Coachella Day 2: Gun N' Roses, Ice Cube dominate

INDIO, Calif. — Months of anticipation for the reunion of Guns N’ Roses and the possible reunion of N.W.A centered the conversation at Coachella Saturday.

The music festival's headline set — complete with fireworks — reunited Guns N’ Roses original lead guitarist Slash and bass guitarist Duff McKagan with lead vocalist Axl Rose, who retains ownership of the band name and continues touring with his version of GNR. Much of the discussion revolved around whether the notoriously tardy Rose would show up on time. (He did.) Ultimately, the group played all the hits and finished at 1:04 a.m., four minutes after Indio's imposed curfew.

As Rose, nursing a broken foot, remained seated on a throne loaned to him by Dave Grohl, he enlisted Angus Young to run around the stage on his behalf while the band covered AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie and Riff Raff.

News broke after the set that Rose would be returning the favor: He'll step in as frontman for AC/DC’s world tour, which starts next month.

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The question about the second-billed set by Ice Cube centered on whether N.W.A producing member Dr. Dre would perform with him. Cube appeared on stage on an elevated gold chair and vowed to keep things "gangsta," telling the crowd, "Tonight, you all about to witness the strength of street."

He was joined by rapper WC ("Dub C") for classic numbers like Natural Born Killaz before surviving N.W.A members MC Ren and DJ Yella came on to perform the band's title track from last year’s biographical film, Straight Outta Compton, and other iconic numbers such as Dopeman. Ice Cube's son O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Common also joined Cube during the set.

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"Told you so!" Cube yelled as he descended from the stage.

At the end, Snoop Dogg virtually stole the show with Go to Church and Chronic 2001. But many in the huge crowd were left wondering: Where was Dre?

The booking of those all-male, often controversial groups overshadowed the fact that this Coachella features more female singers and bandleaders than any of the previous festivals at the Empire Polo Club.

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On Saturday, highlights were provided by Halsey of New Americana fame, Australian singer/guitarist Courtney Barnett, who was nominated for a best-new-artist Grammy last year, and the Lauren Mayberry-led Chvrches.

Vocalist Molly Rankin offered a breakout performance with Canadian indie-pop band Alvvays, bringing an eerie irony to Next of Kin, about losing her lover in a river current, and the quirky Archie, Marry Me. Zella Day gave strong performances of impressionist originals such as The Outlaw Josey Wales and the Fleetwood Mac cover Rhiannon.

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The men more than held their own. The largest crowd in a tent was for English singer/songwriter James Bay, while two of the most dynamic guitar displays came from blues artist Gary Clark Jr. and The Arcs, led by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, who brought on Joe Walsh and his guitar “mentor” in the James Gang, Glenn Schwartz, to add to the  fireworks.

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Surprise appearances are always a part of Coachella and Disclosure preceded Ice Cube’s set with drop-ins from Lorde and Sam Smith.

Then it was up to Ice Cube and GNR to top that.

Contributing: Shad Powers