A shot of emo adds to the vibes

Cody Johnson and other top country artists mix with guests like Ashlee Simpson.

- By MIKAEL WOOD AND VANESSA FRANKO

ELLA Langley performs Friday at the festival.

(EVAN SCHABEN For The Times)

After a brief reprieve following the end of Coachella, we found ourselves in the desert again for Stagecoach — hot, dusty and eager to be amused.

The first day of this past weekend offered plenty of top-tier country performances including Cody Johnson, Ella Langley and Bailey Zimmerman along with a dose of nostalgia courtesy of '90s stars Counting Crows and Emo Nite featuring Ashlee Simpson. Let’s also not forget that Stagecoach is a place to catch celebrity cameos we're looking at you, Sydney Sweeney.

Here's our recap of all the fun we experienced on Day 1 of the festival.

I found a karaoke bar at Stagecoach but it was Sydney Sweeney's lingerie pop-up

En route to the press tent on a sunny Friday, I saw a spot with saloon doors boasting karaoke. It didn't click that the air-conditioned pop-up was a bar connected to Sydney Sweeney's Syrn brand until I was inside and saw the lingerie hanging from the bar.

It was early in the day, so not much karaoke was happening, but you could scan a QR code and sign up via a Karafun link. I contemplated doing "A Long December" from the Counting Crows since they're playing the Mustang Stage this evening, but thought it would, No.1, bring down the mood and, No.2, not really fit in with the Coyote Ugly vibes.

However, I saw dartboards on the wall and a sign to ask the "brand ambassador" about darts and I immediately thought the hard drinkin' Stagecoach crowd should probably not have sharp objects. They don't. I found an "ambassador" and he showed off the darts, which were magnetic. It still might not be the best idea to let people throw projectiles as the night goes on, though. Vanessa Franko

Emo Nite with Ashlee Simpson and 3OH!3 made Stagecoach dance with their feelings