Coachella Preview

Sorry for the lack of posts and missing shows I was supposed to attend. I was stuck in the Tulsa airport for a couple of days (stupid tornadoes and thunderstorms). For the second year in a row, I'm skipping Coachella. Most of the bands I'm really interested in seeing are playing more intimate shows around the area and I'll see them then. I weighing in with my picks for shits and giggles. Please stay hydrated and remember your sunscreen. My highlights are in bold.

Friday 4/27/07
02:30 PM: Noisettes @ Mojave – Haven’t heard them, but they’re another British buzz band. If you’re not in the mood for music, go see the Comedians of Comedy in the Gobi tent. They’re indie/hipster friendly and they’ll be there from 2:00 – 4:30PM.
03:00 PM: Brother Ali @ Coachella – If Noisettes aren’t any good check out this critically acclaimed blind, albino rapper
05:10 PM: Silversun Pickups @ Coachella Stage – The local band continues its miraculous climb. Seeing them during prime time on the main stage at Coachella would be pretty cool. 2nd choice: Of Montreal at Outdoor Theatre 4:55 PM – Their new album’s good and they put on a show. 3rd Choice: Tilly & the Wall at Mojave at 4:45 PM – Eccentric indie rock. 4th Choice: Gillian Welch at Gobi at 4:45 PM – Rootsy singer-songwriter with some really quality albums. Pretty packed time period really.
06:00 PM: Amy Winehouse @ Gobi – She could probably be playing the main stage so the Gobi tent might be pretty miserable. If it is, I’d go check out the Arctic Monkeys at 6:25 PM on the Coachella Stage (unless you’re going to their show at the Troubadour on Sunday night). They’re not mind blowing, but they’re energetic and better than a lot of bands.
07:40 PM: Jesus & Mary Chain @ Coachella Stage – Legends. I’m seeing them tonight at the Glasshouse, so I’d be tempted to skip it (but there’s nothing else going on).
08:40 PM: Jarvis Cocker @ Outdoor Theatre – The Pulp lead singer. If you’re more into hip-hop go see Busdriver in the Gobi tent at 8:25 PM. You might wanna start making your way over to the Coachella stage to see Interpol at 9:30 PM. They’re pretty hit or miss live, but maybe they’ll preview some new material.
09:55 PM: Sonic Youth @ Outdoor Theatre – I’m seeing them at the Greek this summer, so I might actually skip this and go see El-P in the Mojave tent at 9:50. He’s an intelligent rapper who hits pretty hard.
10:45 PM: Bjork @ Coachella – I don’t listen to her recorded stuff that often, but she’s a fantastic live performer and she doesn’t have any other LA appearances scheduled. After she’s done you might jump over to the Outdoor Theatre for DJ Shadow who begins at 11:15 PM. If you prefer gypsy punk, go see Gogol Bordello in the Mojave tent.

Saturday 4/28/07
Honestly I probably wouldn’t show up until about 4:00 PM today, but for the brave souls…

12:30 PM: Pop Levi @ Gobi – Recent local transplant who has a new, good album of T. Rex inspired rock. If you’re not into that, go see British folk-rockers Fields (not to be confused with Field Music, The Field or all the other bands with Field in the title) at 12:45 in the Mojave tent. After this I’d wander and people watch. The Cribs are playing at 1:45 PM in the Mojave and The Fratellis are playing after them at 2:55 PM. Bouncy UK bands.
03:50 PM: Roky Erickson @ Gobi – He’s a cult hero from the 1960s with a story that’s as interesting as his music. He’s an acid casualty who got really bad treatment for his mental problems. I’d go see him just to hear “You’re Gonna Miss Me” but a lot of you youngsters will probably prefer something brighter and more fun and see Hot Chip at 4:10 PM in the Mojave.
05:05 PM: The New Pornographers @ Outdoor Theatre – The disappointing thing about seeing the New Pornographers live is that Neko Case and Dan Bejar don’t tour with them. I’d watch a couple of songs and then jump over to see PB&J.
05:25 PM: Peter Bjorn and John @ Mojave - I recently saw them at the Roxy and although they disappointed a lot of people, I really enjoyed it. Travis is also playing the main stage at 5:00PM. I just saw them do an acoustic thing at the KCRW night and it was pretty damn boring. You can also see them at the Fonda on Sunday night.
06:15 PM: Andrew Bird @ Gobi – I just got his most recent album and haven’t spent a lot of time with it yet. He’s a singer-songwriter type. If you prefer nerd rock go see the Decemberists at the Outdoor Theatre at 6:20 (although I’m seeing them this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, so I’d skip it). If you prefer rock ‘n’ roll go see Kings of Leon on the Coachella stage (music snobs hate them, but they’re really not that bad). If you want a dance party vibe go see !!! at 6:40 PM in the Mojave.
07:30 PM: The Arcade Fire @ Coachella – I’m seeing them later this summer at the Greek. They’re usually fantastic live. Ghostface Killah is also very tempting at the same time at the Outdoor Theatre.
08:40 PM: Blonde Redhead @ Outdoor Theatre – They’re usually great live. Anybody see them last night at the Glasshouse? If you prefer a dance party, go see Girl Talk in the Gobi.
09:35 PM: Sparklehorse @ Mojave – Not exactly party music, but I love the records. I haven’t seen him in years, but they were great when I saw them. If you prefer a party vibe, go see LCD Soundsystem in the Sahara. They’re also doing a DJ set at the Standard on Sunday.
11:00 PM: Cornelius @ Gobi – I think the Japanese rocker’s new album is a bit boring, but he’s great live. He’s also playing at the El Rey on Monday if you’re not going to Coachella. The Good, the Bad and the Queen’s album is even more boring than the new Cornelius, but it is Damon Albarn from Blur and the Gorillaz, so I’m sure a lot of people will be interested in hitting the Outdoor Theatre. Black Keys are doing their bluesy-rock thing in the Mojave starting at 10:50 PM.

