Coachella 2025 Weekend 2 Recap

Coachella at night is magical. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Weekend 2 of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was one of discovery to be sure. I not only enjoyed catching a number of artists for the first-time ever, I was more able to fully appreciate a few returning favorites (Lady Gaga, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias) and saw the Go-Go's for the first time in more than 30 years! Here I showcase my favorite artists seen as Coachella last weekend (April 18-20).

Glixen performing at Coachella on April 18.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Glixen — The first artist I caught on day one (April 18) was Glixen, a strong shoe gaze-styled quartet whose sound came off as a cross between Mazzy Star and Dinosaur Jr. The band made the most of its 30-minute set inside the Sonora tent and pleased the enthusiastic crowd on hand with a powerful set of heavy originals. 

TOPS — Canadian quartet TOPS blended melodic rock, ear candy-styled songcraft, new wave, occasional jazzy flourishes and winning vocal harmonies across their 40-minute set in the Sonora tent. 

Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

The Go-Go's — Although the Go-Go's were not as tight as many of the other bands that appeared at Coachella over the weekend, there is no denying the unbridled enthusiasm of the groundbreaking all-female Los Angeles outfit elevated their performance on the Outdoor Theatre stage on Friday afternoon. With a setlist filled with catchy and memorable material, the band thrilled the faithful with tracks including "Vacation," "Lust to Love," "Head over Heels," "Our Lips Are Sealed" and set-ending "We Got the Beat." However, I thought the single best selection of their set was "This Town," a song that showcased the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' formidable strengths.

Benson Boone performing his new advance track "American Heart" at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Benson Boone — The biggest surprise of Weekend 1 was when rising 22-year-old singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Benson Boone covered Queen's timeless hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" and brought out that band's Brian May to play his timeless lead guitar work on that 1975 classic. Although May didn't show up for Boone's Weekend 2 set on the Coachella Stage, Boone had no trouble impressing the audience with his signature style of modern pop-rock. Opening with "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else," other uptempo cuts included "Cry" and "Mystical Magical." He proved equally skilled when sitting on the piano and performing more intimate material as evidenced by the early sections of "Slow It Down," "There She Goes" and the piano-anchored power ballad "Forever and a Day." Late set standouts included the title track from his forthcoming album ("American Heart"), a stunning take on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the latter complete with a large vocal choir) and rousing version of his 2024 hit "Beautiful Things."

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Marias — Los Angeles' the Marias attracted such a large and enthusiastic crowd to the Outdoor Theatre it's clear the quartet could have performed on the larger Coachella stage. Lead singer Maria Zardoya is a particularly charismatic singer and she connected strongly with Coachellagoers on Friday; the stylish talents of drummer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman and keyboardist Edward James enhance the Marias' remarkable style. Highlights included a shimmering take on "Real Life," the fanciful "Only in My Dreams" (the latter a track fully utilizing the striking set design), intense "Hush" and bewitching "Paranoia." The Marias closed with the Spanish language gem Cariño," with Zardoya venturing out into the crowd to greet excited fans. 

Parcels — One of the best sets of Weekend 2 belonged to Parcels, a five-member Berlin, Germany-based group that masterfully blended synth pop, disco, funk and alternative dance styles together on the Outdoor Theatre stage. Opening with the intoxicating dance track "Overnight," the group proceeded to keep the dance-minded party going with winning tracks including the harmonies-adorned "Lightenup," "Tieduprightnow" and the new single "Safeandsound," the latter featuring an explosive finale.

