Chris Lynch of Gardens & Villa. Michael Buckner, Getty Images for Coachella
I got to Coachella far earlier than I thought so I was able to catch most of Gardens & Villa‘s set at the Mojave tent on Sunday. Until today I never heard a group combine Thomas Dolby-styled ’80s electronica-meets-Native American traditional flute music but it worked. “Black Hills” mixed up a dark soundscape with a driving rhythm that got early fest-goers out on the grassy dance floor.
Brooklyn-based Oberhofer carried on the high-energy approach in their set that followed. Few who had gathered to watch Gardens & Villa left the Mohave once they were introduced to Oberhofer. The quartet’s direction was mostly set on fun. Lead singer Brad Oberhofer injected some real life drama into their 40-minute set when he climbed high on the stage frame to throw flowers into the screaming crowd.
Even frustrating technical problems resulting in First Aid Kit‘s keyboards not working properly did not dampen enthusiasm for the Swedish duo. Performing songs from both their “The Big Black & the Blue” and “the Lion’s Roar,” the siblings’ shining harmonies and authentic ’70s country folk was a joy. Highlights included the well received “Emmylou” with both Klara and Johanna Soderberg sharing lead and harmony vocals, and “The Lion’s Roar” with it’s dramatic end where the girls sang acapella to the sparest of notes from Johanna’s acoustic guitar.
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Coachella 2012: Gardens & Villa mixes it up is a post from: Soundcheck