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April 24, 2008
Coachella 2008: On our way
Has it really already been a year since the last pilgrimage to the desert? I feel like Coachella snuck up on me this year. For the first time since I've been going (this will be year four), the '08 edition has yet to sell out, even since the news of Prince joining the lineup. If I were to care about such things I'd no doubt have a witty joke prepared about Jack Johnson or the state of the music industry, but I don't and the Jack Johnson bashing is beyond tired.
For the most part I agree with critics pointing to the weak headliners, but as I've said many times headliners at these types of festivals should never be the main reason to attend. Especially when the lower and middle tier level acts are so great. Does it suck that M.I.A. and Animal Collective are playing at the same time? Of course. Sucks even more when the two artists overlap with Kraftwerk. A clear example of being spoiled by choice. Still, nothing more than it being an amazing problem to have. With that said, I present the Merry Swankster's plans for the weekend. We'll see how things actually turn out.
On with it...after the jump.
Friday: Are Islands truly cursed, or is that just a Denver phenomenon? (Ed Note: Islands Denver review coming very soon!) Santogold vs M.I.A., who wins?
Les Savy Fav > Black Kids > Dan Deacon (Deacon's brand of triumphant spectacle is suited perfectly for Coachella) > Jens Lekman > The Breeders > Vampire Weekend (Every year there seems to be a reserved set for hugely buzzed about bands in the late afternoon at the Outdoor theatre. VW gets the nod this year. We'll see how they handle what should be their biggest gig to date.) > National > Raconteurs or Santogold > Aphex Twin (Break time here? No intentions of catching the Verve, so maybe...) > Datarock (
Saturday: By far the most solid individual lineup of the weekend is on the Main stage.
Teenagers (Is a European artist mimicking the (television defined) teenage experience in America satire or are they mocking us?) > Man Man > Devotchka (Denver represent!) > Bonde Do Role > Stephan Malkmus & the Jicks > St. Vincent > Hot Chip > Death Cab for Cutie > Islands (Mostly to see if the black cloud hovering above them in Denver dissipates.) > Kraftwerk > (Original krautrockers may only get 30 minutes of my time because...) > M.I.A. or Animal Collective are playing at the same time (Tough. Game time decision here.) > Portishead > Prince (Saturday night will officially be awesome.)
Sunday: Weakest day of the weekend, but one that may bring a few surprises once this Sean Penn business is figured out.
Sean Penn (Curiosity - killed the cat, will draw me to the Gobi tent. Ed Vedder is that you?) > I'm From Barcelona or Holy Fuck > Duffy (Is the UK sensation worth all the fuss?) > The Field > Stars > Gogol Bordello > Sean Penn (Fool me twice..?) > My Morning Jacket > Sons & Daughters > Roger Waters (High School psychedelia revisited *or* Black Mountain -- 00's psychedelia?) > Justice (Unopposed Frenchmen close out the weekend. Finally providing an easy decision on who to see.)
Useful Coachella links:
//Tickets - buy
//Set times
//Event map
//Scheduler - "Coachooser"
//Indio, CA - Weather
//Need a ride?
//Coachella from your couch - (Live webcast) - AT&T Blue room
Posted by Merry Swankster at April 24, 2008 01:45 PM
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