Junior Boys - Mojave tent

I don't know about Junior Boys. Didn't find it appealing or engaging enough to justify more than 10 minutes with them. Maybe that was the problem, or synth-pop just doesn't go well with a bright outdoor setting.

Rodrigo y Gabriella - Gobi tent

This metal loving acoustic guitar duo played the Gobi tent before what might as well been a home crowd. Empowered by chants of "Mexico! Mexico!" from their hipster countrymen - a distinguished and sizable Coachella demographic driving the at least three hours from south of the border - and polite praise from the uninitiated, R y G worked the crowd until they were in the palms of their hands.

I know I'm in the minority but I was against the "Wish You Were Here" cover. The stank of coffee-shop shtick simply overpowered. The crowd loved this professed special moment, one impossible not to sing along to, but shtick all the same. I think more is expected when you have the big Coachella spotlight on you. Song selection should have been better and on their own merits. Covering one of the most well known songs of all time was unoriginal and unnecessary for a band like Rodrigo y Gabriella who can unquestionably concoct a frenzy without resorting to jukebox hits.

CSS - Mojave tent

"The next song is a Daft Punk cover," said Lovefoxxx, CSS front woman and enigmatic ball of energy, before her band scratched the opening electro chords of an L7 cover. She jumped around during the whole set like a crazed aerobics instructor. Looked exhausting and oh such terrific fun. See for yourself:

CSS - "Pretend We're Dead" (Live at Coachella '07)

CSS - "Pretend We're Dead" (Not from Coachella)

Kaiser Chiefs - Outdoor stage

[Photo cred]

Power poppers gave a fair effort that was good enough to stave off our late afternoon break for roughly three and a half whole minutes