Neon Lights and Spectacular Sights Abound at Desert Daze 2022
By K. Chastain / Photography by K. Chastain
As I walk up to the sandy shore of Lake Perris, it feels too good to be true. The sun is just beginning to set, casting ripples of shimmering light onto the surface of the lake. This place is truly an oasis in the place you would least expect to find it – southeast of Los Angeles, out of reach of the sprawling city – and I always look forward to coming here each year. I’m joined by thousands of eager attendees who are spending the weekend camping here overnight, often traveling hours or even flying out to make sure they don’t miss the festival experience. And, as the sun sinks below the skyline and the sand starts to cool under my feet, I understand why.
The beach has been full of eager swimmers for most of the day, but many of them are now laying on towels scattered between the art installations that tower overhead. These massive sculptures are starting to shine even brighter under the darkening sky, and I can clearly make out the coiled shapes of neon lights bent into interesting shapes and refracting through glass panels. Old television sets flicker to life with oversaturated displays, and as a group of friends hurries past the display on the way to the main stage, their image is briefly displayed on each TV screen. These art installations are not just meant to be present among the attendees, but they were intentionally placed here by local artists such as Slim Reaper Light Show with the purpose of being interacted with. Some of them offer unique backdrops for photos, while others seem to beckon guests to sit on them or even walk through them as if they were portals to another dimension. And as I spot the main stage through a nested series of rainbow silhouettes, I realize that in a way, they are.
On the beachside stage, the graceful silhouette of UK-based singer Nilüfer Yanya emerges against a shimmering backdrop of rainbow lights. The stage lights draw everyone away from the water and towards the most intimate of the three stages at the festival as Yanya produces an electric guitar and begins to play. The opening riff of one of her most famous songs, “Keep on Callin’,” rings out across the beach as the crowd huddles closer together to share this special and intimate moment with Yanya. The British singer’s deep, soothing vocals wash over the crowd as she plays her way through much of her new album PAINLESS, which features a unique blend of folk and grunge rock. As the sky darkens, Yanya reaches the final song in her set, “Crash,” which she delivers with enthusiasm and energy to keep the audience excited for the next act.
Without missing a beat, Desert Daze’s second stage, also called ‘The Block,’ lights up in the distance. I realize Men I Trust, a spacey electronic trio from Canada, will be performing in just a few minutes and quickly make my way towards the center of the festival grounds. Emma Proulx, the lead singer and distinctive voice of the band, is adjusting her microphone, and I’m thankful they hadn’t started without me. As the crowd shuffles towards the main stage, a man prepares to stand on a surfboard while several others in the audience start to lift him up.
He’s somehow managing to balance himself, being passed around by the audience as if he were cutting through a real wave as the band starts to play the grooving bassline of “Sugar.” I couldn’t help but laugh behind my camera at the situation, as I had never expected a band with such a mellow sound to inspire crowd-surfing. Eventually, after the crowd calms down a bit, Men I Trust continues on to play some of their most beloved songs, including the dreamy “Show Me How” and my personal favorite, “I Hope to Be Around,” in which supporting member Dragos contributes incredible solos on keyboard. The audience huddles and sways under brilliant purple and white lights as their set finally comes to an end with the upbeat yet pensive “Say Can You Hear.”
As much as I am tempted to linger, I know that yet another band will be coming to play on the third stage at the festival. The solo project of Australian artist Kevin Parker, more widely known as Tame Impala, will be playing a special set that includes the entirety of his album Lonerism, originally released back in 2012 but still beloved as a cult classic. After glancing over the impressive variety of local vendors, I stop by my favorite vegan food truck just in the nick of time to see Tame Impala preparing to take the stage. Desert Daze’s largest stage, nicknamed ‘The Moon,’ has an impressive display prepared to accompany the arrival of such a renowned musical guest.
The backdrop lights up with psychedelic visuals to accompany the entrancing combination of Parker’s synthesizers and the echoing, resonant instrumentals from his touring band members. Saturated, colorful images of rolling hills and ocean waves affirm the feeling that the audience has been transported to a rare oasis somewhere far away. As Parker reaches the most widely beloved track on Lonerism, “Feels Like I Only Go Backwards,” the crowd begins to sway and sing the lyrics back to him. Tame Impala continue onward, playing through the songs in their original album order, until they reach the grooving, upbeat track “Elephant.”
Both Parker and the crowd seem to revel in the sudden burst of energy resulting from the uptempo bassline in the otherwise laid-back set. Mixing in a few of his newer tracks after finishing his playthrough of Lonerism, Parker also plays selections from Currents and The Slow Rush to complete his performance. The indie classic “The Less I Know the Better” has everyone dancing instantly, while the more relaxed “Borderline” helps the audience start to wind down as the festival comes to a close.
But it’s not over just yet. The stars are shining overhead, and they’re ready to turn in after such an impressive performance and begin to shuffle back to their campsites. They’re also excited, because it’s all going to happen again tomorrow.
