Coachella Duplicates Itself, Incites Skepticisim

Coachella, barely a month after closing doors on this year’s event, are proffering tickets beginning Friday for next year’s festival. And that’s not all – without divulging any lineup whatsoever, the festival’s promoters say they will offer two identical, back-to-back weekends (sold separately of course). Oh, also, you can buy passes on a payment plan, putting down monthly installments, just like you did with your couch.

I don’t know about you, but Xeroxing an entire festival just doesn’t seem right. Given the media coverage, the broadcast capabilities, the legendary partying, and the golden jewels of eccentricity, won’t Coachella 2012 Part 2 be something of a wash for attendees?

You’re already going to know via Twitter that Tyler got kicked out, or that Ariel Pink had a tantrum, or that everyone looks the same. I was always under the impression festivals were a draw because of the unique appeal of each experience. Opportunities for artists to take the stage in front of audiences they normally wouldn’t draw, for a chance at something unique, breathtaking, or devastating to happen. And the crowd thrives on that.

Sure we’re all there to enjoy the tunes. But isn’t part of it also that we’re all wishing to bear witness to our own legendary moments? Our own Jimi at Monterey Pop? Or Radiohead at Lollapalooza 2008? What about Daft Punk at Coachella 2006? The Stones at Altamont? Or Woodstock ’99 if that’s more your bag? The Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Sasquatch in 2009? Green Day in ‘94? Nickelback in 2007?

It’s these festival moments that we all live for – the irreplaceable, the legendary, those incapable of duplication. Then again - Jimi burning that guitar? That was rehearsed too – he had already done it a few months before at the London Astoria. So maybe week one is just a chance to prep, with week 2 being the big send-off that we’ll all be hoping for.

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