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The best, worst and most tequila-soaked of Stagecoach Day 3

BBG News

This year’s annual Stagecoach country music festival has concluded. For three days, multitudes of fans moved across the dusty expanse of Indio’s Empire Polo Club, with Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs headlining. I was present throughout the weekend, providing updates on the best moments and challenges as they unfolded. Here’s what transpired on the final day:

A ‘Friend’-ly finish

In a typical fashion, Combs capped Stagecoach’s series of rugged, bearded main act performers with a robust set that harmoniously blended his strong country-rock tunes with tender love ballads, disregarding criticisms about his love song repertoire. Dressed casually in jeans, boots, and a short-sleeved Columbia shirt, Combs ran through a sequence of popular country radio hits like “1, 2 Many,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “One Number Away” and “Beautiful Crazy”. He also invited Bailey Zimmerman on stage to debut their new duet, “Backup Plan”, which they were planning to film a music video for at the time of his speech.

Music

On the second day of the massive country music festival held in Indio, Jelly Roll, Creed, Koe Wetzel, and Shaboozey took to the stage for their performances.

In an unexpected twist, Good Charlotte’s members Joel and Benji Madden made a guest appearance, performing their hit “Anthem” and later joining in for Diddy’s “Where the Wild Things Are.” It seems that Benji might not have been familiar with this song prior to Sunday night. As an encore, Diddy sang his emotional rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a song he claimed had significantly impacted him, followed by “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” from the 2020 movie “Twisters.” To wrap up the evening, Garth Brooks graced the stage for one final energetic performance of “Friends in Low Places,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Boys among men

It’s quite unexpected that the Backstreet Boys, following their past late-night performances alongside T-Pain and Creed, would perform at Stagecoach’s Palomino tent this year. Dressed in distressed leather outfits reminiscent of Old West characters, they seemed like five cowboys on the prowl for a saloon maid to charm. The band’s choreography was reminiscent of the late ’90s, as were their songs, though there might have been a hint of pedal steel in “Drowning”. To cap off the entire weekend, Combs joined from the main stage to sing a few lines of “As Long as You Love Me” – a fitting song, as anyone working in music production from Nashville to Stockholm would agree.

Five minutes backstage with the Goo Goo Dolls

John Rzeznik: Trust the internet; it’s against the rules to be incorrect.

Rzeznik: Among the songs we’re playing today, I’d say “Come to Me” has a strong rural feel to it. As for “Walk Away,” while it’s another good choice, we wanted to avoid anything that could be perceived as too stereotypically country.

Rzeznik: One country song I wouldn’t dare touch is a Chris Stapleton song, as he possesses one of the most remarkable voices I’ve ever heard. When I listen to him, it reminds me of Al Green. It’s raw and soulful. So he’s out of the question. There’s also that Johnny Cash tune—I can’t recall its title, but it’s about working on an assembly line and sneaking parts. I wouldn’t dare mess with either of those songs.

Robby Takac: “One Piece at a Time.”

Rzeznik: We could crush that song.

In 1999, “Iris” was up for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, but unfortunately, it didn’t win in either category. Do you remember who took those honors instead? The answer is: Celine Dion.

Takac: Here’s an interesting story: Not long after that incident, we were traveling in our bus along the highway, when our driver suddenly pointed out, “Hey, look! Celine Dion’s bus is right next to us.” Over the radio, she serenaded us with “My Heart Will Go On.” It was like a surprising gift, almost like consolation.

Music

This past Friday, Lana Del Rey, Zach Bryan, Paris Hilton, and Mumford & Sons each took the stage at the massive country music festival held in Indio, California.

Have you ever covered one of Billy Joel’s songs? I can’t recall if we have, but if we were to do so, it would need to be something special.

Takac: “You May Be Right.”

Rzeznik: There’s been an ongoing discussion: Which artist is superior – Elton John or Billy Joel? This question is intriguing since I can understand the arguments from either perspective.