Sunday 4/29/07
Once again, I’d probably wait until 4:00 PM to show up, but I’m old and lazy.

01:45 PM: Lupe Fiasco @ Coachella – Haven’t heard him, but I like to use Coachella to see hip-hop guys, because I normally never see them.
02:25 PM: Tapes ‘n’ Tapes @ Mojave – If you’re not seeing them at Spaceland tonight, you might as well see them. They weren’t that good last time I saw them, but there’s not much competition this early.
03:30 PM: Grizzly Bear @ Gobi – I still don’t understand why their album topped every music snob’s list of best albums last year, but maybe seeing them live would shed some light? If you like bouncy British buzz bands, the Kooks are playing the Mojave at the same time.
04:00 PM: Explosions in the Sky @ Coachella – I just re-listened to their new album on the plane yesterday. Really good, dynamic instrumental indie rock. I find Soulwax to be terrible dance crap. A few weeks ago the Bad Religion guys forced us to listen to them during their photo shoot at Sea Level and I got an immediate headache. Junior Boys are easy to listen to electro-pop. Pretty good really. The band that stole the show at the KCRW night was Rodrigo Y Gabriela. They’re a Mexican duo who play acoustic guitars about as intensely as you can. They weave a little Metallica in and do a cover of Led Zeppelin. Yuppies eat this shit up. They got so many standing ovations I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was cool for about five minutes but got a bit bored.
05:15 PM: The Roots @ Coachella – They got me back into hip-hop in the mid 90’s with their live instrumentation and musicality. I find the Kaiser Chiefs pretty mediocre, they’re playing the Outdoor Theatre at 6:05 PM. CSS is an energetic dancey rock band from Brazil who honestly annoy me, but if you like the dance party they go on at 5:55 PM in the Mojave.
06:30 PM: Willie Nelson @ Coachella – I saw him last year at the Hollywood Bowl and he was pretty good. He doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the lineup, but that’s the beauty of Willie – he can play to all crowds. If you like the dance-rock, Klaxons go on at 7:10. I heard they were pretty good on Saturday at the Echo.
07:45 PM: Crowded House @ Coachella – Big reunion right after Willie. They’re also playing the Glasshouse on Friday night.
08:25 PM: Lily Allen @ Mojave – Just saw her at the KCRW thing and she sounded good. Mostly pre-programmed stuff, but hopefully she’ll have more of a band with her here. She just canceled most of her tour (clearly she doesn’t give a shit about the middle of the country) but you can also see her at the Wiltern on May 15th. If you don’t like the reggae light, Air goes on at 8:35 PM at the Outdoor Theatre.
09:40 PM: Happy Mondays @ Sahara – Pitchfork says that Bez didn’t get his visa in time. Who are you really seeing? Who knows. If it sucks go see electo-rockers Ratatat in the Mojave or Swedish party rockers Teddybears in the Gobi at 9:50 (they’re also playing the El Rey on 5/2). If you like overly sensitive singer-songwriter types, Damien Rice is playing the Outdoor Theatre at 9:50.
10:40: Rage Against the Machine @ Coachella – I thought they had two good songs. I don’t know if I could deal with the crowd for this one. I’d probably walk over to the Gobi and see obscene dance-rappers Spank Rock at 11:05. If you prefer 90s indie rock, the Lemonheads are playing the Outdoor Theatre at 11:10 PM. Anybody see them at the El Rey last night?