It’s been a few weeks since I’ve returned from the desert and the dust has finally settled (though I’m still finding it in my pockets and socks). Coachella is one of the largest festivals in the country and has cemented itself as one of the most iconic in the last twenty years.
The experience was nothing short of an extravaganza of flashing lights, blinding heat, and a whole lot of music. Here’s everything you missed at Coachella, from when I set foot in the venue to the eggs I ate on the way out of Indio.
Camping
Coachella is divided into two staunchly different groups of people. The first is the kind of person who stays in a hotel, takes an Uber to the festival, and perhaps spends a good chunk of money on the air-conditioned bathrooms. There’s nothing wrong with this type of person. They are less concerned with impending heat stroke and more able to indulge in the festival’s amenities. They might even have VIP seating and spend their days sipping $17 margaritas between sets.
But something about holing up in the desert for four consecutive nights takes Coachella to the next level. For campers, the festival begins on Thursday as early as humanly possible. Though the grounds don’t open until 9 AM, lines are already wrapping around the city of Indio more than a mile long by 7 AM. If you’re coming from out of town, plan accordingly. Camping spaces are coveted and the earlier your car is through the gates, the shorter the walk from inside the actual festival.
Day zero consists of shaking off the red-eye travel jitters and unloading everything you’ll need to survive for the weekend. Of course, there are the usual camping supplies: tents, travel stoves, lawn chairs, etc. But there are also the Coachella-specific essentials, some staples include the Nicki Minaj American flag, Spongebob rave totems, cowprint rugs, makeshift makeup stations, and industrial-sized jugs of liquid IV.
By midday, the barren desert has transformed into a village of early to mid-twenty-year-olds ready for the most chaotic, sweltering weekend of their lives. Rosalia, Bad Bunny, and Skrillex blast from all corners of the campground and there are at least 20 games of beer pong going at any given time.
After the makeshift community has been constructed, it’s time to explore the new habitat. Coachella is full of venue-specific experiences and lingo. Though it feels a little alien, you accept that the giant semi-circle that beams colored light from the top is known as “the dome” and that there will be a continuous game of highly competitive dodgeball at all hours for the rest of the stay.
Though most campers bring their own food for the weekend, it’s easy to fall victim to the $11 pizza on the campgrounds after an exhausting first day. While this obviously triggers some initial sticker shock, the Costco-sized slices soon become a powerful ally when you realize the rest of the food is almost twice as expensive.
To round off day zero, it is important to pay your respects to the silent disco. Hosted at the dome, Coachella beats the Indio noise ordinance with hundreds of glowing headphones that allow attendees to rage long into the night. While the silent disco is a great way to wind down from the festival, the lines are the shortest and the energy the highest before the festival kicks off.
One of my favorite events at camp was the cold plunge that kicked off day two. If you’re like me, the Coachella heat is one of the most intense sensations you’ll ever survive. Whether you’re running, standing, or laying motionless on the ground, the desert has a way of coating its victims in a layer of dusty sweat. By day two, it’s not just the heat that gets you down. After two full days of dancing, waiting, drinking, and not sleeping, your body is threatening to quit. The cold plunge provided me with a revival that I’m still raving about to this day.
Among the other amenities are the “hair salon” which includes a wall of industrial-sized outlets for hair straighteners and curlers. Be prepared to fight for your spot while it’s a welcome community ritual. Post festival, the salon turns into a wellness space that plays relaxing music and allows attendees to lay on mats on the ground as they process the day. There are also hammocks, phone charging stations, and yoga classes in the morning.
Ultimately, the campground is a refuge for attendees. Whether you need a minute to charge your phone or lay in a hammock, it offered the perfect escape. From sharing drinks and trading festival stories and secrets, the campground was a tight-knit community bonded by a love of good music and dancing all night.
Merch Line
We kicked off day one with a bit of a downer. Drawn by the festival’s exclusive merch, my group and I were willing to wait (or so we thought) in the long, semi-air-conditioned lines. We turned up around 3:00 PM and the line already wrapped several times around the enclosed space. A staff member informed us that the wait time was over two hours.
When we returned the next day, this time to take advantage of the Amex exclusive line, the wait was still well over an hour. With full days ahead of us, we ultimately decided that the music was more important than immortalizing the memory with a Bad Bunny sweatshirt.
Instead, we hit the vintage merch section at camp. Though perhaps not as glamorous a product, the vintage merch was stuffed into boxes that attendees could riffle through for hidden gems. After my allotted ten minutes of searching, I was proud of my hot air balloon time capsule piece from Coachella 2012.
Muna
Muna was an early favorite from day one. Beginning their set at 3:00 PM, the band drew a large and enthusiastic crowd that knew most of the lyrics to their songs. The upbeat, indie-pop vibe put everyone in a good mood for the weekend, and people managed to dance despite the intense heat. For the finale, the band brought out Phoebe Bridgers to perform “Silk Chiffon” which was an obvious crowd-pleaser.
