Marla and I took a break from the kids to attend the Coachella music festival this year. I was really excited about it, desperately needing a break after weeks of endless work dealing with the Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart launches and just before the launch of GTA4.

We headed out to Indio Thursday night with a bunch of good friends: Knower, Vahn, Sluggo, Eric, Spiff and Katie. They’re all multi-year veterans, attending from practically day one. It was my second trip to the three day fest and Marla’s first. Much music was heard and much fun was had.

Day 1

Friday was the first full day of the show and we gorged ourselves on music. We saw the following bands:

• Battles
• The Breeders
• The Raconteuers
• Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
• Fatboy Slim

I regret missing Rouge Wave, who opened the show. They’ve been a favorite since I randomly discovered them on Rhapsody last year. I was able to listen to them wafting across the parking lot as we walked in. We also missed Vampire Weekend but had our priorities straight: we ate during their set instead of starving to death.

The Breeders and The Raconteurs were easily my favorite acts of the day. I felt a little sorry for Kim Deal and gang towards the end of the set. The audience vanished as soon as Cannonball was done.

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast at the Rock Garden Cafe in Palm Springs we trekked back for Day 2 of the show.

Day 2 was jam-packed with goodness. I felt a little bad that I spent most of the day in front of the main stage watching headliners instead of discovering new acts but, such is life. Our day 2 artists were:

• Dredg
• Devotchka
• Kate Nash
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Rilo Kiley
• Kraftwerk
• Portishead
• Prince

Seeing Dredg was a horrible mistake. I turned lemon into lemonades, though, and took a nap in the grass on Marla’s lap. That was needed as from 3:30 PM with Devotchka straight through until Prince ended at 1 AM was nothing short of awesome.

Seeing DCfC (whom I’ve blogged about before) live was awesome but I would have preferred a tent to the main stage. Portishead was incredible live – what more can I say about them?

And Prince, of course, ended the night on a tear. I wasn’t sure what to expect out of him, honestly, but it that dude can put on a show. He started out with all kinds of guest appearances including Morris Day and Shelia E.

My most lasting memory, though, is his constant mispronunciation of the show: “Co-ah-chell-ah!” It has remained a constant joke even today.

Day 3

After two late nights we were beat and arrived late to start Day 3. That was OK, though, because there was nothing terribly exciting early in the day. Our line-up:

• Stars
• Gogol Bordello
• Spiritualized
• My Morning Jacket
• Roger Waters (The Wall)

While I was originally only looking forward to seeing Gogol Bordello and having Marla finally see what I’d been raving about, everything we saw turned out to be spectacular, including the Roger Waters show at the end, where he played through the entirety of The Wall. I’d forgotten how much I loved some of those songs.

We returned home Monday afternoon I headed in to work… not to return again for another week, thanks to GTA. I’m ready for Coachella ’09 but, hopefully, without the ridiculous workload before and after!