Gabriels was the Coachella surprise everyone was talking about

If you’re not attuned to the latest in international stars, EDM DJs and TikTok breakouts, the early hours of the Coachella lineup can be tough to decipher. The most common refrain from older attendees is a head scratch.
 
But if you rolled up to the festival on the early side, it’s likely that your friend group text started buzzing about a band called Gabriels (if your buddies weren’t bemoaning the single copy of Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” that sold). Fronted by gospel singer Jacob Lusk, who was born in the UK and raised in Compton, they were at the very least the best-dressed band of the day. A siren falsetto reverberating across the polo field drew early arrivals to the Gobi tent around 3:30 p.m., and it was impossible not to stop once you saw the tuxedoed singer, draped in a red cape.

Lusk competed in American Idol in 2011, an experience that left him scorned. Years later, he connected with a pair of producers who’ve become the backbone of his band, which also includes a trio of backup singers, violin, piano and even an ARP Odyssey. They’re not exactly a secret —  KCRW named them the breakout artist of 2021, they’ve scored a co-sign from Elton John and been remixed by Kerri Chandler — but they’re the type of soul revival act that can easily slip under the radar of most listeners.

Their set was perfect afternoon music: inspiring and uplifting, with a virtuosic demonstration of the range of the human voice and air-tight instrumentation. It didn’t have the spectacle and pyrotechnics of evening sets, but Gabriels’ soul stood for itself. Expect to see them on a much bigger stage next year.

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