For Ivy's members, the path is 'Clear'
By Chris Nixon
For the San Diego Union-Tribune
May 5, 2005
'English is the language of pop music."
So says Ivy lead singer Dominique Durand in her exquisite French accent. The Paris-born vocalist grew up listening to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones even before she understood what they were saying.
Fifteen years ago she moved to New York City to study English, figuring to stay only a year. But an unexpected music career and her relationship with musician Andy Chase has kept her there. Durand came to learn English; now, she sings in English for a living.
Durand continues to make music with her husband Chase and Adam Schlesinger in their band Ivy. Durand and Chase met in the early 1990s. Sharing a passion for music, the two hit it off and started writing songs together. Durand had never sung professionally before hooking up with Ivy. Within a year, the band had signed a record deal with indie label Seed, even though the French-born singer had never performed live.
"So many great bands struggle for years and still have trouble getting signed," says Durand, who still sounds amazed that Ivy was able to pen a record deal in such a short time. "But we have to remember it was '94. It was a different time. It was an indie underground scene where being not so professional was actually a good thing."
The trio released a five-song EP – basically the band's demo tape – titled "Lately." The album lacks slick production, but captures the band's trademark breathy vocals and airy, guitar-driven compositions. With the full-length release "Realistic," the trio began learning the craft of record production and live performance.
" 'Realistic' came out and for the first time we had to start being a real band, going out on tour for long periods of time," says Durand. "That's when we started learning to become better musicians and for me, (I became) a better singer."
Ivy's breakthrough album was 1997's "Apartment Life," capturing the endearing qualities of the band's early recordings paired with a more mature approach to recording and production. Says Durand: "And for every album since then, we've gotten better at the touring and recording just by learning. We've been learning how to feel comfortable in the studio and learning how to produce yourself and arrange your songs."
The latest evidence of Ivy's maturation process is 2005's "In the Clear," a breezy collection of 10 gorgeous tunes. The beautifully layered work presents the problem of reproducing the album's tracks live. For the current tour – which stops by the Casbah Monday night – the trio enlists a little help. Guitarist Josh Lattanzi, drummer Ethan Eubanks and keyboardist Bruce Driscoll joins vocalist Durand, guitarist Chase and bassist Schlesinger.
"Live, it's a big challenge for us to reproduce the sound of our records because there are so many layers and so many textures," says Durand. "But I think we manage to do it. Live, Ivy is actually six people. That's the beauty of playing live: You're capturing what's on the record, but in a way it's more visceral."
Ivy's three members are able to break away from the band to pursue side projects, which gives the group's music new life when they reunite. Schlesinger is a member of the highly successful rock band Fountains of Wayne, while Chase produces bands and participates with Durand with the trip-hop project Paco.
"The three of us are very independent people," says Durand. "We need to be able to do other things creatively to feel good about working together and feeling fresh again. When we were ready to make 'In the Clear' it had been three years since the last record. It was just such a great feeling to be back in the studio together and starting to make music again. The main thing about creativity is to feel inspired and excited and feel like it's the first time."
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Maroon5, The Thrills: The High Life
The High Life
The Thrills quickly hit the pop heights; now, all they have to do is adjust to the surroundings
By Chris Nixon
For the San Diego Union-Tribune
May 5, 2005
There are many paths to the top of the music industry's rocky mountaintop. A lucky few stumble into a record deal and immediate exposure, others toil for years wearing pink tuxedos while playing the Tic-Tock Lounge on the Jersey Shore before finding an audience.
Chances are Maroon5 never unwillingly wore pink tuxedos, but they did take a winding path to the top. After beginning their careers as Kara's Flowers in September 1995 while finding regional success in L.A.'s music scene, the boys in Maroon5 survived a name change and a record-label switch to score huge success with 2002's "Songs About Jane."
For the Irish quintet the Thrills, just two years after forming in 2001, the band scored a record deal with Virgin and released a critically acclaimed debut with 2003's "So Much for the City."
For lead singer Conor Deasy, the sudden change of fortunes for the band didn't come without its own trials and tribulations.
"It's a very strange process, because in some ways you've gone from zeroes to heroes," said Deasy during a concert stop in Milwaukee. "One minute, you're just another band throwing your demo tapes around like any other band, and the next thing you know you've got a deal.
"On the other hand, you're conscious of the fact that there's so much to play for. You've got so much to prove. You know how fleeting that moment can be. So many bands get dropped in the blink of an eye, especially with all the hype and hot air that surrounds debut albums these days.
