Tag: Coachella 2014

Broken Bells | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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Brian Burton p/k/a Danger Mouse caught my attention back in 2004 when he released “The Grey Album” which combined Jay-Z’s vocal performances from “The Black Album” with instrumentals from the Beatles’ “White Album”.  That project blew my mind, and I’ve been following his musical output since (Gnarles Barkley with Cee Lo Green, his work on the Gorrillaz album “Demon Days”, etc). James Mercer is the founder and lead singer-sonwriter of the indie rock group The Shins and I’m proud to say that I have most of their albums.

When they joined forces back in 2009 to form the side project Broken Bells, it immediately caught my attention. When they were announced as an act at Coachella, I made a point of it to circle it on my schedule as a band I couldn’t miss.

The set design was simple with Danger Mouse on one side of the stage and James Mercer on the other. I was relegated to the side of the stage James Mercer was on while taking pictures, so I couldn’t get a great shot of Danger Mouse. Behind them a video screen played simple designs becoming their musical tone. It was a great, soothing set, and if they ever tour Los Angeles in the future, I’d hope that they play a venue like the Hollywood Bowl or The Greek. Whatever the venue, however, I’ll be sure to buy myself a ticket.

 

Broken Bells Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014

 

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HAIM | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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My guilty pleasure? Wholesome pop-rock that sounds like it could have come from the mid to late 80s. That’s why I decided to check out HAIM’s set at Coachella. Having heard a lot about their music, I’ve been wanting to purchase their debut LP “Days Are Gone” for a while now, only to resist the temptation because it seemed like every time I was at the record store, there were girls half my age hanging out by that section of the record rack.

Early technical difficulties aside, their set exhibited a clean, upbeat rock-pop sound. They also spent a good 5 minutes doing what I believe was an impromptu jam which flexed their chops as musicians that could shred with the best of them. That earned my respect.

I was impressed, and I certainly wouldn’t mind catching them perform in a more intimate venue at some point in the future. I guess I’ll just have to suck up my machismo for now, pick up the album the next time I’m out buying records.

HAIM Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014, Days Are Gone

Note: Let Me Go was on the setlist, but wasn’t played due to time constraints

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A$AP Ferg | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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After being ushered out of the photo pit for Grouplove, I decided to head over to the Outdoor Theatre in order to grab a bite to eat before setting up to take pictures of HAIM. A$AP Ferg was on stage bringing it with the A$AP Mob when all of a sudden I notice A$AP Rocky running on stage. In an almost instinctual motion, I started running towards the stage with my camera in tow.

Although photographers are typically only allowed to photograph either the first three songs or first 15 minutes, of an artist’s set in the photo pit, I somehow finagled my way into the photo pit and was able to take a few pictures of both A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky on stage together at Coachella.

Looking down at my watch I noticed that there was about 15 minutes left to his set, I decided to keep taking pictures until A$AP Ferg had donned a jacket that seemed to spray, streams of steam out of the sleeves. Considering that I had rented my lens, I decided that that was a good a time as any to leave the photo pit and grab a bit to eat. It was the first “special appearance” of an artist at the festival, and I think that one of the pics I snapped with Ferg and Rocky is a keeper. What do you think?

ASAP Ferg Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014

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Grouplove | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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I knew that Grouplove’s music was fun, but I had no idea I’d be having so much fun taking pictures of them while they were performing. The energy that they emit from the stage while performing induced everybody, myself included, to jump and dance around, even in the sweltering desert heat. The expressiveness on their faces, and in their actions, while performing songs in the their set was really a pleasure to shoot. Hopefully, I’ve been able to capture some of that contagious energy in a few of my pics.

As a side note, after looking at their set list (below) I noticed that they covered both an A$AP Rocky and a Beyonce songs. Both artists, by the way, made special guest appearances over the weekend. Hmm … if you happen to be at Coachlla during week 2, and you happen to catch Grouplove’s set, keep an ear out to hear what songs they cover in their set. Maybe they know something we don’t know… just saying’…

 

Grouplove Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014, Spreading Rumours

 

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Jagwar Ma | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

Jagwar Ma is three piece, Australian psychedelic/dance band that formed in Sydney. Their first full length album, Howlin’, in my opinion, reminded me a bit of the Stone Roses, and being a Stone Roses fan, I wanted to check out their live set. After my time in the photo pit had ended (side note: I had problems with my camera settings, and a lot of the pics that I thought were good came out underexposed <- insert sad face here), I spend another 15 minutes laid out on the grass under the shade of the the tent to let their clean, unique sound envelope me. If I hadn’t had a schedule of bands I wanted to shoot over the weekend, I would have bought myself a beer, and stayed there sprawled on the grass, in the shade, until the their set had ended. I’ve been a bit hesitant to purchase their LP, but I think I’ll need to remedy that the next time I’m at the local record shop.

