Lower than every week after Coachella concluded, the Stagecoach nation music competition has drawn one other crowd within the tens of hundreds to the now largely grassless Empire Polo Membership in Indio. The three-day occasion kicked off Friday and can run by means of Sunday night time with headliners Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll and Luke Combs. I’ll be right here all weekend to convey you the highs and the lows as they occur. Right here’s what went down on Day 2:
An oasis within the desert
“This is officially the biggest show I’ve ever headlined in my career,” Jelly Roll mentioned not lengthy into his main-stage efficiency, and for him that offered a chance to do greater than entertain: “I never would have dreamed that God would’ve brought a boy from Tennessee to the desert of Southern California,” he added, his voice steadily rising like a pastor’s, “to lead us in church service on a Saturday night to heal the broken through the power of music.”
True to that framing, the face-tattooed rapper-turned-singer did plaintive variations of his songs “Son of a Sinner” and “I Am Not Okay” — each of which draw on his historical past with medicine and jail to inform tales of redemption — and introduced out an precise worship chief, Brandon Lake, to sing his growly Christian-music crossover hit, “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” The stage set resembled a fuel station with a neon signal assuring us that Jesus saves — an oasis within the desert, in different phrases.
Jelly Roll made time for some extra earthly pleasures: cameos from BigXthaPlug and Wiz Khalifa that reminded you of his hip-hop roots, and an look by MGK, who did his appealingly bratty pop-punk “My Ex’s Best Friend.” He additionally introduced out Alex Warren to sing his gloopy ballad “Ordinary” and to premiere a brand new duet between the 2 of them referred to as “Oh My Brother.” (Sadly, it seemed like Think about Dragons.)
Jelly Roll completed his set with one other faith-minded second, welcoming Lana Del Rey to the stage to hitch him for “Save Me” as simulated rain fell on the 2 of them. Del Rey’s feathery croon was completely mistaken for the tune, which requires an unembarrassed high quality that’s not a part of her entire deal. However Jelly Roll regarded so amped to have her on the market that you just have been inclined — hey, what are you aware — to forgive.
Scott Stapp performs with Creed at Stagecoach on Saturday night time.
(Scott Dudelson / Getty Photographs for Stagecoach)
With arms vast open
Saturday’s huge megachurch power continued with Creed’s late-night set within the Palomino tent, the place singer Scott Stapp struck an assortment of messianic poses as his bandmates floor out the gospel-grunge riffs of “One Last Breath” and “Higher.” For the latter, Creed introduced out the pop-soul star Tori Kelly — simply one of many many millennials and zoomers who’ve stored Creed in enterprise a quarter-century after the band’s hit-making period.
Koe Wetzel performs Saturday night time at Stagecoach.
(Scott Dudelson / Getty Photographs for Stagecoach)
5 minutes backstage with Koe Wetzel
Do you know that Lana Del Rey had made out together with your pal Morgan Wallen, as she claimed in a tune at Stagecoach on Friday night time?Did she say so? Good for her.
Your girlfriend not too long ago introduced she’s pregnant. In the event you might select, what can be the primary tune your youngster hears?“Island in the Sun” by Weezer? I don’t know. It’s a superb vibe.
You posted a photograph the opposite day of you and Bailey Zimmerman hanging out at Billy Bob’s in Texas. Bailey’s ingesting a Twisted Tea. Did you let him know that Twisted Tea is a disgusting drink?I truthfully don’t know what occurred that night time. We went to a bar, and I feel his supervisor was like, “Please don’t go out with Koe.” As soon as we bought offstage, it was form of chaos — type of black-out metropolis. Twisted Tea, I’m not a giant fan of it. However Bailey’s younger. I keep in mind being that younger and ingesting it too — I can’t maintain it in opposition to him.
What’s an grownup beverage you’ve sworn off?I’ll by no means drink Rumple Minze ever once more.
Final yr, Jessie Murph mentioned on TikTok that she’d been referred to as a rat by a few of your followers for showing in your tune “High Road.” Then she directed them to the solo model you launched and advised them to go get their DUIs. What’s your response?She’s a nasty bitch. Shout out to her. All people that was speaking s—, go f— your self.
You wrote songs on your album “9 Lives” with the songwriter Amy Allen, who additionally had a hand in Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet.” Are you into Sabrina’s album?I’d be a liar if I mentioned I wasn’t in there jamming it. I’m a Sabrina fan.
