Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Coachella 2005: Day One

Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

Coachella in 2005 was all about more. More bands. More signs. More mist. More shade. More cool breezes. More old people. More kids. More art. More more more.

And it was better for it. We opened the day listening to Buck 65 (who sings an awful lot about horses) from the VIP area before staking out a prime location at the Outdoor Stage for much of the rest of the day. Jamie Cullum, Eisley, Razorlight, and Rilo Kiley all held us with rapt attention with only small breaks for Snow Patrol, MF Doom, and Weezer.

Rilo Kiley was our favorite set of the day. Efren Ramirez introduced them wearing the signature Vote for Pedro tee and holding a top hat (but never putting it on). The crowd cheered wildly for him as soon as he appeared on stage but the true star was Jenny Lewis. The entire band was tight and energetic dealing with the wind and the technical issues that plagued the outdoor stage all day and Blake even got us to enjoy a song we don't normally -- Ripchord -- but Jenny was fire incarnate. We could watch her all day.

Support for LAist comes from

We fell further in love with the young ladies of Eisley. Nic Armstrong and the Thieves made us new fans. Snow Patrol's performance have us reconsidering our quick dismissal of their album last year and Weezer was Weezer. Rivers Cuomo might be going off the deep end as the tortured artist lately but you can't deny Hashpipe and the Sweater Song.

Austinist has their day one coverage and we've got more pictures after the jump.

1 PM and already spent.

Not overwhelmingly so but lots of boys enjoyed wearing skirts on the Empire Polo Field.

Nic Armstrong of Nic Armstrong and the Thieves. An unexpected treat of Day one.

Jamie Cullum and his jazz trio bring a little smoky club style soul to the daytime crowds.

Support for LAist comes from

Eisley

Snow Patrol

More Coachella Pics Here.

Day 2 soon.

Most Read