Fans watch Lady Gaga perform on one of the massive Coachella Stage screens.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Lady Gaga — No matter any Coachellagoer's specific taste in music — be it rock, jazz, dance, rap, hip-hop or you name it — there is a better than good chance they were blown away by Lady Gaga's 20-song performance spread over five specific acts on the Coachella Stage to cap the opening day of Weekend 2. The large audience was immersed in the artist's so-called "Mayhem Ball" (named after her mega-successful new album Mayhem), and were treated to a fast-moving concept concert featuring Lady Gaga singing and dancing up a storm. Following her acclaimed Coachella Weekend 2 performance, it was announced that Lady Gaga will bring her "Mayhem Ball" tour across the nation beginning in Las Vegas on July 16.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast on April 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Japanese Breakfast — As wonderful as indie art rock troupe Japanese Breakfast was at Weekend 1, the Michelle Zauner-led band was even more impressive Weekend 2. Over the course of 45 magical minutes the band ( which also features guitarist Peter Bradley, bassist Deven Craige and drummer-keyboardist Craig Hendrix) brought a mix of literate, musically diverse and fun material to the Outdoor Theatre stage. Zauner played guitar at times, danced at others and sang with palpable emotion throughout. A wide range of material connected with the crowd including alt rock ("Honey Water"), uptempo dance-minded cuts ("The Woman That Loves You," "Paprika," "Be Sweet"), breezy pop ("Road Head," "Picture Window") and semi-acoustic sorties ("Winter in LA," "Kokomo, IN"). 

Beth Gibbons at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Beth Gibbons — Best known as the singer and lyricist for groundbreaking English band Portishead, Beth Gibbons delivered one of the most ambitious and memorable sets of Weekend 2. Like Radiohead, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, Gibbons brings an intensity, depth and immersive soundscape to her sonic world. Backed by a seven-member band of virtuoso players, Gibbons made the most of every moment of her 45-minute set in the Gobi tent. Her set featured a number of amazing originals from her acclaimed 2024 album Lives Outgrown including her set opening "Burden of Life," the lush "Floating on a Moment," the edgy "Rewind" with its creative use of strings and a horn, and "Lost Changes" — the latter with its probing and potent exploration of mortality and love. Additionally, she thrilled music lovers with a powerful take on the Portishead favorite "Glory Box."

The Beaches turned in an impressive set at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Beaches — Canadian indie rock heroes the Beaches were one of my top discoveries of Coachella 2025. The all-female band blended New Wave, post punk and alt rock sonics throughout their fiery audience-pleasing appearance on Sunday. It's rare for a modern rock band to have undeniable chemistry across their complete lineup but Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass guitar), Kylie Miller (guitar, backing vocals), Leandra Earl (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) showcased that in spades. Standouts of the Beaches' set included the catchy opener "Cigarette," '80s-flavored "Takes One To Know One," sweeping "Jocelyn," confessional rocker "Edge of the Earth" and explosive closer "Blame Brett."

Kraftwerk — Pioneering German electronic band Kraftwerk conjured up the beginnings of electronic music with a set of the quartet's distinctive material constructed via generally sparse arrangements, mechanical vocals, drum machine-driven rhythms, synthesizers and snappy melodies. Led by co-founder Ralf Hütter, highlights included the driving opener "Numbers / Computer World / Computer World 2," unsettling "Autobahn," pulsating "Radioactivity" and engaging "The Robots." 

Regarding the widely reported antisemitic, jew-hatred performance by the Irish rap group Kneecap, I encourage everyone to read the "Setting the Stage for Hate: Kneecap and Coachella's Collapse of Conscience" Opinion piece in the Hollywood Reporter HERE. Although this writer did not see any of that performance, I was contacted by many who knew I was at Coachella and concerned to see a performer spewing these hate-filled views at the festival. There is no place for this type of hate at Coachella.

Robert Kinsler

New music: Japanese Breakfast, Ricky Byrd, Jimmy Vivino, Jeremy Graeff

In this column I focus on a diverse field of outstanding new releases available now.