Jagwar Ma Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014

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Dum Dum Girls | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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     I’m a fan of Dee Dee Penny (nee Kristin Welchez) and her sound. Based on some of her more recent work (like “Too True To Be Good” and “Coming Down”), her voice and style reminds me of some of the female rock-pop fronted bands I grew up with (off the top of my head, maybe an amalgam of Lucious Jackson, Siouxsie Sioux and Mazzy Star).
     When the band took to the stage, wearing their trademark black, Dee Dee brought a little “shock and awe” wearing a sheer top with strategically placed pasties. The band launched into their 12 song, 45 minute set under in the sweltering desert sun, but didn’t let the heat hold them down, bringing it instead. I enjoyed what I heard and I plan on keeping tabs on the band’s music to see how it develops from here.

Dum Dum Girls Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014

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GOAT | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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I hadn’t planned on checking out their set, but a good friend of mine suggested that it’d be worth my time. I’m glad I took the suggestion, because GOAT was a perfect mid-afternoon band for me.

This band from Sweden, with their fusion of experimental rock, afrobeat and acid rock, really, I found my feet moving to the rhythmn while I was taking pictures as if I were at a Phish concert. With their two female vocalists dancing about the stage in their lively costumes, it was hard not to enjoy myself. I loved taking pictures of this band, and hopefully I captured their liveliness through the lens.

Goat Setlist Coachella Festival 2014 2014

 

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The Preatures | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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At 12:30 I walked over check out the first band on the Main Stage; an Alternative rock band from Australia named The Preatures. The lead singer, Isabella Manfredi, exhibited “rock-and-roll charisma,” performing with a confidence that was hard not to be captivated by. To be performing on the largest stage at Coachella, and to have such a command over the performance and audience, it’s easy to see why Australia loves them. I think with the right type of exposure in the U.S., they can leave their mark here too.

I couldn’t find a setlist online, but I happen to stumble across it, I’ll add it here. If any of you The Preatures fans know the names of the songs that they performed that afternoon, please let me know.

 

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Tom Odell | Coachella | 4/11/14 (PHOTOS)

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The first act I caught at Coachella at noon on Friday was British, Singer Songwriter, Tom Odell. A solid singer songwriter who I believe can have a long and fruitful career so long as he can keep writing songs that his fans can relate to.

I couldn’t find a setlist online, but I happen to stumble across it, I’ll add it here. If any of you Tom Odell Fans know the names of the songs that he performed that afternoon, please let me know.

 

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Coachella 2014 | April 11 – 13

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This year, I was lucky enough to get approved for a media/photo pass for the first weekend of Coachella. The photo pass allows me to take pictures from the photo pit of each stage, and being armed with an incredible lens, I’ve taken some pretty amazing pictures so far, and I can’t wait to sift through them all and post what I’ve been able to capture.

There were a few acts that I wish could have snapped pictures for (Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck and Arcade Fire), but being a “newby” in the world of concert photography, I wasn’t selected to by artist management to have the privilege of taking pictures. Hopefully, the pics I post of the bands I saw here will help change their opinion of me for the future.

Each entry will contain a little bulb of my overall thoughts of what I was able to see, with a Instagram video post that I posted (my Instagram account is @Methodman13 … you may as well go there now while you’re waiting for the post to go up) and a photo slideshow.  I hope you enjoy the moments I captured as much as I enjoyed shooting it. Click on the name of the artist you want to check out to see the blog entry I put up.

Friday | April 11th, 2014

  1. Tom Odell
  2. The Preatures
  3. GOAT
  4. Dum Dum Girls
  5. Jagwar Ma
  6. Grouplove
  7. A$AP Ferg
  8. HAIM
  9. The Afghan Whigs (Unfortunately, the pictures I took during this set are unusable)
  10. Broken Bells
  11. Woodkid
  12. The Replacements
  13. Girl Talk
  14. Outkast (Unfortunately, the pictures I took during this set are unusable)

Saturday | April 12, 2014

  1. Laura Mvula
  2. Drowners
  3. White Lies
  4. Banks
  5. CHVRCHES
  6. City and Colour
  7. Julian Casablancas
  8. Kid Cudi
  9. Future Islands
  10. Lorde
  11. Pixies
  12. Empire of the Sun
  13. Pharrell Williams
  14. Pet Shop Boys

Sunday | April 13, 2014

  1. Fishbone
  2. Chance The Rapper
  3. The 1975
  4. Rudimental
  5. Blood Orange
  6. The Naked and Famous
  7. AlunaGeorge
  8. Little Dragon
  9. Lana Del Rey
  10. Motörhead
  11. Jhené Aiko

UPDATE: 5/9/14: It was a long, glorious, music-filled weekend of music. I think I may have ruined all of the future music festivals I attend because there really is nothing like being in the photo pit, even for only the first 3 songs, trying to capture “moments” of musicians practicing their craft and giving the audience all that they have. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity. Thank you, Goldenvoice. Thank you, Snoop. You made this music dweeb very, very happy.

 

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