Coachella Weekend 1: Blown Away
Nearly 80,000 people got blown away Sunday. Not only by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, WuTang Clan, and dozens more, but by a sandstorm.
“The tents were not that bad,” said Amberly Escobar from Indio, “but once you got out it was really windy and sandy.”
Caite Case flew 3,000 miles from New York, and said, “I’m not used to it to be honest, and I’m dealing the best that I can.”
Many people on social media complained about the sandstorm and the wind.
People modified their wardrobe — wearing bandanas over their mouths. One man even said everyone made it socially acceptable to wear sunglasses at night to avoid sand coming into their eyes at gusts nearing 30 miles per hour.
Some left the concert despite paying more than 300 dollars for a wristband.
“That’s what made me want to leave right away,” said Ariel Parhm, from Inglewood. “I didn’t finish … I didn’t even go see the Red Hot Chili Peppers because of it because I do not like it.”
Many of her fellow festival-goers braved the storm.
“We saw La Roux,” Escobar said, “We went to the Sahara tent who else we seen Wu Tang. It was cool.”
“My favorite acts were major Lazer, Beach House, and Vampire Weekend,” expressed Case.
“I loved the performers,” Erika Hale, Gardena said. Really though, she liked the cuisine. “I loved the different type of performances, different types of genres. The food. That was the best part. The food.”
“It was great. It was awesome,” said Justin Montgomery, San Mateo, “Definitely going to have to come back next year.”
Police arrested 64 people over the three day weekend for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and using drugs.
The weekend one crowd gave us some advice for everyone coming for weekend two.
“I would recommend to them get a locker because it was real hot in the morning,” said Parhm, “but once it gets to night time it gets real cold.”
“Bring sunblock and a warm jacket,” advises Montgomery.
“Make sure you bring flip flops or some type of sandal,” says Hale, “because tennis shoes after a while your feet hurt really bad from all the walking.”
Coachella Music and Arts Festival weekend two starts Friday morning.
Weather — set to be in the 90’s and a lot less windy.