Takac: But it’s Elton John with Bernie Taupin.

Rzeznik: That’s the thing. Billy Joel sat there all by himself and wrote those songs.

Did the Goo Goo Dolls ever experience their ‘L.A. rock-star’ moment, with a move to L.A. being part of it?
Rzeznik: Yes, that was during my divorce. It wasn’t the best time to move to L.A., but I had some success already. I resided in the Le Parc hotel, and it was there where I penned “Iris.

What could have transpired if I had improved communication with my first wife instead?

After you guys, who’s the second-best act from Buffalo, N.Y.?
Rzeznik: Rick James.

Takac: He might be the best.

Music

Prior to his performance at Stagecoach, the ex-lead singer of Van Halen shares the backstories of six of his compositions.

What was the best thing about the ’80s?
Rzeznik: No cellphones.

As a movie buff reflecting on the ’90s, I’d say the most challenging aspect for us was finding our niche. We didn’t align with the grunge or alt-rock scene, and we were definitely not mainstream. It felt like we were stranded, without a group to belong to. So, we had to carve out our own path and create our unique sound.

Takac: Can I offer a worst thing about the ’80s?

You may.
Takac: That f—ing Metal Blade record deal we signed.

Rzeznik: When we finally found a genuine lawyer and had him review our agreement, he exclaimed to us, “This contract is even more unfavorable than TLC’s record deal.” At that moment, I thought, “Oh my goodness — we must be the two most unintelligent individuals on Earth.

Hagar the hedonist

Sammy Hagar expressed a more philosophical perspective as he introduced Van Halen’s “Right Now” at the Palomino, but mostly, this seasoned 77-year-old rocker was after less lofty pleasures in this charmingly messy performance. He sang about love (in “Poundcake“), speed (in “I Can’t Drive 55”) and tequila (“Mas Tequila,” of course). For that last song, Hagar told the audience, “We’re going to carry this party to the beach.” True to his word, he removed his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants to wading depth, and later, Guy Fieri joined in for a sip from Hagar’s bottle.

Festival fashion report

Out: Denim thongs

In: Gingham bloomers

Out: Vintage band T-shirts

In: Clingy “Cowboy Pillows” T-shirts

Out: Mustaches (at least compared to Coachella)

In: Beards (in many cases minus a mustache)

Out: Backward ball caps

In: Camo Zach Bryan hats

Five minutes backstage with Scotty McCreery

What kind of music does your 2-year-old son enjoy? While he seems to really like the songs I play, it’s not just about my tunes. There’s a track called “It Matters to Her,” and that’s more than just my song – our dog Moose is featured in the music video for it. My wife’s preferred song is “Slow Dance.” Each member of our family has their own favorite tune.

As for me, there’s a country tune that resonates deeply, one I adore listening to, but I sure wouldn’t dare attempt singing myself – it’s any song by the talented Chris Stapleton.

Each day, I dedicate at least 45 minutes to my health and wellness journey, alternating between cardio workouts and strength training sessions. However, if you ask me which requires more effort, it’s definitely lifting those forks during meal times!

What’s an adult beverage you’ve sworn off?
Fireball. One too many bad experiences.

Given a choice, I’d prefer to become 10% more talented over being 10% more attractive, as the increased talent would have a more significant impact on my personal and professional growth.

As a film enthusiast, I recently found myself at a loss when it came to visualizing my backyard’s new landscaping design. In a pinch, I turned to ChatGPT and inquired if it could sketch out a few ideas for me. To my delight, it delivered some rather impressive examples that helped me envision the transformation of my outdoor space.

Are there any tattoos on your body? None, actually. I did consider getting one while in Las Vegas with my friends during a golf tournament, but ultimately decided against it.

What might you have gotten?
Probably a Bible verse.

Are you skilled at golfing, considering your abilities relative to the average person? Well, I’d say I’m pretty good, but there are a few friends who excel far beyond my level in this game.

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2025-04-28 22:31

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