Show Photos: No Age @ Coachella 2009, 04/19/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 3
Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

No Age myspace

I had actually seen these guys for the first time about a week before Coachella, at the Loft at UCSD. But I was happy to be seeing them again, because a) they're amazing, and b) I didn't get to take photos at the Loft show. I really enjoyed their set a lot more this time around, because the sound was infinitely better than at the Loft. Also, I never get tired of seeing bands at Coachella breaking out into huge grins in the middle of a song, like, "Shit dude, we're playing COACHELLA." Always super endearing.

I unfortunately didn't get to see their whole set, because Friendly Fires was playing the next tent over, and I knew from seeing them in Chicago that their set was also one not to be missed.

Show Photos: Mexican Institute of Sound @ Coachella 2009, 04/19/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 3
Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Mexican Institute of Sound myspace

I've gotta give these guys props. It was HOT out there, but they were bouncing all over the stage, getting their crowd riled up despite the heat. Great way to start off the last day of Coachella, and great way to wake up from the nap I was taking in the shade tent beforehand.

Holga Photos: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, 07/08/2008

Photos: Alaska - Holga
Photos: Alaska - Land Tour
Photos: Alaska - Cruise

So, remember how I went to Alaska last summer? I shot a few rolls of film with my Holga, and JUST NOW realized that I never posted them anywhere. I mean, in all fairness, this one sat in my fridge for almost a year before I finally gave in and took it to George's to get it developed (as opposed to doing it myself). I figured it would be a welcome break from the Coachella photos...

And for the record, I thought Prudhoe Bay was one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been to. If you can look past all the oil drilling equipment.

Show Photos: Mastodon @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Mastodon myspace

Not really my type of music, but a good way to close out day 2 of Coachella nonetheless. And again with the blue lights. Grr.

Show Photos: Gang Gang Dance @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Gang Gang Dance myspace

I really had no idea what to expect with this band, and I was more than pleasantly surprised. I should have been dead tired, but instead, I found myself dancing and shimmying along with the music as I took photos of their set.

Show Photos: Jenny Lewis @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Jenny Lewis myspace

M.I.A. was followed up with Jenny Lewis on the Outdoor Theater (again). An interesting change of pace, although it did give me some deja vu.

Show Photos: M.I.A. @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

M.I.A. myspace

This was probably the most fun set of the whole festival to shoot. Just absolutely great visuals. Oh, and the super-catchy music didn't hurt, either. And from what I hear, shooting her on the main stage this year was a heck of a lot better than trying to shoot her set in the tent last year...

Show Photos: Band of Horses @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Band of Horses myspace

Still on the Outdoor Theater, still with the blue lights. I tried to make these photos less Smurf-like, but sometimes there's not a whole lot you can do with ridiculous saturating lights like these. I was only in the photo pit for a song or two of theirs before heading over to the main stage for M.I.A. Who was half an hour late. Ah well.

Show Photos: Fleet Foxes @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Fleet Foxes myspace

Whoever was running the Outdoor Theater lights like the blue ones. A LOT.

I'd never seen Fleet Foxes before (having missed their tour through San Diego last summer by virtue of being in Seattle), and with nothing to shoot after them until Band of Horses - on the same stage - I was looking forward to finding a spot at the back to lie down and listen to them.

Unfortunately, the Do Lab was pumping out the bass so loudly that I had to carve out a space a lot closer to the stage than I expected, just in order to hear their sweet harmonies. In fact, the Do Lab was a problem most of the festival - from disrupting Paul McCartney's set (a little respect, please) to making me pop multiple ibuprofen during Saturday and Sunday, despite walking around with perpetual earplugs in. I get that some people like to go to Coachella to dance. I just wish they'd make it a bit easier for those of us who are there to hear the live to actually do so.

Show Photos: TV on the Radio @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

TV on the Radio myspace

This time of day is the worst to be shooting on the main stage. The sun is on its way down, which makes the sky incredibly bright, but the stage lights are not yet going, so the performers are mostly in the dark. I should have shot their set from a different angle to incorporate more of the stage backdrop in the background, but oh well. You live and learn.

Show Photos: Amanda Palmer @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Amanda Palmer myspace

Amanda Palmer is one-half of the Dresden Dolls and a solo musician in her own right. She's also one hell of a show-woman. She's got charisma in bucketloads, and if you've heard her song "Please Drop Me," you know she's not afraid to speak her mind. Her set was fun as hell to shoot.

Show Photos: Dr. Dog @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Dr. Dog myspace

This was pretty much the perfect follow-up to Blitzen Trapper's set. The tent was packed, and after taking photos, I watched the rest of the set from the back of the tent, sitting in the sunlight, occasionally blocked from it by the people standing behind me. Pretty fantastic.

Show Photos: Blitzen Trapper @ Coachella 2009, 04/18/2009

Photos: Coachella Day 2
Photos: Coachella Day 1

Blitzen Trapper myspace

I've seen these guys a few times now, and they always put on a solid, rollicking set. No difference this time around, despite the heat.