The 2018 Desert Daze Festival wrapped up this past weekend (October 12-14, 2018) providing a little something for everyone at its new surreal Lake Perris location. in Moreno Beach, CA. With panoramic views of the glittering man-made blue lake set against dusty mountains, Desert Daze’s new home felt like you were discovering another planet for the weekend.
Even though an unanticipated lightning storm led to headliner Tame Impala only performing three of their songs- two songs from Currents like “Let it Happen” and their lesser played track “Sundown Syndrome” on Friday night, the rest of the weekend continued with music as planned. Though the crowd was visibly disappointed with Tame Impala’s cancellation, faith appeared restored as the weekend propelled forward. In its seventh year in a row, Desert Daze extends the definition of psychedelic music to include everything from reverb-drenched riffs to the repetitive, crystalline qualities of shoegaze. Its penchant for eclectic lineups has made the festival more popular than its counterparts, having sold a record number of tickets this year. Four primary stages hosted bands throughout the days with The Theatre stage and the Moon stage being some of the most popular due to The Moon stage’s vicinity to the water and the Theatre stage being inside a tent that made you feel like you were enclosed in a kaleidoscopic orb.
Highlights on Friday included melancholy songstresses Warpaint and psychedelic funk rippers Pond that played a hypnotic, glitter-infused set with songs like “Sweep Me Off My Feet” and “Giant Tortoise” against a backdrop of breathtaking views of the lake and mountains. Lead singer Nick Allbrook’s special brand of humor had the audience laughing with his one-line zingers and the band’s excitement for playing the fest was evident as he encouraged the crowd to be kind and take care of one another. Like a strong and refreshing cocktail equal parts Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Allbrook’s electric energy lit up the stage and made for an unforgettable performance. Hazy, technicolor vibes were provided thanks to bay area based Sugar Candy Mountain with tracks like “Windows” setting a loungey mood on the first day of the fest. Other highlights included GUM (also of Pond and Tame Impala) playing his signature 80’s electronic psychedelia from his newest release “The Underdog” and previous albums like “Glamorous Damage”. Each stage was closer to each other than in the past, making it easier for people to hop from one show to another. With a vibrant vendor and food scene and a Mystic Bazaar that included musical showcases and interactive activities like yoga and cacao ceremonies, Desert Daze provided the full festival experience so people always had something to do throughout the day.
Saturday brought the Sabbath-esq power of Australian rock priestesses Stonefield who played songs like “Delusion” off their newest release Far From Earth. Cut Worms were an afternoon delight with their twangy, soothing sound bringing to mind the likes of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. Some standout acts included Kevin Morby, whose Pink Floyd like interludes in songs like “Parade” and “City Music” provided the perfect soundscape for the dreamy dusky pink sunset scattered over the serene water. Japanese fuzz lords Kikagaku Moyo shredded with colorful and complex sitar riffs, and got the crowd moving to popular tracks like “Streets of Calcutta” while also treating the audience to music from their new release Masana Temples. Like riding in a time portal, this year’s fest catered to a wide audience with classic acts like Slowdive who performed songs from their latest release amongst others. Their newest album was the first in twenty two years, making their performance a special one. What felt like a warm blanket for your ears, sweeping songs like “Catch the Breeze” and “Sugar for the Pill” were accompanied by bright and colorful geometric pattern visuals. The crisp evening air was the perfect companion to tracks like “Star Roving” that created an otherworldly atmosphere with its sonically decadent, lull inducing chord progressions that served as the perfect tonic to unwind and recharge at the end of day two.
Sunday offered favorites like Ty Segall & White Fence and heavy goodness from San Diego rockers Earthless. As in years past where a band will play an album in its entirety, Earth played its seminal “The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull” who’s droney and dissonant songs like “Rise to Glory” and “Hung from the Moon” mimicked the grey, chilly weather. A little injection of funk and soul was brought by the vivacious King Khan and The Shrines whose crackling horn section provided intoxicating grooves for all the late night partiers.
The long-awaited My Bloody Valentine did not disappoint as the headliner Sunday evening, playing tracks spanning their career. Rolling guitar licks and mesmerizing transitions between songs thanks to Kevin Shields in songs like “New You” and “Soon” was a dream come true for both new and veteran fans of the band alike. A cult favorite, MBV’s muted vocals and almost trance-like performance were augmented by circular visuals that were going off through their set. One of the loudest bands of the fest, you could feel soundwaves echo deep into the night sky as the band could be heard clearly far away from the stage. Their performance proved why the band’s legacy has lasted this long and served as the inspiration behind the formation of numerous bands. A nostalgic ending to one of the best festivals of the year, Desert Daze 2018 proved to be nothing less than a musically transcendental experience for all involved.
