SPILL BOOK REVIEW: KATIE BAIN – DESERT DREAMS: THE MUSIC, STYLE, AND ALLURE OF COACHELLA

KATIE BAIN – DESERT DREAMS: THE MUSIC, STYLE, AND ALLURE OF COACHELLA

EPIC INK/QUARTO

BOOK REVIEW BY AARON BADGLEY

Rock festivals have always been part of rock ‘n’ roll, from the early Dick Clark package tours to the Motown shows, to Woodstock. Rock ‘n’ roll has always had its festivals. Over time, festivals got bigger, and the summer festivals replaced the old package tours. Woodstock, Monterey, Glastonbury, Isle of White, and even Canada’s Heatwave are all examples of large gatherings of fans and bands. One of the most successful festivals has been Coachella. The festival, held in Indio, California, brings together a quarter of a million people for three days in April each year, for some of the biggest names in music.

In this book, Desert Dreams: The Music, Style, and Allure of Coachella, Katie Bains goes over the history of the event, which has a very interesting origin story. Pearl Jam played a huge part in the creation of the show, as a result of not wanting to have their tickets sold through Ticketmaster, and everything grew out of their appearance in an area that now hosts the festival.

Not only does Bain tell the story of the festival in detail, but she has also collected wonderful photos of the numerous bands and artists who have played over the years. The shots are very intimate and convey the excitement of the shows. Amy Winehouse, Prince, Radiohead, Siouxsie Sioux, and even Harry Styles, to name just a few. Shots of Paul McCartney and Neil Young performing together preserve historic musical combinations. The photos are so incredible that, even though it is a well-written history, the book could be considered a coffee-table art book.

Bain even goes into the cultural impact of the festival, explaining how it truly brought back the demand for a musical exhibition, although they really hadn’t disappeared (Farm Aid, for example, was a yearly event). Bain does present some strong arguments that this particular festival, with its mixture of alternative and mainstream sounds, helped reshape what could be considered acceptable for a music festival. The featured photos of attendees also add an incredibly personal element to the book.

Desert Dreams: The Music, Style, and Allure of Coachella is an excellent book. Bain gives the backstory of an event that continues to the present day. Coachella does not seem to be running out of steam or popularity any time soon and is one of those yearly events that is eagerly anticipated. Bain conveys that profound excitement and love for the annual event in one beautiful book. She was there for many of the shows, both as a journalist and as a fan, and as a result, the book is something of a personal journey as well. The book features over 150 stunning photos that bring all the scenes that she is describing to life. Desert Dreams: The Music, Style, and Allure of Coachella is an important document of a very important event.

ISBN-10: 760397558
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0-76039-755-8

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