I was PSYCHED that Coachella, one of the biggest arts and music festivals EVER finally drove into the California valley last weekend! This year’s impressive lineup made it hard to distinguish between the musical veterans and newbies. Asides from the big names like Jay-Z, Gorillaz and Muse headlining the show, some of these understated celebrities drew in their own massive crowds as well! If Coachella was the School of Rock, I’d give all of them an A++!

Vampire weekend
If these New Yorkers didn’t top their classes in Columbia University, their performance could possibly have them gunning for first honors. Playing songs from their 2008 self titled debut album to their recently released second album Contra, which are soothing yet up-tempo, it was hard for the crowd to stay calm. They may have been the prelude before Jay-Z, but I think even he had a tough act to follow.

MGMT
MGMT’s school buddies include Paris Hilton, Pink, and Tommy Lee who were just some of the famous faces watching their set. Playing songs from their 2008’s Oracular Spectacular and their newest album Congratulations, their lyrics never fail to strike a chord with the crowd where certain truth vibrates in the air along with their psychedelic sound. It’s no wonder fans shamelessly plug lyrics from “Fated to Pretend” into countless facebook and twitter status messages. I know I do!

Major Lazer
Study hard and party harder with Major Lazer! This cartoon Jamaican commando with lasers as arms because he loses his during a secret Zombie War of 1984 tickles fans in two ways: First, it appeals to their inner child who still likes to get lost in comic land once awhile. And second, to their alter ego who likes to gyrate on the Coachella dance floor especially when they played their most famous song Pon de Floor. Not only did Dj Diplo and Switch play their mix of Dancehall reggae meets American hiphop but they surprised crowds by covering a 90’s classic from the Ace of Base.

Passion Pit
You’ll never fall asleep in class with Passion Pit’s high-pitch electro pop synths. Crowds were busy trying to find the right moves to match the high pitch falsettos and modern stutter beats to songs like “Sleepyhead” and others from Manners released in 2009. Prior to the event they kept talking about how psyched they were to play – but not as much as their fans were to hear them.

Phoenix
If you want to take a snack break, call up Phoenix who never fails to make you feel good. Opening with “Liztomania,” their filing tunes and guitar riffs that reminds me of the 80s because of their sonic sheen. Fans wanted more time to play so they chanted for an encore. So Thomas Mars surprised them by turning off the lights and appeared among the crowd while singing over them.

-SENORICA

Via Flickr, Pastemagazine