We did Coachella last night. Great experience. I have never played in front of such a huge crowd before, some seventy to ninety thousand people.
We were in Coachella from about seven PM. Had a dinner in a large tent and then went to a kind of a VIP room, which was on the periphery of the sector. Scarlett Johansson came by, she was very nice. I think she did helluva job at SNL.
The brass girls told me that another famous actor was hovering just outside the VIP room. He told the girls to say Hi to Björk. This was porn star Ron Jeremy!
I must confess I felt I was about to faint when we walked on stage. Such an enormous audience! Almost the entire population of Reykjavik.
The show went OK, though it will get better and better as we play more. This was our first real gig, the concert in Laugardalshöllin in Reykjavik was more of a final musical dress rehearsal. There we didn’t have lasers and we didn’t have our flags. So all things considered I think we did well. And Björk was simply adorable.
The idea of each of us having our own flags comes, of course, from the song “Declare Your Independece”: “Raise your flags, higher, higher!” Mine features the Qabalistic Tree of Life - on the side, unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding. It still looks cool, though.
It was a great evening. And now I have to stop writing as I have a plane to catch! We are going back to New York today.
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April 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Have you read that great, great book by Manly P. Hall—The Secret Teachings of All Ages? If you’re into occult/alchemy like I am, it’s absolutely indispensable, but you probably already know that. Also, you have got to read that tiny but amazing book Le Mystère des Cathédrales by Fulcanelli. Agh agh agh! I am totally nerding out, but like, you can’t just throw around the Sephirot without piquing my interest!
April 28th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Since I’m a teacher in Michigan, it was impossible for me to make Coachella without dropping my job. I saw the set list and it looks amazing to say the least and from what I hear around you’re being extremely humble when you say the show went okay. I’m interested to see the stage show as it makes it way around–I’m sure it’s nothing short of brilliant. Hope you have a safe flight back.
April 28th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
we watched the webcast & you all did wonderfully!!!
my favorite part was the new arrangement of OCEANIA featuring The Brass Girls!! Earlier last night, we saw LOVEMUSIK, the new play about Kurt Weill & Lotte Lenya & both OCEANIA & WANDERLUST absolutley fit right alongside the music of Weill!!!
we’ll see you next saturday @ United Palace & you’ll feel our love!
April 29th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Vökuró was great, it seemed a song from Rinascimento!!!
April 29th, 2007 at 7:07 am
I have read neither book. But I have seen the Manly P. Hall. Terrific paintings in there! And I read of Fulcanelli in The Zelator. Yeah, I’m an esoterica nerd for sure…
May 1st, 2007 at 9:08 am
You guys put on a phenomenal show. I must say that, although the primary focus for me was indeed on Bjork, I experienced moments of sensory overload trying to take in the overwhelming amount of elements working in unison there. The music all sounded very much improved for a better live performance. It was very dance oriented and moving….(as the girl in front of me who almost took my eye out demonstrated).
Being a musician and geek, watching the Reactable and Multitouch equipment being broadcast on the screens were almost torturous. My best friend who had made the journey with me, a fellow artist and musician, made the same face as i did when we first saw the Reactable pulsing before the music began..
I think we communicated this statement without words:
“dear god.. touring with Bjork AND getting your dirty little hands on the most sophisticated equipment available..”
You are envied.
Overall, it was one of the most memorable experiences in my life, making it worth the Lightning storm that almost killed us, armed border patrol incident, diet-coke can exploding (behind our heads) in the rental car due to the desert heat, truck stop burrito stomach pains, and last minute arrival of our tickets due to a fedex fiasco.
P.S.
“Mine features the Qabalistic Tree of Life - on the side”
1. Its both refreshing and energizing to know that you would have that put on your flag! If you ever need any graphic representations, be sure to let me know! I would contribute any artwork just for the sake of what it represents.
2. With the constant winds from that section of the desert, the flags were one of the highlights of the show. Very very powerful visual.
3. how did Ron Jeremy get passed security? (insert concealed weapon joke here)
May 5th, 2007 at 5:26 am
I was there that magical night at Coachella. Thank you again for your inspiration, you were the best of all three days. I loved the entire set and the new futuristic instraments, those were wild!!! Your voice was so spectacular and perfect that night. The horn section was a treat, thanks gals. After the show a guy in front of me told me I was the man because I was singing very loudly to every song, I ask if I was annoying and that I was embarassed, he said no you were alright and laughed.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Hi
I was there and all of the musicians were amazing. I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as the fans in the audience did. I must say it was quite uncomfortable waiting those 4 hours for Bjork’s performance but in the end it was all worth the effort.
I enjoyed the ending to Bachelorette, a nice tango feeling came across.
I will be seing you again in Mountain View California.
Thank you for this blog, for me it is a way to extend the joy that I experienced in Coachella and to keep the energy and spirit of the Volta tour present in me throughout the life of the tour. This blog is an excellent idea that I as a fan appreciate tremendously, I have always been curious as to what might be going on behind the scenes of a Bjork tour and this gives me a glimpse into that. Please Keep posting as I am eager to read your posts.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
BRAVO BRAVO !! BRAVO !!!
there are no words which exist that could even beguin to describe how great all of you are.
the show was truly among some of the greatest experiences of my life!!!!
the only way it could get any better is if i was at your practices… : )