coachella 2012 photo diary

Here it is, the obligatory Coachella 2012 Photo Diary. Coachella is a unique place where I experience pain, anger, joy and excitement all in one day, for three days in a row. Coachella is full of highs and lows, or as some like to say peaks and valleys.

If you want to see really cool photos of all the bands that performed, you won't find them on this blog... that's what Google is for.

Where my journey began

The temperature is one of those valleys...

I'm melting...

Peak: Frozen lemonade to keep cool

Mazzy Star

The Black Keys with John Foggerty. Initially I thought it was Don Henley and if you are offended by that google a photo of Don Henley, look for the one of him with long-ish hair and he's wearing a red flannel, looks just like the guy in this photograph. They did a tribute to the late Levon Helm.

Peak: Celeb Spotting... this isn't actually a very high peak, but it's cool I guess. That's Alicia Silverstone, husband and the baby she fed bird style.

High Peak: The Sunsets... 

Miike Snow. That's right you unhip people, it's spelled with two "i's."

Feist and her back-up singers that look like sister wives

St. Vincent

Thom Yorke's eye and Radiohead

A literal peak, a snow capped one at that.

I wore my California shirt just for Dre and Snoop 

Valley: $8 Heinekens

Peak: The air-conditioned Heineken tent

Peak: The Girl Talk dance party!

And the wonderful and amazing Florence (and the Machine)

And alas... the 2Pac hologram... which kind of freaked me out a little. This is the best shot I could get of glowing 2Pac on stage.

The Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog performance was incredible and full of guests, Eminem, Whiz Kalifa, Warren G, 50 Cent to name a few.

Other non-photographed events:

- I sat on a fire ant while wearing a skirt and got stung in my thigh-gyna.

- I almost got in a fight with a car full of "youths" while exiting the parking lot.

- I was in pain by day three from blisters and sore feet.

- I spotted this girl whose blog I am kind of obsessed with. She is a popular fashion blogger so naturally I stalk her on all forms of social media and I knew she was at Coachella, then I spotted her right in front of me at the Miike Snow show. I was creeped out like I shouldn't have been able to recognize her. I felt like a true stalker.

Surviving Coachella

In about 15 days I will soon be surrounded by thin, fresh faced, tanned, beautiful, super hip and super annoying young people -- thousands of them... but I am still excited about seeing the bands.

(This is a photo I took last year on my way to Coachella)

If you're going to Coachella here are some survival tips. These tips are especially those for the age of 25 and up.

Surviving Coachella:

Basics:
1.) Bring a lot of cash.
2.) Bring a lot of sunscreen.
3.) Bring a lot of hand sanitizer. The porter potties at Coachella do not have water and soap, only foam hand sanitizer. Having your own hand sanitizer to use before you eat will make you less grossed out and will save you a trip from going to the porter potty section.
4.) Bring a hat with a large rim. No matter how old or touristy you think you look, your face will thank you for not having a sunglasses tan.
5.) Don't try to push your way to the stage. You do not want to get in an elbow match with 20 year old boys.
6.) Coachella is amazing when the sun sets so remember that when you feel huge regret while standing under the scorching sun in the 120 degree heat.

Surviving the Crowd:
You will be surrounded by extremely good looking kids who are practically naked. When you begin to feel insecure and un-hip just remember the following:
1.) They are young and stupid, you are older and wiser.
2.) They will get a horrible orange tan and possibly skin cancer from showing too much skin.
3.) You have more money than they do because you have a job, which means you can afford to buy dozens of $3.00 cold bottle waters while they stand in the long line for free water from a drinking fountain. I encourage you to rub this in their face as much as possible.
4.) If you were bringing pot, you'd have better quality pot than they do why? Because you have more money.
5.) When one of the bands does a cover of a Bob Dylan or Guns N Roses song, you will actually know where the song originated and they won't. (Although, that might annoy me)
6.) Try to find a spot where there are people your age and chill there for a bit because it will make you feel normal and sane again.
7.) Remember that you are there because you LOVE live music and amazing performances that are not captured on CD's are what you live for.