Artist: Japanese Breakfast
Title: For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) (Dead Oceans)
You might like if you enjoy: Florence + the Machine, Mazzy Star

Tell me more: Sonically sumptuous, lyrically rich and never less than bewitching, the fourth album from Japanese Breakfast — For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) —  is a captivating full-length release showcasing the singular talents of singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Michelle Zauner. The aptly-titled album finds Zauner delving headlong into melancholy, which she notes "as a kind of anticipatory grief, one that comes from an acknowledgement of the passage of time, from the recognition of mortality and finitude." There is dreamy quality across the disc even while each track is enhanced by a unique place in the album's thematic arc. Standouts include the lush opener "Here is Someone," single "Orlando in Love" examining the cost of desire, driving "Honey Water" with its hypnotic-fueled experimental rock drive, the baroque acoustic gem "Little Girl," infectious "Picture Window," country-flavored "Men in Bars" (the latter featuring duet vocals with Jeff Bridges) and lovely closer "Magic Mountain." Japanese Breakfast will perform at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 12 and April 19 in Indio. Information:  japanesebreakfast.rocks.

Artist: Ricky Byrd
Title: NYC Made (Wicked Cool Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Jeff Beck, Raspberries, Jim Carroll, Stevie Van Zandt

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter-guitarist Ricky Byrd's latest album NYC Made (available courtesy of Little Steven's Wicked Cool Records) is an authentic celebration of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's far-flung influences and rock and roll heroes as well as his own winning musical instincts. From catchy riff rock and tuneful power pop to heartland rock and instrumental virtuosity, the long-time lead guitarist of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts presents a wide-ranging selection of outstanding originals across the LP. The mix of material includes the infectious opener "(Ya Get) 1 Life," aptly-titled "Glamdemic Blues" (the latter recalling the stylings of Mott the Hoople and T. Rex), confessional "Sweet Byrd of Youte," celebratory "Then Along Comes You" and the emotive closer "Best Of Times." "Rhapsody in Blues (One For Jeff)" is a dazzling and emotive tribute to the late guitar master Jeff Beck — who sadly passed away in early 2023. NYC Made is a terrific album sure to please long-time fans of Byrd as well as those discovering his signature sound for the first time. Information: Rickybyrd.com.

Artist: Jimmy Vivino
Title: Gonna Be 2 of Those Days (Gulf Coast Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Joe Bonamassa, Billy F Gibbons, John Sebastian, Tab Benoit
Tell me more: While singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Vivino is best known as a long-time member of Conan O'Brien's TV show house band, his wide-ranging career has included work ranging from radio and film to Broadway. Now Gulf Coast Records has released Vivino's full-length label debut Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, a rousing celebration of his formidable talents. The 11-track disc kicks off with the catchy blues-rocker "Blues In The 21st," featuring guest guitar great Joe Bonamassa. Vivino's own skills as a songwriter, virtuoso guitarist and great vocalist shine on that opener as well as across the entire album. The nuanced 1960s-mining "Ruby Is Back," New Orleans-styled title track (the latter featuring guest John Sebastian on harmonica and acoustic guitar), driving blues rocker "Beware The Wolf," swinging romance-themed "Crossed My Mind" and Delta blues acoustic foray "Back Up The Country" are among the album's other highlights. Information: gulfcoastrecords.net.

Artist: Jeremy Graeff
Title: Live From The Wandering Bard [featuring Mark Williams] (Jeremy Graeff Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Owain Phyfe, Renaissance music
Tell me more: Jeremy Graeff' is a top-notch singer-guitarist who tours around the nation as a featured performer at Renaissance Fairs and Festivals; in the fall of 2023 he invited Mark Williams (recorder, flute, harmony vocals) to be his guest on a weekly livestream session. Now five of those bewitching selections appear on the new EP Live From The Wandering Bard, a powerful celebration of Renaissance-styled acoustic music. The opener "A La Una, Yo Naci" (translated to "At One I Was Born") is a powerful and haunting song where Graeff's lead vocals are enhanced by Williams instrumental and vocal talents. The driving "Quen A Omagen" is a work from the Middle Ages from the features a driving rhythm and Williams' dazzling musicianship. Similarly impressive is the duo's version of "Ai Vist Lo Lop" ("I Saw The Wolf"), a medieval song that dates back to the 13th century that is bolstered by Graeff and Williams' elevated harmony vocals. The evocative take on Esther Ofarim's "Una Matika De Ruda" is drenched in melancholy and otherworldly magic. The collection concludes with "Pastimes With Good Company/Quand Je Bois," a captivating medley that concludes with an astonishing display of the powerful vocal interplay between the two singers. Information: jeremygraeffmusic.com.

