Concert Review: Coachella - Day Three - 4/27/08

Part of: A Fella at Coachella

Wanting to catch what Perry Farrell was up to on the Sahara Tent at 2pm had my friend Todd and I leave early from Orange County. We hit no traffic until we were right outside the parking lot. The consequence of such light crowds early on meant that the line to get in wasn’t long, allowing the security check to be more intense. Yet, plenty of people still got weed and pipes into the place.

Farrell started 23 minutes late, but no one seemed to mind because they were in the shade. Just like his recent performance at The Nightwatchman Benefit in West Hollywood, he was joined by wife Ety who sang and danced, and guitarist Carl Restivo as they performed electronic dance over pre-recorded material. The mix was not that great at first. Farrell’s vocals were too soft and he had to look over and signal the sound guys. He was annoyed, but quickly put on a smile when he turned to the audience because above all else, Farrell is a showman. He covered Jane’s Addiction’s songs “Just Because,” “Been Caught Stealing,” “Stop,” and closed his shortened set with “Jane Says,” which the crowd adored. After their appearance at the NME Awards, reports are that at least 3/4ths of the band is reforming.

During the set, an idiot photographer made his presence known with an enormous pole he used to extend his camera up very high. Apparently, shooting up from the photo pit or from the side of the stage wasn’t good enough. He had to get point of views from above the band and over the crowd. Plenty of people around me wanted to hurl objects at him. While he’s doing a job to allow everyone who can’t go to the show to get a glimpse, that shouldn’t trump the experience of those of us who did attend.

With an hour before anyone interested us, Todd and I headed over to the beer garden to enjoy some Heinekens and laughs, reminiscing and catching each other up on what we’ve been doing to lately. As much fun as I had the previous two days, it was much more enjoyable having someone to experience the event with.

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2Page 3Page 4
Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for gordon-s-miller

Article Author: Gordon S. Miller

Gordon S. Miller is the artist formerly known as El Bicho, the nom de plume he used when he first began reviewing movies online for The Masked Movie Snobs in 2003. Before that year was out, he became that site's publisher. …

Visit Gordon S. Miller's author pageGordon S. Miller's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own
  • No image found

Article comments

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for May 21, 2013

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for April

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs