs also have been heard in a few EA Sports video games. YOUR GUIDE TO REUNION BANDS More than 100 acts are scheduled to perform at two outdoor stages and three tents at Coachella. Here is a quick guide to help navigate the bill. JESUS AND MARY CHAIN (Friday) Who's still around: Jim Reid (vocals), William Reid (guitar) Sounds like: brooding, feedback-driven alt-rock Major songs: "Blues From a Gun," "Head On," "Sometimes Always," "Far Gone and Out" Key album: "Psychocandy" (1985) The lowdown low·down n. Slang The whole truth: gave us the lowdown on what happened at the party. lowdown low (inf) n he gave me the lowdown on it → : The highly influential Scottish band was known for its standoffish stand·off·ish adj. Aloof or reserved. stand·off  ish·ness n. live shows and music that paid homage to the Velvet
Underground.
Last gig: 1998 CROWDED HOUSE (Sunday) Who's still around: Neil Finn (vocals/guitar), Nick Seymour (bass), Mark Hart (keyboards/guitars/backing vocals) Sounds like: sophisticated alt-pop Major songs: "Don't Dream It's Over," "Something So Strong," "Better Be Home Soon," "Chocolate Cake" Key album: "Crowded House" (1986) The lowdown: A sensation back home in New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. and Australia as well as the U.K., Crowded House garnered significant radio airplay air·play n. The broadcasting of an audio or audiovisual recording on the air over radio or television. airplay Noun the broadcast performances of a record on radio and maintained a large following in the States. Finn recently turned a prospective solo CD into a Crowded House release; it's due later this year. Last gig: 1996 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE (Sunday) Who's still around: Zack de la Rocha (vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Brad Wilk (drums), Tim Commerford (bass) Sounds like: an abrasive fusion of rock, metal and rap, fused with left-wing political overtones Major songs: "Bullet in the Head," "Freedom," "Killing in the Name," "Bulls on Parade" Key album: "Rage Against the Machine" (1992) The lowdown: One of the most aggressive bands to emerge in the 1990s. Rage's debut album went multiplatinum, while the follow-up debuted at No. 1. They quickly became a KROQ-FM (106.7) staple and have remained one ever since. Following the breakup, everyone (minus de la Rocha) regrouped in Audioslave with Chris Cornell. Morello simultaneously launched folk-based solo project The Nightwatchman Nightwatchman can refer to one of the following:
Last gig: 2000 (Grand Olympic Auditorium The Grand Olympic Auditorium is a sports venue in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located at 1801 S. Grand Avenue, the venue was built in 1924 specifically for the 1932 Summer Olympic Games, which saw the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events held there. , L.A.) HAPPY MONDAYS (Sunday) Sounds like: trippy, dance-rock Who's still around: Shaun Ryder (vocals), Mark "Bez" Berry (percussion/dancing), Gaz Whelan (drums) Major songs: "Stinkin' Thinkin'," "Step On," "Kinky kink·y adj. kink·i·er, kink·i·est 1. Tightly twisted or curled: kinky hair. 2. Afro," "Bob's Yer Uncle" Key album: "Pills 'n' Thrills & Bellyaches" (1990) The lowdown: Helped spearhead the drug-fueled Manchester, U.K., music movement in the late '80s/early '90s and was portrayed in the 2002 film "24 Hour Party People," starring Steve Coogan. Last U.S. gig: 1991 A MUSICAL FEAST AND THEN SOME Alternative rock bands tend to get all the attention, but other music genres are well-represented at Coachella. If you want to get your groove on or just chill out, direct your attention to the following: ELECTRONICA DJ Shadow (Friday) Faithless (Friday) Felix da Housecat Felix da Housecat (born Felix Stallings in Chicago, Illinois) is a House music DJ and record producer. Felix is regarded as a member of the second wave of Chicago house. (Friday) David Guetta (Friday) DJ Heather (Saturday) Gotan Project (Saturday) LCD Soundsystem (Saturday) Tiesto (Saturday) Air (Sunday) Richie Hawtin (Sunday) Infected Mushroom (Sunday) Paul van Dyk This article is about the DJ. For the American historian, see Paul Van Dyke. Paul van Dyk (born Matthias Paul; November 16, 1971 (Sunday) Soulwax Night Versions (Sunday) RAP/HIP-HOP/REGGAE Busdriver (Friday) EL-P (Friday) Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong (Friday) Ghostface Killah (Saturday) Pharoahe Monch (Saturday) The Roots (Sunday) BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY Nickel Creek (Friday) Willie Nelson (Sunday) OUTSIDE THE MUSIC REALM The popular Tesla Coil will return to Coachella, with more than three dozen art installations. Stand-up stand·up or stand-up adj. 1. Standing erect; upright: a standup collar. 