Author Archives: Luke Ramseth

STAGECOACH 2014: Five takeaways from a Stagecoach rookie

Lowbelly BBQ, from Palm Desert, was one of the more popular barbecue tents at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. (Luke Ramseth/Staff)

A couple weeks ago I attended my first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Indeed it was the first true music festival I’d ever been to, outside a couple small-time jazz fests with my family as a kid.

I spent three days poking around the food tents, gazing up at the soaring art pieces, choking on dust, trying not to get too overwhelmed by hordes of bodies moving from one end of the Empire Polo Club to the other and, of course, taking in a couple of my favorite bands and discovering a few fresh ones.

The Stagecoach Country Music Festival, I found out on Saturday, is an entirely different festival animal. Here are five takeaways from my first Stagecoach:

1. Lay of the land. Stagecoach has fewer stages than Coachella, and the art is gone. What was a largely green, grassy infield for Coachella weekend one had turned to brown or sand this weekend, two weekends later. Somewhere around 90,000 people tromping around for days on end will do that.

Also, it can be a little more tricky to walk around at Stagecoach when compared to Coachella. This is largely because folding chairs are allowed at Stagecoach. There are barriers and walkways set up to navigate through the masses parked in front of the Mane stage, which helps a little bit, but I still found myself accidentally stepping on a few people’s belongings as the crowds grew for Jason Aldean on Saturday night.

2. Demographics. This might come as no surprise, but the Stagecoach country crowd is an older, whiter, and slightly rowdier one than Coachella. Alcohol is limited to several beer gardens at Coachella, but it flows freely throughout the festival grounds at Stagecoach.

Perhaps also no surprise: some Stagecoach-goers are pretty darn patriotic. American flags were everywhere, and chants of “America! America!” or “USA! USA!” would randomly break out in between sets. Go figure.

3. BBQ is the best. My assignment Saturday was to write a story on a Texas style barbecue competition. This ended up as one of my highlights of either Coachella or Stagecoach.

I tracked down the Johnson family. They run Lowbelly BBQ in Palm Desert, and have entered their barbecue at Stagecoach since the festival’s first year, in 2007. Jan Johnson was kind enough to describe the process of producing their premium meats while her husband Gary and son Nic were busy putting the finishing touches on their final brisket contest entry of the day. I of course indulged in a taste test of both the ribs and brisket. Tasty.

4. It’s a mega rock concert. There are fewer bands, fewer stages, and I’ll admit — I’m not much of a country music fan to begin with. But, I never saw such a massive crowd at Coachella as the one I witnessed for Jason Aldean on Saturday night at Stagecoach. Video screens were mounted out into the crowd showing short, flashy clips of Aldean ripping on the guitar. Fans danced and leaned over the barriers, yelling along with each lyric. I didn’t know live country music could be quite like this.

5. Weather. While Stagecoach temperatures were nearly perfect — if anything, it was a little chilly Saturday night — the dust was back, just like Coachella weekend one. Whichever festival you attend next year, bring along a bandanna or one of those cheap white dust masks to cover your face. I’m still sneezing and blowing out dust today.

COACHELLA 2014: Three survival tips for weekend two

A dust storm tore through the Empire Polo Club grounds during the Coachella festival last weekend. (Luke Ramseth/Staff)

As a festival newbie there were plenty of things I learned the hard way at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last weekend. I happen to know I wasn’t the only one.

Here’s your short-ish survival guide — or simply a few friendly reminders — if you’re headed out to the Empire Polo Club for Coachella this weekend or the Stagecoach Country Music Festival next weekend.

1. Dress crazy, pack light — but be prepared.

There’s a balance to be struck somewhere between lugging a big backpack around all weekend and still having enough layers to keep yourself warm during a 40 mph dust storm, like the one that rolled through Indio on Saturday.

While a thick hoodie or jacket is probably overkill, you’d be keen to tuck a couple light, long sleeve shirts into a small bag. Obviously toss a little tube of sunscreen in there, too.

