With a fantastic Friday night of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the books thanks to such acts as Deftones, Justice, and Lana Del Rey, the fun continues with even more excitement for Saturday. The day’s sets include legendary Southern California band No Doubt, the Jack Antonoff fronted project, Bleachers, and headliner Tyler, the Creator.

Militarie Gun
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

Formed during the days of the pandemic, Militarie Gun is a rock band from Los Angeles known for their garage rock inspired sound. With a rather short 35-minute set, Militarie Gun blazed through an impressive string of tunes from “Ain’t No Flowers” and “Do It Faster” to start the day on the right foot.

Erika de Casier

The Portuguese-born Danish singer, Erika de Casier, had a beautiful set opening the Gobi Tent with her buttery smooth R&B, ’90s inspired slow jams. The music was spacey and breezy which was very soft on the ears, giving everyone in the Gobi Tent a wonderful afternoon. Some of the highlights from the set include “Puppy Love,” “Ex-Girlfriend” and “Do My Thing.”

Girl Ultra
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

In the beloved Sonora tent, Girl Ultra, the Mexican R&B artist had a lovely performance. The project fronted by Marina de Miguel played a glowingly special set with her Spanish music that the crowd was loving. There were some technical difficulties with her guitar not making any sound at one point, but she powered through like a champ and just danced around on stage with the microphone. From tracks like “Ella tú y yo” and the smash hit, “Punk,” there was a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy.

Young Fathers

Young Fathers, a Scottish group, presented focused percussionists and four singers that harmonized without blending their voices like choirs do. The band maintained a lot of synergy with the only femme presenting performer on stage, so much so, that one would think that the band is made up of more than three masculine presenting figures.

The Aquabats
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

The biggest line to get into the Sonora tent was forming as The Aquabats set was about to start. Once inside, the band from Huntington Beach put on an explosively fun and absurd set that everyone of all ages enjoyed. Easily recognizable from their bright, matching outfits, The Aquabats are a colorful, silly band that make wholesome and wacky songs that both adults and kids can enjoy. During weekend one, the characters of the children’s show, Yo Gabba Gabba popped up on stage to dance around during their set, and they came back again to throw another lively pool party. It’s so easy to walk out of an Aquabats show and be filled with childlike wonder after listening to in-your-face ska music about sharks, zombies, and pizza. 

The Last Dinner Party
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

At the Gobi tent providing an incredibly bold and dynamic set was the indie rock group, The Last Dinner Party. From London, United Kingdon, The Last Dinner Party are known for their ambitious, borderline opera inspired indie music mixed with infectiously catchy choruses and glossy guitars. With an impressive debut record under their belt, Prelude to Ecstasy, this Coachella performance was the perfect opportunity to see what the band can do. And they did not disappoint.

The Last Dinner Party had a solid set providing a fuller sound from the crunchy guitars, face-melting bass, and punchy drums. The band had plenty of energy on stage, and the crowd reciprocated that energy right back. The vocals were especially chilling and spine tingling with tracks like “Portrait of a Dead Girl” and “My Lady of Mercy.” They ended the set with the single “Nothing Matters” and had the entire Gobi tent grooving.

Kevin Abstract 

Defunct hip hop group Brockhampton’s member Kevin Abstract had a distinct presence, which has allowed him to further his career as a solo artist. Kevin hinted he would be having a special guest at his set again on his Instagram with a photo of him and Lil Nas X. For the second song of the set, Kevin brought out Lil Nas X to perform a brand new song titled “Tennessee.” It was an exciting moment unique to concertgoers. Witnessing them both collaborate made room for potentialities: Kevin joked that the duo is like the “gay Watch the Throne,” which is reference to the Jay-Z and Ye (then known as Kanye West) album collaboration from 2011.

Weekend two, Kevin seemed to be more comfortable on stage and was having a great time performing his solo material. With only a 30-minute time slot, he performed crowd favorites, a few tracks from every project including Arizona Baby, his latest release, Blanket, and some tracks from the Brockhampton record, The Family. Some standout tracks in the set include “All That,” “Peach,” and “Voyager.”

