Beck, who headlined the first Coachella, caused a mob scene at the smallest stage of the festival with his 11th-hour addition, with thousands of fans relegated to the outskirts of the tent trying to snag a glimpse of the singer. After opening with the Mutations tune "Cold Brains," Beck said he had no plans for the performance and began to take requests. The singer's improvisational set included a new song — which he forgot the lyrics to — and a bluesy Kinks cover. ...
In perhaps the festival's oddest and most jubilant moment, the Flaming Lips commenced their set with graying singer Wayne Coyne entering a gigantic bubble and attempting to walk overtop the crowd. Afterward, Coyne said, "I had a dream a few weeks ago that I would descend on Coachella from a bubble in outer space." For their encore, the Lips coerced the crowd into singing "Happy Birthday" to Beck and the child he is expecting.
At 4:30 p.m., the overflow from the small Gobi Tent for alt-rock legend Beck blocked pedestrian traffic going to the larger Sahara Tent.
Beck performed an acoustic set and many outside the structure couldn’t hear the singer-guitarist.
Some fans questioned why such a popular artist played in a small venue.
"I don’t think they set up the tents very well," said Peter Perez of Las Vegas, who came with his wife, Andrea. "All I hear is the techno music of the other tent."
"This is crazy. It’s not worth it," said Sherry Saad of Los Angeles.
"He should have played the main stage," Hayley Arouder of San Francisco said of Beck’s performance.
A Goldenvoice spokesman said Beck was a last-minute addition, and Tollett said he was originally scheduled to "pop in" with another act before online activity generated a buzz about the artist.
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