Press-Enterprise entertainment editor Vanessa Franko offered numerous times to give me one of her bandannas to cover my face. “Nah, I’m fine,” I kept stubbornly saying, as dust seeped into my nostrils, mouth, and most definitely into my lungs.

I also saw plenty of people with throwaway dust masks you buy at the hardware store, which probably work even better than a bandanna. Either way, cover up your face if the wind picks up — or else get ready for a cough and a runny nose.

2. Bring cash, and lots of it.

Nobody said Coachella was a bargain — you already paid that $375 entry fee, for gosh sakes — but I promise there’ll still be sticker shock when you sidle up to a food tent for your first meal. And if you’re out to try some of those healthier pop-up tent restaurants that are new this year, well, those cost even more.

I spent $98 on food and drink, and that was holding back. It could’ve easily doubled if I’d had a few more beers (it’s $9 for Heineken, $10 for a variety of craft brews), or really filled up for each meal.

Also, bring cash from outside the festival so you don’t have to stand in line or pay the hefty fees to use one of the ATMs onsite.

3. Planning ahead is key.

This kind of goes against the whole go-wild festival vibe, but you’d be savvy to slow down and do some planning now and again throughout the weekend.

It starts with the dirt parking lots, which are gigantic. Take a few mental notes of what lot you’re in (1A, 1B, etc.), and any landmarks (fences, light poles) you might be parked near. You could also drop a pin on Google Maps to show where your car is, as I overheard one group doing.

As much as you likely want to let loose and wing it once you’re inside, it’s crucial to know exactly what bands you want to see, and what time they’re on. Handy little pocket-friendly programs are available at several kiosks on the festival grounds. They have all the set times, info on the art displays, and some of the food items for sale.

Then, once you know the times, factor in how popular the group is. Want to be front and center for OutKast, or Pharrell? Get there at least 30 minutes early. If you want to be in the front row for The Dismemberment Plan, on the other hand, you can probably show up just about any time you like.

What’d I miss? Email me, lramseth@pe.com, or follow me on Twitter, @lramseth. I’ll be back in Indio for my first Stagecoach, next weekend.

COACHELLA 2014: From party wings to a PB&J cookie

In case you missed it, we wrote a Coachella food roundup for the print edition today.

But there was only so much we could fit. On Saturday I tried out several festival food novelties — $12 “party wings” from one of the new, organic-type pop-up tents by Night + Market Song, plus a $3 peanut butter and jelly cookie from Fancy Boyz.

I tested a $7 iced chai tea latte from Stumptown Coffee Bar and sipped a $10 IPA from the new Craft Beer Barn (It’s no longer strictly Heineken for Coachella attendees). Tough work, I know, but someone has to do it.

PARTY WINGS

The folks at Hollywood-based Thai restaurant Night + Market Song say their party wings have been the biggest hit of the festival so far, so I gave them a go. They’re a nice little upscale take on the chicken wing. You get five of the slightly-spicy wings for $10, or 10 for $20.

An exhausted Chef Kris Yenbamroong came out and said hello when I poked my head in on Saturday and inquired about the food. The wings sit in a brine and fish sauce, he said. The wings themselves are coated with tempura flour, along with palm sugar, fish sauce and vinegar. Chives garnish the top.

I’d recommend giving them a try if you’re going to Coachella weekend two — or perhaps test out the cooler papaya salad, another popular item. Night + Market Song also just opened a second location in Silver Lake, in case you’re in the neighborhood.

PB&J COOKIE

This little $3 cookie from The Fancy Boyz bakery in Los Angeles has also been a popular Coachella purchase, employees said. The ingredient list is straighforward: organic peanut butter, sugar, flour, eggs, butter, milk, strawberries, salt and baking soda.

