Round one of Coachella is over and damn, was it a good one! We're all sore, sunburned and smiling. Here's the best of what we saw during another memorable weekend in Indio.
Timothy Norris
The Evolution of the Bro
This year's bigger and better Yuma Tent seemed to mark a advancement in the appreciation of EDM, as many bros defected from the dubstep haven of the Sahara and lost themselves to dance in the house and experimental electronic-heavy Yuma. There was far less fist pumping, and, blessedly much less of this. -Katie Bain
LA Weekly
Nicolas Jaar He opened his Friday night DJ set in the Yuma Tent with Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," and from there kept the packed dance tent on its toes with a set that at times seemed intentionally tuned to drive away fair weather fans with gaps of experimental noise. Those that stuck it out got an ever more thrilling set that included jungle, hip-hop and house and induced one of the hottest, edgiest, least self-aware dance parties of the festival. -Katie Bain
The new and improved Yuma Tent Last year's introduction of the Yuma tent brought a new disco tech vibe to the electronic scene at Coachella. This year's version of the Yuma tent, however, is new and improved. It's bigger, more organized and allows a place for electronic lovers to enjoy groovy music away from the Sahara tent. The tent's line up this year is another new and improved feature. Over all, the Yuma tent's improvements deserve a round of applause! - Mary Carreon
The Mexican Cantina Club The Polo Field's onsite Mexican restaurant was never connected to the actual festival grounds before, but this year it was! (Attendees could enter through the new and improved -- and very lovely -- Beer Barn.) Inside, the venue offered cheap (ish) beer and cocktails, clean bathrooms, air-conditioning, ample seating and loads of '90s era hip-hop on the stereo. Basically, it was the GA VIP section. -Katie Bain
The Replacements playing "Androgynous"
Several songs into the Replacements' set, singer Paul Westerberg invited the audience to sing along if they knew the words to this next song. "Androgynous" began and after a few times through the chorus he stopped singing, allowing the crowd to oblige by filling in, swaying, and singing loudly one of the (presumably) most meaningful songs of their youth. It was a unifying experience, even if the crowd all split and dispersed just a couple songs later. The band launched into a cover of "Maybelline" right after. -Taylor Hamby
Timothy Norris
