Coachella 2013: A Complete List of Must-See Bands and DJs

I am now coming to the realization that I’m not going to be able to see all the bands, DJs’, etc that I want to see at Coachella. If I’m organized, I’ll  be lucky catch half of them.  I have my line-up all ready to go and uploaded to the official app and as the festival draws near I continue to add to said list. So many time conflicts, what to do?

I’m thinking I can catch half sets of artists whom I want to see which are playing at the same time.  I guess I’ll know when I’m there and maybe at that point I’ll just go with the vibe and flow of things. None the less, I’ve compiled a list of must-sees, the following is my schedule for weekend 2 of the festival.

Friday April 19th

The Neighbourhood- 1:25 – 2:05pm Although not a must see, they are on early enough and they have some interesting songs out at the moment. I just discovered them recently, their sound is mysterious a little soothing and rap like at times. Their latest album is an EP called “I’m Sorry”.

Below is a live version of “Leaving Tonight”

Johnny Marr- 4:15- 5:00pm
I would love to catch him since he was the guitarist of one my favorite bands of all time , The Smiths. Basically pretty great guitar riffs here. Maybe, I will catch a few songs then go see Metric.

Divine Fits-4:35 – 5:20pm
Metric-4:45 – 5:35pm

Alt-J -5:20 – 6:05pm
This is one band I will not miss. They are one my favorite new bands, they are Brits, so amazing and unique. Their songs are almost chant like but with a little grit and some rap influence. I can’t wait for their next release since every one of the songs on their debut album “An Awesome Wave” is well, awesome.

Check out this live performance

Of Monsters and Men-5:45pm – 6:35pm

Passion Pit-6:05 – 6:55pm
Their melodies are unparalleled, this is just happy music with substance, and great indie pop.
This is my favorite song below

 

Local Natives-7:00 – 7:50pm
I truly enjoyed their debut album Gorilla Manor. I’ve heard their latest single on the radio and I really dig it as well; now it’s just a matter of getting more into the band. So I think seeing them play live will make things complete.

The song below “Breakers” has an infectious chorus and you can download it for free on their site now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU4oYtKzPhA

Dog Blood-7:40- 8:40pm
This is a side project formed by Skrillex & Boys Noize. I caught a little bit of Skrillex set at Ultra 2012 and it was good. So definitely worth a “walk by” although I’m going to Coachella to see artists I don’t get to see in Miami.

This is their set from Ultra 2013
https://soundcloud.com/dog-blood/dog-blood-id-ultra-2013-setrip

Beach House– 8:15-9:05pm
I fell in love with their 4^th album “Bloom” as their surreal dream pop is distinctive and succinct. I think this is one of those “I want to hear this song at sunset” bands and maybe it will work out after all 8:15 pretty close to sunset.

“Myth” below would sound even more amazing at sunset…

Yeah Yeah Yeahs– 8:40 – 9:30pm
This is a power-punk band who claims feisty lead singer, Karen O. I  haven’t seen them live so I’m very excited to be able to do so.  Oh and watch out they don’t like it when you video tape them, rightfully so, I guess.

Below is an awesome live performance
http://youtu.be/Jav-Rq1jJPc

Band of Horses- 9:30- 10:20pm
I love, love Band of Horses. I saw them last year at Revolution, a small venue in Ft. Lauderdale. They sounded perfect, played almost all of their well known songs and were super energetic on stage.  Since I already saw them I’ll probably have to go check out a bit of Purity Ring’s set then off to Blur.

Purity Ring-9:40 – 10:30pm
Great indie, dreamy sound!
“Belispeak”

Blur-9:55 – 11:15pm
Blur’s style falls along the same lines as The Stone Roses.
Here’s Blur’s first TV appearance on the same year I graduated high school (ouch)

Foals– 10:50 – 11:40p I just recently heard of them and dig their sound yet I may have to miss them.

Below you can see there are many scheduling conflicts. The next four acts start at the same freaking time. So I’ll have to choose and I guess Stone Roses wins because they don’t really tour too much and they are in “reunited” status. Who knows how long they’ll stick around for. If I can catch How to Destroy Angels that will be a bonus. I wont feel so bad if I miss Tegan and Sara since I saw them a few years back. This is so hard but fun, of course.

The Stone Roses-11:40 – 12:50am What can I say about Stone Roses they came at a time when music was getting stale and heralded a new sound , the Manchester movement,  one of my favorite milestones in music history, similar to when Grunge came along. In fact, the Manchester movement pretty much started the Rave scene, take note all you fools who were like “Who are they?”

Ah, the 90’s seem so close but happened over 20 years ago, crap.

Bassnectar-11:50 – 12:50am If you haven’t heard and seen a set by Lorin Ashton, you have to. He killed it on the closing night of Ultra 2012.

How to Destroy Angels-12:00-12:50am Trent Reznor’s side project with his wife.

Tegan and Sara-12:00 – 12:55am Fun indie pop by these two talented sisters.

Saturday April 20th

Biffy Clyro-2:25 – 3:10pm, This Scottish Band has been around since ‘99 but I just heard of them recently. Since they are playing early I can catch some of their set.