Even though I love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I usually dislike goodies that attempt to mimic them. Yet the Fancy Boyz cookie does a nice job as primarily a peanut butter cookie (and who doesn’t like those?) with only a hint of the J.

They offer other offbeat cookie flavors you can try, too.

SPENDY EATS

Courtney Angeley, a six-time Coachella attendee from Huntington Beach, estimated the food in the new pop-up tent section only costs about $2 more per plate. I think she’s about right.

Even in the “normal” festival food section, you’re looking at $15 for a plate of chicken and waffles, $11 for a pulled pork sandwich, $12 for a little pepperoni pizza, $8 for a lamb gyro and $12 for a teriyaki plate.

If, as Angeley says, the food from a few of the higher-end joints inside The Terrace really does pack a little more health and flavor, you might as well spend the extra buck or two.

I’ll keep posting odds and ends from my first time at Coachella throughout this next week. Feel free to email me with questions, lramseth@pe.com, and follow me on Twitter, @lramseth.

COACHELLA 2014: Be prepared for wind and dust

Lorde played a solid set, despite wind gusts and dust.

Lorde played a solid set, despite windy, dusty conditions. (Tom Bray/Staff)

High winds ripped through the Indio Polo Club grounds on Saturday and day three of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival could see more of the same, according to the National Weather Service office in San Diego.

The wind, with gusts of up to 40 mph, brought with it clouds of dust that left a thin film on nearly everything. Many festival-goers turned to wearing bandannas over their faces. Singers complained of hoarse voices. And the breezes also made for a chillier evening than usual, with many attendees looking unprepared with only tank tops or bikini tops for protection.

Still, huge crowds stuck around to the bitter end Saturday night to see acts like Pharrell, Nas and Skrillex.

Today could see some of the same: the Weather Service is forecasting wind speeds of 15-20 mph this evening, with gusts up up to 30 mph. Temperatures will likely top out at about 90 degrees this afternoon.

The takeaway? If you’re going to Coachella weekend two, don’t forget to bring a bandanna and a few extra layers, no matter what the forecast looks like.

COACHELLA 2014: Lorde, just 17, brings poise plus a diverse crowd

There’s a certain curiosity factor about Lorde that seemed to bring out the big crowds on Saturday evening at Coachella.How does the 17-year-old New Zealand native do it?

Everyone apparently wanted to know, from the younger crowd packed around the center of the Outdoor Theatre stage, to the older generation — and even several parents with young kids — who planted themselves on the outskirts.

Lorde, who’s real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, manages to incorporate mysterious, cool and family friendly all into one. And for someone so young, her stage presence was remarkable. There was this casual banter with the crowd throughout the set that could easily have come across as forced, yet instead sounded entirely natural and experienced. She paced the stage, making big, dramatic arm motions, her dark hair whipping in the high winds that tore through the festival grounds tonight. It was captivating.

And with her huge, slowed-down single “Royals,” a catchy yet introspective song critical of pop artist luxury, out came a sea of cameras. She followed that up with “Team,” a more upbeat tune that had everyone grooving.

I’d pay to see Lorde again as-is, but at her age she’s only going to get better.

COACHELLA 2014: Yes, you can buy a kale salad

You can buy a kale salad for $12 at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. (Luke Ramseth/Staff)

All of the usual festival food staples are here this weekend at Coachella: Burgers, fish tacos, pizza and gyros.

There are also kale salads, pastas and spiced chick pea dishes from Los Angeles-based restaurant Crossroads Kitchen.

Crossroads is just one of a slew of high-end pop-up restaurants added this year to The Terrace food section of the festival. Most of the new additions hail from the greater Los Angeles area, though Stripped Back is based in London and Salt & Straw Ice Cream calls Portland home. All of the new additions focus on using local and sustainable ingredients.

I was feeling brave, and went with the kale yesterday afternoon. It came on a little cardboard plate, included pine nuts, currants, a strong lemon basil vinaigrette — and it cost $12. At Crossroads, this was the cheapest thing on the menu.