"We very much live in the era of the debut album. If it doesn't happen immediately, it can be pretty rough on a band."
After Maroon5's win at the 2004 Grammys (ironically for Best New Artist) and the Thrills' successful sophomore release, "Let's Bottle Bohemia," the two bands who took different paths to recognition join forces for the Honda Civic Tour, which stops at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion Monday.
The Thrills and Maroon5 take different views of the three-minute pop song format. The Los Angeles quintet incorporates snappy melodies and catchy choruses to ensnare new fans. The Thrills woo audiences with a taste of Irish bittersweet balladry.
Deasy recognizes the craft in Maroon5's music, despite not having the indie street cred.
"I think Maroon5 is a really good pop band," says Deasy in his mild-mannered Irish brogue. "They do what they do really well. The three or four big hits, there's a real class to what they do. They're not considered a very cool band, but more often than not 'cool' bands are full of (crap) anyway.
"I think there's a good pop craft to what they do. I guess they are just one of those bands that pops up and becomes the biggest band in the world for a moment."
After the mellow pop sounds of "So Much for the City," many critics compared the Thrills to Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the surf music of the 1960s. Despite writing the album while living in San Diego and recording the album in L.A., Deasy doesn't make a direct link between his music and Wilson's.
"I think there are obvious West Coast influences in our music," corrects Deasy. "But I really wouldn't call ourselves surf music. The only thing we have in common with Brian Wilson is we don't surf."
Deasy sounds a little worn out through the phone lines and with good reason: Since the band released "So Much for the City," the Thrills has toured constantly and released its sophomore effort without a break. And after four years in the cutthroat music business, Deasy has learned some hard lessons.
"We need to get the balance right and do things on our terms," says Deasy, looking down the road at a possible break this summer and recording the next album. "Putting out a record, it's a great feeling. But once the record's out and the merry-go-round begins, you have to be prepared for that because it takes a lot out of you."
Right now, the Thrills is getting a taste of the pop high-life, touring with the wildly successful Maroon5.
"It starts off younger in the front rows," says Deasy of fans at the recent Honda Civic shows. "There's a little bit of the 'teenage girl' element. If you say hello, you tend to get an ear-deafening screech from the front. As you move back in the crowd, you see more women in their early-30s and a few boyfriends who've been dragged along. It's quite a varied audience really."
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
The Thrills quickly hit the pop heights; now, all they have to do is adjust to the surroundings
By Chris Nixon
For the San Diego Union-Tribune
May 5, 2005
There are many paths to the top of the music industry's rocky mountaintop. A lucky few stumble into a record deal and immediate exposure, others toil for years wearing pink tuxedos while playing the Tic-Tock Lounge on the Jersey Shore before finding an audience.
Chances are Maroon5 never unwillingly wore pink tuxedos, but they did take a winding path to the top. After beginning their careers as Kara's Flowers in September 1995 while finding regional success in L.A.'s music scene, the boys in Maroon5 survived a name change and a record-label switch to score huge success with 2002's "Songs About Jane."
For the Irish quintet the Thrills, just two years after forming in 2001, the band scored a record deal with Virgin and released a critically acclaimed debut with 2003's "So Much for the City."
For lead singer Conor Deasy, the sudden change of fortunes for the band didn't come without its own trials and tribulations.
"It's a very strange process, because in some ways you've gone from zeroes to heroes," said Deasy during a concert stop in Milwaukee. "One minute, you're just another band throwing your demo tapes around like any other band, and the next thing you know you've got a deal.
"On the other hand, you're conscious of the fact that there's so much to play for. You've got so much to prove. You know how fleeting that moment can be. So many bands get dropped in the blink of an eye, especially with all the hype and hot air that surrounds debut albums these days.
"We very much live in the era of the debut album. If it doesn't happen immediately, it can be pretty rough on a band."
The Thrills
Lineup:
Daniel Ryan – guitar
Padraic McMahon – bass
Conor Deasy – vocals
Kevin Horan – keyboards
Ben Carrigan – drums
Discography:
"Let's Bottle Bohemia" (2004, Virgin)
"So Much for the City" ( 2003, Virgin)
TALES OF SAN DIEGO:
The Thrills lead singer, Conor Deasy, spent much of the 30-minute interview telling tales about past experiences and the current tour, showing his Irish storytelling roots. Here are a few of the shorter tales he told:
On Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, a notorious drinker, drying out in San Diego (the Thrills lived behind Taang! Records in Mission Beach during their stay here):
"Above Taang! Records was this empty, vacant apartment that was used for a whole number of different things. Even during our few months there, it changed from a souvenir shop to a fast food joint.
