Nate Jackson and Nick Nuk’em
It’s impossible to survive Weekend 1 of Coachella without a few battle scars and pearls of wisdom (along with some social media clout of course). Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned vet, the culture of the Indio festival has a way of leaving its mark on us in different ways every year. Anyone who’s witnessed the effect that this festival has on humanity after three days in the sun knows there’s plenty of sights, sounds and behavior on display that become the “Only at Coachella” moments that define your festival experience. Here’s a few examples specific to last weekend and feel free to add more in the comments section.
-People repping their favorite TV show even when they’re missing the season premiere. Saw plenty of nods to Game of Thrones from those who might just be roaming the polo fields looking for WiFi for their HBO GO subscription. Long live House Targaryen! (Nate Jackson)
-“Seven Nation Army” being mashed up with Kendrick Lamar’s “m.a.a.d city”. Seven Nations, Bloods, and Crips getting a long is a team-up you can’t fuck with. (Nick Nuk’em)
-Buying a $9 lemonade that contains absolutely no alcohol or gold dust. (NJ)
-When the most fire moment of the night is the fact that people literally escaped a fire …at the campground showers no less. (NJ)
-Louis Vuitton’s artistic director Virgil Abloh and Idris Elba (aka Stringer Bell from The Wire) get booked to play music. This influencer era is getting spooky. (NN)
-A fan being rewarded for waiting for 10 hours in the front row on Day 1 by getting to smoke a joint on camera with Childish Gambino. (NJ)
-The live audience footage popping up on the jumbo screens during the performances looks like it’s being shot for an H&M commercial. (NJ)
-Hearing guys substitute the cheesy pickup line “What’s your sign?” with “What type of Spicy Pie are you getting?” (NJ)
-J Balvin receiving a lap dance on top of a gigantic toy horse. Ginuwine foresaw this years ago. One of several highlights from the Colombian’s immersive, standout performance. (NN)
-The crowd fucks up a simple, one-syllable call-and-response during country star Kacey Musgraves’ set. Thanks for making us look like trash in front of the Stagecoach people. (NJ)
-Seeing a girl carrying an oversized dick balloon merrily making her way to the main stage. Make some noise for Cockchella one time! (NN)
-Yelling “Happy Coachella” and getting a sticker for it courtesy of the Happy Coachella Guy! (NJ)
– Almost getting run over by an art installation while you’re trying to take a selfie. Thanks for not killing us, Mr. Spaceman! (NJ)
-A pale, pink-haired dude in white pants getting arrested by festival police outside the Space Hippo exhibit. Do the drugs, don’t let the drugs do you, folks. (NN)
-Somehow Childish Gambino can debut a film starring himself and Rihanna and then go perform a headlining set that’s so well acted that it’s better than the movie you just watched. (NJ)
-A chick in cowboy boots dancing to Afro Beats. She most certainly ended racism with those actions. Tell Jimmy Carter to holla at her. (NN)
-Watching 17 year-old Billie Eilish single-handedly destroy a crowd and bring back cargo pants. (NJ)
-It’s possible for people to be considered “modestly nude” as long as there’s a sheer piece of fabric involved. (NJ)
-Parcels, a German-based Australian Funk band with a Daft Punk collaboration playing in the Gobi while I groove like a background dancer in Soul Train. Proud to say this was only set during which I broke a sweat all weekend. (NN)
–The soothing sounds of Kenny G is suddenly relevant to bunch of millennials. (NJ)
-Weezer bringing out TLC’s Chilli and Tears for Fears to be part of the same set. That is 100% from a computer simulated festival lineup and I’ll take it anytime. (NN)
-Hip-hop, country and EDM have a meeting at the Sahara tent thanks to the “Old Town Road” remix with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. (NJ)
-Finding your childhood friends who met up with each other by chance while looking for your college friends in a beer garden. Never found the college friends btw… (NN)
-Starting a circle pit that’s literally people happily dancing in a circle like they did during Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Outdoor Theater on Sunday. (NJ)
-Seeing Lizzo get the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. she deserves as the sassy progeny of Aretha Franklin dressed in a thong destroys the Mojave Tent. (NJ)
-Someone looking for cocaine by a churro stand on a Sunday afternoon asks if you’ve got any “Ariana”. (NJ)
-Ariana Grande bringing out NSYNC, Nicki Minaj, Diddy, and Mase. Now, That’s What You Call Music 5 just sent Ariana a C&D. (NN)
-A weekend of somber moment during tributes to Nipsey Hussle and Mac Miller is followed by the party we would all want to have at our funeral. (NJ)
-After a weekend full of multi-million dollar performances, this is the head-liner everyone’s talking about.
Cool. I’d like to see the Cockchella. ?