Monday, April 30, 2007

Only 364 days till the next one

This was my Coachella experience, in chronological order: Satellite Party, Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, Fountains of Wayne, the New Pornographers, the Decemberists, some (but not nearly enough) of Arcade Fire, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Feeling, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Willie Nelson, one song from Crowded House (I happened to walk through during "Don't Dream, It's Over"), Lily Allen, Teddy Bears and Rage Against the Machine. I had never seen any of them live before.

Debz and I squeezed into the front row for one band (see photo). Guess which one? If you need a hint, you aren't very bright, but you can check out the illicit video Maggie shot during the show or their war against Christmas, a collaboration with Iggy Pop, who was rumored to make a guest appearance last night but didn't. How freakin' fun would it be to do this for a living?

Top three: Decemberists, Teddy Bears and Rodrigo Y Gabriela. Honorable Mention: Jesus and Mary Chain, New Pornographers and what little I saw of Arcade Fire (which is why they're only honorable mention). Duds: absolutely none.

The other cool thing was access to the VIP area. The press tent offered a place to sit and rest, free bottles of water, a WiFi point, proximity to surprisingly clean (and air conditioned) bathroom trailers, and a great vantage point for artist-watching. I picked out Perry Farrell, Colin Meloy, Andrew Bird, Patton Oswalt, Felix Da Housecat, two-fifths of Fountains of Wayne and several others whom I couldn't identify but were giving radio interviews or being photographed so they must be important.

Then, and this is purely for Betsy's benefit, there was the mini-parade of celebutards: Tara Reid, Cameron Diaz and Paris Hilton.

There's more, but I blogged it for work so read it there. Yes, I actually did fit some work in there. Don't worry... I kept it to a "bear" (groan) minimum.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

At Coachella

It was 3:30 p.m. when Fountains of Wayne wrapped up on the main stage, and it was about 103 degrees at that moment. My only thought was the tub filled with free bottles of water back at the press tent.

When I arrived, I zeroed in on the tub, which was stuck in a corner next to a couch. I didn't even look at the man sitting on the couch. As started to step over him, he said, "There's no more water in there. It's over there," and pointed a few feet away.

"Thanks," I said to Colin Meloy of the Decemberists.

About three hours later, he and his band put on one of the finest musical performances I've ever witnessed:

I'd write more and offer a few more pics, but I'm tired and only two-thirds of the way through the fest. I'm contributing to a blog for work so you can read that instead.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Tough decisions

What kind of insane sadistic ass approved the set times for this year's Coachella?

Scheduling the Decemberists and Andrew Bird at the same time on different stages on Saturday? That's just cruel.

Shafting the Lemonheads by playing them Sunday against the Rage reunion? No way anyone in their right mind misses that.

To all you sorry sacks not in the California desert this weekend, I look upon you with pity and sorrow. And a little bit of disgust.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

The first marital disagreement

Basically, it's the name thing.

Debz wants me to take her last name. I have decided against it, and not only because it would make me a wuss or any less of a man (although, of course, it would).

Debz can do whatever she wants with her name. I never would press her into a decision like that, mostly because of the punching. However, I have presented her with the three most obvious options:

• Deborah Dearth. She has rejected this, saying it sounds stupid. And of course it does when you say it, as she does, like the freak offspring of Brandine from "The Simpsons" and Bullwinkle.

• Deborah Nicol-Dearth. Nope: sounds like a law firm.

• Deborah Nicol. Different last names will lead to confusion once there are kids in the picture.

Now I've put a lot of thought into this little dilemma, and I think I've hit upon a perfect and elegant solution:

Deborah and Brian Skywalker.

Problem solved.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Maybe for Christmas?

I open the link that Morgan has e-mailed me.

"No way in hell are you getting that," says Deborah, who walks in the room right as I click on the link. "It doesn't even rain here."

First the Def Leppard mirror* above the bed, now this. Yet another dream cruelly shattered by my pragmatist oppressor.

* Try Googling "Def Leppard mirror" ... you'd expect to uncover a treasure trove of old county fair memories, but nope, nothin' but disappointment.

Only 364 days till the next one

At Coachella

Tough decisions

The first marital disagreement

Maybe for Christmas?

Words of Wisdom

Photos

Endorsements

Selling Out

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