One of these days, I’ll make it to Coachella. The main problem (other than the fact that this year’s tickets sold out like that) is that Cal Day is the same weekend, every year. Cal Day is the main event for incoming freshmen at Berkeley–so all of us club participants try to entice them with our info sessions and obvious coolness.
The only good thing about Cal Day is that they’ve been bringing bands up for the occasion. And not lame bands, either. Last year was Cold War Kids, and this year it’s the Dodos. Not to mention, the Bay Area gets a flood of concerts known fondly as Fauxchella–so I’m not left completely high and dry (we also have The Lonely Island coming to Amoeba Berkeley for Record Store Day).
Nonetheless, if I did have the coveted Coachella tickets, these bands would be on my agenda:
FRIDAY
Crystal Castles
Who doesn’t want to see Alice Glass go batshit on stage?
Cut Copy
The Australian synthpop band is actually coming to the Bay Area on Saturday and Sunday, but tickets sold out faster than you can say “shrimp on the barbie”. Their most recent album, Zonoscope, is fantastic from start to finish, and has dominated my iPod since its February release.
The Black Keys
The Grammy-winning blues rockers need neither an introduction nor justification: I’m sure they’re making most people’s Coachella list.
The Drums
The Drums’ lighthearted songs have lodged themselves in my brain for aaaaages now. And even though I’ve been perfectly okay with that, I feel like the only solution would be to see them live. Their brand of catchy pop would be perfect for the Indio heat.
The Morning Benders
I’ve got to support a band from Berkeley–and thankfully, they make it really easy by creating wonderful music. I fell in love with the Yours Truly session above, as well as their cover of Talking Heads’ “Pull Up the Roots”. But obviously all of debut album Big Echo is fantastic.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
I reviewed the music video for their most recent single, “Heart In Your Heartbreak”, for The Owl Mag. It’s totally adorable. I’m also going to try to catch their free in-store at Amoeba SF on Tuesday the 19th.
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Maybe I’ve spent too much time working in a quirky yet upscale retail establishment (Anthropologie), but I know the Rural Alberta Advantage was in my consciousness before I realized who they were. I’m about 99.9% positive that “Don’t Haunt This Place”, from 2009’s Hometowns, made it onto the Anthro radio station, and I would bet a good deal that you’ve heard it somewhere too. But the rest of that album, as well as their March-released sophomore album (Departing), is just as excellent as their most well-known song.
Also: Cold Cave, Cold War Kids, Sleigh Bells, Tame Impala
SATURDAY
Animal Collective
Duhhhhhhhh.
Arcade Fire
Double duhhhhhhh. Can you say ‘Grammy Winner’? Also, saw these guys a billion years ago promoting Funeral, and a marching band showed up while a fight broke out on stage. It was awesome.
Freelance Whales
Full disclosure: I’ve never given Freelance Whales the listening time they deserve. The genre-bending New Yorkers get rave reviews from, well, everyone. I’d love to check them out live.
Here We Go Magic
The catchy electro tunes of Here We Go Magic may veer from Luke Temple’s folk beginnings, but it’s great stuff. For us stranded Bay Areanites (Bay Areans just sounds terrible), we have to wait a bit longer–the band is going to be at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on May 2nd.
Mumford & Sons
This blog could probably be renamed “An Ode to Mumford & Sons”. So obviously they’d be pretty high up on my list of Coachella must-see bands.
The Swell Season
No joke, I would probably buy Coachella tickets JUST for the Swell Season. I fell in love with all things Glen Hansard several years ago, and the Oscar-winning Once is without question my favorite movie. I remember, my first year of college, they were playing somewhere in the Bay for around twenty bucks–but, being an ickle freshman, I didn’t have anyone to go with and didn’t want to trek into the city alone. I still kick myself for missing such a steal. This pair has almost superhuman passion, and I would love to see them live.
The Tallest Man On Earth
The Tallest Man On Earth is the beautiful folk project of Kristian Matsson. I’m in love with his gravelly voice and lovely songs–this Daytrotter version of “I Won’t Be Found” gives me the heebie jeebies, it’s so gorgeous.
Trampled By Turtles
The fast-paced bluegrass/alt-country band Trampled By Turtles would be a blast to see live. Just listen to the instrumentals on “Wait So Long”–these guys have crazy energy.
Also: Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Delta Spirit, Foals, Francis and the Lights, Jenny and Johnny, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, The New Pornographers, The Radio Dept., Two Door Cinema Club, Yelle
SUNDAY
Best Coast
I feel like Coachella is MADE for bands like Best Coast. Hipsters will be drawn to this stage like…well, hipsters to fountains of free PBR.
City and Colour
City and Colour, the solo project of Alexisonfire’s Dallas Green, has generated quite a bit of buzz for his sweetly-sung tunes. I’d love to make a clever Canadian joke, but I can’t think of one at the moment–but let’s just say Coachella may be a better indicator of success than one of those ‘JUNO’ things (which he won in 2006 for Best Alternative Album. And I’m totally kidding, by the way).
Duran Duran
Uh, they’re Duran Duran. ‘Nuff said.
Kanye West
Uh, it’s Kanye. ‘Nuff said.
Ratatat
The above video should actually be all the explanation needed. Especially for everyone at Coachella who might be…under the influence. Of anything.
The National
The National is another one of those bands that I haven’t really given its due. I missed them at 2010’s Treasure Island Music Festival, but I’ll catch them one of these days.
The Presets
Check out this remix. It’s addicting.
Also: Angus and Julia Stone, Ellie Goulding, Jack Beats, Phosphorescent, the Strokes.
Red Said 