Destroy Lonely
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

The Atlanta rapper, Destroy Lonely brought the heat at the Sahara stage for the second day of the festival. Performing over backing tracks, at times, felt like a singalong for the crowd. But nonetheless, the crowd was hyped and had a good time. Destroy Lonely packed in tons of tracks in his 45-minute set time by not playing through the whole track to make sure everyone got to hear their favorites. “NOSTYLIST,” “Bane,” and the new track, “Luv4Ya” were a few standout moments during this set.

Sublime

A lot of people rushed to the stage to watch the Long Beach rock band, Sublime. The crowd energy for the lead singer wasn’t there for Jakob Nowell, son of the late lead singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell performing along with original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. This remake of Sublime has newfound potential because of Jakob Nowell’s youth appealing to a younger generation. Albeit, his voice and his energy did not serve the crowd as expected. There are similarities between Jakob and his father. They share husky vocals on stage and his father’s Dan MacDonald custom guitar.

Last weekend, there were a few rough moments during the set for Jakob from rushing a bit during songs and not nailing certain guitar licks, but this weekend went a bit smoother and seems to be that Jakob is finally finding his footing in the band. Jakob brought an electricity that was reminiscent of Bradley’s bold attitude. From classics like “What I Got,” “Badfish” and “Santeria,” it felt like a very significant moment watching Jakob carry the torch for this beloved group. The original members were definitely holding it down instrumentally and allowed Jakob the room to find his voice and honor his father’s legacy through the music.

Blxst

Blxst had technical difficulties during his set. The artist spoke to the crowd and repeatedly hyped everyone up. Eventually, the lack of music was uncomfortably apparent. Blxst said that he felt like a comedian on stage, which got a lot of laughter going. Moments later his music began and he carried on. His vibe is very SoCal and closely aligns with the YG sort of rap style which SoCal is known for. People in the audience who weren’t familiar with Blxst were enthusiastic about adding this artist to their playlist.

Bleachers
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

One of the most solid sets of the entire weekend went to the Jack Antonoff fronted band, Bleachers. Repping New Jersey hard, the group brought the heat from start to finish, leaving it all out on the Mojave Tent. Designed like a recording studio, the Mojave Tent barely contained the energy Jack Antonoff and company were blasting. The Bruce Springsteen-inspired jams filled with twangy guitars, saxophone solos, and a flailing Jack Antonoff got everyone in the crowd moving.

Antonoff seems to play every show like its last with showing how grateful he is to play music for any audience who will listen. Even if one isn’t familiar with Bleachers’ music, their grand and flashy choruses make it easy to catch on from tracks like “Rollercoaster” and “How Dare You Want More.” They performed a handful of new tunes from the self-titled record including “Modern Girl” and “Tiny Moves,” and they ended the set with the explosive “Stop Making This Hurt.”

Grimes

During weekend one, Grimes had a rough DJ set due some technical difficulties that caused her tracks to play faster than expected. She had a rough time trying to figure out the logistics and mixing the songs together, so the entire set was a mess. Thankfully she redeemed her set for weekend two. From the epic visuals, slick remixes, and high energy, Grimes’ set turned out to be a blast. A critique: Grimes is an intimate experience, and this set felt far away even close-up.

Jon Batiste

At the Outdoor Theatre, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Jon Batiste fused jazz, soul, Afro-beats.  The most prominent influence is a Louisiana-Creole style that Batiste shared with listeners playing his hit single “Freedom.” The sopranos and tenors singing along with Batiste allow a spiritual experience similar to church. Batiste promoted a positive message of embracing individuality. Playing any instrument he could get his hands on from the piano to melodica, Batiste impressed the crowd. The set consisted of lots of red which is a celebratory color in the deep south which is emblematic of Hoodoo roots. Lana Del Rey invited Batiste on stage yesterday to perform “Candy Necklaces” and there’s a similarity between the way both artists concluded sets by walking off stage and into the crowd. Batiste brought tons of colorful energy to the desert along with backup dancers and immensely talented musicians.