"At one point, it was rented out to people who ran a detox clinic, and he told us that Shane MacGowan once stayed there. But unfortunately, the temptation – being so close to the Mexican border – meant that he didn't stay on the straight and narrow for too long. The term 'from the frying pan and into the fire' might come to mind."
On living in San Diego before recording the debut record "So Much for the City":
"So when we picked San Diego, we were just thinking of the beaches and the weather in California. It didn't seem like an obvious choice. I guess a lot of people would go to L.A. or San Francisco. We liked the fact that it was close to the Mexican border. It just seemed like a fun place.
"The only problem was when we first arrived, we couldn't get any work, we couldn't get any accommodations and we couldn't get into bars. So that was a little bit of a setback for the first couple of weeks.
"Once we got around that, we started having a great time. We really loved the place and it became one of those magical little experiences."
– CHRIS NIXON
After Maroon5's win at the 2004 Grammys (ironically for Best New Artist) and the Thrills' successful sophomore release, "Let's Bottle Bohemia," the two bands who took different paths to recognition join forces for the Honda Civic Tour, which stops at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion Monday.
The Thrills and Maroon5 take different views of the three-minute pop song format. The Los Angeles quintet incorporates snappy melodies and catchy choruses to ensnare new fans. The Thrills woo audiences with a taste of Irish bittersweet balladry.
Deasy recognizes the craft in Maroon5's music, despite not having the indie street cred.
"I think Maroon5 is a really good pop band," says Deasy in his mild-mannered Irish brogue. "They do what they do really well. The three or four big hits, there's a real class to what they do. They're not considered a very cool band, but more often than not 'cool' bands are full of (crap) anyway.
"I think there's a good pop craft to what they do. I guess they are just one of those bands that pops up and becomes the biggest band in the world for a moment."
After the mellow pop sounds of "So Much for the City," many critics compared the Thrills to Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the surf music of the 1960s. Despite writing the album while living in San Diego and recording the album in L.A., Deasy doesn't make a direct link between his music and Wilson's.
"I think there are obvious West Coast influences in our music," corrects Deasy. "But I really wouldn't call ourselves surf music. The only thing we have in common with Brian Wilson is we don't surf."
Deasy sounds a little worn out through the phone lines and with good reason: Since the band released "So Much for the City," the Thrills has toured constantly and released its sophomore effort without a break. And after four years in the cutthroat music business, Deasy has learned some hard lessons.
"We need to get the balance right and do things on our terms," says Deasy, looking down the road at a possible break this summer and recording the next album. "Putting out a record, it's a great feeling. But once the record's out and the merry-go-round begins, you have to be prepared for that because it takes a lot out of you."
Right now, the Thrills is getting a taste of the pop high-life, touring with the wildly successful Maroon5.
"It starts off younger in the front rows," says Deasy of fans at the recent Honda Civic shows. "There's a little bit of the 'teenage girl' element. If you say hello, you tend to get an ear-deafening screech from the front. As you move back in the crowd, you see more women in their early-30s and a few boyfriends who've been dragged along. It's quite a varied audience really."
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
Coachella preview: Fill it to the brim
Fill it to the brim
A wide range of good music, good vibes will spill out on the field at annual Coachella fest
By Chris Nixon
For the San Diego Union-Tribune
April 28, 2005
Each year in the Empire Polo Field's wide-open spaces, the desert serves as a backdrop to one of best music festivals in the business: the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
Polo fields happen to be the largest playing fields with boundaries in organized sports (300 yards by 160 yards), so the locale just outside of Palm Springs provides acres of manicured grassy fields and spectacular views of desert mountain ranges in the distance.
Striking scenery may serve as the setting, but music remains the reason people drive to the desert. Modeled after European festivals drawing diverse artists and crowds, Coachella makes a point each year to include artsy headliners with worthy smaller arts from indie rock, hip-hop and electronica with a smattering of world music and jazz.
This year, Coldplay headlines the Saturday show, while Nine Inch Nails brings big-name clout to the Sunday lineup.
Many San Diegans make the trip to Indio each year to take in the unique atmosphere and the wide array of bands. This year's lineup also features such San Diego-bred favorites as Pinback and the Locust.
BEST MUSICAL BETS
SATURDAY
Bauhaus: The Goth-rock originators have re-formed with the lineup of Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and David J (now living in North County). Such post-Bauhaus side projects as Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets and Peter Murphy's solo albums surpassed the popularity of the original band, but true connoisseurs understand Bauhaus' importance.
