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Vegoose vs. Coachella 2007

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Vegoose vs. Coachella 2007
By: Zachary Smith, Bakotopia.com contributor
Description: Bakotopian braves the desert (twice) to experience two of the year%u2019s biggest music festivals and live to tell the tale. Find out which one is worth the hea

Topics: Vegoose, Coachella, 2007, Bakotopia, Review, Zachary Smith
Posted by zsmith Wed Nov 28, 2007 15:30:22 PST
Viewed 236 times
0 responses 1 comment
Location: Las Vegas, NV

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Vegoose vs. Coachella
Bakotopian braves the desert (twice) to experience two of the year’s biggest music festivals and live to tell the tale. Find out which one is worth the heat…


By Zachary Smith, Bakotopia.com contributor

I went to Vegoose for the first time this year. I went to Coachella for the third time this year.

For anyone that doesn't know the pain of Coachella, let me give you a quick rundown. Pain-in-the-ass parking that is just as bad, if not worse, as trying to get out of the parking lot after the show is done.

If you don’t want to camp, and I sympathize with you, then your closest bets are ridiculously priced hotels or hotels more than an hour away.  Attendees of this festival often book rooms many months in advance, so if you’re behind because you want to see the list of bands first, you’re out of luck for a close location. The heat is ridiculous until the sun goes down. You can’t take water in with you and the security check is a pain which delays people from going in in a quick fashion.


(2007 line-up)

This is not to say I haven’t seen great shows in the last few years. The shows are the only thing that make up for the hell one has to go through, but pain and pleasure are synonymous, right? Daft Punk’s killer show last year, TOOL’s first show since their hiatus, Rage’s reunion - I’ve had phenomenal moments at this festival, but compared to Vegoose its seems like too much of a hassle.

After you’re done at Coachella, what can you do? Not much. The city’s just not equipped with night life, plus most people are so annoyed with getting out of the parking lot they don’t even want to do much after they get out. Vegoose takes place in Las Vegas (for us Bakersfield residents is about the same distance to drive to Coachella) and there you have all the night life you want and there are plenty of things to do before and after the show. Our hotel ended up costing about the same and was closer to the festival. Parking at Vegoose is free with your ticket, and if you don’t want to park in the main parking area there’s a convenient soccer park only a five-minute walk away. For money savers, Vegoose is a little cheaper as well. Last year’s two-day Coachella was about $190, where as Vegoose was $160 for a two-day pass.

Security was a joke. My friend brought her purse and security looked in with a glance then waved her on through.  Accustomed to the normal strip search that accompanies one of these shows, I pulled everything out of my pockets. The guy looked at me, told me to put everything back in my pockets and waved me on through. Both shows take place in the desert, but Vegoose actually lets you take water into the festival - as much as you want as long as it’s sealed.


(2007 line-up)

Though there were fewer bands at Vegoose, I still saw about the same amount at both festivals - but that’s not either festival’s fault, just my taste in music. The only problem I had at Vegoose was conflicting times. I had to choose between seeing Golgo Bordello and Lupe Fiasco. I went with Golgo because they always put on the best live shows. I also had to choose between Public Enemy and Cypress Hill, but since P.E. is my first and favorite rap group, it wasn’t much of a choice.

Both festivals have their little bits of added entertainment that kills time between shows. Whether it’s merchandise booths or delicious food, they do have some things in common. Differences are that Coachella has more of an art presence - not to say Vegoose doesn’t, but the art presence at Coachella is bigger because it’s been around longer. This was Vegoose’s third year and Coachella’s eighth. Coachella also has the Cycleside group that offers tons of entertainment and a rave area - always fun.

Vegoose’s date allows for a bit more of a theme. It usually takes place around Halloween, and this allows not only for better weather, but more flare in the way people dress. What do I mean?  Costumes! It was so much fun looking at all the different people in Halloween costumes walking throughout the festival. They also had a sexy haunted house that was free so I didn’t get to attend it because there was always a line of patrons. Next year! There was also a fake wedding chapel run by impersonators that you could and get a fake wedding ceremony performed by Mr. T. That is so awesome.

Since Vegoose is smaller it was easier to go through security, enjoy shows and get in and out of the parking lot without a hassle. I don’t go to the shows to meet a ton of different people. If you’re a regular concert attendee like myself, you might befriend people close by so that when stuff gets crazy you can help each other out, but that’s about it. I did still meet cool people at Vegoose, specifically a couple who had traveled all the way from Canada.

In a sense I think it’s better that Vegoose was smaller. Part of my Coachella dread is the drive in and out - so much congestion is caused by the large amount of attendees. Because I’m lazy I like to sleep in so forget camping - as soon as that sun hits at 7 a.m. you’re awake. Driving to a hotel is a must for me.

To be perfectly honest I’ll probably attend both shows, just because they are usually great experiences, but the one that I’ll enjoy more is Vegoose. It’s more relaxed, less of a hassle and you still feel energized enough to go out and enjoy the Vegas night life. I have to say that if I’m allowed to only go to one festival a year, it will be Vegoose from now on.

BAKOTOPIA WAS AT COACHELLA 2007!
(CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL THE PICS!)

(Matt became one with the signage)

*Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 16, 11 - 28 - 07
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Comment From: matt

Wed Nov 28, 2007 15:35:31 PST
I'll have to try Vegoose. Coachella was a blast, but I did get sick when I got home - like my body decided to cleanse itself...LOL. Another great article. Thanks! Matto
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