Blur
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

The English rock band fronted by Damon Albarn had a bit of an unusual set during weekend one. Albarn seemed to be a bit frustrated with the crowd when they weren’t singing along as it seemed like people were at their set to secure a spot for No Doubt and Tyler, the Creator playing after them. So with a lackluster crowd during the first weekend, all one could do was hope that the audience was a bit more lively for weekend two. And for the most part, the crowd was more present and lively than weekend one which Albarn appreciated and verbally shared his gratitude.

Although they might not have been the biggest pull for people attending this year’s Coachella as Gorillaz was last year, Blur still put on a solid performance playing hits like “Girls & Boys” and “Song 2.” With a career spanning almost 30 years, Blur still know how to put on a great show no matter what crowd they are performing for.

Ice Spice
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

On the other side of festival grounds, Ice Spice heated up the Sahara Tent with a quick set filled nonstop hits from “Bikini Bottom,” “In Ha Mood,” and the PinkPanthress single, “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2.” Everyone in the crowd was having a ball watching Ice Spice absolutely slay. On stage, Ice Spice did not miss a single lyric rapping while throwing it back and twerking up and down the stage. Even if this style of music isn’t your particular cup of tea, Ice Spice’s set was undeniably entertaining to watch.

Jungle

Back at the Outdoor Theatre, the London-based group, Jungle had an electric set with insanely funky tunes filled with groovy basslines and most luscious guitars. Although being around since 2013, Jungle broke out over the past year via TikTok with the massive hit, “Back on 74.” The group sounds like they would be straight out of the ’70s with their disco, soul, and funk mix, but wrapped in modern and shiny aesthetics. The audience danced. The spaciousness of the grounds allowed movement and afforded a break from the bounds of spatial awareness. Concertgoers far from Jungle cartwheeled and danced choreography from the band’s viral music videos. Some stand out songs from this set include “Casio” and “Keep Moving.” Every musician on stage played very fluidly together and were absolutely locked in, riding off the energy of each other making it very clear that Jungle have impeccable band chemistry.

No Doubt
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

If there was one set to solidify as headlining the entire weekend, it would be Anaheim natives, No Doubt. Performing at Coachella for the second time since 2015 demonstrated that Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, and Adrian Young still have plenty of gas in the tank while rocking out past the age of 50. This set felt like a celebration of the band’s legacy with the introduction video showing old footage of the group when they first started playing together. They came out of the gate with tons of energy starting with “Hella Good” at the top of the setlist. It was an explosive beginning as the group performed from the middle stage looking like they did not miss a single beat during their hiatus.

As they made their way back to the main part of the Coachella stage, No Doubt busted out even more hits from their catalog including “Sunday Morning,” “Ex-Girlfriend,” and their Talk Talk cover “It’s My Life.” During weekend one, pop-princess Olivia Rodrigo hopped on stage to perform “Bathwater” with Gwen. This felt like a passing the torch type moment as Rodrigo’s music is heavily influenced by the gritty and lively energy No Doubt channeled during their golden years. Although there were no surprise guests for weekend two, the band played a handful of deep cuts in their discography from “Excuse Me Mr.” and “End It on This.” The ended strong with “I’m Just a Girl,” “Don’t Speak” and “Spiderwebs.”

If it’s one thing for sure, it’s that Coachella 2024 was heavy on the Southern California ska representation from Sublime, The Aquabats, and of course, No Doubt. This No Doubt set proved that there is still a spot for nostalgic, rock bands to play one of the biggest stages in music. No Doubt has such a deep and recognizable discography that had everyone in the crowd singing every single lyric.

