Green Day Blaze Through Headline Set, Charli XCX Brings Star Power at Coachella Day 2

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During Green Day’s main performance at this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival on its second day, their lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, inquired if I was a Coachella newbie for the first time.

When roughly half of them reacted with a loud bellow, Armstrong countered with a deceptive statement: “This is my first time at Coachella!” However, it was not just a simple deception; in reality, Armstrong had graced the stage before, back in 2014 at the Outdoor Theater on the Polo Field. He had stepped in as the lead vocalist for the then-reunited Replacements while Paul Westerberg watched from a couch onstage during his historic performance.

Last night, Green Day, as the sole announced rock headliner in the post-Covid era of this festival (with Blink-182 stepping in for Frank Ocean during weekend two in 2023), captivated a vast crowd with their 90-minute set filled with hit after hit. This wasn’t just a celebration of their legacy, but also a testament to the enduring influence of alt-rock at a festival known for nurturing this genre.

After Lady Gaga’s spectacular performance, which filled the stage the previous evening, Green Day chose to stay true to their classic rock themes. They delivered powerful performances of “American Idiot,” “Basketcase,” and “Hitching a Ride,” punctuating them with impressive bursts of fireworks. Towards the end of their set, an unintended firework ignited a palm tree backstage, but swift action from the on-site safety team quickly extinguished the flames, ensuring that the festival continued without interruption.

Bono from Armstrong raced back and forth across an enormous stage typically used by dance troupes, amassing a marathon’s worth of strides by the conclusion of their performance. Warhorse bandmates, including drummer Tre Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt, played their instruments with their signature mix of silliness and intensity. Additionally, three other touring musicians contributed to filling the vast space with an army of guitars and keyboards.

Green Day’s performance stood out mainly due to what it lacked: no cover songs apart from a brief hint of “Iron Man” and a moment of “Free Falling”, as well as no special guests except for two audience members who joined them. One enthusiastic fan was invited to shout the end of “Know Your Enemy”, while another crowd member, looking ready for the Sunset Strip, was brought on stage to contribute significantly during “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”. Despite this minimalist approach, Green Day demonstrated convincingly that their songs are still potent enough to secure them a place among the giants in music, showcasing the enduring power of rock.

It’s debatable that Green Day wasn’t the only headliner on the main stage Saturday; instead, Charli XCX performed right before them. This Grammy Award-winning artist attracted the largest crowd of the day with a surprisingly simple choreography for her set, which included multiple platinum guests like Troye Sivan, Lorde, and Billie Eilish singing Charli’s most popular songs on a minimalist stage adorned with flashing white lights and a mid-stage lift. Travis Scott, who was scheduled to headline the festival in 2020 but had to cancel due to Covid, closed the night on the B-stage, surrounded by flames and occasionally backed by a large horn section located far away on the main stage.

If you desired an abundance of joy during the daytime, two destinations were ideal. One of them was at the stage graced by Yo Gabba Gabba!, a long-standing children’s band making their second visit to the festival since debuting about a decade ago. Unlike more mature performances, their set remained unadulterated, creating a blend of nostalgia, awe, and laughter among the audience. The group’s 13-year-old lead singer Kammy Kam shone brightly, guiding a sea of adults through games like freeze tag and ludicrous dances alongside her enchanting mascot-clad companions. By the finale, when she invited Weird Al, Thundercat, Portugal. The Man, DJ Lance Rock, and writer Paul Williams to join in “Rainbow Connection,” the innocent delight among the spectators was tangible and breathtaking.

Attending the Outdoor Theater at Coachella, people were treated to an exceptional event this year: the inaugural performance by the LA Philharmonic led by their conductor Gustavo Dudamel. To some locals who ventured into the desert, he might have been the main attraction of the festival. The setup was flawless, offering crystal-clear audio that echoed every violin stroke and drumbeat, and a playlist that combined well-known classical pieces like “Ride of the Valkyries” and Symphony #5, Movement 1 with guest appearances by Laufey and Maren Morris. The show culminated in an extraordinary joint performance between the large orchestra and hip-hop legend LL Cool J.

Dudamel has consistently portrayed himself as a people’s man, and the heartfelt embrace between him and LL at the end of their performance underscores his belief that there is no divide between classical and popular music. His final season as conductor in L.A. will be in 2026; this Coachella performance was not only a testament to his significant impact on the city but also a potential setup for an annual return to the desert.

Earlier this week, news broke about Scott Shriner’s wife being shot by police during a high-speed chase involving suspects from a hit-and-run case. Despite this unfortunate incident, Weezer chose not to address it directly during their performance. Instead, they continued with their setlist, including popular tracks like “Say It Ain’t So” and “Island In The Sun,” maintaining their signature blend of seriousness and humor. To add a twist, they surprised the audience by playing a cover of “Enter Sandman” that closely resembled the original, which might have led some younger fans to believe it was actually one of Weezer’s own songs.

During brief instances, the atmosphere within the field turned surprisingly political. Firebrand Bernie Sanders introduced Clairo using a passionate speech that touched on key points from his campaign, recognizing our current politically tumultuous era, and suggesting that music plays a crucial role in helping us navigate such times. It’s worth noting that only hours prior, Sanders was hosting a rally in L.A., where stars like Neil Young, Joan Baez, and Maggie Rogers performed.

During their 2004 hit song “American Idiot,” Green Day altered the lyrics to say, “I’m not a part of your MAGA agenda.” The thunderous cheers on the field weren’t merely due to the flames that accentuated them. It’s evident from both instances that the generation on the field is highly energized and passionate about this change.

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2025-04-13 22:54