Are you concerned in a beef with one other musician in the intervening time?I’m presently beefless. I feel I’m fairly cool with everyone. In the event you hear totally different from anyone else, although, let me know — we’ll fireplace it up for certain.
Final week you posted a photograph from the studio. One of the best new tune you’ve bought to date — what’s it about?We wrote a tune a few serial killer the opposite day.
What’s a tattoo you remorse?“F— 2020” on my leg. I used to be super-drunk after I bought it. I awakened the subsequent morning, wiped the blood away and mentioned, “Well, that’s there forever.”
Finest cowl model heard to date
Tiera Kennedy, wearing an Aaliyah T-shirt for her second Stagecoach efficiency of the day, transferring nimbly by means of SWV’s always-welcome “Weak.”
Second-best cowl model heard to date
Ashley McBryde, on the primary stage at sundown, nailing the haunted but blissed-out vibe of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer.”
Think about that
Enjoying Stagecoach as a part of a tour behind final yr’s “Passage du Desir” (which he launched underneath the alter ego Johnny Blue Skies), Sturgill Simpson and his tight four-piece band supplied up an hour of soulful boogie-rock jams that evoked the Allman Brothers backed by Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Talking of covers: Along with William Bell’s early-’60s soul staple “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” Simpson performed a longing rendition of, uh, “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy.
Shaboozey performs Saturday at Stagecoach.
(Timothy Norris / Getty Photographs for Stagecoach)
Nonetheless tipsy
Like T-Ache on Friday, Shaboozey accomplished a uncommon Indio trifecta on Saturday, acting on Stagecoach’s primary stage after doing each weekends of Coachella. (Maybe that’s why he wore three bedazzled belts as a part of his sharp denim go well with.) The rap-fluent nation star sang a transferring rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which he referred to as certainly one of his favourite songs of all time; introduced out Sierra Ferrell to do “Hail Mary”; and closed after all with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” his 2024 smash that spent 19 weeks atop Billboard’s Scorching 100 final yr. Across the time of February’s Grammy Awards, Shaboozey appeared to have drained — fairly! — of “Tipsy’s” rootsy jollity. Right here, although, he appeared reenergized by the hundreds singing alongside.
A flashy customer
One vivid demonstration of Stagecoach’s evolution from the competition’s early days: Scott Storch’s look inside Diplo’s HonkyTonk, the place the producer and songwriter was launched by his Don Julio-guzzling hype man because the man who dated each Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Eyes hidden behind his signature aviators, Storch took up a spot behind a Korg Kronos synthesizer and performed together with a handful of the slinky pop and R&B hits he helped create within the early 2000s — not least Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River,” earlier than which he very dramatically ripped a cig.
Dasha performs Saturday at Stagecoach.
(Timothy Norris / Getty Photographs for Stagecoach)
5 minutes backstage with Dasha
Assist me parse the timeline in your viral hit “Austin.” The narrator used to stay in L.A., then moved to Austin and now’s speaking about transferring again to L.A.?“Austin” is definitely about Nashville, however Nashville had some s— rhymes, so we modified it to Austin. Within the tune, I had been in Nashville — Austin — was residing in L.A., and I used to be transferring again to Nashville. That was the entire storyline there. And the man that I used to be speaking to was in Nashville. Nicely, Austin.
Hmm. Is it true that issues don’t rhyme with Nashville?Cashville? Hashville?
Would you quite be 10% smarter or 10% funnier?Funnier. I really feel fairly good. But in addition: It’s a must to be clever to be humorous.
What’s the very last thing you used ChatGPT for?Within the set immediately, I whip out a harmonica and play it, so we constructed a harmonica holster into my outfit — my ass-less chaps which can be hanging over there. They have been asking what the size have been, and I used to be like, “How would I know?” However ChatGPT will know.
Throwback to your L.A. days: Ralphs or Vons?I’m extra of a Dealer Joe’s woman.
Most hated freeway?The ten is f—ing horrible.
Do you contemplate your self a theater child?Sure — a thespian, all the best way.
Is “theater kid” derogatory?Individuals use it as an insult, however I feel it’s the most important praise. Earlier than I am going onstage, to everybody in my band and my dancers, I’m like, “Broadway, guys — Broadway.” I channel my musical-theater self onstage, as if I’m taking part in myself in a musical-theater manufacturing.
What’s a musical you’d prefer to be in however you haven’t but?I’m dying to play Sandy in “Grease.”
What number of unread textual content messages do you have got?823.
Does anybody in addition to you already know the passcode to your telephone?I feel my entire workforce does. I don’t have something to cover on there.
