Los Angeles Loves Coachella

ON APRIL 16, 2010, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, CA for the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. People travel from all over the U.S. to spend three days listening to their favorite bands, DJs, and Indie-Rock performers. Yet this year I realized that Coachella has increasingly become a festival where Angelinos escape the day-to-day dreariness of city life and run around a field for three days as if their professional lives are a thing of the past.

Every friend of mine in Los Angeles goes to Coachella, with the exception of maybe one or two. During the days leading up to the event, LMU buzzes with excitement and anticipation to get out of the city for the weekend of the year. “Are you excited for Coachella?” is never an easy question to answer. Most replies consist of ear-to-ear grins and uncontrollable laughter as Coachella-goers fantasize about the fun about to ensue. It’s difficult to concentrate at school or work for any Angeleno preparing for Coachella, as daydreams of sunshine, palm trees, and amazing live musical performances consume their thoughts.

For one weekend, Angelenos escape the smog, throw on some bohemian-style duds, and take to the grassy fiends where negative vibes are inexistent. Once the lineup is published, it’s hard for any Angelino to say no. Venice Beach hippies, Silverlake hipsters, Beverly Hills divas, and Pasadena valley girls, and famous celebrities all have a place at Coachella, whether they choose to camp, stay at a hotel or Palm Springs resort.

There is a performance for everyone at Coachella; from the legendary hip-hop stylings of Jay-Z, to the electronic beats of DJ Tiesto, to the soothing melodies of bands like She & Him; everyone in Los Angeles has a reason to go. For most people, getting to Indio is a mission—a long, tedious drive or expensive flight. For Angelinos, it takes a drive of up to a few hours, and the experience is always worth it.

-- Lauren McHale
(photo credit Lauren McHale)