COACHELLA 2010!!! It’s that time of year again!  This is the start of the massive flood of posters featuring the artists who will play the summer festivals.  I always get excited about this, but out of every single American fest, nothing matches Coachella.  It is simply the best music festival in the U.S. in terms of size, acts, exclusiveness, and just overall coolness.  So how does this 2010 lineup compare to other years? Well, I for one am simply shocked at how freaking stacked this lineup is.  The poster looks fake, like it’s too good to be true.  But trust me: this is the official 2010 Coachella lineup taken from the official web site’s main page.  Let’s take a closer look, shall we? FRIDAY Headliner: JAY-Z Many would write Jay-Z off as a bland headliner.  ”Come on!  How does Jay-Z compare to Paul McCartney/Prince/Radiohead blah blah blah???”  And true, Jay-Z may not be as rare as other Coachella headliners of the past, but he’s solid.  He’ll sell tickets, and he’ll put on a phenomenal show.  Or at least that’s what I hear about the guy.  Plus, he is a bonafide hip hop legend with several incredible albums under his belt. Sub Headliners: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, THEM CROOKED VULTURES LCD Soundsystem!!!! This is enough to warrant Friday being automatically fantastic.  I’ve seen them once before (Lollapalooza 2007) and they were fantastic.  I’d think they’d be a perfect lead into Jay-Z, and if not a fantastic closer in the Sahara dance tent (although I hope they play the main).  Them Crooked Vultures doesn’t interest me much, but I’m sure the new Queens of The Stone Age/Foo Fighters/Led Zeppelin side project should put on a rocking good time. Mid Tier: VAMPIRE WEEKEND, DEADMAU5, PUBLIC IMAGE LTD., THE SPECIALS, GRIZZLY BEAR, PASSION PIT, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, BENNY BENASSI, FEVER RAY Coachella always does a good job when it comes to booking rare and old acts.  Public Image and The Specials are definitely great examples of this.  I have never seen either appear on any American festival’s lineup, and both are terrific groups.  Vampire Weekend should be a good show, and I’m positive Grizzly Bear will put on a breathtaking sunset performance.  I’ll probably check out Passion Pit this year (I was too afraid to see them at Lollapalooza because a few of my friends said they sucked live) as well as Echo & The Bunnymen.  Fever Ray and Benny Benassi are great picks for the Sahara (although I probably won’t see them), and I could see Deadmau5 close out the dance tent very well. The Rest: GRACE JONES, SHE & HIM, YEASAYER, LUCERO, RA RA RIOT,  BARONESS, HOCKEY, etc… Like last year, I’m not as impressed with Friday’s lower tier acts, but that’s no big deal.  There’s still enough acts here to keep me preoccupied during the day.  I believe I’ll finally be able to catch Ra Ra Riot and She & Him.  Grace Jones is a very interesting add (old 80’s disco act), and if given the chance, I may check her out.  Other than that there is a huge variety acts ranging from indie rock to metal to pop to country to hip hop.  Should be a good afternoon. SATURDAY Headliner: MUSE While they may have made a kind of sub par record last year, I am stoked to see Muse again.  I saw them in 2007, and to this day it is the best show I have ever seen, with the exception of Prince in 2008.  There show is over the top, in your face, crazy glammed out rock and roll, and you should expect to see me in the front row for it. Sub Headliners: FAITH NO MORE, TIESTO Interesting picks for this year.  Faith No More was rumored for last year, but it seems the hard rock/hip hop reunion is slated for this year.  I’m not very familiar with their albums, but I’ll probably check it out.  I mean, they’re probably going to go on right before Muse, so I’ll be there.  Tiesto, well, blech.  I hate trance, but it’s cool, as he’ll probably close out the Sahara, and I’ll be far away from that. Mid Tier: MGMT, DAVID GUETTA, THE DEAD WEATHER, HOT CHIP, DEVO, COHEED & CAMBRIA, KASKADE, 2MANYDJS, MAJOR LAZER, DIRTY PROJECTORS, GOSSIP, Z-TRIP Man, this is going to turn out to be quite the day for hard rock on the main stage!  The Dead Weather, Jack White’s heavy side project will be there, as will the crazy prog-metal group Coheed & Cambria.  