Friday, April 30, 2010
By Ari Hamilton
Entertainment Editor
Very few opportunities for pure musical rapture can compare to the experience provided by the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Musicians of many styles and of many degrees of fame perform for three straight days, a weekend reverie for both casual and hardcore music fans.
Friday was replete with truly classic musicians returning with new projects and up and coming talents furthering their growth.
Rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures was a highlight that evening, awing listeners with a combination of power and talent from bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Dave Grohl, with the stage personality of frontman Josh Homme.
The night peaked with the superb showmanship and rap brilliance of Jay-Z, the self-annointed “best rapper in New York.” With his usual theatrics, Jay-Z emerged from a trapdoor in the stage and burst into a set of hits including “99 Problems,” “Empire State of Mind,” and a version of Youth Group’s “Forever Young” featuring his wife Beyoncé.
Despite the extraordinary talent and energy of earlier acts, Muse dominated the Saturday line-up. Living up to their reputation as one of the best live acts today, the British trio played a collection of new hits and beloved classics to ensnare the audience in a spell of adoration and participation.
Entertaining with both spontaneous instrumental interludes and a stunning laser light show, Muse left no resistance to their extraordinary talent after concluding with “Knights of Cydonia.”
Sunday included a lineup of such talent as Thom Yorke, Pavement and Phoenix, offering unique and powerful performances.
In an incredible display of technology and talent, the Gorillaz took to the stage, or rather the big screen, as the band members appeared on a display, with their parts played live by creator Damon Albarn and accompaniment.
The performance and its arsenal of support artists amazed the crowd with favorites off the latest album, including “White Flag,” while still offering older hits such as “Clint Eastwood.”
Coachella gave crowds of fans from all styles a memorable weekend of musical delights.
Leave a Reply