Oh, just a quick plug about my new website as well as my new podcast. It’s only 20 minutes long and a little hesitant sounding, but give it a listen and tell me what you think.
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I missed my birthday.
Not like, my actual birthday. I mean my one-year anniversary of the Coachella A-Z article, which began February 28th last year, and continued until May 5th, when I posted my review. To celebrate, I’m going to do a one-off preview of Coachella 2006. It won’t be A-Z by any means. Instead, I’ll give a synopsis of the headliners, and a list of ten or so under-card bands that absolutely shouldn’t be missed.
Here’s an interesting piece of news about Coachella, though, that everyone might find interesting. I don’t know how well this works (if at all) but AOL is going to be broadcasting Coachella live on their Blue Room. Likely by advertising this I will be overloading their server and crashing the whole idea, but hey, at least we’ve got the satisfaction of that, eh?
Oh, also, if you’re interested, you can pick up the Coachella DVD at just about any retail DVD outlet by now. It’s a compendium of the great sets over the last six years or so, and from what I’ve heard is a pretty kick ass show.
Okay, onto this year. First, the headliners:
Depeche Mode
DM reunited a little while ago and put out a new album and are basically doing what the Pixies did two years ago; cap off a hugely successful two year world tour at a huge festival while at the same time probably kicking off another one. Lots of people will tell you that this band (and most others on this list) are all worth the price of admission alone, and I suppose you’d be right. The ticket for one day at Coachella is about $80, which is about the same amount for a good seat at a DM show these days. They’ll be better than Coldplay was, at least.
Daft Punk
Here’s one of those bands I always thought I’d get into when I got to college, but never did. I really don’t know too much about them, really, and I’m a little ashamed to say it. I know they’re huge (but not annoyingly so) and I know they’re good (without being too good) so why did I never get into them? I don’t know. Maybe I will next week.
Franz Ferdinand
Here’s another one of those bands that people tend to enjoy, but never really talk about or read about or write about or ever seem to listen to. Maybe it’s their overplay on the radio that gives off this effect, much like Oasis or Ben Folds? I think most people would agree with me that Franz hits that ‘Coachella’ sound pretty head on, even though that’s sort of still in the process of being defined.
Sigur Ros
The band that everyone loves to fall asleep to, clutching their pillows or lovers in fear and ironic hipster love. Their last album was so beautiful that someone should really make a book of art depicting the feelings they get from it. It’s not rock music. It’s above it, in the spheres of those ethereal feelings that go beyond awesome into transcendent.
Common
Last year, Mos Def played the role of token headlining rapper, and this year it’s this guy. Pitchfork pushed this guy to the moon last year, and I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like him. And I hear he’s a nice dude, too.
Tool
Back in January, when the rumor mill churned a mile a minute about the possibility of the Smashing Pumpkins reuniting at Coachella, Tool emerged as the real headliner, and when everyone heard their name, they all went “aww.” Which is a shame, because Tool can rock it, and they can rock it really damn hard. Still, their job is to make sure that nobody leaves Coachella wishing the Pumpkins had been there. Good luck!
Massive Attack
Okay, so their last two albums (1000th window and the soundtrack to that Dog movie) were God freaking awful, but that’s no reason to think that they won’t absolutely kill live. I mean, so long as they stay away from their last three years of recording material. Which they will, if they don’t want people thinking, “so, when’s that band coming on that’s here instead of the Pumkins?”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Here’s another one of those bands that are signature ‘Coachella,’ popular without being pompous, dripping cool, and always delivering live. Also, sexy. All year they’ve been the band to see, and here’s your chance to see them. I’m guessing they’ll be on around 6pm, probably in the same spot the Arcade Fire were last year.
Bloc Party
They were there last year, and while I didn’t really get a chance to see them, I’m going to assume they don’t have a ton of new material. Their album was a month away from breaking last time around, and has now been fairly digested by just about everyone. Maybe they’ll break out some of the remixes? They won’t disappoint. They deserve all their hype way too much for that possibility.