Meanwhile, some crazy dance acts will be blasting at the Sahara, from the techno trance of Kaskade to the dub/hip hop of 2ManyDJ’s and Major Lazer.  Dirty Projectors should be cool, as should Hot Chip and Devo.  Other than that, I’d say the mid tier of Saturday is kind of weak in my eyes. The Rest: THE XX, LES CLAYPOOL, THE RAVEONETTES, MEW, SIA, CAMERA OBSCURA, FRIGHTENED RABBIT, CORINNE BAILEY RAE, GIRLS, etc. While the mid tier of Saturday isn’t all that great to me, the rest of the lineup looks fantastic.  There are a good amount of 2009 hyped bands (Girls, The XX, Band Of Skulls, Mew), some surprises (Les Claypool, Corinne Bailey Rae), and just some overall awesome acts that I’ve wanted to see for awhile.  I can’t wait to see Camera Obscura, and the same goes for Frightened Rabbit and Mew. SUNDAY Headliner: GORILLAZ Well, Sunday is easily the best day.  I’ve always joked about Gorillaz headlining a festival, but I never imagined that I would ever get the privilege to see it really happen.  This automatically makes Coachella 2010 a success.  Their new album, Plastic Beach, will hit stores a month in advance of the show, and judging by some of their guests (Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, De La Soul, Del The Funky Homosapien), it’s going to a ridiculously amazing performance. Sub Headliners: PAVEMENT, THOM YORKE, ????? Let’s just pause and look at the sub headliners. … … … … Okay, enough of that. PAVEMENT!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG ZOMG!!!!11!!!!1!  I mean, no big deal, they’re only one of my absolute favorite bands of all time, reunited briefly for this year.  They’re only playing a handful of shows, almost all of which are already sold out.  I am hyperventilating while I type this.  I have never been so excited to see anyone.  I literally can’t wait to get in my car today and start blaring “Cut Your Hair” and “Summer Babe.”  All that aside, Thom fucking Yorke is going to be there?!?!?!  Holy shit, Sunday is going to be amazing.  And as far as the ???? goes, I don’t know.  I’m sure the spot will be filled in the coming weeks/months leading up the fest.  Who’s it gonna be?  I don’t want to get my hopes up, but seeing that Julian Casablancas is also going to be at Coachella on Sunday… Strokes… maybe??? Mid Tier: PHOENIX, ORBITAL, SPOON, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, DE LA SOUL, JULIAN CASABLANCAS, PLASTIKMAN, GARY NUMAN, CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG Wow, Sunday is either going to great, or a nightmare of conflicts.  I mean, Phoenix and Spoon are simply unmissable in my eyes.  I’ve had the opportunity to see both several times, I’ve always missed them, and I love both bands pretty equally.  I have to see them this year.  Sly & The Family Stone also looks like a show that can’t be passed up.  I’ll pass on Julian, just because I hated his solo record (I love the Strokes, though).  Gary Numan could be cool, but eh… I’ll pass.  Orbital is a nice surprise too. The Rest: SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE, YO LA TENGO, MUTEMATH, DEERHUNTER, MATT & KIM, THE BIG PINK, KING KHAN & THE SHRINES, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, OWEN PALLETT, MAYER HAWTHORNE, etc. Seriously, Sunday is just too good.  I’m going to have to prepare to miss a bunch of acts that I love.  Mute Math can’t be missed, I know that.  I’ve seen their live DVD.  I’m aware of how retardedly good this band is live.  Sunny Day Real Estate is also incredible, as is The Big Pink, Mayer Hawthorne, Deerhunter… AAAUUUUGHHH!! So many good acts!  Too good!  Too good… losing… control… can’t… fathom… awesomness… XD  <— That’s me, overcome with joy … So, can you tell I love the lineup?  April can’t come soon enough, I am itching for some amazing shows.  I do have a few hopes, though.  I really hope some of the acts from Sunday switch days, just because Sunday is too good.  I’m going to be stage hopping my ass off on that day.  And to top that off, there will be additions in around six weeks or so, and that may only mean MORE good acts.  Who knows who it will be??  Well, I’m not sure, but Coachella 2010 looks amazing.  I’ll be sure to cover it when I’m there, and also probably provide some cool pictures.  Well, signing out now… I’ma go play all of Pavement’s albums on repeat for the next three months.

