If you've been actually reading this blog it would come as no surprise that I'm a massive Animal Collective fan. If not I'll help you out and refer you to my Coachella 2011 post here assuming I now have your attention. Upon booking my trip to Paris I stumbled upon finding that Panda Bear was going to be performing the day I had planned to fly home. Subsequently, I extended my trip for one day and then convinced my mother that she'd have a great time at a show I wanted to see. The venue was inside of what seems to be a modern art museum. Amidst some of the worlds most historic museums I was a bit surprised (and excited) to find that digital art had a home in Paris. I only wish I'd had more time to actually go and see the exhibits.
There are 2 music venues inside of La Gaîté Lyrique according to Wiki. Panda Bear performed in the "larger" of the two, with a capacity of 750. Wiki also told me "acoustic isolation was a high priority." (I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read this)
The projection screens behind the guys was likely larger than a movie theater screen. Combine that with a reputation for Animal Collective/Panda Bear/Avey Tare to have some of the most psychedelic visuals you've ever seen and prepare yourself to be in for a treat.
Day 2 always has a much different approach, especially if you're anywhere over the age of 25 and from Seattle where a temperature of more than 45 degrees is so unfamiliar in the months November through July. We arrived much later in the day in order to save our energy for the heavily stacked evening line up. The lineup as a whole was jam packed with names I'd pretty much seen within the last year...some of which I skipped, some I saw for 2 minutes, and some I was ecstatic to see on a much larger scale.
What I would've seen had I had the energy to arrive pre 4pm: The Joy Formidable, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Bomba Estereo, Foals (thankfully I'd already witnessed a live show otherwise I would've made it a priority).
What I actually saw: Glasser (who I've seen but thoroughly enjoyed on a bigger stage), Yelle (couldn't get away fast enough), Elbow, Mary Anne Hobbs (for 2 minutes before heading to something I haven't seen), Shpongle (from the beer garden - to psych for my sober state), The Kills (saw most of the set before heading to something new), DJ Hype, ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (couldn't tear myself away to see Empire of the Sun even though I'd seen them before), Arcade Fire (3rd time and still as perfect as ever...still left early to see something new), Scissor Sisters (for 1 song until I realized Daedelus was playing), DAEDELUS!
Me & the girls heading in for Day 2.
Glasser
Elbow
Elbow
Elbow
A deserted Sahara Tent during sunset.
Mary Anne Hobbs
The Kills
The Kills - Alison Mosshart is such a babe.
The Kills
DJ HYPE!!!!!
Getting distracted by the Laser Land Sharks.
Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective
I have yet to read a more than lukewarm review of Animal Collective's Coachella 2011 set and am only a little surprised at this. AC is definitely an acquired taste, however, I half expected to see some kudos coming from the blogosphere in some respect as the hipsters who run these things have the technical knowledge of why we should be paying attention to them in the first place. Those who go to an Animal Collective show must prepare themselves to hear noise. Seeing this show was either a true testament of fandom or purely doing your fucking research. I had been on Coachella forums for only the previous 2 months in anticipation of the event and had seen SEVERAL posts about #1 a new album #2 a new Panda Bear album (aka Noah Lennox of AC) #3 small club shows where the posse had been playing only new material. The good people on the forums were educating those of us who only came to know and love AC through Merriweather Post Pavilion as to what back catalog albums to refer to, to ensure enough knowledge of the band to have an enjoyable time given the assumption of only new songs. Taking this advice was the best thing I could’ve done going into this show. I listened to 'Feels' at least 3 times before touching down in Palm Springs. While I, like most of the general public (or at least most of the people writing crap on the internet) have a strong connection to MPP and would’ve loved to hear it start to finish on a desert evening on the polo fields as a prelude to Arcade Fire, was absolutely impressed at AC’s set of 60% new material. I’ll admit, the first few minutes were a bit painful until they dove into “Did you see the words” from Feels. The next 4 tracks were all completely new and I was swirling in emotion knowing that I was part of the artistic process that will ultimately be the next Animal Collective album. Thanks boys, I loved it!
Arcade Fire from a distance. Off to discover new things.