This is the first song I heard by them, amazing lyrics

Baauer – 3:00 – 4:00pm
Hello, this is the man behind “Harlem Shake” but there’s more to him than that.

Bat for Lashes – 5:10pm – 6:00pm This British songstress, Natasha Khan, is definitely a must see. Her last album “Haunted Man” packs beautifully written, melodic, dreamy indie-folk.

Bingo Players – 5:40- 6:40pm I may have to catch them another time

Violent Femmes -6:05 -7:00pm If you were out dancing in the 80’s and 90’s you probably heard many Violent Femmes songs like “Blister in the Sun”. This alt rock trio was huge back then and set a precedent for others that came after them. They pack awesome bass lines.  I never got to see them back then so this may be my last chance

Major Lazer – 6:25 – 7:15pm This dancehall-tronic group led by Diplo will have you getting down low and dirty.

Major Lazer – Get Free ft. Amber of the Dirty Projectors  (this is not such a down and dirty tune but it rocks)

Hot Chip – 7:35 – 8:25pm
This British Indietronica band will have you dancing to their fun, repetitive, groovy beats. The side project of co-founder Joe Goddard, 2 Bears, will be spinning at the festival as well.

Infectious tune, Flutes

The Postal Service– 8:50 – 9:40pm
Composed of members of Death Cab for Cutie and Rilo Kiley their sound is sweet, sub-pop.

Moby DJ Set– 9:55 – 11:10pm Always good
The XX– 10:10 – 11:05pm Amazing live

Franz Ferdinand – 10:15-11:05pm You can call it post-punk or indie rock but this Britist band’s music is fueled with high energy. Their third album came out in 2009 and actually this is the first time I hear of it. Their 2005 album “You Could Have it So Much Better” is tight.

They’re adorable in this performance

Two Door Cinema Club– 10:20- 11:10pm So melodic and rhythmic this Irish indie rock trio should be a blast to see live.
http://youtu.be/1PorW3y5n1w

Janelle Monae– 10:45- 11:35pm
Knife Party – 11:35 – 12:50am

Phoenix – 11:35 -12:50am
I missed the French alt rockers at Ultra 2010. I’m not missing them again. If I can’t have Daft Punk at least I’ll have Phoenix, kidding. Their music is super catchy and danceable. I’m very much looking forward to the new album, “Bankrupt”, out on April 22.

Entertainment sounds amazing here, viva La France!

Sigur Ros– 11:55pm – 12:55am I really want to see them but I can’t understand anything they’re saying, it’s still great surreal, dreamy music.

Sunday April 20th

Robert DeLong-12:40 – 1:10pm
Singer songwriter and one man band; this is what happens when video games and musical ingenuity come together.

“Happy”

Cloud Nothings -1:30 -2:10pm
This is good rock music maybe neo-grunge, not sure, but there aren’t enough bands like them coming out these days.

Here’s one my favorite songs “Useless”

Jamie xx– 3:15 – 4:30pm
When I saw the XX in February at the Fillmore in Sobe I was really blown away by Jamie XX.
http://youtu.be/8rhALivFYQY

Grimes – 4:15- 5:05pm
Claire Boucher also known as Grimes is a Canadian singer with a hypnotic, ethereal voice.

Here is “Genesis” I’ll probably wear one of these outfits to the festival 🙂

Dinosaur Jr. – 5:10 – 6:00pm
These are the guys who made a huge influence on the indie music (then it was called just alternative music) were listening to today. They are the masters of it!

“Feel The Pain”
http://youtu.be/OQZmrdwK7YM

Tanlines – 5:30 – 6:10pm
Indie rockers from Brooklyn, what else can I say, they’re good and very now.

 “All Of Me”  

Tame Impala – 6:25 – 7:15pm
If psychedelic rock is your thing and you want to feel like you’re at Woodstock, this Australian band is for you.

 “Half Full Glass Of Wine”

La Roux – 7:15pm – 8:05pm I really need to check her out but not sure if it will happen.

Vampire Weekend – 7:20 – 8:10pm
This is one of my favorite bands, they music exhibits a perfect balanced between indie and world beat. Their new album “Modern Vampires Of The City” comes out next month.

New song ‘Step”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – 10:15 – 11:55pm
Who hasn’t heard of them, they’ve been around for decades and are still rocking. Does Anthony Kiedis still take his shirt off?

“Snow (Hey Oh)”

Dead Can Dance – 11:00 – 11:50pm
Another old school must, ahh if you want to relax with drums, enchanting vocals, horns and want to feel like you’re in medieval, other worldly place well DCD provides this and more. I saw them live in the 90’s, it was a spiritual experience.

“Rakim”
http://youtu.be/itwL5y0He-k

And if all these stellar artists playing in the same place, all pretty much at the same time, doesn’t make festival goers crazy… they also feature talent inside the Heineken and U-Lab tents. Just to mess with your head.

An article on Travel Grom features some of the must-see DJs which will be at the festival, including Christian Martin from San Fran, consequently he’s only spinning weekend two. I’ll just go ahead and add him to my list, why not.

After all this research, I am more stoked than ever to go to the festival. There is also the element of surprise and the unexpected since this will be my first time at Coachella. I hope all my rants will help in making some tough decisions. See you on the dance floor.