Bad Bunny held his microphone out to the crowd and invited them to sing along to his 2021 hit “Yonaguni” as previous Coachella performer Post Malone came out to accompany him on guitar.
But festival attendees couldn’t hear much.
The sound had gone out on Malone’s guitar and though he continued to rock out like he was having the time of his life, it was an awkward silence for the rest of us. There were several long and unexplained pauses during Bad Bunny’s performance, but the Puerto Rican star gave fans plenty of powerhouse moments with fan-favorite tracks and top-of-the-line stage production that at one point morphed into a gas station to mimic his impromptu show atop real gas station back in 2022.
Still, Bad Bunny’s Friday night performance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio marks the first time a Latin artist has headlined the three-day festival and his second appearance in Indio since 2019.
The visuals, which included his classic “Un Verano Sin Ti” beach setup, helped set the mood as he nodded to past headlining performances with a short clip of his first Coachella set. For a handful of moments throughout the night, Benito made sure to playback documentary-style videos, showing the various styles of Latin American music that Bad Bunny draws inspiration from in one way or another.
One of the videos focused on reggaeton’s rise in Puerto Rico, leading to his hit track “Safaera” off “YGLQMDLG,” during which he was accompanied by Jowell & Randy and Nengo Flow on the stage. The duo and Flow stayed on to perform their own single, “Hoy.”
Bad Bunny played hits from throughout his career including “Tití me preguntó,” “La Santa,” “Moscow Mule,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “DÁKITI,” “I Like It” and “Vete.”
Over in the Sahara Tent, a star-studded cast supported Metro Boomin as he flipped through tracks from his “Heroes & Villains” record. The hip-hop producer brought out a slew big names, starting with John Legend singing “On Time” with Mike Dean on keys. Hip-hop artist Future joined Boomin for a handful of hits including “Superhero,” “Thought It Was A Drought,” “I Serve The Bass,” “Wicked and “Digital Dash.”
Don Toliver then emerged, leaping on “Too Many Nights” and “Around Me,” strutting around the backup dancers who were seen sporting all-black attire and ski masks that covered each of their faces. 21 Savage and The Weeknd also showed up for a couple of songs each, with “Low Life” and The Weeknd live debuting the song “Double Fantasy” with Dean on saxophone whipping the crowd into a frenzy. By the finale, Diddy made his way to the stage for “Creepin.’”
Before Bad Bunny’s headlining set, Coachella served its usual buffet of eclectic musical treats, which on Friday included a handful of vintage acts.
Blink-182 was a last-minute surprise addition to the lineup, the performance special for the return of original singer-guitarist Tom DeLonge to the group.
Their 18-song, hour-long feature plenty of fan favorites such “What’s My Age Again,” “First Date,” “I Miss You” and “All The Small Things.” DeLonge and singer-bassist Mark Hoppus seemed delighted to be back and bantering together on stage, while drummer Travis Barker was his usual stoic self behind his kit.
New Wave icons Blondie attracted an overflow crowd at the Mojave Tent that opened early hits such as “One Way Or Another” and “Hanging On the Telephone.”
Singer Debbie Harry was in strong voice throughout the set. Midway through she brought out Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers to play on “Rapture” and the Harry solo song “Backfired,” before “Heart of Glass” and “Dreaming” wrap things up.
Gorillaz played immediately before Bad Bunny, delivering an hour-long set that featured guests such as Thundercat on “Cracker Island,” Bootie Brown on “Dirty Harry,” and Del the Funky Homosapien on “Clint Eastwood.”
Band leader Damon Albarn handled many of the vocals himself, with opening song “M1 A1” and the always lovely “On Melancholy Hill” among his highlights.
Hip-hop trio De La Soul have often collaborated with Gorillaz, and were back on Friday to sing on “Feel Good Inc,” which was dedicated to David Jolicoeur, who died earlier this year and as Trugoy the Dove was one third of De La Soul.
The Chemical Brothers closed out the Outdoor Stage with a powerful, body rocking set of big beat techno and house music.
While Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons stayed in the shadows behind their gear, the surreal visuals added plenty to watch. The Chemical Brothers also are a Coachella legacy act having played the very first fest in 1999.
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