Cafe Tacuba: Bands singing lyrics in Spanish tend to get lumped into the rock en espanol bin, but this Mexican quartet transcends the tag with quirky songwriting and a Beck-like cohesiveness despite using alt-rock, hip-hop and Latino influences. Cafe Tacuba – which won a 2004 Grammy for its "Cuatros Caminos" – gave a great performance at 2003's Street Scene, so it's good to have them back in Southern California.
Spoon: "That's the way we get by," croaks Spoon lead singer Britt Daniel on the Austin, Texas, quartet's excellent 2002 release, "Kill the Moonlight." This is indie music with melody stretching the boundaries of guitar-driven rock. Spoon will release a new disc, "Some Fiction," on May 10, so expect a bunch of new tunes at the Coachella performance.
Zap Mama: How wonderful is Zap Mama? Zap Mama's Marie Daulne – with her rhythmic, raspy vocals – understands the connection between African music and contemporary R&B, soul and hip-hop. Zap Mama's 2004 release, "Ancestry in Progress," taps the skills of the Roots, Talib Kweli, Common and Erykah Badu. Kweli will be on hand as part of Black Star, so expect a guest spot at Saturday's Zap Mama performance.
Amp Fiddler: After spending years honing his funk/soul skills as a sideman for Maxwell and George Clinton's bands, Amp Fiddler made a name for himself with the smooth R&B sound of his 2004 solo disc, "Waltz of a Ghetto Fly." Criminally overlooked, the album gives Fiddler (a Street Scene alumni) free range to explore stripped-down funk-tinged soul music.
SUNDAY
Nine Inch Nails: Anyone interested in attending Coachella probably knows about Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor and his penchant for creating accessible industrial music accented by crunching guitars and angst-ridden vocals. But NIN still deserves to be mentioned because the band puts on an amazing live show. "With Teeth," the new disc from Reznor, appears in record stores Tuesday, so expect to hear some new songs.
Black Star: With almost a dozen hip-hop artists gracing the Indio stages, Coachella reaffirms its love for hip-hop that shuns materialistic blather in favor of rhythmic art and lyrical intelligence. Before Mos Def graced the silver screen and Talib Kweli broke loose as a solo artist, these two MCs rocked the hip-hop world as Black Star. Their 1998 debut "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Blackstar" did more than just launch the careers of two promising MCs, it reminded us that hip-hop doesn't have to be coated in diamonds.
Pinback: If you're into the local music scene, you probably know about Pinback and its beautifully crafted, transcendent indie rock songs. Touring in support of 2004's "Summer in Abaddon," Zach Smith and Rob Crow are gaining notice from more than music journalists and indie rock aficionados. Pinback's Sunday performance at Coachella should help expose the band to a larger audience.
DJ Krush: Japanese DJ-producer Krush, aka Hideaki Ishi, creates introspective, mainly instrumental hip-hop tracks. Splicing underground hip-hop cred (he's worked with the Roots, Aesop Rock, Company Flow, DJ Shadow and Mos Def) with samples of wooden flutes and traditional Japanese instruments, Krush remains one of hip-hop's most imaginative songsmiths.
The Stereophonics: This Welsh trio feels equally at home in meat-and-potatoes, Stones-influenced rock, U2-tinged melodic rock and fuzzy garage indie rock. Note the common word here: rock. The Stereophonics are simply a great rock band. The group just released the cleverly titled "Language. Sex. Violence. Other?," another set of excellent multi-chromatic rock tunes.
Chris Nixon is a San Diego writer.
NUTS AND BOLTS
All ages are welcome; children under 5 are free. Festival gates open at 11 a.m. each day and parking lots and box office open 9 a.m. The event is rain or shine. Everyone entering the venue is subject to a search. Photo ID required for all will-call ticket pickups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on event days. Once in the festival, you can't leave and go back in.
Tickets are $81 per person per day, and Ticketmaster is adding $11.05 for a convenience charge and $3 for a "Building Facility Charge."
Directions and parking
From San Diego: Take I-15 north to I-215 north. Take state route 60 east to I-10 east toward Palm Springs, past Highway 111; exit at Indio Boulevard. Traffic personnel will direct cars to the Empire Polo Field and event parking lots. Parking is free; no overnight parking without a camping permit.
Camping: Coachella provides on-site camping. Guidelines: www.coachella.com. On-site camping tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster: (619) 220-TIXS or www.ticketmaster.com.
