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Desert Lab, Desert Gold, Desert Madness!

We had used to go to Coachella in Indio every year but then decided for one reason or another it was too much work and money. Hotels cost a fortune, tickets aren't cheap and hydration inside the festival costs an arm and a leg. So this year we had made an impromptu trip down to the ACE Hotel in Palm Springs for a few nights of Coachella like activities as well as some custom and limited vinyl. One of the best things about Coachella is being able to discover new bands and listen to acts you perhaps might not always see when they come into town. Third Man Records planned a weekend of DJs and bands at the ACE which was very low key and right up my alley. Some of the bands we had heard of but majority were new discoveries, secret guests Thee Oh Sees were the highlight. 

Big festivals nowadays are almost an automatic 'no' for me. Just based on the pushing and shoving, the size of the crowd, it taking 3 hours to drive sixty miles, no parking and all other negatives that come along with a festival that has over 50,000 people attending. The Desert Gold week the ACE puts on is an event all in itself but with all the focus being at Coachella, it's a much more relaxed way to enjoy the weekend in the desert. 

The true highlight of the week was being able to get into Converse's Desert Lab where they were making one of a kind lathe cut acetates. We each chose the only band we knew The XX, one is an 'Unreleased Remix' and the other is a cover of Aaliyah's 'Hot Like Fire'. Each have our name etched into them and also the date it was cut. These are truly one of a kind. The journey to acquire these two items, the experience of watching it be cut and the music was a very fulfilling scavenger hunt.

Jeff The Brotherhood at The Blank Club

We trekked out to The Blank Club in San Jose to check out the brothers known as Jeff the Brotherhood. This was the third time we'd seen JTB but the first time as a headliner and by far in the smallest venue. Having seen them open at the Fox for Best Coast last summer we knew their energy in such a small bar was going to be exciting. The crowd couldn't have grown to more than 40 people which really gave the show an intimate feel. The two hung out in the bar until it was time for them to go on, bantering with the other Infinity Cat bands opening up and getting primed on A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' via Lagunitas six packs. Jamin turned on the smoke machine and his brother Jake starts ripping through the 3 strings on his guitar. Was it their best show? Maybe not, the guys have been very good in the past but it was fun and the guys were personable which made us really feel like we were part of the show.