And we miss Coachella, much like the deserts miss the rain.

[thestripe]

Take a year off. I did it 2010, and it really helped me curb any negative feelings that I had building. I have been going since 2004 and the festival is something I look forward to every year. It's not fun missing Coachella, but sometimes it helps.

*I also missed 2007 because I was out of the country for work. I was fucking depressed because the line-up was stacked with bands I wanted to see. Rage, Sonic Youth, Bjork, LCD, Jarvis, JMC...it was not an easy miss.

[Miroir Noir]

If there were ever a year to miss, it was 2010, largely for reasons having nothing to do with the lineup and performances.

[Gribbz]

I loved the line-up/performances of 2010. The crowd, trash, and the general clusterfuckness is what turned me off.

[HandBanana]

2007 was the most stacked year for me, but 2008 had some of the best moments overall.

[thestripe]

Nothing will ever beat 2008.

[Gribbz]

2007 was the most stacked year for me.

I remember walking into the fest in 2007 and being handed one of those booklets with the set times. I remember saying: "Conflicts? What the fuck?" I learned so much that weekend.

[HandBanana]

Its a natural cycle of things. Just like some years have more good record releases than others.

Movements start, movements mature, eventually you have a boiling point where everything is amazing (2007) then things simmer down, bands exit entirely (LCD), things become reduced and more bands become derivative, things get stale, the "little brothers" start showing up and they dont care about what made the initial movements so great in the first place because they only understand the most superficial elements of those musical movements, rinse/lather/repeat.

Happens to everything.

[Alchemy]

You're like a member of the GOP, with Coachella as your America, where 2007 is your Ronald Reagan, and "little brothers" is young people and foreigners.

[HandBanana]

But I want things to progress and continue to be more interesting and not so stale, so....no your metaphor doesnt really scan.

[faxman75]

Nothing will ever beat 2008.

I agree.

[captncrzy]

2008 was my favorite

[Alchemy]

They are stale to you. Coachella has always booked the same type of bands - even the exact same acts. 2011 and 2012 are not unlike 2005 and 2006, in my opinion. Coachella was never going to be something that abandoned its usual acts for things in the noise music thread. This electronica selection is weak, but that might have everything to do with a global trend and all sorts of other circumstances. I'm sure Coachella will continue to bring things like Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, and The Orb, etc... in the future (although, that would not be progressive).

You're confusing Coachella for a movement, but it is just a thing that is delivering the same stuff that it always has.

[HotHamWater]

Alchemy is owning this godforsaken thread. Insert "nailed it" photo here.

[locachica73]

2008 was my first and my favorite. Although I know it would have been so much better if I had my "coachella friends" to enjoy it with.

[casey]

2008 was great, but I have to say my favorite ever Coachella single day came Sunday in 2009, in the Mojave.

[ods..]

They are stale to you. Coachella has always booked the same type of bands - even the exact same acts. 2011 and 2012 are not unlike 2005 and 2006, in my opinion. Coachella was never going to be something that abandoned its usual acts for things in the noise music thread. This electronica selection is weak, but that might have everything to do with a global trend and all sorts of other circumstances. I'm sure Coachella will continue to bring things like Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, and The Orb, etc... in the future (although, that would not be progressive).

You're confusing Coachella for a movement, but it is just a thing that is delivering the same stuff that it always has.

ding ding ding

[Courtney]

My being lame on this thread prompted multiple lovely Coachella board members to phone and harass me, which prompted me to get my act together and purchase airfare and car and most importantly an attached-lens camera. So there's no backing out for me now.

See you all in a month

[guedita]

I'm still wearing the "Not Good Enough for Courtney" shirt.

[Alchemy]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

[locachica73]

My being lame on this thread prompted multiple lovely Coachella board members to phone and harass me, which prompted me to get my act together and purchase airfare and car and most importantly an attached-lens camera. So there's no backing out for me now.

See you all in a month

YAY! Thanks to those who changed your mind. I have looked forward to meeting you for awhile.

[Courtney]

I'm a sucker for peer pressure. And I look forward to meeting you too Audra!

[Alchemy]

Weekend #1, Courtney?

[MoSetsfire]

Weekend uno or dos?

[amyzzz]

WOOHOO! I feel the same as Audra.

[Trick Loves The Kids]

They are stale to you. Coachella has always booked the same type of bands - even the exact same acts. 2011 and 2012 are not unlike 2005 and 2006, in my opinion. Coachella was never going to be something that abandoned its usual acts for things in the noise music thread. This electronica selection is weak, but that might have everything to do with a global trend and all sorts of other circumstances. I'm sure Coachella will continue to bring things like Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, and The Orb, etc... in the future (although, that would not be progressive).

You're confusing Coachella for a movement, but it is just a thing that is delivering the same stuff that it always has.

On the other hand, this is the worst lineup I've seen since I started going (2006). The dance music is depressing, the headliners are predictable except for Dr. Dre, and there only a few bands that I wouldn't have a chance to see the rest of the year. Blaming "global trends" is a joke, there are American festivals with infinitely better dance music bookings in the next few months, and Coachella itself has managed to do it every year up until this one.

I know "Coachella is dead" is a thing every year, but on the real this is the first year I kind of believe it. Not saying the festival is going anywhere, and unless I have a terrible time this year I will probably keep going, but honestly it's difficult to look at this lineup and be anything but disappointed (and doubly so if you like non-anthemic dance music).

[Courtney]

Weekend #1, Courtney?

Yes sir.

[GuyInTucson]

On the other hand, this is the worst lineup I've seen since I started going (2006). The dance music is depressing, the headliners are predictable except for Dr. Dre, and there only a few bands that I wouldn't have a chance to see the rest of the year. Blaming "global trends" is a joke, there are American festivals with infinitely better dance music bookings in the next few months, and Coachella itself has managed to do it every year up until this one.

I know "Coachella is dead" is a thing every year, but on the real this is the first year I kind of believe it. Not saying the festival is going anywhere, and unless I have a terrible time this year I will probably keep going, but honestly it's difficult to look at this lineup and be anything but disappointed (and doubly so if you like non-anthemic dance music).

Name one comparable American music festival with a less shitty EDM lineup (Festivals like Ultra, DEMF and EDC do not count because those music festivals are entirely predicated on electronic music).... The funny thing is that this is coming from a guy who defends Swedish House Mafia up and down.

[guedita]

I just laughed out loud so, so hard.

Oh my.

[MoSetsfire]

Yes sir.

will you smoke/take a shot with your only Lebanese friend from the board?!

[guedita]

The funny thing is that this is coming from a guy who defends Swedish House Mafia up and down.

Preserved forever for successful Tricktrollin'.