Just when we barely caught up on our sleep after the long, hot days at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last weekend, we’re already back to the half-dead grass at Weekend 2.
Weekend 2, often billed the weekend where the real music fans show up, kicked off without a hitch Friday, and the same superstar artists hit the stage once again. While the excitement among festivalgoers was more palpable compared to Weekend 1, the weather was brutal and led to one of the chilliest and uncomfortable music-watching nights in recent history.
THE HIGHS
Lisa gets all the girls and boys dancing
Lisa, the Thai rapper of previous Coachella headlining band Blackpink, hit the Sahara tent once again and brought the house down. K-pop music isn’t for everyone, but it looked like it was for everyone who showed up to her show. I loved seeing all the ladies shaking their thang during her set, but what was even more entertaining was seeing a bunch of muscular men get into it during “Money” and “Rockstar.” So thank you, Lisa, for a great show both on and off stage.
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d4vd redeems his backflip skills
Everyone deserves a second chance, and d4vd certainly got his. He had an unfortunate viral moment during Weekend 1, when he attempted to do a backflip and fell hard on his head. Thankfully, when he did the move again on Friday, he nailed it. He couldn’t contain his excitement, and the crowd certainly couldn’t either. We love a comeback story!
Crowds are more energetic compared to Weekend 1
There’s a bit of beef between the Weekend 1 and 2 crowds. The former is jam-packed with celebrities and influencers, while the latter is full of “normal” people and those who come for the music. Many performers also noted the rivalry throughout the day, like Tyla, who said, “I was told the second weekend is better than the first.” One thing that was really noticeable and great to see was more liveliness on the grounds early on in the day. Last week, the polo club looked like a ghost town between the hours of 1 to 4 p.m. as few people were spotted walking around the Sonora/Gobi/Outdoor Theatre areas; this week, I had to fight my way through the crowds at that same time. Sorry, Weekend 1, but Weekend 2 seems to be winning the fight already this year.
THE LOWS
We came for a good time, not a chilly, windy time
I know there’s nothing we can do about the weather, but hopefully the weather gods can hear my complaints. It was so windy all day long, and many artists noted how tough the conditions were, such as Tyla and Lisa. On top of that, because the high was only in the 70s, it was a very cold night as the winds continued into the late hours. While I’m happy that I wasn’t sweating profusely all day long, I could have used a few more degrees in order to have a more comfortable night. Hopefully the rest of the weekend isn’t as biting.
More: Cold-chella? Temperatures for Coachella Weekend 2 forecasted to be well below last weekend
Super long lines at the brand booths
I like taking a break from the music by checking out the brand activation booths at the festival. What I don’t like is having to stand in line for ages to get a tiny sample of candy or some skincare product. What is going on at the Alaska Airlines booth that requires a 200-person long line at any point of the day? Am I getting a free plane? I don’t think so. Or what about the Sol de Janeiro area, which is busy literally all day. What secrets are you hiding from the the rest of us? What’s in that famed bum bum cream?!
More: Coachella 2025: We went to several brand tents so you don’t have to. Here’s our hot takes
Someone please lower the Coachella Stage’s volume
I can’t be the only person who thinks the main stage is way too loud. While I was listening to Tyla at the Outdoor Theatre, all I could hear were Benson Boone’s falsetto notes. Then later while I was listening to The Marias, the sounds of Missy Elliott’s set echoed way too loudly. Don’t get me wrong, they’re all wonderful musicians to hear, but if I’m listening to a performer at one stage, I only want to hear them. Either we need to lower the volume over at the Main Stage, or we need to raise the volume at the other ones, specifically the Outdoor Theatre. Please and thank you.
More: JFK Memorial hospital visits nearly double during Coachella Weekend 1 compared to 2024
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
