DUBLIN OUTFIT KICKED OFF SECOND COACHELLA WEEKEND WITH GRACEFUL ANGST

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and befriending many musicians and artists since the beginning of the website’s launch. That paired with over one hundred shows working as press has put myself front and center in the presence of singers, guitarists, drummers, etc. But when I arrived to the Indio Polo Club for Irish post-punk band The Murder Capital’s set, I got this unwavering feeling of high energy. This wasn’t a band, these were fucking rockstars.

Coachella had been a dream of mine to attend. There are countless memories of seeing the lineup poster release late at night in early January, skimming each line and circling who I’d want to see. Sadly, I never ended up at the actual event, so I opted for the livestreams which sufficed for exciting performances such as the return of The Stone Roses and OutKast to favorites like Phoenix and the Red Hot Chili Peppers tearing it up. So when I stepped foot on the fields, I tried to take it all in. Seeing the art installations that shined in the foreground as the desert hills and palms set in the back; I couldn’t believe it. I was humbly gracious to accept an invitation from bassist Gabriel Paschal Blake. His words were as important if not more than being at the festival: “you’re important to the culture” and “the feeling is mutual,” he said. Endlessly grateful.

The festival itself seems grand in scale but I’d say it’s more popular for the namesake as opposed to being this mission to complete. The heat was damning, but not unbearable. Prices were extreme, but so is every other festival. The band helped in a big way with the specific invitation, allowing myself to retrieve water any time and getting to be up close for most of the stages. The gates opened at noon and I went straight to the Sonora tent for the band who promptly took the stage at 1:10pm.

Myself and my partner Paige were invited backstage by the band’s touring manager, Tom, where we met the band in person. Everyone showed mutual enthusiasm and I couldn’t have wanted it to go any different. Blake introduced me to his bandmates and I took a few photos of them waiting for their kickoff performance of day one. I followed the band backstage where they shared a group hug, showing their respect and grace for one another. Drummer Diarmuid Brennan jumped rope quickly as it became two minutes to stage. The band took to their respective places and singer James McGovern stood back. 2019 track “For Everything” began to play as I heard the eager fans cheer in excitement, but that doubled once McGovern ran up to the mic. I watched in amazement from side stage; everyone was jumping, thrashing around while also staying menacing in a way. There was a mystery to their performance, which proved great for the Sonora stage which is a decent sized tent that enclosed the music in shadows, polar opposite of what stood outside.

Other tracks performed included many from the band’s latest record, Gigi’s Recovery like “Return My Head” and “A Thousand Lives.” Blake propped his bass like a hand-held battery ram, showcasing this whimsical aggression. At one point, McGovern jumped into the audience and conducted a mosh-pit, thrashing in it himself. High energy for the entire duration, so much so that attendees who drifted into the tent to escape the heat ended up sweaty regardless. I congratulated the band on a job well done, and for the invitation I extended my deepest gratitude once more. A moment before their performance, singer McGovern stood outside the tent smoking a cigarette, and I asked if he had any nerves before the big show. “Nah, I love this shit,” he expressed with a smirk. The feeling was mutual.