Can bring: Backpacks, hat, sun block, lighters, sunglasses, cigarettes, small beach towel, fanny packs, digital cameras (nonprofessional), disposable and nonprofessional film cameras.
Can't bring: Musical instruments, knives, weapons, chains, chain wallets, blankets, outside food and beverage, camel packs, tents, flags, chairs, video cameras, audio recording devices, bota bags, professional cameras, stuffed animals, pets, drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Tips for Coachella
Get there early: Most Coachella-goers don't bother with the early afternoon hours of the festival. That makes the early afternoon hours the best time to go. The line at the entry gates can be long from 1 p.m. on, so line up before noon. The early shows from lesser-known bands are often the most rewarding, allowing stage-front access and dancing room.
Bring sunscreen, a hat and a small backpack: It's the desert; the sun will be intense. Use sunscreen, bring a hat and bring a small backpack to carry everything in. The official Coachella site (www.coachella.com) defines the regulation backpack size.
Bring money: The organizers of Coachella know they have a captive audience, so they will charge for food, beer and alcohol. The festival T-shirts feature cool designs and run $20 to $30.
Stay the night: Driving to Indio takes approximately three hours from San Diego. Add six to 12 hours of music and the time it takes to get in and out of the venue, and you have more than a full day. The Palm Springs area offers a wide variety of lodging options from on-site camping to fancy hotels. Check out www.coachella.com or call the lodging hot line at (800) 537-6986.
Patience: Coachella is a huge festival. There will be a lot of people there. There will be lines. But, in general, everyone is mellow. If you have a little patience, you'll have a better time and fit right in.
A wide range of good music, good vibes will spill out on the field at annual Coachella fest
By Chris Nixon
For the San Diego Union-Tribune
April 28, 2005
Each year in the Empire Polo Field's wide-open spaces, the desert serves as a backdrop to one of best music festivals in the business: the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
Polo fields happen to be the largest playing fields with boundaries in organized sports (300 yards by 160 yards), so the locale just outside of Palm Springs provides acres of manicured grassy fields and spectacular views of desert mountain ranges in the distance.
Striking scenery may serve as the setting, but music remains the reason people drive to the desert. Modeled after European festivals drawing diverse artists and crowds, Coachella makes a point each year to include artsy headliners with worthy smaller arts from indie rock, hip-hop and electronica with a smattering of world music and jazz.
This year, Coldplay headlines the Saturday show, while Nine Inch Nails brings big-name clout to the Sunday lineup.
Many San Diegans make the trip to Indio each year to take in the unique atmosphere and the wide array of bands. This year's lineup also features such San Diego-bred favorites as Pinback and the Locust.
BEST MUSICAL BETS
SATURDAY
Bauhaus: The Goth-rock originators have re-formed with the lineup of Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and David J (now living in North County). Such post-Bauhaus side projects as Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets and Peter Murphy's solo albums surpassed the popularity of the original band, but true connoisseurs understand Bauhaus' importance.
Cafe Tacuba: Bands singing lyrics in Spanish tend to get lumped into the rock en espanol bin, but this Mexican quartet transcends the tag with quirky songwriting and a Beck-like cohesiveness despite using alt-rock, hip-hop and Latino influences. Cafe Tacuba – which won a 2004 Grammy for its "Cuatros Caminos" – gave a great performance at 2003's Street Scene, so it's good to have them back in Southern California.
Spoon: "That's the way we get by," croaks Spoon lead singer Britt Daniel on the Austin, Texas, quartet's excellent 2002 release, "Kill the Moonlight." This is indie music with melody stretching the boundaries of guitar-driven rock. Spoon will release a new disc, "Some Fiction," on May 10, so expect a bunch of new tunes at the Coachella performance.
Zap Mama: How wonderful is Zap Mama? Zap Mama's Marie Daulne – with her rhythmic, raspy vocals – understands the connection between African music and contemporary R&B, soul and hip-hop. Zap Mama's 2004 release, "Ancestry in Progress," taps the skills of the Roots, Talib Kweli, Common and Erykah Badu. Kweli will be on hand as part of Black Star, so expect a guest spot at Saturday's Zap Mama performance.
Amp Fiddler: After spending years honing his funk/soul skills as a sideman for Maxwell and George Clinton's bands, Amp Fiddler made a name for himself with the smooth R&B sound of his 2004 solo disc, "Waltz of a Ghetto Fly." Criminally overlooked, the album gives Fiddler (a Street Scene alumni) free range to explore stripped-down funk-tinged soul music.