Robert Kinsler

Japanese Breakfast releases new album 'For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)', Watch the Video for "Picture Window" now

Acclaimed modern rock artist Japanese Breakfast's new album is out today! Below is the official media release and links to hear new music from the release. Make sure to check out the shimmering new video for "Picture Window" too...Robert Kinsler

JAPANESE BREAKFAST

NEW ALBUM

FOR MELANCHOLY BRUNETTES (& SAD WOMEN)

OUT TODAY VIA DEAD OCEANS

WATCH VIDEO FOR ALBUM HIGHLIGHT “PICTURE WINDOW”

2025 TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Photo credit: Pak Bae Japanese Breakfast releases her anticipated new album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), today via Dead Oceans along with a cinematic video directed by Michelle Zauner for album standout “Picture Window.” Produced by Grammy Award winner Blake Mills — an innovator of uncommon subtlety, known for his work with everyone from Bob Dylan to Fiona Apple and quietly regarded as many a legacy artist’s favorite guitar player — and tracked at the venerable Sound City in Los Angeles — the record sees Zauner pull back from the bright extroversion that defined its predecessor Jubilee to examine the darker waves that roil within, the moody, fecund field of melancholy, long held to be the psychic state of poets on the verge of inspiration. The result is an artistic statement of purpose: a mature, intricate, contemplative work that conjures the romantic thrill of a gothic novel.  “Over the course of promoting this new album I’ve often been asked to clarify the difference between melancholy and sadness. I think of melancholy as a kind of anticipatory grief, one that comes from an acknowledgment of the passage of time, from the recognition of mortality and finitude. In some way, too, I think it marks the artist’s condition, constantly observing through that lens,” Zauner says of the album. “‘Nothing thicker than a knife's blade separates happiness from melancholy,’ Virginia Woolfe writes. I wanted this album to capture the moments where that knife slips. When people want too much, when they cede to temptation, when they are seduced and punished.” Japanese Breakfast will be celebrating the album’s release by playing a sold out album release recital tomorrow, March 22 at El Museo del Barrio in New York. Their tour in support of For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) kicks off with a performance at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA and continues with headline shows across North America and Europe this year. The Melancholy Tour is the band’s first tour in three years, following the Jubilee Tour in 2022. All tour dates can be found below and tickets are on-sale now via japanesebreakfast.rocks. WATCH THE “PICTURE WINDOW” VIDEO

