Culture / Music

Coachella Week 1: here’s what you missed

WORDS Karen Leong    PHOTOGRAPHY Instagram     PUBLISHED Mon, 15 Apr 2024 - 3:00 pm

Coachella weekend one has just concluded in a blaze of glory. With electrifying sets from Grimes, Lana Del Rey and Gwen Stefani led No Doubt, there were plenty of moments of  pop culture gold to be mined from one week alone. If you weren't on standby all weekend to round up any of the most captivating showings, we've got you covered.

From mic malfunctions to the ready to wear creations (hello, bespoke Dolce and Gabbana on miss Del Rey!), there were moments aplenty which had us rocking on the edge of our seats. The good, the bad and the downright ludicrous came together in one maelstrom of affairs. At the epicentre of festival performance, here's what you missed.

New and Old with No Doubt and Olivia Rodrigo

This set showed us that being a punk rocker is indefatigable. The long-awaited return of No Doubt was amplified by surprise guest Olivia Rodrigo. A surprise duet of 'Return of Saturn' between Gwen Stefani and the budding starlet proceeded, with Rodrigo herself adorned in some I <3 No Doubt fan merch.

 

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Grimes faces hurdles

Technical difficulties swarmed our favourite futuristic singer as her performance on the Sahara Stage left fans mired in confusion. Tempo asymmetries, lag in track buildup and unmastered mixes all contributed to the lacking performance. Reception to the mix-up has varied, but ardent fans have called for leniency and a sensitive hand in dealing with the incident at large. Check out her twitter explainer below.

 

Has Lana died for your sins?

Now, onto the crème de la crème of the evening. Ten years following her first Coachella appearance, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant is back as a heavyweight contender. This time she's baying for blood. In the lead-up to her performance, a giant billboard was unmasked. The ad questioning: Who died for your sins? was a direct snub at a snub of her now notorious SNL performance in 2o12. With a set that had pyrotechnic effects, fan dance, and an entrance that involved a fleet of motorcycles, Lana has cemented her rightful place as gangster princess of pop stardom once and for all.

 

Lana again, but this time with Billie

In a move that united the warring factions of Millennials and Generation Z, Lana Del Rey ushered out Billie Eilish for a very special rendition of Video Games and Ocean Eyes. Tears were shed. Lives were changed - namely ours.

 

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