Dancin' my ginger ass off!
I spoiled my dinner Friday night, according to friends. For the record, I drank a yellow 32-oz Gatorade, a monster bag of pepperoni-flavored Combos, and a slightly more petite bag of Welch’s grape snacks.
How did I spoil this, um, dinner, you ask.
I watched the first night of Coachella 2012 on YouTube via webcast. I am attending the mega festival’s second weekend with my boo, Kerry. That did not stop me from vegging out on the webcast. It was both enjoyable and a learning exercise to better decide who to see on the festival’s first day.
Here’s what I learned from watching Coachella’s Friday webcast. I did not watch either Saturday or Sunday. Kerry convinced me to not spoil my dinner any further.
1. I want to dance my ginger ass off
Dance punk O.G.’s The Rapture killed it Friday night. And I had an epiphany while watching: I want to dance my ginger ass off at Coachella. Particularly to the song “How Deep Is Your Love?” ‘Tis an eargasm! Whereas before watching The Rapture I had considered their set a mere bridge to the Black Keys/Explosions in the Sky/M83 trio, now I am anticipating the sweaty, dance extravaganza their set promises.
2. Frank Ocean is no Jarvis Cocker, but that’s OK
Yes, Mr. Ocean is not a captivating performer yet. He just walks around and mugs. His voice is nice. But, he is miles and miles away from being as entertaining as Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, whose reunited group is playing opposite Ocean. I flipped between the two on the webcast. That said …. I am leaning toward checking out Ocean’s set because I really like his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra and I am not too familiar with Pulp’s catalog.
3. My irrational WU LYF expectations
After watching Brit heavy-poppers WU LYF bark their way through their Coachella set, my expectations for them are sky high. How high? Well, my rational brain says At the Drive-In and Radiohead are the acts I am most anticipating. My irrational brain says WU LYF is the band I am most looking forward to seeing during the festival. I know, I know. Pure gibberish.
4. NEED MORE DANCIN’
Gary Clark Jr. is one talented guitarist. Neon Indian make me want to dance my ginger ass off. They are playing at the same time. Guess who I am leaning toward going see. Then again, it’s supposed to be 99 degrees in Indio, Calif., on Friday. Clark is in a shaded area. Fuck the shade! Must dance! (My tune might change on Friday, I admit.)
5. Black Keys/Explosions In The Sky/M83 conundrum
This is a tuffffffffffffffffff one. That’s how you spell tough when the decision is particularly tuff decision. Where was I? Oh yeah, this trio is playing at the same time, and it’s a difficult decision, to say the least. I like but don’t love Black Keys, Explosions in the Sky is a solid live act I have seen twice, and M83 has more potential than either of the other two. Should I skip the headlining Black Keys and follow my Cajun heart to a side stage? Yes, yes I should. Still, this has all the makings of a game-time decision.
[...] week prior to Coachella I vowed to dance my ginger ass off, in spite of the heat. I underestimated its oppressiveness. Fortunately, rivers of bottled water, [...]