Top music sets at Coachella Festival Weekend 2

photo: George A. Paul

Music writers George A. Paul and Robert Kinsler witnessed many performances during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Each singled out some sets that made a major impact.

On Friday afternoon, inside the air-conditioned Sonora tent, Late Night Drive Home provided a welcome respite from the heat. The young El Paso, Texas indie rock band came across like an appealing mix of The Strokes, Conor Oberst, and The Killers. Sporting a cowboy hat, expressive singer Andre Portillo showed off his falsetto amid an enrapturing “Perfect Strangers.” During the dramatic, crystalline sonic sweep of aptly titled “Euphoria,” Portillo sang about positivity and got everyone to leap up. Other set standouts included a buoyant “Stress Relief” (the group’s most popular Spotify song is approaching 75 million streams), “Believe Me” (from the new I’ll Remember You… EP), and the blissful “Star Love.” (GAP)

The Japanese House, the moniker for English indie pop musician Amber Bain, enthralled the Mojave tent crowd from the get-go on Friday with “Sad to Breathe.” It was the first of several ethereal songs from 2023’s impressive In the End it Always Does (co-produced by The 1975’s George Daniel). Onstage, the singer’s layered vocal effects brought to mind Phoebe Bridgers and Sarah McLachlan as she triggered electronic music backing. Highlights included a lush “Something Has to Change,” the life-affirming feel of acoustic guitar-led “You Seemed So Happy,” and an earthy “Boyhood,” dedicated to her girlfriend. (GAP)

LA-based duo Neil Frances provided some enticing electronic-based alt-pop at the Gobi tent on Friday. Aussie vocalist Jordan Feller, with an elastic falsetto a la Foster the People, enthusiastically led the band through danceable numbers like the funky “Music Sounds Better with You,” the airy “High” (off latest album It’s All a Bit Fuzzy; rapper PawPaw Rod made a guest appearance), a frantic “Be Free” (where Feller climbed the side stage scaffolding) and catchy “Falling for You.” (GAP)

With their masks and matching superhero costumes the Aquabats fused catchy high-energy songs, bona fide comedy, costumed villains and tossing of inflated props into the crowd to engage the excited audience throughout a fast-moving 45-minute set. The band's musical brew is a winning mix of alt rock and punk with a dose of ska, new wave and synth-pop for good measure. From the melodic punk opener "Pool Party!" and Devo-flavored "Karate Body!" to several new originals ("No Rewind!" and "Doctor Space Mummy!" from the forthcoming album Finally! coming in June), the troupe thrilled the Sonora tent with their fun approach. Some of my favorite selections included the horns-adorned "No Rewind!", ska-punk cut "Martian Day!" and closer "The Shark Fighter!" (RK)

Rising British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean made the most of her short 40-minute set on Sunday afternoon, performing her intoxicating fusion of Neo-soul and Motown mining R&B with a marvelous seven-member band whose talents collectively elevated the performance. Highlights included the uptempo "OK Love You Bye," the joyous dance cut "Reason To Stay," heartfelt tribute to her grandmother "Carmen" and inspired "Dive." There was a palpable connection between the songstress and the audience during the memorable performance. (RK)

This review originally appeared in Desert Star Weekly and Desert Local News.