Paul Oakenfold
Ever try and purchase an Oakenfold CD without paying fifty bucks? Goddamn imports. When I heard his name on the bill, I wanted to go immediately, just because I knew this was a rare occurrence, and I enjoy going to concerts that seem amazingly one of a kind. Does he have new material? I’m not sure. But the world’s most influential DJ that side of the pacific will have to have something really fun in that crate. Maybe it’ll be ecstasy.
Madonna
And the collective ‘WTF, Mate?’ heard round the world. First, that she was going to be there at all. Second, that not only was she not headlining, she was stuck in the tent, which last year was fourth in importance most of the time. Thirdly, that she was going to be there at all, right? This didn’t make any sense. I mean, this year, Coachella is fairly corporate-rock-free. What’s the world’s most successful female musician doing there? Well, it makes sense when you consider three things. 1) She just put out a fairly good dance record, and this year’s Coachella is definitely geared towards dancy rock. 2) Madonna knows that Coachella is a reputation builder. Hell, the first thing I thought when I heard this was “Huh, I guess she’s got some cool left.” 3) Lots and lots of people still love Madonna, and she’s by far the biggest draw of the whole show. It’s pretty much the same reason Coldplay was there last year.
Okay, that’s it for the big headliners, which is a fairly respectable list, I’d say. Here’s some bands that’ll come earlier in the day you should definitely check out. Possibly while eating a hogey or a health shake.
Matisyahu
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the orthodox Jewish rapper from New York you’ve been hearing about. You probably have no idea what he sounds like, but you know that he rocks. Coachella is the perfect spot for a guy like this. People will check him out because of the buzz machine, and if they don’t buy the gimmick, they’ll go check out the art displays instead.
Sleater-Kinney
Here’s your grrl rock for the show. I think I can go as far as saying that in terms of quality, they’re the female equivalent to the Foo Fighters; they don’t have anything that particularly stands out, but at the same time every song is just good enough to make you buy it.
Wolf Parade
Montreal rockers in the vein the Arcade Fire, but darker and with less members. There’s nothing not to love about their debut record, and I can pretty much guarantee they’ll be the standout mid-card show.
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
There is no trio more fun (that aren’t represented by a psychadelic pink robot) than Ted Leo. He writes the catchiest damn songs on the whole planet, and gets giant sing-alongs happening. It’s amazing, too, that most of his songs are just as political as they are pop, but pay attention in the midst of your one-hand-pump move you do and you’ll maybe learn something.
Head Automatica
I got introduced to these guys late last year on a mix tape. That’s how I know they’re good. And they’re so the mix tape kind of band, too, because they’re pop but also breathtakingly fresh in their approach. They’re like a happy Faint.
Lady Sovereign
Here’s another would-be gimmick kind of thing. She’s a white, young woman who can out-Missy Elliott Missy Elliot. Just for universal clarity, she’ll likely be in the same spot as Buck 65 was last year.
Cat Power
I recently passed up a chance to go see Cat Power, because I didn’t think she’d be worth the forty bucks or whatever it was. And I stand by that. Cat Power is an amazing singer with some great songs, but I just have absolutely no interest in seeing them live. But it’s always different at Coachella, isn’t it? Because you’re already in there, you might as well check out one of the great songwriters of our time. She’s soulful, sultry, and filled with that rare authenticity.
Seu Jorge
I hope this guy doesn’t sing Bowie songs during is set, because if he does then it shows that he’s really just trying to cash in on his breakout role in The Life Aquatic. I hope he’s got a fresh set with great stuff. I do like his voice. I like what he does with that acoustic guitar. I just hope he’s more than a one trick pony, even if that one trick is pretty cool.
Metric
Arts & Crafts’ only representation at the biggest festival of the year has a lot to live up to, now. They just came off a great sophomore record, opening for the rolling stones, and becoming the first commercially successful band to belong to the hive known as Broken Social Scene. Also, like Sleater-Kinney, they don’t really have any songs that suck. Which is a bonus when you’re trying to rock.