Michelle Zauner on “Picture Window”: “Ever since I was a young girl I’ve dealt with intrusive thoughts of loved ones dying horrible deaths. When someone is running late or they’ve neglected a text or even if they’re just looking over a balcony, my mind has a tendency to run to the worst case scenario, a reflex only exacerbated by my experience of many real deaths. It can be both a relief and a struggle to love someone who doesn’t share this same proclivity for anxiety. Picture Window explores that dynamic. We shot the video while I was living in Seoul last year. My idea was to follow a couple, constantly tracking left to right, as one partner charges boldly forward and the other, progressively anxious, becomes increasingly reluctant to follow. When I met Omega from Balming Tiger, I knew immediately he would be perfect for the first role, his energy and charm were so readily apparent. Gyuri Kim, with her feeling for melancholy and uncertainty, turned out to be a wonderful counterpart. I wanted this video to feel like a short film, and watching it back, it’s bittersweet to look back on my year abroad—the wonderful people I met, the neighborhoods I loved and lived in. The constant tracking from left to right is a reminder of how time continues to pass no matter how forcefully you struggle to beat it back or rush to get ahead of it. I watch out the window as the scenery passes, visualizing all my unlived lives swishing past.” TOUR DATES: Mar 22 - New York, NY @ El Museo del Barrio - SOLD OUT Apr 12 & 19 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Apr 23 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater * Apr 24 - Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom * Apr 26 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle * Apr 27 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore * Apr 28 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium * Apr 30 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed * May 01 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed * - SOLD OUT May 02 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed * - SOLD OUT May 03 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore * May 05 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall * - SOLD OUT May 06 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall * May 07 - Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway * May 09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * - SOLD OUT May 10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * - SOLD OUT May 11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * - SOLD OUT May 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * May 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia * May 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia * - SOLD OUT Jun 03 - Sydney, AU @ Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House Jun 05 - Melbourne, AU @ RISING at PICA Jun 07 - Auckland, NZ @ Auckland Town Hall Jun 11 - Tokyo, JP @ Zepp Shunkjuku Jun 13 - Osaka, JP @ Club Quattro Jun 15 - Cheorwon-gun, KR @ DMZ Peace Train Music Festival Jun 21 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest Jun 24 - Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller Jun 25 - Stockholm, SE @ Filadelfia # Jun 26 - Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA # Jun 28 - Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival Jun 29 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 1 # Jun 30 - Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland # Jul 01 - Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Bristol # Jul 03 - London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton # Jul 4-6 - Ewijk, NL @ Down The Rabbit Hole 2025 Jul 05 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg # Jul 08 - Paris, FR @ Le Trianon # July 10 - Bilbao, ES @ Bilbao BBK Live July 27 - Portland, OR @ Project Pabst Aug 23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl * Aug 27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic * Aug 28 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic * - SOLD OUT Aug 30 - Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater * Sep 01 - Vancouver, BC @ The Orpheum * Sep 02 - Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Amphitheater *  Sep 03 - Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Amphitheater *  Sep 05 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Twilight Concert Series @ Pioneer Park * ^ Sep 06 - Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom * Sep 09 - St Paul, MN @ The Palace Theater * Sep 10 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee * * w/ Ginger Root # w/ Minhwi Lee ^ w/ Tomper WATCH THE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED VIDEOS FOR “ORLANDO IN LOVE” & “MEGA CIRCUIT”

Though Zauner has experimented with science fiction on Soft Sounds from Another Planet and buoyant surrealism on Jubilee, the landscape of European Romanticism that underpins For Melancholy Brunettes and the dense tissue of classical allusion that comes with it marks new territory for a songwriter entering her artistic maturity. She credits a range of antecedents with inspiration. The forlorn café girl in Degas’ “L’absinthe”. The seascapes of Caspar David Friedrich. The passionate longing and wild, undulating moors in Wuthering Heights. Hans Castorp wrapped in his camel hair blanket, dreaming on the Berghof balcony. It is an atmosphere made palpable by the intricate, interlocking guitar arrangements that accompany much of the record, lapping like waves over the meter, often as oblique in their expression of the chord as Zauner can be in her polyvalence of feeling and insight. Sadness is the dominant emotional key of this record, but it is sadness of a rarified form: the pensive, prescient sadness of melancholy, in which the recognition of life’s essentially tragic character occurs with sensitivity to its fleeting beauty. Zauner finds space enough inside it for glimmers of hope. They are the consolations of mortals that poets before her have called out to and that poets after will continue to rediscover: love and labor, and though they run like tonic resolutions through the record’s many episodes.