Absolut Planet
In the middle of the day, we took a break from the action at one of the many bars around the festival. Tucked away by some of the smaller stages, Absolut Planet was one of the only times I set foot inside (or at least, as close to outside as we could get).
To get to the bar, guests walked through colorful vodka bottle-shaped cutouts that lit up different colors. Once inside, there is a DJ and a full-blown dance party. Something about familiar pop music in a space that isn’t 90 degrees with a cold drink in my hand really brought me back to life. If you plan on heading to festival, I highly recommend splurging on the Absolut Tent for a small respite from the elements.
Kaytranada
I’ve seen Kaytranada before, but never like this. His set was bigger, better, and more elaborate than ever. Throughout the set, he invited H.E.R., Tinashe, and Anderson Paak to the stage, taking the crowd to the next level. Every single person in the audience danced from start to finish and it seemed impossible to raise the energy to the next level, but the DJ managed it from start to finish.
Gorillaz
The Gorillaz brought a starstudded set to the main stage. It seemed like everyone they’d ever collaborated with had a chance on the mic. Bad Bunny even came out before his headlining set to perform “Tormenta” in a strange, humanoid mask that had the audience questioning if it was actually him, even with the visuals of his face plastered on the screen behind him. This set felt like a celebration of music in all its forms. Each new guest, no matter the genre or age, received a roaring applause from the audience.
The one downside to this set was its proximity to the headliner. The frenzy of people shoving to get out and others shoving to get closer to the front created a chaotic and borderline dangerous atmosphere in the lull in between. Though it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for a festival of this size, people were packed in too close for comfort at times.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny closed out night one with a celebration of Latino culture and of his own meteoric rise to the top of the global stage. His setlist was comprised mostly of hits from his recent album Un Verano Sin Ti. Some speculate that Coachella signified the end of the album’s era, pointing to Bad Bunny’s black Mugler jumpsuit that could represent a funeral for the iconic album. If this is true, it was one of the most fun funerals I’ve ever attended. From relative newcomers like Grupo Frontera to legendary performer Jose Feliciano, it felt bigger than a concert and more like a party on stage. Of course, this party included Bad Bunny levitating off the ground on a palm tree to perform to the middle of the crowd for a good duration of the show.
Wellness Space
It wouldn’t be a festival without a nap in a public place, would it? The wellness space was a much-needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the festival. At times, the crowd would become overwhelming, and by the evening, it was so crowded that not knowing exactly where the next set was could become a major problem.
The space comprised pillows and large fans that served as some of the only public access to cool air on the grounds. Coachella’s harm reduction effort was notable in this space, with volunteers offering cold cans of water and checking on attendees every 20 minutes. This approach feels more appropriate than the no-tolerance policies that other festivals have adopted and made it easy to identify staff members who could help out if necessary.
Charli XCX
Even people who think they don’t know Charli XCX probably know a little Charli XCX. She performed pop classics like “Drive” and “I Don’t Care” which had the crowd jumping, dancing, and singing along. After she proclaimed “This is for the gay boys” before performing “Boys”, the crowd flew into a frenzy.
Flo Milli
Nobody was underestimated this weekend quite like Flo Milli. A packed house spilled out of the enclosure she performed in as the artist dominated the stage. Even the lesser-known tracks had people rapping at the top of their lungs. Not only is Flo Milli a talented rapper, but she’s also an incredible performer. She could have easily commanded a larger stage later with her star power and showmanship. The show was a carefully crafted labor of love from her outfit to her hair to her dancers.
Remi Wolf
I have been following Remi Wolf for several years now and it’s been an absolute joy to watch her grow as an artist and performer. Once again, everyone in the crowd seemed like an authentic fan––for those 45 minutes, it felt like a Remi Wolf concert instead of a larger music festival. Remi Wolf is all about fun. She wore bright colors and covered the 00s hit “Somebody That I Used To Know” as the crowd bopped beachballs through the arena. I left hungry for more––her new music can’t come fast enough.
Rosalía
If one thing’s for certain, Rosalia is a bonafide star. Her album Motomami is not only lyrically complex, but it’s also one of the most well-executed “eras” of modern pop music. Rosalía spent every moment of her set dumping water over her head, running backstage, camera in hand, and riding a motorcycle made out of her background dancers. More than a show, the singer was dedicated to giving a performance for her audience. Every moment she was on stage was incredibly thoughtful and meticulously planned out. It’s only a matter of time before Rosalía will be given the headliner title––she deserves it.