COACHELLA 2010!!!

It’s that time of year again!  This is the start of the massive flood of posters featuring the artists who will play the summer festivals.  I always get excited about this, but out of every single American fest, nothing matches Coachella.  It is simply the best music festival in the U.S. in terms of size, acts, exclusiveness, and just overall coolness.  So how does this 2010 lineup compare to other years?

Well, I for one am simply shocked at how freaking stacked this lineup is.  The poster looks fake, like it’s too good to be true.  But trust me: this is the official 2010 Coachella lineup taken from the official web site’s main page.  Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

FRIDAY

Headliner: JAY-Z

Many would write Jay-Z off as a bland headliner.  ”Come on!  How does Jay-Z compare to Paul McCartney/Prince/Radiohead blah blah blah???”  And true, Jay-Z may not be as rare as other Coachella headliners of the past, but he’s solid.  He’ll sell tickets, and he’ll put on a phenomenal show.  Or at least that’s what I hear about the guy.  Plus, he is a bonafide hip hop legend with several incredible albums under his belt.

Sub Headliners: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, THEM CROOKED VULTURES

LCD Soundsystem!!!! This is enough to warrant Friday being automatically fantastic.  I’ve seen them once before (Lollapalooza 2007) and they were fantastic.  I’d think they’d be a perfect lead into Jay-Z, and if not a fantastic closer in the Sahara dance tent (although I hope they play the main).  Them Crooked Vultures doesn’t interest me much, but I’m sure the new Queens of The Stone Age/Foo Fighters/Led Zeppelin side project should put on a rocking good time.

Mid Tier: VAMPIRE WEEKEND, DEADMAU5, PUBLIC IMAGE LTD., THE SPECIALS, GRIZZLY BEAR, PASSION PIT, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, BENNY BENASSI, FEVER RAY

Coachella always does a good job when it comes to booking rare and old acts.  Public Image and The Specials are definitely great examples of this.  I have never seen either appear on any American festival’s lineup, and both are terrific groups.  Vampire Weekend should be a good show, and I’m positive Grizzly Bear will put on a breathtaking sunset performance.  I’ll probably check out Passion Pit this year (I was too afraid to see them at Lollapalooza because a few of my friends said they sucked live) as well as Echo & The Bunnymen.  Fever Ray and Benny Benassi are great picks for the Sahara (although I probably won’t see them), and I could see Deadmau5 close out the dance tent very well.

The Rest: GRACE JONES, SHE & HIM, YEASAYER, LUCERO, RA RA RIOT,  BARONESS, HOCKEY, etc…

Like last year, I’m not as impressed with Friday’s lower tier acts, but that’s no big deal.  There’s still enough acts here to keep me preoccupied during the day.  I believe I’ll finally be able to catch Ra Ra Riot and She & Him.  Grace Jones is a very interesting add (old 80’s disco act), and if given the chance, I may check her out.  Other than that there is a huge variety acts ranging from indie rock to metal to pop to country to hip hop.  Should be a good afternoon.

SATURDAY

Headliner: MUSE

While they may have made a kind of sub par record last year, I am stoked to see Muse again.  I saw them in 2007, and to this day it is the best show I have ever seen, with the exception of Prince in 2008.  There show is over the top, in your face, crazy glammed out rock and roll, and you should expect to see me in the front row for it.

Sub Headliners: FAITH NO MORE, TIESTO

Interesting picks for this year.  Faith No More was rumored for last year, but it seems the hard rock/hip hop reunion is slated for this year.  I’m not very familiar with their albums, but I’ll probably check it out.  I mean, they’re probably going to go on right before Muse, so I’ll be there.  Tiesto, well, blech.  I hate trance, but it’s cool, as he’ll probably close out the Sahara, and I’ll be far away from that.

Mid Tier: MGMT, DAVID GUETTA, THE DEAD WEATHER, HOT CHIP, DEVO, COHEED & CAMBRIA, KASKADE, 2MANYDJS, MAJOR LAZER, DIRTY PROJECTORS, GOSSIP, Z-TRIP

Man, this is going to turn out to be quite the day for hard rock on the main stage!  The Dead Weather, Jack White’s heavy side project will be there, as will the crazy prog-metal group Coheed & Cambria.  Meanwhile, some crazy dance acts will be blasting at the Sahara, from the techno trance of Kaskade to the dub/hip hop of 2ManyDJ’s and Major Lazer.  Dirty Projectors should be cool, as should Hot Chip and Devo.  Other than that, I’d say the mid tier of Saturday is kind of weak in my eyes.

