📌 PINNED | April 19, 2024 12:18 p.m.
Gia Canto & Christina Chkarboul, Daily Trojan
The crackle and snare of revving motorcycle engines split through 10 minutes of anticipatory silence, beckoning the arrival of Coachella 2024’s sanctified, unofficial mother: Lana Del Rey.
She rolled in with her dancers en suite, heralding the beginning of the end of the festival’s second Friday. Lana had thousands under her spell that night; her bewitching melodies floated through the cool desert air; sound turned into lifelong memories for all those in attendance.
The day was fueled by positivity. Lively sets were aplenty on the grounds, as music lovers from around the world gathered with a shared mission: to bask in sun and music, and explore all the desert has to offer.
Fiore Smeraldo, attending her second-ever Coachella, said Day 1 was “amazing.”
“The energy here is so good and the weather’s so nice and everybody performing is really good and the food’s too expensive,” Smeraldo said. “I paid $15 for fucking lemonade.”
1:35 a.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Lana Del Rey is truly something to behold. Mesmerized by her beauty, we all forgot she was ten minutes late, falling victim to the hypnotizing lure of her lofty vocals. It was everything, except for the fact that she didn’t sing “Let the Light In,” which we were both waiting for. She went over time, but nobody cared; she could’ve kept singing and we all would’ve stayed. She kept longtime fans fed with callbacks to Lizzy Grant, and ended the night with a song and dance we all knew by heart — The Great Gatsby’s “Young and Beautiful” — with the champagne-popping and firework display to boot.
12:51 a.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Hope is a dangerous thing for a girl like me to have, and I’m crying.
12:44 a.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Del Rey brings out multi-instrumentalist and singer Jon Batiste for a solemn, reverent rendition of their collaborative “Candy Necklaces,” backed by Batiste blessing the keys as Del Rey moves from atop the piano to perform a pole dance.
12:38 a.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
As much as I wanted to scream my lungs out to my favorite and most relatable Lana song, “Norman Fucking Rockwell,” my stream of consciousness was rudely interrupted by the masses of fans who nearly pushed us to the ground as they were trying to leave. Begs the question, why would you even go to the front if you were just gonna ruin the experience for everyone else?
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Non-fans saw themselves out and made space for real ones!!
12:10 a.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Update from the trenches: I’m mesmerized.
12:09 a.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Special guest: Camila Cabello.
12:09 a.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Del Rey wore the shoes of Lizzy Grant, the singer’s early-career persona, for a nostalgic performance of “Ride,” reminding the audience of her catapult to fame. “I’m fucking crazy, but I’m free,” Del Rey yelled — a mantra her fans proudly echoed.
11:47 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Audience members burst into song and whipped phones out to capture Del Rey transporting Empire Polo Club to a blistering, orange-hued 2014 summer night with “Summertime Sadness.”
11:37 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
A minute of blackness and silence opened into a transcendent performance of “Without You,” a sleeper from Del Rey’s “Born to Die.” The songstress, glowing in the spotlight and projected in black and white for the masses to see, croons into the buzzing night.
11:31 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Just under 10 minutes late, Lana Del Rey is arriving to her set at Coachella Stage in style: on the back of a motorcycle as part of a procession through the crowd, her black lace-trimmed veil trailing behind her, Neil Young’s “My my, hey hey” playing on the speakers.
10:14 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Doble P’s legendary set is now over. I’m packed like a sardine between hoards of Peso fans trying to leave and Lana finds trying to secure their spot.
10:14 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Post-Chappell Roan, the great migration began from the Gobi Tent to the expansive outdoor Coachella Stage for Brigitte “Bardot reincarnate” (thanks, Olivia Rodrigo) Sabrina Carpenter’s performance. Carpenter flounced around her ’50s-motel-inspired set above a field full of enthusiastic fans, noting that performing at Coachella was “such a surreal feeling.” Between hits, including “Espresso” and “Feather,” retro-style commercials and makeup tutorials featuring Carpenter played on the massive screens flanking the stage. Carpenter brought out surprise guest Nora Jones, beloved modern jazz icon, who joined the starlet in a piano-backed duet of Jones’ “Don’t Know Why.”
(Christina Chkarboul / Daily Trojan)
10:07 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
PESO PLUMA BROUGHT OUT ESLABON ARMADO FROM “ELLA BAILA SOLA” AND EVERYONE IS LOSING THEIR MINDS
THE CROWD IS SINGING ALONG A CAPPELLA
9:58 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
The crowd can’t help but chant “PESO PESO PESO” as we are all immersed in his trance that is his performance.
9:50 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN ANITTA AND DOBLE P IS BLOWING MY MIND THEY ARE LITERALLY INSANE
9:26 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Peso Pluma is currently performing a career-defining set, with an interlude narrated by none other than Morgan Freeman.
9:20 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Standing at his set right now, Peso Pluma is actively becoming my newest celebrity crush. I’m in awe of his performance, favorite of the day so far. More soon…
8:59 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
An ice-cold Coca-Cola has never tasted so good (non sponsored, thank you press tent 🫶 ).
