Coachella 2012

I was lucky enough to travel to the California desert oasis that the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is, this past weekend. The mountain and palm tree surrounded polo grounds were filled with more than 75,000 people for 3 days and will be again next weekend as the 11-year-old Coachella has, for the first time, doubled the festival into two identical weekends.

Highlight performances of weekend 1 included reggae star of yesteryear Jimmy Cliff (sang "I Can See Clearly Now" as drizzling rain stopped), Odd Future R&B behind-the-scenes-writer-turned--potential-star-crooner Frank Ocean (joined on-stage by Odd Future rapper Tyler the Creator), one of the few rock n' roll bands left in modern pop the Black Keys, French instrumental 80's-sounding band M83, an authentic what-we-thought-Nicki Minaj-was-going-to-be rapper Azealia Banks, Wisconsin's own Bon Iver, one of the most critically praised bands of our time Radiohead, up-and-coming Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky, Toronto's gifted and mysterious singer The Weeknd, Scottish DJ/producer Calvin Harris (joined on-stage by Rihanna), the powerful voice of Florence + The Machine and Sunday closer Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (joined by Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Eminem and a hologram of Tupac Shakur - see video below).

Best songs of the weekend -

“Many Rivers to Cross" - Jimmy Cliff

Novocane” – Frank Ocean
“Intro” – M83
“212” – Azealia Banks
“Skinny Love” – Bon Iver
“Beth/Rest” – Bon Iver
“Peso” – A$AP Rocky
“The Morning” – The Weeknd

"You Used to Hold Me" - Calvin Harris
“We Found Love” – Calvin Harris and Rihanna
“Shake It Out” – Florence + the Machine
“The Next Episode” – Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
“The Recipe” – Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar
“Forgot About Dre” – Dr. Dre and Eminem
“Still Dre” – Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

Fulfilled a 2+ year dream.