The Rest: THE XX, LES CLAYPOOL, THE RAVEONETTES, MEW, SIA, CAMERA OBSCURA, FRIGHTENED RABBIT, CORINNE BAILEY RAE, GIRLS, etc.

While the mid tier of Saturday isn’t all that great to me, the rest of the lineup looks fantastic.  There are a good amount of 2009 hyped bands (Girls, The XX, Band Of Skulls, Mew), some surprises (Les Claypool, Corinne Bailey Rae), and just some overall awesome acts that I’ve wanted to see for awhile.  I can’t wait to see Camera Obscura, and the same goes for Frightened Rabbit and Mew.

SUNDAY

Headliner: GORILLAZ

Well, Sunday is easily the best day.  I’ve always joked about Gorillaz headlining a festival, but I never imagined that I would ever get the privilege to see it really happen.  This automatically makes Coachella 2010 a success.  Their new album, Plastic Beach, will hit stores a month in advance of the show, and judging by some of their guests (Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, De La Soul, Del The Funky Homosapien), it’s going to a ridiculously amazing performance.

Sub Headliners: PAVEMENT, THOM YORKE, ?????

Let’s just pause and look at the sub headliners. … … … … Okay, enough of that. PAVEMENT!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG ZOMG!!!!11!!!!1!  I mean, no big deal, they’re only one of my absolute favorite bands of all time, reunited briefly for this year.  They’re only playing a handful of shows, almost all of which are already sold out.  I am hyperventilating while I type this.  I have never been so excited to see anyone.  I literally can’t wait to get in my car today and start blaring “Cut Your Hair” and “Summer Babe.”  All that aside, Thom fucking Yorke is going to be there?!?!?!  Holy shit, Sunday is going to be amazing.  And as far as the ???? goes, I don’t know.  I’m sure the spot will be filled in the coming weeks/months leading up the fest.  Who’s it gonna be?  I don’t want to get my hopes up, but seeing that Julian Casablancas is also going to be at Coachella on Sunday… Strokes… maybe???

Mid Tier: PHOENIX, ORBITAL, SPOON, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, DE LA SOUL, JULIAN CASABLANCAS, PLASTIKMAN, GARY NUMAN, CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG

Wow, Sunday is either going to great, or a nightmare of conflicts.  I mean, Phoenix and Spoon are simply unmissable in my eyes.  I’ve had the opportunity to see both several times, I’ve always missed them, and I love both bands pretty equally.  I have to see them this year.  Sly & The Family Stone also looks like a show that can’t be passed up.  I’ll pass on Julian, just because I hated his solo record (I love the Strokes, though).  Gary Numan could be cool, but eh… I’ll pass.  Orbital is a nice surprise too.

The Rest: SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE, YO LA TENGO, MUTEMATH, DEERHUNTER, MATT & KIM, THE BIG PINK, KING KHAN & THE SHRINES, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, OWEN PALLETT, MAYER HAWTHORNE, etc.

Seriously, Sunday is just too good.  I’m going to have to prepare to miss a bunch of acts that I love.  Mute Math can’t be missed, I know that.  I’ve seen their live DVD.  I’m aware of how retardedly good this band is live.  Sunny Day Real Estate is also incredible, as is The Big Pink, Mayer Hawthorne, Deerhunter… AAAUUUUGHHH!! So many good acts!  Too good!  Too good… losing… control… can’t… fathom… awesomness… XD  <— That’s me, overcome with joy

… So, can you tell I love the lineup?  April can’t come soon enough, I am itching for some amazing shows.  I do have a few hopes, though.  I really hope some of the acts from Sunday switch days, just because Sunday is too good.  I’m going to be stage hopping my ass off on that day.  And to top that off, there will be additions in around six weeks or so, and that may only mean MORE good acts.  Who knows who it will be??  Well, I’m not sure, but Coachella 2010 looks amazing.  I’ll be sure to cover it when I’m there, and also probably provide some cool pictures.  Well, signing out now… I’ma go play all of Pavement’s albums on repeat for the next three months.