April 30, 2006 8:16

Daft Punk make live comeback at Coachella

The band help close the first day of the Californian festival in style

Daft Punk have drawn huge crowds for their live return at the 2006 Coachella festival.

The French duo was swamped tonight (April 29) as the audience spilled almost a hundred deep outside of the dance tent.

Dressed in their usual robot costumes, Daft Punk appropriately opened with ‘Robot Rock’ as the pair launched into a upbeat DJ set which showcased their greatest hits including ‘Around The World’ and ‘Da Funk’.

Daft Punk’s set had followed on from the event’s official headliners Depeche Mode, who mixed new songs with classics including ‘Personal Jesus’, ‘Enjoy The Silence’ and oldie ‘Shake The Disease’ during their main stage appearance.

The evening session of the first day of Coachella also saw sets from the likes of Devendra Banhart, who treated the crowd to a bare-chested Mick Jagger impression during ‘I Feel Just Like A Child’, while Josh Homme's locals Eagles Of Death Metal had called Hollywood star and festival veteran Danny Devito to introduce them on stage.

With the desert sun setting, Damian Marley treated fans to a selection of his father Bob’s hits including ‘Exodus’, ‘Could You Be Loved’ and an instrumental version of ‘Jammin’ along with his own dub anthem ‘Welcome To Jam Rock’.

Icelandic outfit Sigur Ros drew large numbers for their main stage appearance, before Franz Ferdinand played an energetic set which included a laser light show.

“We’re Franz Ferdinand from Glasgow, Scotland and we’re happy to be here,” frontman Alex Kapranos told the crowd, as the band tore through tracks including ‘Dark Of The Matinee’, ‘The Fallen’ and ‘Take Me Out’.

The evening was closed on the Mojave stage by The Rakes who played a set that courted some controversy.

“A lot of people have seen Depeche Mode and not us, never mind they’re old,” frontman Alan Donohoe affectionately joked with the crowd, before checking himself. “I probably shouldn’t have said that, I’m sure they’re very nice.”

Watched by Franz Ferdinand’s Kapranos, the band then played a set including the likes of ‘Retreat’, ‘Binary Love’ and recent single ‘All Too Human’.

The second, and final day of Coachella 2006 kicks off tomorrow with Bloc Party, Madonna, Gnarls Barkley, Scissor Sisters and headliners Tool among those set to play.

For more coverage straight from the site go to NME.COM/festivals.