2. Taken, done, or used while standing: a standup supper; a standup bar. performers Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Mirman, Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn -- as seen on their Comedy Central TV show (Friday). SURVIVAL TIPS Indio is usually hot this time of year. The current weather forecast calls for highs near 95 degrees daily and lows around 70 degrees. With that in mind, here are some ways to survive Coachella: Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous . Bring plenty of sunblock sunblock Public health An opaque substance, usually formulated from zinc or titanium oxides, designed to completely prevent solar radiation from reaching the skin. See SPF rating. Cf Sunscreen. (SPF (1) (Stateful Packet Firewall) See stateful inspection. (2) (Sender Policy Framework) An e-mail authentication system that verifies that the message came from an authorized mail server. 15 or higher); remember to reapply Re`ap`ply´ v. t. & i. 1. To apply again. reapply vi → volver a presentarse, hacer or presentar una nueva solicitud it. Bring lip balm balm, name for any balsam resin and for several plants, e.g., the bee balm. balm Any of several fragrant herbs of the mint family, particularly Melissa officinalis (balm gentle, or lemon balm), cultivated in temperate climates for its fragrant . Bring wet-wipes. Wear comfortable shoes (not flip-flops). Wear light, loose-fitting clothing; bring a sweat shirt for nighttime. Wear a hat or bandana and sunglasses. Arrive early. Be prepared for traffic. ATMs will be on site, but it's best to have a reasonable amount of cash on hand. Who wants to wait in a long line and miss the cool bands? Print out a copy of the schedule, and study it before you leave home. To avoid being pelted with foreign objects, stay off your partner's shoulders. THE BASICS Festival is noon to midnight daily. Parking is free; the lots open at 9 a.m. Gates open 11 a.m. Proof of a ticket is needed to enter the parking lot. Only backpacks up to 20 inches tall, 15 inches wide and 9 inches thick are allowed -- they need to fit in an airport-type box. Bottled water is still $2 (unchanged since 1999). Those with medical conditions should identify themselves to security personnel at the venue entrance; a person will be summoned to help store medications in a predetermined pre·de·ter·mine v. pre·de·ter·mined, pre·de·ter·min·ing, pre·de·ter·mines v.tr. 1. To determine, decide, or establish in advance: area. To cut down on litter, patrons can collect 10 empty water bottles inside the grounds and redeem them for one free bottle of water at two locations. DIRECTIONS From Los Angeles Interstate 10 East toward Palm Springs; pass Highway 111; exit I-10 at Jefferson Street or continue and exit at Monroe Street; traffic personnel will direct drivers to the site and parking area. CAPTION(S): 11 photos, 6 boxes Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) COACHELLA MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL PREVIEW (2 -- color) Bjork (3 -- color) Red Hot Chili Peppers (4 -- color) Rage Against the Machine (5 -- color) Amy Winehouse (6 -- color) The Good, The Bad and The Queen (7 -- color) Mando Diao (8 -- color) Crowded House (9 -- color) Happy Mondays (10 -- color) no caption (water bottle) (11 -- color) no caption (sunglasses) Box: (1) SIX PICKS FOR COACHELLA (see text) (2) YOUR GUIDE TO REUNION BANDS (see text) (3) A MUSICAL FEAST AND THEN SOME (see text) (4) SURVIVAL TIPS (see text) (5) THE BASICS (see text) (6) DIRECTIONS (see text) |
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