Bakar
The first disappointment of the day came from trying to see Bakar at the Sonora stage, one of the few indoor stages at the venue. Coming directly from Rosalia, we arrived outside around three minutes after the British singer was set to start. After waiting in line for about 20 minutes, it became clear that we wouldn’t be able to make it into the venue in time to see more than a song or two. This was frustrating because a large group of fans was stuck outside when it seemed entirely possible for Bakar to perform for everyone who wanted to see him.
This seemed like a common issue at the Sonora stage, even acts who performed earlier in the day (with smaller followings) struggled to manage the crowd that poured in and out. At a music festival, it should be expected that attendees are going from set to set and might arrive a few minutes into the performance.
Labrinth
If Bakar was bad, Labrinth was a nightmare. Since we weren’t willing to devote several hours to get into the enclosed space, we settled for craning our necks on a picnic table to get a glimpse of the performance. Though we were just outside of the concert, it felt like we were watching his set from a telescope.
Of course, this is no fault of the artist. If anything, this fiasco proves that Labrinth has the chops to command a far bigger stage than the festival gave him credit for. Unfortunately, the way it was set up, it was unsafe to get any closer for many fans. The crowd was so dense that moving was almost impossible and maneuvering closer to the stage involved a complicated dance of shoving, pushing, ducking, and being trapped in place by the sheer magnitude of the crowd.
At the same time, Kid Laroi (who is 19 years old with one album) performed on a larger stage that was more accessible to a much smaller crowd. It was an odd decision to shove Labrinth to the side in favor of an artist who scarcely had enough music to fill a set. Both artists would’ve benefited from switching stages or for Kid Laroi to be moved to an earlier time slot in favor of an artist like Flo Milli or Glorilla who might have relieved some of the crowd crush.
If there’s one good thing to take away from all of this, at least I was in a one-mile radius of Zendaya.
Glorilla
If there was one thing I remember about Glorilla’s set, it was the sheer heat. She opened the Coachella stage for day three with an energetic and dance-filled set but it was so hot that I scarcely had the wherewithal to move at all. Despite this, Glorilla was entertaining enough to pull me out of the heat daze enough to dance along to my favorite hits. Her stage presence is incredible and its clear that it’s only up from here for Glorilla.
Willow
Willow took us on a metal journey of our dreams. Even though the music is great on its own, Willow is truly a live performer above all else. Her set was so good, I wished we had live tapings instead of the recorded studio album. The highlight of the set came when her brother, Jaden took the stage with her. The pair sang their song “Summertime in Paris” which was a crowd favorite. Finally, Willow took us back with “Meet Me at Our Spot” and “Wait a Minute” which she manages to breath new life into every time she performs.
Kali Uchis
Just like Rosalía, Kali Uchis is ready for the primetime spot. Other than the headliners, Uchis’ set had the most loyal crowd that weekend. We danced, we laughed, some even cried as the sun set to the heavenly “Melting”. Uchis is also a master of costume and choreography. This time, she graced us with a feathery blue set as talented background dancers carried her from place to place.
Björk
We all know and love Björk as the eclectic and illusive performance artist that spans musical genre, space, and time. Her Coachella set, of course, was no different. Complete with a live orchestra and a drone show, Björk took us on a journey that quickly sailed into outer space. She wore a beautiful white, flowing gown that managed movement even when the singer stood still. Her presence was ethereal and provided an unusual moment of peace amongst all the chaos.
Skrillex, Four Tet, Fred Again
The three-man DJ set was the surprise to take away some of the sting of Frank Ocean’s sudden departure. Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again were the pop-dance mashup of our dreams and help send off Coachella in the best way possible given the circumstances and it’s no wonder why the recording of the set has amassed millions of plays within a week or two of its upload.
The Aftermath
Before 8:00 AM on Monday morning, it was time to pack up the car and leave the desert. Though my lungs were full of dust and my hair had never been drier, it still felt like a devastating blow. The Nicki Flags came down, the drinks finally stopped flowing, and people raided the showers for remaining face wash and conditioner.
A few miles away in a diner in Indio, dozens of festival goers congregated to share memories over eggs one last time. Everyone was beyond exhausted and could hardly form coherent sentences. The uniform was oversized t-shirts, shorts, and shower flip-flops. In the bathroom, I bonded with two girls in Tevas over the fact that we hadn’t seen ourselves in real mirrors in days.
Leaving Coachella felt like stepping out of a dream. I still hadn’t processed how many amazing performers I had just seen, how much history I had witnessed, how many steps I had taken, or how matted my hair had gotten. I was like a woman who had wandered into the wilderness and stayed there, only returning to civilization several years later, foreign and out of practice.
As we waited on the curb for a few group members to take one last bathroom break, we were greeted by our final moment of Coachella kindness. A man leaned out of a car window, offering fruit snacks, “it looks like you could use them” he chuckled.