It was tasty, though the powerful lemon vinaigrette became a tad overwhelming after awhile — a likely side effect of needing a dressing strong enough to drown out that bitter kale flavor.

My recommendation: Give the fancier pop-up tents like Crossroads a go, but don’t ditch the greasy festival staples altogether. The $8 lamb gyro I had last night was mighty tasty — and it was just a tad more filling than that little kale salad.

What should I should try today? Tweet at me, @lramseth, or shoot me an email, lramseth@pe.com.

COACHELLA 2014: O.C. native Aloe Blacc makes early appearance

The Orange County native Aloe Blacc kicked off his Coachella set with the “I Need a Dollar” single on Friday.

It was a good call.

What started as a packed Mojave tent crowd for the soulful singer/songwriter/rapper was soon overflowing out into the sunny exterior — the place was hopping by the time he hit his other two biggest hits, “The Man” and Avicii collaboration “Wake Me Up.”

Blacc is a pretty fun live act, but it’s the full band behind him — including a knockout trumpet and tenor saxophone player — that made it a worthwhile stop.

Plus, who else does videos like this?

COACHELLA 2014: First impressions from a festival rookie

When Vanessa Franko, the Press-Enterprise’s veteran entertainment gal, asked if I’d like to help cover Coachella this year, I was embarrassingly a little unsure.

Vanessa, you sure you want me? A guy who’s never been to Coachella, or any festival so big — who’s admittedly far from any semblance of a music buff?

It only seemed to excite her more, that I would be such a rookie. Fresh set of eyes, she said. Pretend you’re a cultural historian.

I liked the sound of that, and so here I am. Hopefully I can highlight a few of the cool and random things that accompany the festival outside the music — some of the art installations (massive astronaut, anyone?) and the higher-end food that’s a first here this year — in addition to the people that travel from all over the country for this weekend-long party at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

It’s day one, the crowds are growing, and the weather is hot.

Here are a few first impressions and an initial walk-around of the festival grounds, in pictures:

The weather isn’t too bad — low 90s, with a few clouds. I’ve been told to expect heat, though. It’s quite a hike from the parking lot to the venue, and you’ve got to go through three checkpoints.

The merch tent was jam packed already, and it’s just after noon on day one. Get you swag on.

British singer-songwriter Tom Odell was rocking the Mojave tent, which had one of the larger crowds so early on in the day.

Whoa! Big astronaut was a hit with the iPhone photography crowd. We’ll have more on the many are pieces on display in a larger story later.

On the Outdoor Theater stage, it was Brooklyn hip hop group Flatbush Zombies getting the crowd rolling — and smoking — with lyrics like “Murder! Murder! What you gonna do when them zombies come for you?”

A likely refuge for me later on in this festival weekend will be the foliage-covered snail structure. Plants sit on the outside, you sit on the inside.

Check back for some food taste-tests later tonight. And follow me on Twitter, @lramseth, or shoot me an email if you’d like me to check something out, lramseth@pe.com. Help a rookie out.

COACHELLA 2014: Catch a ride with Uber

Uber, the popular app-oriented ridesharing service, announced plans to begin offering a full line of services in the Palm Springs area, beginning with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this weekend.

Using their smartphones users can find a personal driver nearby, rather than hailing a traditional taxi. The service is now available in dozens of cities around the world. The company said the price of its UberX service would be 25 percent less than a taxi.

Residents have been able to catch an Uber ride in Palm Springs for several months, but the official launch marks some higher-end services like UberBlack, UberSUV and even UberStretch, allowing users to hail a ride in a limousine via their smartphones between April 11 and 28.

The company will have a lounge at Coachella, at Lot 1C, where they can request a pickup ride.

The Palm Springs website also shows flat rates from Los Angeles to Palm Springs ($149), from San Diego to Palm Springs ($199) and from Orange County ($129).