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. 

Outside Lands Festival 2012

We decided to give Outside Lands another chance after they announced a fairly good lineup this year. We went the first year of the festival to see Radiohead and what I remembered from that year was no parking, walking miles, and a ton of people. Very much the same deal this year, attendance being about 60,000 and there wasn't one dedicated parking lot and some of the crowds for certain sets just were ridiculous. Over the first two days we saw three full sets and pieces of a few others, Beck, the Kills and an incredible set by Foo Fighters highlighted the first 2 days. The third day had a certain mystic to it from the beginning. The Third Man Records Rolling Record Store had made it's way from the home base in Nashville to various spots like Indy, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, LA and they had tweeted overnight being near the Pacific Ocean. We hoped they'd be inside the gates but couldn't be too sure, and once we were inside the venue we were stuck inside. They mentioned they'd be at Outside Lands around 9:30, however with the gates not opening until 11 we were in limbo for about an hour and a half. We found parking, walked towards the gates but of course were abruptly told, 'you can't stand here' go figure. Quickly I replied, 'we're waiting for a friend,' as the crowd began to thicken around us the security inquired 'how long before they show up?' which at that point we had absolutely no idea. We were asked to stand across the street with another couple who had the same answers to the usher's questions so I didn't hesitate to inquire if we were waiting for the same thing, which we were. So the four of us waited until the announcement of the Rolling Record Store being open and then we ran inside! It really started a sense of panic and we hoped we wouldn't be too late to get the Jack White Lightning Bolt Blunderbuss. It was a surreal scene, a bright yellow truck in the middle of the forest selling vinyl rarities and above anything else on the west coast. So with the task of tracking down our vinyl completed we were ready to enjoy some music! We caught one act and then returned to the RRS where we noticed a huge gathering, we knew there was probably a Jack White secret show in the works but we just hoped we weren't too late! We found spots behind an amp which turned out to be ok but not a terrific spot for us to see Jack and the full band, however after a brief 3 song set Jack wrapped up and passed the mic to Tom Morello which we did have a better spot for the one man act. This saved the weekend from being a total disappointment. Stevie Wonder closed out the festival and played all kinds of hits, from his own and even a song by the King of Pop, a perfect way to top off the festival.