Album Art Credit: Pak Bae

TRACK LIST:  1. Here is Someone 2. Orlando in Love 3. Honey Water 4. Mega Circuit 5. Little Girl 6. Leda 7. Picture Window 8. Men in Bars (Feat. Jeff Bridges) 9. Winter in LA 10. Magic Mountain Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Coachella Weekend #1 - Raveena, Bishop Briggs, Mika, Arcade Fire, Phoebe Bridgers, Danny Elfman, Billie Eilish, more

Arcade Fire performing at Coachella 2022.
Photo credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella

With more than 160 artists performing throughout the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, there were plenty of stellar performances to discover across Weekend #1 at the event held April 15-17. Here are some of the highlights shared via the YouTube's livestream across the first three days of the event presented by Goldenvoice. Weekend #2 will play out April 22-24 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.  With the exception of Arcade Fire, all the noted artists are scheduled to return to Indio for Weekend #2.

Friday, April 15

Raveena — The first artist to grab my attention was songstress Raveena, a rising singer with a joyful spirit. Highlights of her set included the dreamy "Mystery" and a song she sang in Hindi where she showed off some cool guitar chops. Much of her focus was on songs from her new album Asha's Awakening —  she noted the new album is an exploration of her Indian heritage; the sounds blend the stylings of her Indian roots with Western pop & R&B . Highlights were the Smooth dance track "Kismet" as well as the tender ballad "Love Overgrown." She also told the crowd that she is one of the first Indian women to ever perform at Coachella.

Bishop Briggs — With a sound and hard-edged approach that somehow blends the stylings of Florence + the Machine, Bat for Lashes and Billie Eilish, Bishop Briggs' energetic performance was even more impressive given that she is pregnant with her first child, and is in the third trimester of that pregnancy. Additionally, her stirring performance came in the wake of the death of her sister Kate McLaughlin who died in 2021 at the age of 30 after a battle with ovarian cancer. Briggs performed several songs for her sister including the poignant "High Water" (she broke down during the performance of the track) and "Art of Survival." Her performance on Weekend #2 is not to be missed.

Win Butler leading Arcade Fire at Coachella 2022. 
Photo credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella

Arcade Fire — The Canadian troupe's set — not announced until the eve of their April 15 appearance — fully lived up to the expectations of the untold thousands who filled the Mojave Tent for the hour-long set. Singer-guitarist/keyboardist Win Butler and company fully delivered, showcasing both timeless classics (notably "Ready To Start" and "Wake Up") and songs from the band's forthcoming album We (due May 6, 2022). Indeed, "The Lightning I," "The Lightning II," "Age of Anxiety II (Rabbit Hole)" and "Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)" made a compelling case that WE has to be among the most highly anticipated albums of 2022. Arcade Fire also acknowledged the tragic world events playing out in Eastern Europe, dedicating a performance of "The Suburbs" to the beleaguered people of the Ukraine. "Everyone in a punk rock band in the Ukraine right now," Butler said. "I'm thinking about everybody who is dealing with the war right now."

From left, Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks at
Coachella on Friday, April 15, 2022. 
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Phoebe Bridgers - Top-tier singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers made her Coachella debut with a memorable set of a dozen songs presented on Friday night. Coachella is a stop on her 2022 tour, and Bridgers' appearance on a windy night in Indio was magical to be sure. In addition to featuring song from her 2020 disc Punisher, the Los Angeles songstress performed her new song "Sidelines" live for the first time. She also brought out Arlo Parks for duets of "Graceland Too" and the impressive "I Know the End." 

Saturday, April 16

Beach Bunny - an early Saturday standout, the Lili Trifilio-led outfit Beach Bunny offered up a winning mix of melodic punk and power pop on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on Saturday afternoon. The group's first-ever appearance at Coachellafest was highlighted by the driving "Cuffing Season," wistful rocker "Six Weeks" and Weezer-mining "Weeds." The group closed with the retro delight "Painkiller."

