Words by Mark Redfern
Photos by Wendy Lynch

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Indio, California
Empire Polo Fields
April 30th and May 1st, 2005

Coachella 2005 already had one major strike against it thanks to Cocteau Twins pulling out of their anticipated reunion performance, but all was not lost. Coachella 2005 may not have had such 2004 highlights as Wayne Coyne walking across the crowd in a giant bubble, but at least temperatures were cooler. This year’s festival did also boast a predictably eclectic line-up. In our summer 2005 issue you can read our full review of the festival, but below are our highs and lows of Coachella 2005, as well as some notable on-stage quotes, and more photos.

High Points

Jamie Cullum standing on his piano, playing the keys with his foot, and later covering Radiohead, mixing “High & Dry” and “Paranoid Android” together. Cullum later covers Coldplay’s “We Never Change” and does a Cole Porter song.

Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite [Efren Ramirez] introducing Rilo Kiley, while wearing a “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt (a popular t-shirt at Coachella this year).

Spotting Win Butler from The Arcade Fire wandering the crowd on Saturday wearing a t-shirt for the 1990 film Dick Tracy.

UNKLE’s James Lavelle finishing his DJ set with U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name,” but messing with the sound of the song just a little bit.

Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy starting their set suspended upside down by his feet, singing all of “Bella Lugosi’s Dead” hanging upside down above the stage and looking like a vampire. This was the highest point of the festival.

The philosophical quotes flashed on the video screens during Mercury Rev’s sublime set.

Coldplay’s Chris Martin changing the lyrics to his band’s first big hit, “Yellow,” from “yellow” to “Coachellow.” (Or maybe that was a low point).

Gram Rabbit, who give out bunny ears to the audience and have two female dancers in strange bunny costumes (with furry bunny heads and a skin-tight skeleton like body suit, with panties over top).

A big red-faced guy yelling “Furnace!” multiple times as The Fiery Furnaces exit the stage.

The Futureheads dedicating “First Day” on Sunday to “Anybody who has to go to work tomorrow.”

Tegan and Sara’s humorous inter-song banter and their humble attitude, with Sara admitting: “It’s very intimidating to play before bands that we respect and admire.”

Gang of Four showing the young bands they’ve influenced (like The Futureheads and Bloc Party) how it’s done, and showing the rest of us that they’ve still got it after all these years.

Will and Richard from The Arcade Fire climbing on, and banging on, the scaffolding during their set at the Outdoor Theater.

Win from The Arcade Fire crowd surfing at the end of “The Power Out” and throwing his microphone far out into the crowd at the end of their set (lets hope nobody was hurt).

New Order playing three Joy Division songs (“Atmosphere,” “Transmission,” “Love Will Tear Us Apart”), various classic New Order tracks (“Regret,” “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “Blue Monday”), and newer songs (“Crystal” and current single “Krafty” included), and sounding great doing it all.

Noble, from British Sea Power climbing nearly to the top of the scaffolding during their strong set.

British Sea Power’s lead-singer, Yan, singing The Beach Boys’ lines “I wish they all could be California girls,” and then saying, “I didn’t know what that meant until today.”

The crowd chanting “Mos Def! Mos Def!,” as he’s lead off stage by security for going over the midnight curfew at the end of Blackstar’s set.

Low Points

Cocteau Twins and Doves canceling (although Doves’ Jimi Goodwin can’t be blamed for having a throat infection, Elizabeth Frazer on the other hand…).

Have to choose between Coldplay and Spoon, who were on at the exact same time, and trying to see a bit of both.

Walking away from Spoon to see the end of Coldplay, only to have to run back to Spoon when they started playing “The Way We Get By.”

Coldplay’s Chris Martin asking the whole audience to flash their camera flashes at him all at once. Maybe it looked better from his perspective.

Having to choose between seeing Kasabian, The Fiery Furnaces, and M.I.A., who were all on at the same time (sorry M.I.A., but Kasabian rocked and what we saw of The Fiery Furnaces sounded good too).

Remembering that over-hyped bands like The Bravery, Keane, Snow Patrol, Razorlight and Bloc Party were all playing, instead of better current bands like The Dears, The Go! Team, The Concretes, and Super Furry Animals.

The wind blowing The Arcade Fire’s sound all over the place as the entire festival seemed to turn up to see them at the Outdoor Theater.

Not being able to see The Dresden Dolls, because they were on at the exact same time as New Order.

New Order’s Peter Hook insulting all the press photographers in the front (including Under the Radar’s own Wendy Lynch) for no reason. Luckily Bernard Sumner then said that he didn’t mind having his photo taken.

Bright Eyes only playing songs from the Digital Ash In a Digital Urn album (although admittedly, the songs still sounded great).

Quotables

“I’m about to play Cole Porter at a rock festival – feel free to throw things.” – Jamie Cullum

“I’m going to commit festival suicide now and play a new song.” – Jamie Cullum before playing new song “Photographs.”

“Come on, we’ve got a heavy day of drinking ahead of us, lets get into the spirit!” – Jamie Cullum

“Come on, I know we’re foreign, but give us a chance.” – Coldplay’s Chris Martin

“Every band has a song that took them to where they are and this is ours. I know you’re probably sick of it, but just for tonight give it a chance.” – Coldplay’s Chris Martin, before launching into “Yellow.”

“Occasionally I have dreams that we play shows like this and nobody comes and nobody claps.” - Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quin, to which the crowd claps and cheers.

“We just had a band meeting and decided that we’re ripping through our set and need to add a few songs.” - Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quin

“Has anybody barfed this weekend?” – Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quin

“This is pretty surreal.” – The Arcade Fire’s Win Butler on playing Coachella.

“Is everyone having a good time here? It’s a beautiful setting for sure. A lot nicer than Manchester.” – New Order’s Bernard Sumner

“This one’s for you David, fuck you.” – New Order’s Peter Hook before the band plays “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”

“We’re going to play a dance tune, but unfortunately I can’t dance at all because I’ve torn a ligament in my foot, so you’ll have to dance for me.” – New Order’s Bernard Sumner before the band plays “Bizarre Love Triangle.”

“We can only play for an hour unfortunately, or fortunately – depending on how you look at it.” – New Order’s Bernard Sumner before the band finishes their set with “Blue Monday.”

See more of Wendy Lynch’s photos from Coachella 2005 at the online fashion magazine ZooZoom:

Click here for more photos from day one

Click here for more photos from day two