REMEMBERING IKEY OWENS ON HIS BIG NIGHT AT COACHELLA 2015Had he been alive to see it, last night would’ve easily been described as the biggest night in Ikey Owens’ life as a musician. As Jack White’s trusted keyboardist, he would’ve causally strolled on stage behind his boss — shades on, suited up, looking fly as fuck. As the crowd rolled and roared like an ocean for the enigmatic, Saturday night headliner, Owens would’ve sat down at his white keyboard rig, flashed a quick smile, and proceeded to deliver hell fire behind the ivories. A kid from Long Beach performing for over 90,000 people during a Saturday night, mainstage, headlining set. Not bad.

In so many ways, it would’ve felt like an end goal of something that so many people wanted for him — recognition, praise, and love emanating for the masses, many of whom who had no idea that his genius stretched far beyond these bright lights of Indio. All of the hard work Owens put into the music business — so many years, so many bands, so many records — would’ve culminated on Saturday night at the biggest music festival on the west coast.

“I’d like to dedicate this whole show to Ikey Owens, he’s from Long Beach and this night is for him,” White said. Of all the gestures White has made in honor of Owens since his death, this one felt the most special.

Even now, White’s memorable chant “music is sacred” at the end of his set is still buzzing in my ears. If there was one true thing to come out of this Coachella experience, it is embodied in that phrase. The music we love lives on long after we do, it’s passed on, appreciated by someone new and it will forever share our connections to the past and our visions for the future. In that way, the people responsible for it actually do remain with us forever. And if White’s chant is as true as I think it is, then I’d like to believe that Ikey really was on stage last night for his big moment — smiling, taking it all in. [LA Weekly]