8:40 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
It certainly felt like “199 degrees” in the Gobi Tent, where girls, gays and theys sporting pink cowgirl hats and bandanas crowded in to witness the one and only Chappell Roan in all her hot pink glory. Roan, whose theatrical stage presence reeled the audience into her “Pink Pony Club,” pranced around in a gorgeously elaborate set of butterfly wings, matching her winged, latex-clad band. The queer pop princess led the audience in a practice round of the “HOT TO GO” dance, which she said “even the bitches on drugs can get,” before sending the packed tent into a giddy dance- and sing-along. From beginning to end, Roan ate and left positively no crumbs, wrapping the crowd around her finger as she recited the bridge to her new single, “Good Luck Babe!”, her crimson curls blowing in the wind.
(Christina Chkarboul / Daily Trojan)
8:40 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
As Christina and I sit enjoying our dinner, our ears are blessed by the hard-rock infused power pop of YOASOBI. A sea of fans flocked to the Mojave tent to catch their slamming riffs and impressive vocals, and YOASOBI is not disappointing.
(Gia Canto / Daily Trojan)
7:55 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Deftones had me feeling like that one Spongebob meme where he’s fighting against the atomic blast erupting from his speakers, or that scene in Back to The Future when Marty cranks up Docs’ amps a liiittle too high. As much head-banging and full-body-screaming that occurred at the Deftones set, I was nearly sent to the floor hearing the first few notes of their rendition of The Smiths’ “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.” Following up what is arguably one of my favorite covers ever, Deftones rounded out an impressively energetic set with TRIPLE whiplash, ending the night with “My Own Summer (Shove It)”. Chino Moreno couldn’t have left any more on that stage, even jumping into the crowd at one point, in a scene that seemed like something straight out of a movie. 10/10, would recommend losing your mind at a Deftones show; I know I did and it was pretty fulfilling to say the least.
7:44 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Lil Uzi Vert beckons in the distance, but I fear I may faint if I don’t eat.
6:49 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
I had to sprint across the grounds to catch the end of Faye Webster’s set but honestly, I’d do anything for that woman. She hypnotized the crowd with her melodic vulnerability, sending more than a few members of the audience straight to tears with “Jonny” and “Jonny (Reprise).” As you probably know from my frantic update earlier, Webster brought out her middle-school bestie and fellow Atlanta native Lil Yachty for an ultra-fun performance of “Lego Ring.”
And for some emotional whiplash, up next on my roster: Deftones.
(Gia Canto / Daily Trojan)
6:33 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
I knew absolutely nothing about L’Impératrice before catching their set tonight, but wow, was I surprised by how all-consuming their technicolor-disco-funkadelic world turned out to be. It was impossible not to dance along with them, and I was in awe of how their music, synchronized choreography and coordinated light-up outfits were able to transport me into the glittering wonders of their futuristic space-age fantasy.
6:19 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
FAYE WEBSTER BROUGHT OUT LIL YACHTY FOR “LEGO RING” AND I’M ABOUT TO FAINT OF EXCITEMENT!!!!!!
5:57 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Be it Unknown Mortal Orchestra, or in this case, The Beths: give a Kiwi a guitar and i’m listening. I had the pleasure of watching the Beths’ set this afternoon, which consisted of a particularly special guest off their “Expert in a Dying Field” album cover (it was a giant inflatable fish). I couldn’t help but hop around to the tune of “When You Know You Know,” and I’m sure if you watch their set on YouTube, you’ll see my curly haired self bopping up and down front and center.
(Gia Canto / Daily Trojan)
5:45 p.m.
Christina Chkarboul, Associate Managing Editor
Amber Mary Bain, professionally known as The Japanese House, dazzled at the Mojave Tent, delivering ethereal vocals and dreamy synth-backed tracks new and classic. The crowd swayed to atmospheric beats on “Saw You In a Dream,” cheered when Mary Bain asked whether there were “any gay people in the audience,” and danced in a collaborative arm wave to the crowd favorite “Sunshine Baby,” which closed out the set.
5:36 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
OK, it’s been a bit of a hectic afternoon, but nothing a few extremely over priced lattes couldn’t fix. I have to say, late night drive home knows how to work a crowd. In a set defining twist, the band was able to get the entirety of the Sonora tent as low as they could to the ground, keeping them on their toes until the group exploded in a rush of thrashing guitar and impressive drum fills, sending the eager crowd straight back to their feet with one fell swoop.
4:15 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Christina and I spent a good part of this afternoon filming some awesome on-site interviews, can’t wait for you to see! Up next: late night drive home and The Japanese House.
2:48 p.m.
Gia Canto, A&E Staff Writer
Cimafunk brought a whole lotta Havana to the Gobi tent this afternoon and what a way to start the day. He embodied everything that makes me proud to be Cuban, from the can’t-help-but-make-you-move rhythm of his funk to the community he was able to build with it.
