Coachella 2011, Day 1: Slip-ups, surprises and standout performances mark a smooth opener

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Cee-Lo bombed. Ariel Pink melted down. Brandon Flowers showed up with the Killers. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez showed up with the Mars Volta. Skrillex showed up with Korn. DJ Afrojack showed with up Paul McCartney. (Yeah, that Paul McCartney, and Usher too.) Odd Future showed up with Pharrell. The Aquabats showed up with Danny DeVito. Ozomatli showed up with the Pogues. And Cut Copy, Crystal Castles, Caifanes, Robyn and Ms. Lauryn Hill delivered the caliber of performances for which the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is known.

And as opposed to 2010, when logistical problems, gatecrashers and general overcrowding turned talk away from the music, the focus this year was on the performances, from the tender folk of the Rural Alberta Advantage early in the afternoon to the crowd-pleasing headlining performances of Kings of Leon (“We’re gonna play some old songs,” Caleb Followill said, earning a big roar) and the Chemical Brothers.

Buzz Bands LA’s coverage team of Kevin Bronson and Seraphina Lotkhamnga is supplement this year by contributions from writers Richard Cromelin, Travis Woods, Ben McShane, Jeff Miller and photographers Scott Dudelson and James Donnelly. What follows are our reviews and galleries from selected sets on Friday.

Other coverage we recommend:
Yahoo’s Day 1 recap
The Times’ Pop & Hiss blog

Photo by Bronson