Coachella 2011 Round-Up: Day 1
Idolator is braving the heat this weekend in the name of good music and heading out to Indio, California, for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Didn’t score a ticket before they sold out in a record six days? We’ve got you covered! Below, we take you on a virtual tour of Day 1, filled with Robyn’s insane energy, Cee Lo’s tardiness, and one Killer surprise from Brandon Flowers.
MOST DISAPPOINTING: Cee Lo Green’s brief set. The singer was supposed to rock the main stage at 4:50… by the time 5:20 rolled around, people had given up or were clearly annoyed waiting around in the desert sun for the singer to show up. When the Lady Killer had finally arrived (his plane had just landed, he explained), the fest crew only let him sing four songs before cutting him off. More disappointing than the length of his set, though, was that the four songs weren’t even performed that well – Cee Lo, chewing gum the whole time, seemed distracted and off his game (not to mention annoyed himself). Watch it go down here.
SECOND MOST DISAPPOINTING: Cee Lo, again, for wearing a white graphic T instead of one of his crazy stage get-ups. Though we can’t fault the man too much for this – would YOU want to perform in 100 degree heat while dressed as a peacock?
BRAVEST COVER: Our Pray For Pop amigo Miguel (saddled with a noon-time performance slot, poor guy) sang his own version of Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”:
We never get tired of watching him work that glow-in-the-dark microphone. See our cool Miguel photos and check it yourself.
ACT THAT SHOULDN’T BE PERFORMING IN A TENT: Robyn, who was placed in the Mojave tent, when she really should have been performing on one of the larger outdoor stages. The Idolator fave, wearing a flesh-colored body suit, had the tent overflowing with festival-goers who showed her love throughout her high-energy, all-fun set. Put this woman on a bigger stage! She’s clearly got enough fans to warrant the extra space.
THE BEST PLACE TO BE IN ALL OF COACHELLA: The clean, air-conditioned restrooms located at the back end of the rows of port-a-potties. Nothing was more challenging than leaving this little piece of heaven to return to the dust-filled sauna that is the Coachella grounds.
CUTEST OUTFIT: Marina Diamandis of Marina And The Diamonds, rockin’ her most chic Coachella look (as well as a bluntly cropped shorter ‘do — see our full gallery of Marina And The Diamonds photos):
MOST GENEROUS: Brandon Flowers was there to promote his solo material, but you have to love the man for indulging all the Killers’ fans in the crowd by performing “Losing Touch”, “Read My Mind” and “Mr. Brightside”, which caused everyone within listening distance to immediately run for the Outdoor Theater stage shouting cries of joy. We have to think that it might have burned him just a bit that his solo material couldn’t muster as much enthusiasm. (Not that could tell from his exterior — he was, typically, dressed to the nines. Enjoy our fresh Brandon Flowers photos).
BEST/WEIRDEST SMACKDOWN: While waiting near the artist trailer entrance, I came upon two beefy security guards sitting on top of a festival-goer (presumably in an altered state of mind) screaming for his freedom. No, seriously — he was screaming “I NEED MY FREEDOM!” over and over while fruitlessly squirming to escape their grasp. I sadly missed the beginning of this altercation — perhaps he was making a beeline for Robyn’s trailer to score an autograph?
WEIRDEST COINCIDENCE: Both Cee Lo Green and Sleigh Bells kicked off their sets by playing Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”. If Kanye West plays his “Iron Man”-sampling “Hell Of A Life” during his show on Sunday night, then Coachella will officially surpass Ozzfest as the best place to hear Sabbath songs performed live.
BIGGEST MEH: Headliners Kings Of Leon got through their entire set without being interrupted by bird poop. That’s all you really need to know.
Come back tomorrow for a recap of Day 2, featuring sets by Scissor Sisters, Erykah Badu and Arcade Fire, whoever they are.