SUNDAY
Nine Inch Nails: Anyone interested in attending Coachella probably knows about Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor and his penchant for creating accessible industrial music accented by crunching guitars and angst-ridden vocals. But NIN still deserves to be mentioned because the band puts on an amazing live show. "With Teeth," the new disc from Reznor, appears in record stores Tuesday, so expect to hear some new songs.
Black Star: With almost a dozen hip-hop artists gracing the Indio stages, Coachella reaffirms its love for hip-hop that shuns materialistic blather in favor of rhythmic art and lyrical intelligence. Before Mos Def graced the silver screen and Talib Kweli broke loose as a solo artist, these two MCs rocked the hip-hop world as Black Star. Their 1998 debut "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Blackstar" did more than just launch the careers of two promising MCs, it reminded us that hip-hop doesn't have to be coated in diamonds.
Pinback: If you're into the local music scene, you probably know about Pinback and its beautifully crafted, transcendent indie rock songs. Touring in support of 2004's "Summer in Abaddon," Zach Smith and Rob Crow are gaining notice from more than music journalists and indie rock aficionados. Pinback's Sunday performance at Coachella should help expose the band to a larger audience.
DJ Krush: Japanese DJ-producer Krush, aka Hideaki Ishi, creates introspective, mainly instrumental hip-hop tracks. Splicing underground hip-hop cred (he's worked with the Roots, Aesop Rock, Company Flow, DJ Shadow and Mos Def) with samples of wooden flutes and traditional Japanese instruments, Krush remains one of hip-hop's most imaginative songsmiths.
The Stereophonics: This Welsh trio feels equally at home in meat-and-potatoes, Stones-influenced rock, U2-tinged melodic rock and fuzzy garage indie rock. Note the common word here: rock. The Stereophonics are simply a great rock band. The group just released the cleverly titled "Language. Sex. Violence. Other?," another set of excellent multi-chromatic rock tunes.
Chris Nixon is a San Diego writer.
NUTS AND BOLTS
All ages are welcome; children under 5 are free. Festival gates open at 11 a.m. each day and parking lots and box office open 9 a.m. The event is rain or shine. Everyone entering the venue is subject to a search. Photo ID required for all will-call ticket pickups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on event days. Once in the festival, you can't leave and go back in.
Tickets are $81 per person per day, and Ticketmaster is adding $11.05 for a convenience charge and $3 for a "Building Facility Charge."
Directions and parking
From San Diego: Take I-15 north to I-215 north. Take state route 60 east to I-10 east toward Palm Springs, past Highway 111; exit at Indio Boulevard. Traffic personnel will direct cars to the Empire Polo Field and event parking lots. Parking is free; no overnight parking without a camping permit.
Camping: Coachella provides on-site camping. Guidelines: www.coachella.com. On-site camping tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster: (619) 220-TIXS or www.ticketmaster.com.
Can bring: Backpacks, hat, sun block, lighters, sunglasses, cigarettes, small beach towel, fanny packs, digital cameras (nonprofessional), disposable and nonprofessional film cameras.
Can't bring: Musical instruments, knives, weapons, chains, chain wallets, blankets, outside food and beverage, camel packs, tents, flags, chairs, video cameras, audio recording devices, bota bags, professional cameras, stuffed animals, pets, drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Tips for Coachella
Get there early: Most Coachella-goers don't bother with the early afternoon hours of the festival. That makes the early afternoon hours the best time to go. The line at the entry gates can be long from 1 p.m. on, so line up before noon. The early shows from lesser-known bands are often the most rewarding, allowing stage-front access and dancing room.
Bring sunscreen, a hat and a small backpack: It's the desert; the sun will be intense. Use sunscreen, bring a hat and bring a small backpack to carry everything in. The official Coachella site (www.coachella.com) defines the regulation backpack size.
Bring money: The organizers of Coachella know they have a captive audience, so they will charge for food, beer and alcohol. The festival T-shirts feature cool designs and run $20 to $30.
Stay the night: Driving to Indio takes approximately three hours from San Diego. Add six to 12 hours of music and the time it takes to get in and out of the venue, and you have more than a full day. The Palm Springs area offers a wide variety of lodging options from on-site camping to fancy hotels. Check out www.coachella.com or call the lodging hot line at (800) 537-6986.
Patience: Coachella is a huge festival. There will be a lot of people there. There will be lines. But, in general, everyone is mellow. If you have a little patience, you'll have a better time and fit right in.
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