« Numerology: Number Nine...Number Nine....Number Nine...Number Nine... | Main | Every seed in its right place »
April 26, 2007
Coachella beckons the Merry Swankster
In just a few hours I will be landing in beautiful Southern California to spend a weekend with 60,000 new friends and about half a dozen old ones. Different this year is Coachella's addition of a third day. An expansion that seems to have alleviated some of the torturous decision making that defined past editions. As festie veterans know - you never leave Coachella seeing all the bands you thought you would. It's part of the charm really. I'll still share with you my plans as they stand today.
Indio's weekend forecast calls for high temperatures of 98 - 101 degrees. Sunburn in a tight crowd with an oppressive, menacing sun is a one way ticket to awful-town so be careful out there ye of fair skin.
I plan on returning to MS headquarters with a handsome booty of stories, reviews and diverse images to share . Top goal - goth-kids in patent leather pants and assorted accessories dying a slow death passed out on the grass wishing they took the hippie route on the identity trail. Bonus points if I get them on video proclaiming such desires. Crunchy wookies are much more adept at these festival gigs.
After the jump: Merry Swankster's plans for the weekend.
Friday:
Tokyo Police Club > Of Montreal > Amy Winehouse > (throw bananas during finale of..) Arctic Monkeys > Jesus and Mary Chain > Jarvis Cocker > Interpol > Bjork
Unfortunately missing: Brazilian Girls, Silversun Pickups, Sonic Youth, DJ Shadow
Merry Swankster's non-sexual man-crush on Kevin Barnes will finally be realized. Of Montreal tops every band on the bill as far as anticipation and expectations go. Giggity giggity.
Saturday:
the Cribs > the Frames > (20 minutes of) Regina Spektor > Hot Chip (or over to New Pornographers if watching people play on their Macbooks get boring) > Peter Bjorn & John > Andrew Bird or the Decemberists or Kings of Leon (only to begin jostling for a prime spot before the crush of ...) > Arcade Fire > (energized and euphoric I skip to the dance tent where the night cap includes a 1-2 punch with..) > LCD Soundsystem > the Rapture
Saturday picks up amazing momentum as the day progresses. You can't beat the final trio of bands.
Unfortunately missing: New Pornographers, Fratellis, Ghostface Killah, Black Keys
Sunday:
Lupe Fiasco > Mando Diao > Grizzly Bear > Explosions in the Sky > Junior Boys > CSS > Willie Nelson > Klaxons (take a minute to make cracks on the freakout that just occurred) > Jose Gonzales > Air > Ratatat > Spank Rock
Sunday is the weakest day. Bodies will be worn out so by then it won't matter. I have nothing but respect towards anyone planning to rock out to Rage. Good luck with that.
Unfortunately missing: Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Lily Allen, Manu Chao, Rage Against the Machine
Look for a guy taking pictures with a digital camera during any of the above sets and say hi. I'm friendly.
Coachella links:
//Set times
//Event map -
//Scheduler
//MS Advice - Stay away from the hooch until the sun goes down
Posted by Merry Swankster at April 26, 2007 11:57 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.merryswankster.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/882
Comments
Inasmuch as I love NPG, I would be interested in seeing Hot Chip. Also, Spank Rock. Rickrubin. Rickrubin.
Posted by: Keith at April 26, 2007 12:38 PM
Let's hope Merry Swankster's camera stays charged this year. Using my pictures to post is like wiping your butt with a cheese grater...just a bad idea all around.
Posted by: Kelli Douglas at April 26, 2007 02:45 PM