Japanese Breakfast  - Led by Korean-American artist Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast turned in one of Saturday's most thrilling performances. Riveting from the start, Zauner and her outstanding five-member band's set included the breezy "Be Sweet," tender Americana-tinged "Kokomo, IN," Neo-psychedelic "Road Head," driving indie rocker "Everybody Wants To Love You" (bolstered by Zauner's flashy lead guitar work) and the expansive "Your Body Is A Blade." She closed her set with the swirling and mighty "Diving Woman," with a cacophony of burgeoning sonics leading to a volcanic finale.

Danny Elfman performing at Coachella with a few friends.
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Danny Elfman - At 68, Danny Elfman's Saturday night performance also marked his Coachella debut. His so-called "Past, Present and Future! From Boingo to Batman and Beyond!" premiere was no empty promise. Over the course of 60 exhilarating minutes the legendary leader of Oingo Boingo and acclaimed film composer led a hard-edged rock outfit and large orchestra through a dizzying mix of material at his first proper full-length show "as myself" in 27 years. Fans of Elfman's truly groundbreaking new wave act Oingo Boingo got amped up versions of "Nothing to Fear (But Fear Itself)," "Insects," "Only a Lad," the Halloween-minded "Dead Man's Party" and the rousing closer "Who Do You Want to Be." 

Danny Elfman performing at Coachella on April 16, 2022.
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Lovers of Elfman's extensive and signature film work were equally in luck; a section of his orchestral score from 2002's "Spider-Man," along with instrumental sections of 1990's "Edward Scissorhands," 2010's "Alice's Theme" (from "Alice in Wonderland") and 1989's "Batman" showcased the terrific orchestra and choir. Chief among the audience favorites was a medley from the animated classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas" ("Jack's Lament/This is Halloween/What's This?") and even the theme from the long-running animated series "The Simpsons."

He also performed enthralling selections from his 2021 album Big Mess, including "Sorry," "True" and "Kick Me."

“Thank you for bringing me out of whatever it’s called … I forget,” Elfman said humbly at the end of the fast-moving set. “Thank you … I like it here.”

From left, Billie Eilish and Damon Albarn at Coachella on Saturday, April 16, 2022. 
Photo credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella

Billie Eilish - Closing out Saturday was Billie Eilish, who delivered a powerful and incredible set on the Coachella Stage. As if her own confident and crowd-pleasing performance wasn't strong enough thanks to her own musical powers, she brought out Damon Albarn (of Blur, Gorillaz and the Good, the Bad and the Queen fame) to join her for two undeniable selections. After joining forces with Eilish on her affecting ballad "Getting Older" (off Eilish's sophomore album Happier Than Ever) there was an explosive take on Gorillaz's classic "Feel Good Inc." that also featured De La Soul's Posdnuos.

Billie Eilish at Coachella on Saturday, April 16, 2022. 
Photo credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella

“[Damon] changed my life in a lot of ways, and changed my view of what music and art and creation could be,” Eilish told the crowd as she introduced Albarn. “My first favorite band ever was the Good, the Bad and the Queen when I was six years-old, and Blur changed the world, and Gorillaz changed the world, and this man is literally a genius, and that’s that.”

Eilish first (and previously) performed at Coachella in 2019. Fast forward to 2022 and the 20-year-old star became the youngest headliner ever in Coachella's storied history.

Check out Eilish's April 16, 2022 Coachella set list below...

1. bury a friend
2. I Didn’t Change My Number
3. NDA
4. Therefore I Am
5. my strange addiction
6. idontwannabeyouanymore
7. lovely
8. you should see me in a crown
9. Billie Bossa Nova
10. GOLDWING
11. Halley’s Comet
12. Oxytocin
13. ilomilo
14. i love you
15. Your Power
16. OverHeated
17. bellyache
18. ocean eyes
19. Getting Older
20. Feel Good Inc.
21. when the party’s over
22. all the good girls go to hell
23. everything i wanted
24. bad guy
25. Happier Than Ever

Other notable performances I caught were Mika, Grupo Firme, Maggie Rogers, FINNEAS and Run the Jewels.