Coachella Headliners: Weekend One
Weekend One at The Coachella Valley Music Festival was everything but uneventful. Revelers braved sweltering heat, turning up in record numbers and patiently waiting for the who’s who of the music world. Their patience yielded rich dividends as stars, old and new put on shows that will be remembered for days to come.
Amidst the extravaganza, few names made waves:
Green Day Brings Politics To Coachella
The punk-rock band known for their hard-hitting, politically charged music, made headlines (per usual). The band’s uninhibited vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong sang “altered” lyrics from “American Idiot” and “Jesus of Suburbia,” to offer political commentary on contemporaneous times. Fireworks marking Green Day’s end of set ended disastrously as a “pyrotechnic mishap” resulted in a freak accident, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Charli XCX ‘Wears’ Her Grievances
Relegated to a Coachella ‘side stage’ to accommodate Green Day, Charli XCX made her ‘shade’ loud and clear. During a Coachella afterparty, the Brat star raised eyebrows when she wore a sash that read “Miss Should Be Headliner.” Green Day fans took to social media to pan the “360” singer, calling her a “bitter artist.”
Benson Boone Unhappy With Tepid Response
During his debut at Coachella, the “Beautiful Things” star generated a buzz when he performed Queen’s legendary song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Boone paid homage to Freddie Mercury as he emulated the iconic singer, complete with the latter’s sequined catsuit and showmanship. Queen’s Brian May joined the stage effortlessly recreating his guitarist duties. However, Boone took to social media after the fact to lambast the Coachella crowd for their “underwhelming reaction” to May.
Bernie Sanders Energizes Coachella
Having assumed the mantle from a currently rudderless Democratic party, the Progressive senator made a surprise appearance at Coachella. Presently circuiting the Southwest for his “Fight the Oligarchy” tour, the Vermonter brought in his typical high energy. Within a brief, yet highly effective speech, he touched on various progressive causes. Before introducing Clairo, Sanders called for active participation and warned the young crowd to ‘ignore the political reality at their own peril.’
Others: T-Pain’s performance ignited a ‘campaign’ for the singer-producer to be a ‘frontrunner’ to perform at the Super Bowl LX’s halftime show. Lady Gaga’s headlining spectacle garnered appreciation, with fans praising her boundless energy and the eye-catching stage design.
Featured Image Credits: Wendy Wei/Pexels