All Points West 2009: Day 3

Coldplay

Unlike last year, when APW Sunday was a more subdued, neo-hippie affair, this year’s final act brought out big names—and big crowds—on the strength of an eclectic slate of indie rock/dance, post-punk and Coldplay. FULL RECAP. (Talking about the weather is getting boring, but it should be noted that morning monsoons caused a three-hour delay, canceling some early sets). Nonetheless, with all the lasers, drama and grandiosity one would expect from a Coldplay show by now, Chris Martin played his hits. And everybody was happy. MGMT frontman Ben Goldwasser, not so much, as he scowled through hit “Electric Feel.” We’re sick of the song too!

Thanks to their frenetic energy, the duo in The Black Keys fills their space like a quintet, hitting British Invasion and dirty garage rock along the way. Echo & The Bunnymen’s notoriously cantankerous frontman Ian McCulloch led his band though an inspired set of hits and covers. The limitless energy and flirtatious charm from Swedish imp Lykke Li’s drew a huge crowd in the tent—lots of female fans, lots of bubbles were blown. Instrumental post-rockers Mogwai and mood-rockers Elbow brought more British festival flavor to the afternoon while Brooklyn’s We Are Scientists drew a huge crowd, proving those radio hits of a few years back are probably still on the radio, somewhere. Interviews include Silversun Pickups, Lykke Li and Echo & The Bunnymen. —Matt Rodbard and Jason Newman