Gesaffelstein
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

Closing the Outdoor Theatre, French DJ and producer Gesaffelstein threw a nighttime rave with music filled with subwoofer bass, pulsating synths, and hefty sounding drums. Mike Lévy, the man behind the silver mask looked incredibly sleek, almost like a super villain threatening festival goers to dance during his set, or else. This set felt like the minor key version of the Justice set closing out the Outdoor stage the night before, with his spooky and ominous electronic music. One of the most impressive parts of the set was not the music, but the fact that the eyes on the mask began to light up. Logistically, that does not seem like it should be possible, but perhaps that is just the magic of Gesaffelstein.

Orbital
(Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete)

The legendary English electronic duo, Orbital, put on a nonstop dance party in the Gobi tent late Saturday night. With their mesmerizing and pulsating grooves, the entire crowd had no choice but to dance and cool off after the extreme heat earlier in the day. The crowd at the Orbital set were a bit older in age but showed that they came to dance in the desert even late into the night. While all the youngsters were bouncing around during Tyler, the Creator at the mainstage, the audience at the Gobi Tent transcended into euphoric bliss as the soundtrack of tunes like “Belfast,” “Halcyon” and “Home” flew through everyone’s ears.

Tyler, the Creator

The headlining set closing out Saturday night was from Tyler, the Creator. He put on an explosive performance with fire shooting out of the stage, special guest Earl Sweatshirt, and nonstop hits. The introduction video showed the silly side of Tyler dressed as a camp counselor giving a tour of his trailer. After the video finished, Tyler, attached to a wire, flew out of the trailer on stage as “Igor’s Theme” began to play. The stage design was reminiscent of Sedona, Arizona with red rocks and cacti in the background. It looked like Tyler was performing in front of a cartoon backdrop as he bounced around on stage for over an hour.

Tyler, the Creator was energetic. Tyler’s confidence in his dance moves is something keen to him and Lil Uzi Vert who he shouted out. Most rappers dash around the set and nod their heads, and point—he choreographed dances in a loose way where it may not appear the same as the previous set but the general idea allows for a sophisticated improv. The intelligence that he possesses in the musicality and intention of his craftsmanship is woven into his vulgarity and humor—a major juxtaposition. His charming personality plays out on stage when he harshly critiques his first Coachella performance and demands the crowd boo him. His billboard on his way to the desert said “I would love to see y’all faces and not your phone lights.”

His setlist consisted of songs from Goblin to Call Me If You Get Lost, celebrating Tyler’s incredible musical run. The production of certain tracks was altered a bit from the recorded versions with different pianos or drums and added to the whole experience of seeing Tyler’s unique performance. He performed, “See You Again,” and added an outro which repeated “Where we at with it? Coachella, bitch!” The back and forth repetition interconnected concertgoers and created cognizance of the present moment.

There were moments during the set where Tyler flexed his vocal chops, he did not miss a single beat while rapping, and did all of this while flailing around. Tyler also paid homage to his Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All roots by playing a string of oldies including “Yonkers,” and “Tamale.” This set was a good mix of both old and new, and demonstrated that Tyler can perform songs made in his youth and create a new rendition. This set felt like Tyler’s own Eras Tour a la Taylor Swift because it sampled from multiple albums throughout his career.

He closed the set with “New Magic Wand” and his cartoonish theme concluded with him grasping onto a boulder. He is levitated by very fine wires and his extended legs are running in place before he literally flew off stage—like a cartoon.

Tyler, the Creator Coachella Weekend Two Setlist

1. IGOR’S THEME
2. LEMONHEAD
3. WUSYANAME
4. LUMBERJACK
5. I THINK
6. BEST INTEREST
7. DOGTOOTH
8. STUNTMAN
9. SORRY NOT SORRY
10. CORSO
11. WHAT A DAY (Acapella) 
12. Who Dat Boy
13. Boredom
14. She 
15. Yonkers 
16. Tamale
17. AssMilk (with Earl Sweatshirt)
18. Rusty (with Earl Sweatshirt)
19. IFHY
20. EARFQUAKE
21. See You Again
22. NEW MAGIC WAND

File photo by Raymond Flotat