This week, professional elder millennial Marion Hodges joins forces with pal, confidant, and Morning Becomes Eclectic producer Anna Chang to share five highlights from Coachella 2025.
Jimmy Eat World – “Lucky Denver Mint (Live at Coachella)”
Few acts occupy quite the same space in the cultural consciousness as this earnest, punk-leaning rock ‘n’ roll band from Arizona, who spent most of the 1990s steadily amassing a dedicated fan base and reaching their creative peak with the 1999 album Clarity. Whether you have opinions about Clarity-era Jimmy Eat World or not, we’re guessing you might have some opinions about their smash-hit, alt-rock radio single “The Middle” from 2001’s crossover LP Bleed American … and maybe the album’s other single “Sweetness.” But we’re gathered here today for this cathartic performance of Clarity standout “Lucky Denver Mint,” delivered live from Coachella 2025. Click on it now, your inner-emo-kid will thank you. — MH
Ginger Root – “No Problems (Live at Coachella)”
Every resident of LA’s Eastside “Parks” (Echo and Highland) is in the house. The band is absolutely ripping on their respective instruments, anchored by frontman Cameron Lew holding it down on various synths, guitars, and vocal modulations. Plus, honorary fourth member of the band: the videographer. Donning a red jumpsuit, he’s dancing around the stage with a handheld camera, swishing back and forth between the musicians, and doing so in perfect choreography with the music cues.
Lew thoroughly commands the stage, rocking a dapper SoCal cowboy lewk, and delivering a mix of psych-rock and city-pop — even a touch of prog(!). Mid-song tempo changes and appropriately gimmicky instruments (i.e. Lew’s rotary telephone mic and “flute thing”) give the set just the right amount of whimsy, while keeping it musically rigorous. Trust me, this is a wild ride that you definitely want to take. — AC
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – “EL DÍA DEL AMIGO (Live at Coachella)”
This rising Argentinian duo will hit you right out of the gate with their boundless energy, creativity, and degree of confidence that can only exist when the talent matches the swag. Dig in for the sheer delight of watching them tap into a multi-genre melange of hip-hop, trap, and alt-pop — achieved by combining electronic elements with live instrumentation. The vocal range will carry you from sweet singing, to raspy rapping. Totally original and exciting. — AC
Sammy Virji – “If U Need It (Live at Coachella)”
You always hope to catch that one transcendent Coachella set that you just know is gonna take an artist’s career to that next level. Think: Lizzo in 2019, or Fred again.. in 2022. Now picture this: It’s Sunday on weekend two of Coachella 2025, you’ve been at it for hours on the hottest day of the journey so far. You find yourself standing in the crowd before one of the biggest and most impersonal stages — The Sahara Tent. And for his full 50 minute set, the 28 year-old British producer and DJ Sammy Virgi has the entire crowd jumping. He’s got a splashy smile, his hands only leave the air to make a mix, and he is clearly having as much fun behind the decks (maybe even more) as we are dancing in the audience.
Virgi is part of a vanguard of a new iteration of UK garage, mixing it up with classic house and soul for a new generation of dance music enthusiasts. While he’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, he’s doing the thing at highest frequency with choice samples and perfect drops. He’s about to dominate. — AC
The Prodigy – “Breathe (Live at Coachella)”
Ever wanted to feel like one of the characters from the movie Go? This oughta do it.
P.S. KCRW’s Digital Editorial Lead Andrea Domanick really dug this one too. Read her take on this molecule shifting set and more here. — MH