The first year I went to Coachella I documented everything. Around every stretch of the Empire Polo Club was a photo opportunity, requiring me to unsheathe my smartphone nearly every other minute.
I was perhaps the most excited when I recorded essentially a full set of Jenny Lewis – an act of fandom that absolutely murdered my battery. I’d spend the little time I had in my offsite camp running my car, utilizing the only charging ability I had at my immediate disposal in the California desert.
Today all of those seemingly amazing photos and videos I took across the 3-day festival are sitting in an album tucked away on my Facebook account, gathering viral dust. I maybe clicked through them all once immediately when I got home from Coachella and never looked at them again.
Jesus. What the hell was wrong with me? Having 8-megapixils in your pocket doesn’t make you a fucking journalist.
I didn’t realize it at the time but my stockpile of Coachella pictures was never intended for me. I think subconsciously I wanted to scream on every social media avenue possible, “Look what a good time I’m having!”
Pro tip to me circa 2011: You can’t replicate the concert experience, maximize the moment at hand.
Music festivals – hell, concerts in general – are expensive. Want to get your money’s worth? Thrusting your iPhone in the air isn’t the answer. Intimate performance art exists only in the moment.
Fortunately many artists like She & Him, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and hey – even Björk ! – are doing something about the smartphone movement, posting signage pleading with fans to avoid any recording. It’s a step in the right direction.
I’ll be attending HARD Summer in beginning of August and have every intention in preserving my battery life. Hopefully this year more people follow suit so I can fully enjoy RL Grime melting my face.
