COACHELLA DAY 1: BENITO CON POSTY, "BLINKCHELLA" & OTHER SURPRISES

Day 1 of Goldenvoice's Coachella 2023 was filled with surprises, including Post Malone joining Bad Bunny for an acoustic set, blink-182 co-opting "BLINKCHELLA" (the nickname for this year's fest coined by BLACKPINK stans) and more.

Following is a rundown of day 1 in the desert by HITS Coachella queen Nicole Ghapgharan, who's developing the gnarliest wristband tan you've ever seen.

Day 1 opened with a bevy of stars delivering elaborate productions and surprise guests. Despite the tech issues—mic failures, sound cutting out—that plagued some of the performances, the vibe was strong and the crowds were patient.

Early highlights included ¿Téo?, Doechii, SG Lewis, Wet Leg and Muna, who brought out special guest Phoebe Bridgers.

Becky G delivered a show-stopping performance, calling her set a "rebirth," a sentiment reflected in her set design, inspired by the famous Mexican architect Luis Barragán. She also paid tribute to her roots by sharing the stage with Mexican American artists Peso Pluma, Marca MP and Fuerza Régida’s JOP.

Taking the coveted sunset slot in the Sahara tent was blink-182, which played its first show with member Tom DeLonge since 2014. Amid stage banter marked, characteristically, by jokes about vulvas, butts, balls and Coachella’s rumored Dalai Lama kissing booth, they kept it classic with hits like “All the Small Things” and “I Miss You” and, of course, performed their reunion hit, “EDGING.”

KAYTRANADA certainly brought the grooves, welcoming such guests as Aminé and Kali Uchis. Despite some technical difficulties, the crowd happily shook it to songs like “10%” and “4eva.”

Gorillaz made those in attendance feel good indeed. Thundercat, Slowthai and none other than Del tha Funky Homosapien, who performed “Clint Eastwood,” were greeted with much enthusiasm, as was De La Soul MC Posdnuos, who appeared onstage for "Feel Good Inc.," cuing the crowd when it was time to make DJ Maseo, who was by his side, laugh the laugh that helped make the song a hit back in 2005—a Coachella moment for the ages.

Metro Boomin unleashed a heavyweight set distinguished by surprise guests like John Legend, Future, 21 Savage, The Weeknd and Diddy. To say the crowd was packed like sardines would be an understatement; while the performance was clearly a highlight for many, others found the sardine effect unnerving and potentially dangerous. A bigger stage would perhaps have been better suited to this all-star forum.

Finally, Bad Bunny, the first Latino to headline Coachella, presented a phenomenal, 120-minute set further enlivened by dancers, Jet Skis and special guests. In addition to performing a highlight reel of his greatest hits, including several medleys dedicated to his early albums, he paid tribute to the Afro-Latino roots of reggaetón and the history of Puerto Rican music.

Bunny brought out Jowell & Randy and Ñengo Flow to perform “Safaera” from his 2020 set, YHLQMDLG, before being joined by no less than Post Malone. Sadly, fans were robbed of the acoustic performances of “La Canción” and “Yonaguni” because of the aforementioned technical issues, but B-Bun rose to the occasion by singing the two songs a cappella—accompanied by the crowd, which happily sang back to him. In what was likely not a surprise to most, he brought out Jhayco for their hit “Dákiti,” the two performing atop personal water craft. Benito ended his set with “Callaíta,” “Me Porto Bonito” and “Después de la Playa.”

Peep a recap of Day 1 of Coachella 2023 below.