COACHELLA 2013: 30 things we’ll remember about the festival

Now that I’ve dragged myself out of bed, I’ve been reflecting on everything relating to the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Six days, two weekends, nearly 200 performers, 60 mph wind gusts, one weird R. Kelly/Phoenix mashup.

Here are the 30 things we’ll remember from Coachella 2013. Add your own at the bottom in the comments.

See our complete Coachella 2013 coverage at the iGuide. View nearly 100 photo galleries from Coachella 2013.

1. The hurricane-force gusts on Sunday of weekend one that turned the Empire Polo Field into Tatooine, particularly during the Red Hot Chili Peppers headlining set. See photos of Red Hot Chili Peppers and read about what Anthony Kiedis said the sand would make him do.

2. R. Kelly showing up with Phoenix weekend one for “1901”/”Ignition”/”I’m a Flirt.” Has anyone figured out the connection yet? Also, props to Thomas Mars for his rhyming skills. He kept up with R. Kelly. We’re just sad they didn’t team up for a live performance of “Trapped in the Closet.” See photos of Phoenix at Coachella. Watch R. Kelly and Phoenix’s collaboration.

3. Even the VIP pit can mosh, like they did during Descendents’ weekend two set. Finally seeing one of my favorite bands perform live for the first time from the front row was incredible. See photos of Descendents at Coachella.

4. Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to mess with. EVERYONE was at Wu-Tang Clan. There was a ruckus, beach balls and an orchestra. I feel like Brick Tamblin describing the Newsroom Street Fight. See photos of Wu-Tang Clan at Coachella.

5. New Order playing Joy Division was sublime. So was New Order playing New Order. See photos of New Order at Coachella.

6. Japandroids are the saviors of rock ‘n’ roll with their guitar, drums and punk spirit. It was so good I had to go back for the second weekend. See photos of Japandroids at Coachella 2013.

7. Vintage Trouble was not only the best dressed band at Coachella 2013, their set was like worshiping at the church of rock and soul and celebrating the spirit with a twirling, pelvis pushing dance party. See photos of Vintage Trouble in action at Coachella.

8. Father John Misty’s California country music and stage banter that poked fun at the festival and its denizens. Photos of Father John Misty at Coachella.

9. The Yuma Tent’s debut was a smashing success. It had wooden floors, disco balls, deep house and air conditioning.

10. The Postal Service changing from being an imaginary band to one in the flesh. See photos of The Postal Service at Coachella.

11. Helix Poeticus, a.k.a. the Coachella Snail, the largest concertgoer of them all. Helix was everywhere and checking out everything. However, sometimes he got a little to close and obscured people’s views. We still love you, though. And I think everyone got a photo of you!

12. Karen O’s coronation as the Queen of Coachella during the Yeah Yeah Yeahs electrifying weekend one set. See photos of Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Coachella.

13. Fuzz rock picnic with Dinosaur Jr was a great way to spend the late Sunday afternoon weekend two. See photos of Dinosaur Jr.

14. Dropkick Murphys’ tributes to Boston in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings and thanks to the crowd for being so supportive of the city on weekend two. Photos of the Dropkick Murphys on weekend one.

15. Major Lazer’s dance party that featured crowdsurfing in bubbles, vuvuzelas and most of the people at Coachella. See photos of Major Lazer at Coachella.

16. The best way to find your friends is to have a pool noodle with a photo of David Hasselhoff’s head attached to it. It’s the closest thing we got to an encounter with The Hoff this year.

17. 2013 will be remembered as the year of Nick Cave. On Friday night he got heavy with Grinderman and on Sunday Nick Cave took us all on a creepy trip, possibly to hell, with the Bad Seeds. And he had a children’s choir on stage singing “Jubilee Street.” See photos of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Coachella.

18. Everyone going to Baauer’s Sahara Tent set just to do the “Harlem Shake” which actually isn’t like the Harlem Shake dance at all.

19. Allen Stone has the best voice of Coachella. He’s going to do great things.

20. Lightbulbs and lamps were popular in stage scenery this year at Coachella–both Sigur Ros and The Evens had them.

21. Jello Biafra has still got it. He’s still political, still acerbic and still Jello. We don’t want him any other way. And there was blood.

22. Johnny Marr was so good that the guitarist, known for his work with The Smiths, made me think “Morrissey who?” See photos of Johnny Marr.

23. Social Distortion’s set was California crammed into 50 minutes with the sun’s last rally. See photos of Social D at Coachella.

24. Ghost B.C. sings Latin, brings disco beats and metal to Coachella. What? Oh yeah, and they were in costume, too. See photos of Ghost B.C.

25. OMD’s singalong to “If You Leave” and Andy McCluskey’s dance moves. See photos of OMD at Coachella.

26. Franz Ferdinand was spot on and could have packed more than just the Mojave Tent. See photos from Franz Ferdinand’s set.

27. Trash Talk’s Lee Spielman has the longest microphone cord ever and spent most of his time in the crowd for the hardcore band’s set. Blood and circle pits were involved. See photos of Trash Talk.

28. People at Coachella really didn’t know who the Stone Roses were. Too bad. And they missed a laser light show. See photos of The Stone Roses.

29. The people you see at Coachella.

30. My ultimate weekend one Coachella moment was Blur’s set ender “The Universal.” It got very meta. See photos of Blur at Coachella.