YOLO List: Week 40 (+Coachella Review)

Everyone. It’s good to be back, for real now. I’m a victim of the Coachella recovery week, and I’m happy to say things are starting to look a lot better as expected. Small price to pay, if you ask me. In the meantime I’ve been thinking hard about my top 5, and have got it my shpeal all ready for you guys. This was my third time in attendance, and it was definitely my favorite. It was mainly the facts that nothing went wrong and that there weren’t many disappointments whatsoever. I even got to see the camp grounds for the first time. I had no idea it entailed everything that I saw that night: light up swings with a dj, roller rink, discos playing late, vendors, arts and crafts…I mean it’s a whole experience in itself. One day! My only qualm with the weekend is that it was hot as fuck..hotter than fuck. It wasn’t as much of a problem the first two years, but still bearable underneath the extra massive tents this year. Anyhow, here’s how it broke down for me:

5. Moving Units

I was really into these guys when I was but a chap. Wasn’t old enough to go to shows yet, but these guys were all over the place and then they broke up. This show wasn’t a reunion, I don’t think, but it was their first time back in socal in years. They’re one of those dancy rock bands I always wanted to see, so I was pumped for them to be my first non-dj-artist. They started off with “Anyone” off Dangerous Dreams, my favorite album. Straight business from the get-go. Lots of songs I haven’t heard, but all the classics I couldn’t and still can’t give a rest.
Moving Units – Anyone
Moving Units – Scars

4. Boys Noize

Nothing short of amazing. Boys Noize is the man. Most seizure inducing lights of the weekend award goes to this set. They didn’t hold back..and it didn’t make it any less fuckin’ awesome. Fifth time I’ve seen him and the best yet.

3. Two Door Cinema Club

Their recordings never really did it for me, I became more of a fan from all the cool remixes I had heard floating around the internet. Their liveshow was another story. It was their first time in Indio and they couldn’t have a received a more worthy greeting. They didn’t miss a single beat, and the whole set was packed with more energy than I was expecting. Too much fun.
Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)
Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know

2. Jack Beats

My most anticipated dj set of the weekend. I’m lucky enough to have seen these guys a handful of times, and there’s something about their consistent wobbly banger delivery that I just can’t seem to get enough of. They had the longest set (hour and a half) of the weekend and every minute was filled with all the slimy bass and raved out synths we were hoping to get. As if the set couldn’t be anymore exciting, some drunk bros started a fight right at the front where we were. The first fight I have ever seen at Coachella and things took a turn quickly. It was right as they threw down “Drop the Pressure” so the whole thing was pretty surreal and god damn entertaining. I’ll also never forget wrestling with a kid over a Jack Beats shirt at the end of their set. About 2 seconds into the scuffle I realized how retarded I already looked and decided shortly thereafter that I wasn’t going home without a Jack Beats shirt. For some reason, everyone helped me out and I came out on top. Don’t know what gave me a head up over that kid, but sorry man I had it first..
Jack Beats – Elevator Music

1. The Strokes

Number one was a no brainer for me. The Strokes absolutely rocked Coachella. They put on the best performance I’ve ever seen live, topping Soulwax from HARD Haunted Mansion 2008. They played most of their classics (Someday, Last Night, Hard To Explain, Reptilia), but the focus was mainly on their latest album Angles (Undercover of Darkness, Machu Pichu, You’re So Right, Games). Julian was talking a lot more this time around and he seemed way more into it than when we saw him at Outside Lands. Lots more sarcastic remarks that had everyone sharing lol’s. Don’t know if there is a maximum capacity for happiness, but I’m pretty sure everyone at the Coachella stage was as close as it’s gonna be. Everyone was singing along at the top of their lungs, and it was something I’m never going to forget. Ever. No homo. There’s just something about the Strokes that most people can attach themselves to, and it really makes a difference when you can tell a band is loving the crowd support. I didn’t bother recording any of the set because I didn’t want to waste a moment. Absolutely flawless.
The Strokes – Two Kinds of Happiness

Delightful Mention

6. Duck Sauce
7. The Twelves
8. Afrojack
9. Kanye
10. Mumford & Sons

All in all..awesome year. Awesome people. Awesome music. No complaints. Just as quickly as it arrived, it departed and the countdown begins yet again! Enjoy this week’s compilation: