The Conclusion of Jessica’s Excellent Coachella Adventure!

June 1st, 2006

In my last two blogs I wrote about the amazing performances and celebs spotted at this year’s Coachella Music Fest. Now for the final chapter in Jessica’s West Coast Tour of Duty. Accommodations for Coachella are always tricky if you won’t “rough it” on the campgrounds, like me. This year I was a lucky lucky girl who got to stay at this amazing house. Canadians cottage in the bush, but LA kids cottage in Palm Springs at sweet pads like this!

Lucky. After taking a wrong turn on the freeway and almost ending up in Tijuana, Catonia and I found our way eastbound and were beyond thrilled to find Adam, Dave, Krishna, Sam, Vanessa, Jamie, Jay and all their amazing friends in this home we got hooked up with. They treated us so well, we got the casita (that’s the guest house!) and lots and lots of cold drinks and yummy snacks including these funny tasting brownies. Bros Adam & Dave have a really cool band called AllRise. Check ‘em!

My friend Kheaven had dibs on my extra weekend concert pass. You know him as k-os. He played Coachella last year which is where we met and since he was in Vancouver mixing his new album he came on down to the valley for our 1 year anniversary. Lol. Only we NEVER found each other! It was a series of text messages and envelopes left at hotels. But our chance to hang was still to come.

I pool and party hopped with my motley crew of music lovers all weekend. This party was at Frank Sinatra’s house. The invite said there would be octopus rides! 8 people can go at a time!

On Monday it was time to hit LA for more madness. I tend to gravitate towards the Canadians there cus, between you and me, most everyone else is whack. So I was thrilled to find fellow Canucks Pilate in LA. Todd, Bill, Chris, Ruby and the other Todd are so sweet. They took Cat and I out for a very yummy Mexican dinner.

We were all such nerds to see Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam eating there too, but no one had the guts to say hi. The boys were nice enough to let me crash their breakfast the next day and that night I brought some of my Coachella friends out to the Pilate gig at the Keyclub. Amazing. “Barely Listening” is my fav song right now. It’s the song I sing in the band I have in my head. But with Jenny Lewis’ voice. I’m a total rock star in my mind. But you must get Pilate’s new record “Sell Control for Life’s Speed”.

I squeezed in a couple episodes of “24″ with Tim Armstrong. He’s doing so good and is v.v. busy working with a certain Canadian singer who shall remain nameless. But think Gwen Stefani singing a Rancid song and see if you can guess who the mystery girl is.

Then, driving down Melrose on the first of MANY shopping trips, I heard Bedouin Soundclash’s “When the Night Feels My Song” on one of the LA radio stations. I had no idea they were getting so much love in the USA. I was so excited for them & texted singer Jay to tell him the good news. And he writes back saying the band just landed at the LA airport! What are the chances? About a dozen texts later we weren’t any closer to having a margarita, but it was fun trying. Can’t wait to see them at the MMVAs!

The rest of my trip to La-la-land was spent. As in time with my hilarious/wonderful/true friend Colin & his fab wife Margo. And as in money. Way too much money. Shopping on Melrose is sick. And by sick I mean amazing. Celebs spotted in Hollywood: Topher Grace having a meeting at a chic Beverly Hills hotel lobby bar, Michael Rapaport being the loud New York guy, Seth Green doing lunch on West 3rd … there’s someone else, I can’t remember.

And just when the LA smog was starting to seep under my skin I left on a jet plane for VanCity! My best friend Lisa lives there with her fiancee Steve and his very cute brother Graham. The best hosts ever! I also caught up with the beautiful Lana G and got to meet my dear friend Stephen’s young son Coen. Finally found k-os in an ultra chic bar & then lost him again in the “meet you at the Joel Plaskett show” plan. But I did see Owen Wilson walking down Granville at about 1:30am. Whoop!

There is so much I’m leaving out. Especially how amazing it felt to be around my true friends and how hard it’s been being home and back to my routine again. While I try to get my head back in the game, thanks to you for taking some time to share in my memories. Much love. Jessica

Posted on Thursday, June 1st, 2006 at 12:14 pm by Jessica and is filed under Blog.