COACHELLA FESTIVAL DAY 3: Live Reviews.
This is what happened the last day of this year's Coachella (remember than next weekend will feature the exact same line-up).
KENDRICK LAMAR
He was expected to make an impression and he certainly did. I was a bit disappointed, but that’s on me, Kendrick did just a fine job out there playing generously his latest release, “DAMN”, dropped just last Friday in time for this performance.
Using a kung-fu theme displayed onscreen, he was arrogant enough to be there by himself, backed only twice by dancers (a ninja choreography complete with katana –which suggested further elaboration on this; it didn’t and that’s part of my disappointment- and a female dancer) and with guest appearances by ScHoolboy Q and Future, and that’s it. The Whole Main Stage for himself. And that’s it.
The songs are still great. The new songs aren’t that ambitious as his former releases but they’re far from being bad, and he proved that he could play just a bit of “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and get away with it. Sure, one missed jewels like “The Blacker The Berry”, but Kendrick is such a powerhouse name that he actually gets away with it.
One is forced to believe that he really is the best rapper alive.
LORDE
Once, it was painful to watch her live. She was uncomfortable and unexperienced onstage, and it was awkward for the rest of us to see it. Now that she’s overcome her awkward Morticia Addams phase, she is such a nice presence, commands her stage and has become such a professional it’s a shame she doesn’t have the songs to add them to the mix. Sure, “Royals” is a great song, “Liability” is a nice little single and “Team” is nice too, but that’s it – and she knows it, as she played them at the end of her hour-long set. She’s a nice girl, it shows onstage and she certainly has talent, but if you aren’t a fan will get bored.
HANS ZIMMER
One has to be careful with this one. On one hand, it was such a great spectacle watching one of today’s top film composers take his more famous scores (“The Lion King”, “The Dark Knight”, “Gladiator”) complete with an orchestra, chorus and an excelent string trio. On the other, can you really take seriously a performance consisting merely of movie scores? Herr Zimmer seemed like he enjoyed himself, though.
JACK GARRATT
The definition of a one-band man, British Jack Garratt played drums, keyboard and guitar (sometimes at the same time) alone in such an honest way to an audience that watched everything quietly, respectfully, responding to him and sometimes singing along. Alone, only accompanied by two back-up singers, Garratt filled the stage and part of the reason is that he played the Gobi tent, which is a smaller, intimate scenario. A supreme triumph.
GROUPLOVE
Finally, an indie rock band that actually rocked. Part of it can be explained because the band already has experience playing large venues, part of it because the band was actually happy and enjoying themselves being in there (at least, vocalist Hannah Hooper was). They sounded rough, yet delicate, and got people pogoing at times.
KAYTRANADA
The Haitian DJ delivered a hip hop session that was OK, but just that. Guess I’ve watched too many DJing this weekend.
FUTURE ISLANDS
The big problem that Future Islands has is that they sound so 4AD (even if it’s been years since they left the label) that on record they aren’t that interesting anymore. If you forget that fact, Future Islands are a great act live, and their atmospheric sound fits surprisingly well on a large venue, mostly because singer Hemlock Ernst, besides the kickass singer he is, is such an entertaining showman to watch.
TOVE LO
Totally forgettable. I’ve never understood the hype surrounding Sweden’s Tove Lo and today wasn’t the day to start comprehending. Average female synth bubblegum pop, that’s the truth. People like Charli XCX does this much, much better.
NEW ORDER
They have descended more and more into Patheticland since the turn of the century. All the old glory, gone. Who would’ve thought that without Peter Hook they’d be so lost?